Page 5 of Biker's Prisoner: Property of Bucky

He’s not wrong about that. Since the whole business with Avery, Tanner just grunts answers in the direction of the club and turns his attention back to us. Which I appreciate but… The club needs him. They needus. When I didn’t have a soul in the world who gave a crap about me, the club stood up for me. They buried the dark secrets of my past without even knowing me.

Tanner doesn't want to be involved but honestly... if the tall strapping 6'5" man doesn't solve the problem, who will? Someone has to get shit done. Tanner wants me out of troublebecause I'm pregnant, but he also refuses to leave me alone right now.

He insists that it's not because he doesn't trust me -- it's my best friend Juliette that's the problem. Never mind that her husband lets her get involved with club business.

The closer weget to seeing Ruger, the more visibly nervous Tanner gets. Zayna sleeps in the backseat. She has medium-deep ochre skin, what they call “yellow bone” in some parts of the country. Her hair is a mess. I don’t blame her but some of the curls are matted to one side of her head, like when you sleep on natural hair without tying it up. She has a pretty face though. Like… Meagan Good levels of pretty with naturally large features, but with a wider nose with upturned nostrils.

Tanner calls her “our latest rescue” which feels like a rude comment, especially since we didn’t rescue her, exactly. Deacon Hollingsworth, Tanner’s cousin, has his hands full with the women that the Rebel Barbarians rescued from Las Vegas.

I don’t know what Zayna will think of all this when she wakes up – or even where she came from. Deacon seems to think she has a wealthy background because she “used a big word on him”, but there is a big difference between graduating high school and being a millionaire. We won’t know until she wakes up and even then… I didn’t exactly put my business on blast with the club the second I met them.

Deacon has other club business to attend to, so he can’t help this woman with no identification papers and a traumatic past get on her feet. Other club members volunteered to handle the rest of the women, and Oske has full responsibility for the Indian girls, who all have families who have been searching for them.

Tanner doesn’t seem to mind helping Zayna out, although I worry he might get fed up with club business eventually and leave her on her own.

Glancing back at her, she just looks…normal.Light-skinned. A little stressed out even while asleep. Ugh. I can’t imagine what she’s been through. I feel bad that we're taking her on this errand, but we don't have a choice until we get to Juliette's. At least she's getting some rest. Deacon seems to think she’ll be a problem, but she’s been polite so far. I like her.

Tanner glances at her in the rearview mirror and his jaw moves back and forth uncomfortably. He hates everything about this situation. Tanner prefers the parts of club business that lead to immediate financial reward.

Family drama and personal drama just reminds him of growing up with a serial cheater for a father. I put my hand on my husband's thigh, offering him comfort. Support. The love he gave me when he heard that I killed my stepbrother.

He looks over at me, still tense.

"You're relaxed," he grunts. "You know he's been keeping her tied up like a dog. She's about to have a baby."

I glance over my shoulder to make sure his terrifying statement doesn't snap Zayna out of her rest. She stays asleep.

"I know," I respond calmly. I have several reasons for staying calm right now, honestly.

To be honest, from everything I've heard about Darlene in Oske's group chat, she's a Neo-Nazi and Ruger is pretty racist.

I'm not too bothered with the ethics of what goes on between Ruger and Darlene. I want to make sure Avery is safe and if Tanner doesn't get involved, Avery's safety gets left up to... I don't even know. Wyatt Shaw? No offense, but Tanner needs to handle this.

"You don't sound worried," Tanner says.

"You're with me. Why would I worry?"

"Because Ruger is a racist nutjob."

You knowit's bad when your white Texan boyfriend with questionable beliefs of his own calls someone racist.

"Exactly.Someone needs to keep him in line," I tell Tanner.

"And why should that be me and not Gideon Blackwood?"

"Tamiya told me her husband thinks he can talk to ghosts."

Tanner shrugs and mutters, "He has some evidence."

"I think you're the better option for handling Ruger."

"Yeah?"Tanner grunts. "And what about her? What are we going to do with her if she flips out and tries to run away."

"She won't. You worry too much."

Tanner looks over at me briefly. "Only because I want you safe, sugar plum."

"I'm fine."

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