Page 81 of Havoc

“I was scared,” Maritza said, her voice finally betraying her emotions. “But not of Slater. I was scared of you. Of what you’re turning into.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Slapping my chest with one hand, I told her, “I’m exactly the same person I’ve always been. It’s you that isn’t making any sense.”

“You’re not the same, Riley. You used to be strong, clever, and cautious. Then Havoc came along, and suddenly you’re riding on motorcycles and disappearing off the face of the earth for days at a time. We all tried to contact you, but you didn’t answer. I’m not going to stand around doing nothing while one of my best friends is laid up in a meth house smoking her life away.”

“Where in the world did you get all that nonsense? I have never stepped foot into a meth house, and I’ve never done drugs. Havoc isn’t a drug dealer, drug user, or any damn thing else. You know where I was? I was hiding from Slater!”

“We all know what goes on in the Dark Slayers clubhouse. There is a sex dungeon, drugs, alcohol, and women get passed around there. You’re throwing your life away and getting nothing in return. He’s just using you, Riley. But you’re too blind to see it. I can’t stand to watch you get swallowed whole by that damn biker club.”

Slater stepped forward. “Maritza’s not your enemy, Riley. She’s your true friend. She’s the one who’s still fighting for the real you. The woman who used to have morals and dignity and hope for a bright future.”

I told him, “Stop lying. Everything bad that’s happened recently happened because of you. Everything was good until you decided to target me. Then my life turned to shit.”

I turned on Maritza next. “You lied and let me think you were in danger. You lured me here so an asshole cop could corner me. Do you have any idea what he plans to do to me?”

“I was trying to help you,” Maritza said with quiet dignity.

“We had a friendship, and you freaking destroyed it by letting a dirty cop brainwash you.” I told her in a loud, clear voice, “If I make it out of here alive, we’re done. Don’t ever contact me again.”

I turned to Slater. “I know you think you’re clever, but the cold, hard truth is you’re not. You manipulated her and used her because you knew I wouldn’t ignore her distress call. You don’t want a conversation. You want control. It’s all you’ve ever wanted with me. I don’t want to see you again either.”

He reached out and clasped his hand firmly around my arm. “You think you have a choice? I’m never letting you go. I’m the only man you’ll be seeing for the rest of your natural life. And you know what? Now you’re mine, I get to say how long that will be.”

I jerked my arm back, but he held it tight. It’s okay, I told myself. Havoc will be here soon. I just needed to keep him talking.

Maritza’s hands came up to her mouth and she whispered, “What in the hell are you doing? What do you mean that you’re going to be the only man she sees for the rest of her life?”

I glanced over at my former friend, wondering how I let her get me into this mess. “This is how women end up abducted and held in a metal shipping container in some dude’s backyard.”

“But he’s a law enforcement officer.” Turning to look at Slater, she whispered as if to herself, “You said you were going to help her, not kidnap her.” Then she gave her head a shake, maybe of disbelief. “This can’t be happening. Tell me this isn’t happening.”

“Shut the fuck up, Maritza. You did your part, now get lost. I’ll keep up my end of the deal. All you have to do is keep that pretty, talented little mouth of yours shut.”

Maritza teared up and opened her mouth, probably to apologize. I cut her off, “Leave. Just go, before he decides to do to you what he’s doing to me.”

Maritza just stood there shaking her head, clearly having an internal conflict about what she had done. It sounded like they traded favors or something more than just him convincing her that I was a danger to myself for hooking up with a biker. Within seconds, she ran out the back door.

“Now, it’s just you and me, Riley. Time for us to take a little ride.” He jerked me towards the door, uncaring about whether or not he was leaving bruises.

“You’re not going to get away with this. Havoc will come looking for you.”

“Wrong, princess,” he flung back in the snarkiest tone imaginable. “He’s going to come looking for you. But you’ll have disappeared without a trace. He’s not going to risk going to prison by killing a cop. You know that, and I know that, so let’s not pretend anyone is coming for you.”

The moment the cool afternoon air hit my skin, it was like my fight-or-flight response kicked in full force. I was not going to let this man just walk off with me and stuff me into his patrol car. Not this girl and not today. I began struggling hard against his grip, but he was so much stronger.

My eyes inconspicuously looked around, searching for any trace of Havoc. I’d told him where I was going, so I knew that he and his club would be headed this way. There was no sign of him, But I saw a white van like the club used parked up the street. I couldn’t be sure it was him and his club members, I just hoped that it was, and my time hadn’t run out.

Panicking, I flung myself against him, knocking him off balance as I stomped hard on his foot. When his grip loosened, I twisted sideways, elbowed him in the ribs with all my might, and made a run for it. I didn’t make more than a few steps before his hands landed around my waist and he picked me up off the ground like a rag doll.

“You are not getting away from me this time, bitch.”

I struggled harder, trying to get out of his grasp.

“Just calm the fuck down. I can’t even think straight with you acting like a wildcat.”

Just then a scream sounded out. It wasn’t Slater. It was a deep voice yelling his name.

I recognized that voice and when I looked to the right, this time I saw not only Havoc but also Storm, Celt, Breaker, and Grit. They were all hovering around Maritza, who was pointing in our direction while having a bit of a meltdown. Even I could see that she was trying to rally the troops.

---