Page 9 of Fear

After breakfast, Alaska insisted on taking her into town with some of the women. “You need new clothes. Unless you plan on walking around in borrowed shirts for the rest of your life.”

Sofia hesitated but eventually agreed. Maybe a break from the club was what she needed. She had no idea how wrong she was.

Two prospects, Diesel and Rip, accompanied them. The men weren’t overbearing, but their presence was a reminder that this was still dangerous territory. Sofia tried to ignore the tension coiling in her stomach as they walked through the small town’s main street, stopping in front of a boutique. She was about to step inside when she heard the unmistakable sound of motorcycles rolling up behind them. Sofia’s blood ran cold.

She turned slowly, her heart slamming against her ribs as three men wearing Shadow Riders MC cuts dismounted their bikes, their eyes locking onto her like a predator spotting wounded prey.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered, his gaze raking over her. “Isn’t this a surprise?”

Diesel immediately stepped in front of her, his voice dark. “Keep walking, boys.”

One of the Shadow Riders smirked, not backing down. “Didn’t know the Wolverines were into babysitting strays.”

Rip shifted beside Diesel, his stance coiled and ready. “Say another word, and you’ll find out exactly what we do to rats like you.”

The tension was suffocating, the hostility rolling off them in waves. Sofia could feel her knees locking, her breath stuttering. Not again. She couldn’t go through this again.

Just as her breath hitched, and the weight of her fear threatened to consume her, movement beside her made her flinch. But instead of shrinking away, she felt warmth—Dakota, Siena, and Alaska stepping up beside her, shoulders squared, eyes locked on the Shadow Riders like they were ready for a damn war.

Sofia blinked, stunned. These women—who she had barely known, who owed her nothing—stood beside her, placing themselves between her and danger without hesitation. It was a silent declaration: She wasn’t alone anymore.

Alaska tilted her head slightly, her voice laced with dangerous amusement. "I’d rethink your next words, asshole."

The Shadow Rider who had spoken shifted his attention to her, sneering. "You Wolverines getting soft? Protecting stray bitches now?"

Siena took a step forward, her tone deceptively sweet. "Say that again, and I’ll make sure your next piss comes out of a tube."

The men stiffened, their bravado slipping, but the leader of the trio scoffed. "You bitches don’t scare me."

Diesel chuckled darkly. "That’s because you’re stupid."

Rip’s knuckles cracked at his sides. "Real stupid."

The tension tightened like a noose. Diesel, never one to waste time, pulled out his phone and dialled.

The Shadow Riders immediately tensed, their confidence wavering. They weren’t idiots. They knew what happened when you picked a fight you couldn’t win. The leader spat on the ground, his lip curling in disgust. "This isn’t over."

"You’re right," Diesel said, his voice eerily calm. "It ain’t. And next time, we won’t be so nice."

With one last glare, the Shadow Riders got back on their bikes and peeled away, but Sofia knew the truth, they would be back.

***

The roar of engines filled the air as Goliath and the others rolled back into the clubhouse lot. Dust kicked up in thick clouds around their tires as they came to a stop, dismounting in apracticed, fluid motion. The adrenaline from the arms run was still pulsing through his veins, but it wasn’t enough to override the gnawing sense of unease that had been clawing at him since he left.

Frost wiped a hand across his jaw, stretching out stiff shoulders. "Smooth deal. Not bad."

Hunter smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, for once, no one tried to fuck us over. Almost boring."

Fang huffed. "We don’t get ‘boring.’ We get ‘calm before the storm.’"

Goliath barely registered their words. His head was on a swivel, scanning the lot, the entrance to the clubhouse, the shadows between parked bikes. Something was off, too quiet.

His eyes flicked to the bar where one of the Blossoms—Maggie—stood wiping down a glass, humming softly. He stalked toward her, his heavy boots thudding against the floor.

"Where is everyone?" he asked, his voice tight.

Maggie paused, glancing up at him with a confused frown. "The women went into town with Diesel and Rip."

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