Page 27 of Big Easy
Peter narrows his beady eyes. "Your roommate interrupted our reunion, so she's been dealt with."
My hand flies to my mouth. "Oh, my God."
"Don't worry," Peter says. "I didn't kill her. But if you try anything once we leave here, your friend is dead. You understand?"
I close my eyes and try to control my rapid heartbeat. When I don't respond, Peter grips my arm in a vise-like hold. "Answer me, Sutton. Tell me you understand. I'll shoot your friend right between the eyes if you don't do exactly what I say."
"I understand," I croak. "I won't try anything. Please, just don't hurt Maci."
Peter runs his gaze over my face, testing the sincerity of my words. "Good. Now we don't have much time. Let's go." He tugs me toward the door. "You're going to walk out of this apartment with me like nothing is wrong. One peep out of your mouth or you try to run, and I'm going to do exactly what I promised."
I nod, keeping my mouth shut.
When Peter opens the apartment door, he puts his arm around my waist. His touch makes me want to crawl out of my own skin, but I keep my composure as he leads me down the stairs and to his car, which is parked several spots down behind a large moving truck. My eyes dart across the parking lot toward a guy climbing out of his work truck. The man briefly makes eye contact with me.
On the inside, I'm screaming at him for help.
My stomach sinks as I watch him climb into his vehicle and drive away.
"Turn around," Peter hisses as we come to a stop at the passenger door. I do as I'm told and watch as he takes a zip tie from his front pocket.
My hands shake uncontrollably as he ties them behind my back while using his body to shield me from any possible onlookers. Once my wrists are bound, he shoves me into the passenger seat.
"Look at you being such a good girl." Peter brushes his knuckles across my cheek, making me want to vomit.
My temper flares, and I jerk from his touch. "You won't get away with this," I seethe. "Jaxson will find me, and when he does, you are dead."
Peter's face turns red, and his body vibrates with rage as he bares his teeth. "Shut up! That biker trash isn't going to do shit." In a flash, Peter's arm rears back, and he brings the butt of his gun down across my temple, sending me into a pool of darkness.
9
BIG EASY
The bone-shaking growl of pipes slices through the stillness of the clubhouse, rattling the windows and rolling through the floor under my boots. The sound's got weight to it and loud enough to wake the dead.
Who the hell is rolling in?
I shove up from my seat, every muscle wired tight, and stalk to the door and throw it open.
Headlights cut through the dark as a convoy rolls into the lot. Riggs leads the pack, Luna holding him tight, her hair whipping in the wind. Wick rides close behind, Tequila on the back with a grin like she's up to no good. Nova and Promise follow, Kiwi with Piper tucked against him, Fender and Jo right on their heels. Everest's there too, with his new flame, London, and Catcher brings up the rear like he's guarding the tail.
The rumble dies in stages as they kill their engines, the air settling into that heavy, charged silence only a pack of bikers can leave behind.
I step out and meet them halfway, clapping Riggs hard on the shoulder as he swings off his ride. "What brings you to my neck of the woods, brother?"
He grins. "Thought we'd liven' up the opening of your new bar, The Last Ride," he says, gripping my hand in a shake, then smacking me on the back hard enough to jolt my ribs. "Us Kings are always lookin' for a good time, brother. Laissez les bons temps rouler.”
I laugh. "Hell yeah. I can get down with that. Come on in."
We file inside, boots heavy on the old floorboards, as greetings between the Kings and my brothers echo off the walls.
The Kings spread out, women kicking back on the couches, men leaning against the bar. The low rumble of conversation, mixed with the occasional sharp bark of a joke, fills the clubhouse.
I sit back in my chair, watching it all. This is the good stuff—brothers, their women, good friends, and good times to be had.
Should be perfect.
But it ain't.
