Page 39 of Deserter

“Molly, we need to go.” When she didn’t respond, I began looking around. Apparently, she’d already taken off. Two bikers moved in front of the door, blocking my only exit.

I turned back around with a sigh and continued searching for Molly. Instead, I found him. He was sitting at a table near the back, puffing on a cigar and looking every bit like the crime boss he was.

“So, have you figured out what you’re going to say when you see him?” a voice asked from beside me.

“Jesus, Molly. Give me a warning,” I hissed. “Where were you?”

She held up two shot glasses. “Getting us drinks. I told you.”

I managed to keep from swaying as I took the glass from her hand and downed it. “I don’t know what to say to him. Maybe coming was a bad idea.”

“You’re right. Let me just—” She turned toward the back. “Grey! Hey, Grey!”

The bar went silent and every head turned our way. I wanted to dive under a table as the crowd began to part. Then he was in front of us, looking even better than I remembered.

“Celia?”

My name was a growl on his lips, and it made my skin prickle. My tongue was heavy, but I had to say something clever, something that seemed carefree.

“What’s a girl gotta do to get in a proper brawl around here?” Molly had told me to just say what was on my mind and to make him laugh. Judging by the look on her face, she regretted it.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” There was a line between his brows and hate in his stare. It was, in a nutshell, not the reaction I’d been hoping for.

A woman with long blonde hair and fishnets moved against Grey’s side and looked me up and down. She ran a red fingernail down his chest before asking, “Who’s the bitch?”

I stumbled forward in the heels but caught myself with her hair. We both fell to the ground, but it was over before it even began. Grey pulled Blondie off of me while another biker pinned me against his chest.

“You want me to deal with this one, Pres?” The man’s grip tightened around my chest and I moved up onto my tiptoes, trying to get a full breath. My shirt had slipped another button in the tussle, leaving my bra on display for the entire bar.

Grey’s eyes dropped down to it and his jaw clenched. “Celia, I’ll ask you again. Why are you here? I’m surprised they didn’t tell you at the door, but you paid your debt, you didn’t need to come back.” Blondie crossed her arms over her chest with a smirk and reclaimed her spot by his side.

“You ruined me and now…” My voice cracked, but I kept my chin high and eyes locked on his. “Now, you’re acting like I’m not important to you.”

He ran a hand over his beard with a laugh. “Princess, ain’t no one that’s important to me. And if you’re looking to place blame, why don’t you start with your old man? After all, he’s the reason you’re no longer pure or whatever the fuck you country club assholes call it. Get her out of here!”

“No!” I fought the biker as he began dragging me toward the exit. “No, you listen to me, you rapist prick!”

I wanted to take the words back as soon as Grey’s eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and I tried to calculate where he was most likely to hit me as he stalked over.

“I just meant… I was a perfect daughter and great student and you’ve r-ruined that.” I hiccuped softly.

Another man stepped forward with a grin. “I’ll take her. Teach her some respect.”

I turned to Grey and began shaking my head. “I came to talk to you.”

He looked at the man and then back to me. “Remington, you sure you can handle this? She’s got claws.” He touched his neck and grinned.

My mouth went dry, and I fought against the desire to pass out. He was going to hand me over to anyone who wanted me. Just like he’d threatened to do before.

I couldn’t remember why I’d felt the need to see him again. I’d thrown myself back into the lion’s den in the hopes of convincing the pride male not to maul me.

I opened my mouth only to close it. Nothing I said was going to make him change his mind about things. Remington’s large hand closed around my bicep as he hauled me back toward the bathrooms. Grey remained where he was, scowling.

“What did Pres call you?” The biker side-stepped into the bathroom before pushing me up against the stall. His hand closed around my throat when I stayed silent, squeezing lightly. “I asked you a question.”

I didn’t care.

His hands moved down to shed the remaining buttons on my shirt before tossing it aside. Still holding me by the throat he dropped his mouth to the outside of my bra and looked up with a grin. “You could’ve given me your name and made this easier.”

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