Page 3 of Grizzly's Pride
Piper returned her focus on the biker. There were hints of gray in his dark-brown hair. She had a hard time looking away from his piercing blue eyes.
Piper had no doubt in her mind this man would shoot her without remorse, without a second thought. Spotting the revolver in his hand, she gulped. He raised the gun, pointed it right between her eyes.
Sweat beaded on her back, and Piper muttered a prayer under her breath. She lost her faith the night her mother died and the nightmare that was her life began. Still, some part of her knew this day would come thanks to her father.
“Who the fuck are you?” the biker demanded. “And don’t bother with lies. Your answer will determine whether you live or die.”
Seconds passed. Piper’s mouth felt dry. She couldn’t move or speak. Any second now and this monster would shoot her dead. Running wouldn’t do her any good. She heard the shots fired earlier and knew her old man was dead. Mervin probably tried to bolt, but Piper was certain he didn’t manage to go far.
Then again, her life had been one big practical joke so far. No one would miss her absence if this biker murdered her in cold blood, certainly not the people she worked with at the diner or café.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m ready.”
“Ready for what?” The biker’s harsh voice brought her back to reality.
Why hadn’t he shot her? Piper scrutinized him again. He’d taken his finger from the trigger but still had that weapon pointed at her. He wanted answers? Fine. She’d give him some.
Piper couldn’t believe for a second that she had contemplated suicide. With her father gone, she could now do whatever she wanted. Mervin was dead weight. All these years, it felt like she’d been shackled to him, destined to follow him to whatever doom he chose. Piper could be free—if she somehow found a way out of this situation.
“My name is Piper Ayers,” she said. Maybe if she gave the biker her name, he would cease thinking of her as prey and an actual person he’d hesitate to shoot.
“You’re related to the dead scumbag bleeding out on the carpet?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Maybe telling him her last name wasn’t such a wise idea. Then again, Piper doubted lying would do her any favors either. Her father had been an accomplished liar and look where that led him.
“Mervin is my father,” she said.“He was a crappy dad. With the way he was going, I knew this day would eventually come.”
“You knew?” the biker asked, lowering his gun.
Keep him talking, Piper thought. Right now, desperation fueled her. She wanted to live, damn it. “When he told me to pack all my belongings and said we were going on a road trip, I knew he was in trouble,” she said.
“Do you know why my MC wanted him dead?” the biker asked.
Piper shook her head. “We don’t discuss his business dealings. He always said whatever job he did didn’t concern me.” Piper wondered briefly that maybe, in Mervin’s own way, he was protecting her. Then again, if he truly was, she wouldn’t be in this situation.
“So, you’re just collateral damage, despite being related to him,” the biker said. “Your old man sold us out. Gave information to our enemies, and two of our men are dead because of him.”
Piper suddenly had a terrible feeling she understood why he was freely giving her this information. This biker had no intentions of letting her go. “I don’t know any of that,” she whispered. “Look, all my life, I kept my head down. I worked myself to the bone to pay the bills, the rent. Mervin never contributed to anything.”
“Why did you stick with him? You’re clearly a grown woman capable of making your own decisions,” the biker said.
Piper stiffened. “Why should I tell you my life story when you’re going to kill me anyway?”
“Grizzly, what’s taking you?” asked a second voice. Another biker looked over her would-be killer’s broad shoulder. Grizzly.What an appropriate name for this biker beast, Piper warily thought.
“Who’s the girl?” the second biker asked. “Mervin’s junkie whore?”
It surprised Piper when Grizzly let out a growl. The sound was more animal than human. The second biker held out his hands in mock defeat.
“I need more time interrogating her. She’s Mervin’s daughter,” Grizzly said.
“Mervin managed to produce a gorgeous spawn like that?” Gunner asked.
Grizzly glared at him, and Gunner shrugged. “Hey, I’m just making an observation here. Besides, I have an old lady waiting for me at home,” Gunner said. “I hate to remind you, but we don’t have the time. I just got a call from Whizz. The cops are on the way. We should be gone by the time the cleanup crew arrives. They’ll get here before the coppers.”
Cleanup crew? Cops? Piper grew dizzy. Just who were these bikers her father screwed over? They had the audacity to commit murder in a public place like the motel and didn’t even seem concerned about getting caught.
Grizzly grasped her shoulder and hauled her to her feet, ignoring her weak protests. She tried to shove at him, to punch him, but it felt like she was hitting a brick wall. Grizzly finally tucked his gun in his holster and then pushed her against the wall. He pinned her wrists above her head, holding her in place. She bared her teeth at him.
