Page 16 of Liberator

“I’m not offering spots to girls, Stretch. Adult women are the ones I feel have a right to a chance,” Prime answered. “Equalityis demanded everywhere now, and I think we should lead the way or lose something we desperately need.”

“We can’t be protecting them in a fight. It’s distracting. No woman can possibly hold up her end of a fight with the cartel. How are we supposed to guarantee their safety? Do we sacrifice our own life for theirs?” Specs, the secretary of the club asked.

“I’d never ask that of any of you, nor would the women I’d allow into the club. They will be trained the same as any other prospect. If they fail, then they’re out. I won’t be playing favorites, yet I won’t be bringing in prospects who I’d expect to fail. The women will prove themselves as loyal and willing to give their lives if necessary,” Prime replied.

Rod spoke up in defense of one woman. “It’s not fair that you’re going to give Vikki a chance just because she has nowhere else to go. At least that’s what I imagine your reason to be. Anyway, it’s not fair because Flame has more than proven she’d be a good candidate as a prospect, yet you haven’t allowed her that privilege. She’s come with us on assignments and shown she has the guts to fight. She’s never asked us to protect her, and she’s kept our secrets despite the fact that she was never supposed to know them in the first place.”

“You’re right, Rod. Flame is both loyal and willing to give her life for us. Up until now, we’ve used her in ways that we shouldn’t have. She’s obliged us and endured a lot because of it. I regret that I never considered making her a Sinner. That’s why I’ve already rectified the issue by telling her she is also allowed to be a prospect. She has little to prove to us, so her induction will come swiftly,” Prime promised.

That promise seemed to satisfy everyone. The discussion ended and the meeting was dismissed with all the Sinners rushing to the bar to congratulate Flame. All of them except myself. I needed to find Vikki.

I knew where her room was, so I chose to check it first. I was alarmed to discover she wasn’t there and that all her meager possessions were gone. She’d run away, and I was damn certain I was to blame. I called myself an asshole over and over in my head. Worse words to describe me came to mind as well. Those curses followed me down the stairs, through the hallways, and across to the bar.

I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go out in search of her, mostly because I had no fucking clue where she might have gone. She had no family to return to unless she’d suddenly decided to call Liz, the woman who’d adopted her baby, and asked for a place to live, which I sincerely doubted. Seeing the baby settled with a new mommy would break her heart all over again. There was no way she’d be able to handle that, nor would she disturb the happiness Liz and the child had gained, especially since Liz had endured being a captive the same as she had.

My frown deepened, making lines in my forehead and scrunching up my eyes. I rubbed at the headache beginning behind my eyes. It didn’t help the pain. There wasn’t a way to erase the worry building inside me. Where would I have gone if I was in her position? I admitted to myself that I’d have run as far and fast as I could.

But Vikki only had what little money she’d earned as a waitress and that wasn’t going to get her far. Hotels and food were costly, and she’d run out of cash quickly relying on buying those comforts. I’d have camped under the stars and caught and killed my food. I just couldn’t see Vikki doing anything like that.

There was one person she may have confided in. That was Flame. She was on duty in the bar, so I hurried inside to confront her. She was busy slamming mugs of beer and shots of whiskey down in front of dozens of men. Rod stood at the bar, flirting with her and scowling at any other man who did the same.

“Go away, Rod,” she was saying as I slid onto a recently vacated barstool. “Go stick your head under a greasy truck hood and try sweet talking an engine back to life.”

“First of all, no truck in my care is ever going to be greasy. I take care of my shit and everybody else’s too. Second, there aren’t any broken trucks to fix at the moment. And third, sugar, you better get used to me. If you’re gonna to be a Sinner then I expect Prime will be having you pretend to be my woman a lot more often. It worked so well last time that it should be repeated. We go together like peanut butter and jelly,” Rod replied with a wink.

“For your information, jelly tastes nasty with peanut butter. I prefer bananas like Elvis,” she retorted.

“Bananas are a symbol of something made of flesh and blood, Flame, and I’ve got one right here,” Rod laughed and grabbed his crotch.

“I prefer them unbruised and longer,” Flame answered, causing Rod to gape at her as the men at the bar howled and began taunting him.

“Shit, Flame. When are you going to put him out of his misery? The man wants you so bad he’s making a fool out of himself,” I told her as she handed me a whiskey without me asking.

“Men are estupido when their cocks lead them around. If he ever gets past that I might be willing to give him a ride. Until then, torturing him is too much fun,” she replied.

“Congrats on the prospect thing,” I said, swallowing the whiskey in one gulp. The burn felt good to my quivering stomach.

“Gracias,” she answered. “How’s Vikki handling the news that she’s a prospect, too?”

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you seen her?”

“No, she’s not on duty until late tonight,” Flame responded while slapping a drunken man’s hands away from the beer tap.

“Dammit! I thought you’d be the one she’d tell where she was going. She’s gone! All her shit has been packed up and she’s disappeared. I’ve searched for her, but she’s nowhere. Do you think she ran to Liz?” I asked in desperation.

“What did you do to her, idiota?!” Flame asked. Her dark eyes blazed into mine and made my face burn.

“Why would you think I had anything to do with her leaving?”

“You look and act guilty. Why else would you have gone in search of her? If you’ve hurt her I’ll personally whack off your cock while you sleep. You better never close your fucking eyes again!” she screeched.

I held my hands up in surrender and said, “I swear, I didn’t hurt her. At least not physically, but I don’t really know about emotionally. We spent the night together. Before you ask, no I didn’t force her. I know what she’s been through, so I would never do that. She enjoyed herself. There was no faking her responses. But when I woke up she was gone along with all her stuff. I have to find her, Flame. She’s out there somewhere all alone!”

Flame rolled her eyes and sighed. “Vikki isn’t a fool, and she wants to be a Sinner. This is her home now. We’re her family. She may have run, but I’m guessing she’ll turn around and come back despite you being estupido.”

“What if she doesn’t? What if the cartel grabs her again?” I asked.

“Didn’t I just tell you that she’s not a fool? She knows they’d love to have her back, so she’ll be careful. Shit! I thought you MC fuckers were tough. I didn’t know you’d get your testicles in a wad over some chica you barely know just because you slipped your cock into her. Stop letting what’s between your legs lead you around and think with the head that’s above your shoulders for a change.”

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