Page 12 of Riding Rough

He places a hand on her shoulder, and she plays along stirring as though she’s just woken up. “Daddy?”

“I’m here, sweetheart.” He sits on the edge of the bed. “Are you okay?”

Amber nods and glances toward me. “Kane made sure I was. Why are you here?”

“Gunner.” Diesel’s booming voice echoes into the hall and Gunner makes his way in with Jed, whose arms and legs are chained together as though he’s transferring prisons.

These images aren’t surprising to Amber, I’m sure. She’s grown up with the founder of a motorcycle club. Though, we don’t make a habit of hurting people, we protect our own and Rugged Mountain as needed. “This piece of shit has something to say to you, princess.”

Diesel stands from the edge of the bed and nods toward Jed. “Say it.”

The perfectly pressed khaki slacks Jed was wearing earlier aren’t nearly as clean. They match his swollen eyes, cut lips, and chipped teeth. “There’s no excuse for the way I treated you, Amber. I fucked up. It was my fau—”

“Like you fucking mean it,” Diesel kicks him in the leg with his boot and Jed squirms, “or you’ll get more than a fucking exile!”

Jed sighs. “I do mean it. The way I treated you was wrong. Whatever we argued about, I should’ve handled it better. I…” Jed stutters and stares at the ground for far too long before dragging his head up with a sadistic smile plastered on his face. His gaze goes to me, then back toward Amber before he looks at Diesel. “Are you sure everyone here is who they say they are?”

Diesel rolls his eyes. “I’m sorry?”

“While you were out chasing me around, blaming me for hitting a bitch who gave as good as she got… your best friend is fucking your daughter.” He swings his foot up, bringing with it Amber’s soaked panties.

Diesel’s gaze shifts to Amber and then toward me. His jaw is locked, and his shoulders are tense.

In a world where I looked like a trustworthy man, maybe Diesel would have faith in me. But here, in a hotel room, with Amber’s panties on the floor, and my beard still smelling of her scent… I don’t look so innocent.

Amber jumps from the bed and squares up with her father who’s staring blankly ahead. “Daddy, don’t be mad at Kane. I love him. I’ve loved Kane for as long as I—”

“He’s twenty years older than you. He’s known you since you were a teenager. He’s watched you…” Diesel clears this throat and leans against the dresser. “Get dressed and pack your bags. You’re riding home with me, tonight.”

Amber shakes her head. “No, I’m not. I told you… I love Kane. I want to be with him, Daddy. You can’t stop me.”

Gunner grabs Diesel by the arm in an attempt to calm him. Amber’s clearly upset father yells across the room, “You were the first man on the scene, weren’t you? Out here… acting like some fucking hero by‘rescuing’my daughter.” He grits his teeth. “Was this your plan the whole time? Were you just waiting for a chance to brainwash her and have your way with her when she was distraught? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

I’m often told that I’m a big guy, but Diesel is a mountain of a man. He’s both tall and wide. We’ve tussled half-heartedly before, and he was a handful when he wasn’t enraged.

As he struggles to break free of Gunner’s grip, I’m more and more confident that he wants to make sure I’m in a pine box.

“Keep him restrained,” I bark. I’ve never once pulled rank on my buddy. We co-founded the club, and while I may be the head, we’ve run it as equals for years. No questions, and no problems. Now, I’m not so sure that’ll ever work again.

Diesel laughs. “Thirty years of friendship and this is how it ends.”

“I wasn’t planning on this. Trust me.”

“He was trying to stop me, Daddy. It’s my fault.”

“He should’ve known better!” Diesel stares toward me with a snarled expression. He’s in shock. I would be, too. In his shoes, God would be sorting out the mess I made.

I glance toward Gunner. “Take Jed out as far as you can and leave him. No phone, no money, no identification.” I hang my head at what I have to do next. “Amber, you should go with your father.”

“What?” she gasps. “No. I’m going with you.”

There’s nothing more than I want on fucking Earth than to throw this woman over my shoulder, leave, and never come back. But Amber has been isolated by one man, and she doesn’t need that again.

Diesel’s right. I should’ve known better than to touch her.

I look toward her and say the hardest words I’ve ever said in my life. “I need you to stay here.”

“Yeah.” She throws a hoodie over her nightgown. “I appreciate that you all think I’m some little girl that needs permission to do anything, but I’m not.I’m grown.I’ve done dumb things, I’ve made stupid decisions, and I’ve fallen in love with a man. I know it’s not convenient for you all, but I’m leaving with him. And if he doesn’t come with me, I guess I’m leaving alone.”

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