Angels In Leather

CHAPTER 20 MEADOW There’s enough room in my heart for you, come in, I’ll welcome two.

That night, after Lady comes in and helps me shower, I cry myself into exhaustion. She tried to give me some food, but my stomach couldn’t handle it, so with a kiss to the head and whispered sorry, she left. I know she’s blaming herself, and maybe when my emotions aren’t so shaken I’ll tell her it wasn’t her fault. It was no one’s fault, except maybe mine, for accepting the drink so easily.

I clutch Axel’s jacket to my chest, breathing in the smell of leather mixed with that smell that is all Axel’s. I haven’t heard from him. It’s been more than five hours, and I’ve not heard anything. It’s early hours, now, and I’m still listening for that rumble of his Harley-Davidson. I can’t hear it. Is he hurt? Or worse? My heart pounds angrily in my chest, and I try to do anything to take my mind off it.

My phone vibrates beside me, and I peer down at it. The number on the screen is Cobra’s. My heart nearly leaps out of my throat, and my entire body stiffens. Why would Cobra be texting me? He would never text me...unless...with trembling hands, I open the message and read what he’s written.

C - Boss is on his way. He’s in bad shape. I know you’re fucked right now, but he needs you. Take care of him. Yeah?

I feel sudden relief flood my system, and I quickly reply.

M - I promise.

A moment later my phone beeps again.

C - You doin’ ok?

My heart swells that one of these guys, one of these brothers, would even ask me such a thing.

M - I’m doin’ ok.

I smile at the response I get, because I can imagine Cobra saying it.

C - Well, alrighty then.

I listen for Axel’s bike for a long, long time. Three hours later, I hear the rumble as it comes to a stop outside of Lady’s house. I get out of my bed, and with shaky legs I walk out of my door and to the top of the steps. I hear the front door slam, and when I see Axel, I gasp. Lady walks out, and she does the same, stopping in her tracks.

He’s got blood all over him.

I mean...all over him.

His hair is messy, his face is gritty, and there’s blood on his cheeks, on his hands, on his arms, on his shirt, and on his jeans. Lady covers her mouth, and he gives her a sad expression, then he turns and looks up at me. The pain and utter exhaustion I see in his eyes makes my heart ache. He takes a step toward me, and then doesn’t stop until he’s a step down.

Looking up at me, I can see something I’ve never seen in Axel’s eyes before.

It’s need.

He needs me.

He drops his head forward into my belly, and I react by wrapping my arms around it, holding him to me. I try to ignore the smell of burned flesh on his clothing because I know Axel doesn’t cuddle, but this is his way of showing me that he just needs me with him, and I need to be there. I stroke his hair, ignoring the blood there, and when he lifts his head, I reach out and take his hand, walking us to the shower.

The moment we get in, I turn and take hold of his shirt, slowly lifting it over his head. He works with me, lifting his arms when I need. I move to his jeans next, trying to ignore the mass amounts of blood on them. I unbuckle his belt, and then I slide it out of the loops before unbuttoning him and lowering his jeans. When he’s naked before me, I quickly strip out of my own clothes.

I don’t take my eyes off his.

I take his hand, and pull him into the shower the moment I’m naked. The first thing I do is fill my palms with soap and begin lathering it over his skin, taking extra long on the bits coated in dried blood. The bubbles foam red, and I feel my stomach turn, but I don’t stop. I rub until there’s nothing left, and all the blood has washed down the drain. Then, I reach up with a palm full of shampoo, and I begin to lather his head. He puts his palms on the wall in front of him, and drops his head, closing his eyes.

I finish up, and then I slowly turn him around, and tuck myself into his chest. He doesn’t put his arms around me, because Axel doesn’t hug. It doesn’t matter, though; he’s letting me hold onto him, which I know we both need. He lowers his mouth to my ear, and in a crackly voice, he rasps, “He bled for you, and anyone who ever hurts you again will bleed for you.”

I stare down at Axel as he sleeps, knowing he’s exhausted. He’s on his back, with his hands up near the pillows. He’s breathing deeply, and I know he needs this rest.

I slip out of the bed, and I tiptoe out of the room. I walk down the stairs, and into the lounge. I peer around, looking for Lady, and I see her outside with a phone pressed into her hand. I step out, and she spins around when she sees me.

“What are you doing, Lady?” I ask.

She looks at me sadly. “I just called Coby, I needed to make sure he was okay...”

“Is he?” I say, walking over, and leaning against the railing.

“He is. He said Axel was ruthless.”

I swallow. “I don’t imagine he would have made it easy on Trigg.”

She looks out over the yard. “Trigg deserved what he got. I just...I feel like I failed somehow.”

I take her hand, and she looks down at me. “You didn’t fail, Lady. Some people can’t be helped—or, worse, they don’t want to be. Sometimes you can give a person everything you are, but it won’t mean they’re going to give it back. He didn’t want to accept a better path. That’s not your fault.”

“You know, when Axel came to me, I thought I’d never be able to help him. He was so broken. So angry. But then, with time, something happened, and he found a way back, even just a little. With love, and understanding, and space, he found his way. I made it my life’s mission to help people after him, and I’ve had a few go through. Coby and Trigg were my most recent, and Coby has come so far, but Trigg...I just...I’m so sorry, Meadow.”

I squeeze her hand. “This isn’t your fault. Sometimes these things...happen.”

“You’re a brave girl. What you just did in there, for him...you don’t know how much strength that took.”

“He’s everything to me,” I say, looking away. “If I didn’t do it, then who would have?”

She cups my cheek. “He’s lucky to have you. You’re going to be the reason he keeps fighting. Promise me that no matter what happens you won’t let him push you away. He’ll try, it’s how Axel works, but promise me you’ll fight for him.”

“I promise,” I say with determination in my voice.

“How’s he holding up now?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. I imagine Axel has seen worse in his life—hell, I’m sure he’s even done worse, but it rattles him all the same.”

“It can never be easy to take a life, no matter how many times you do it,” she says sadly.

“No, I don’t suppose so.”

“I’m going to get some rest. You wake me if you need.”

I nod, and let go of her hand. She leaves me alone on the balcony, and I watch as the sun begins to rise. My eyes are heavy, and I’m tired, but I know sleep won’t come to me right now. There’s no point in trying. I sit on an old porch swing, and I stare out at the rising sun. My mind is struggling to comprehend how this has all gone down. Only a month ago I was running from Axel, and now he’s here...in my bed.

I wonder how much my father would despise me if he knew I’d betrayed him so.

My heart clenches at that thought, and I tuck my legs up to my chest. I never had it easy—not really. I never got the chance to have a good go at things. My father was always working with the club, and my mother killed herself long before I could get a decent memory of her. I often try to think about her, but I just don’t remember. My father said she had a problem with drugs, and overdosed one day. That’s all I know.

I imagine now, it’s all I’ll ever know.

I feel the chair shift beside me, and I turn to see Axel sitting beside me, fully dressed. I narrow my eyes, and my skin prickles. “You’re leaving.”

He turns his eyes away from mine, and stares out toward the trees. “I have to.”

“And you’re going to leave me here?”

He doesn’t look at me, but I know he’s fighting against himself. “I have to, it’s too dangerous. I haven’t dealt with Beast yet, and...”

“And what?” I cry. “I’m no safer here, Axel...or have you forgotten already what went down?”

“Meadow,” he begins, but I cut him off.

I stand, and stare down at him. “When are we going to stop doing this? You can’t keep hiding yourself from me. You can’t keep pretending there is nothing here between us. I...I...care for you, Axel, more then you know. Why won’t you let me in? Why do you keep pushing me away?”

He sighs deeply. “I can’t give you what you want, Meadow. Even if I want this...I can’t...I just can’t give it to you.”

“You haven’t even tried,” I snap.

“You won’t like the man that’s in here,” he growls, thumping his chest.

“You haven’t let me see him. Not really. How do you know I won’t like him?”

“I just fuckin’ do!” he growls, clenching his fists. “I’m not good enough for you, Meadow. I’m not what you want.”

“How do you know what I want?” I cry, feeling my lip tremble. “How would you know?”

He storms toward me, and grips my shoulder. “You’re so adamant you want to see this part of me. I’ve given you what you think it is you want. I’ve put my cock deep inside you and come. I’ve held you to me, I’ve opened the part that you’ve been seeking, but what about the other part, Meadow? The part you haven’t accepted?”

I feel my lip tremble. “I’d accept all of you, Axel. You just won’t let me.”

“No,” he roars. “You think you’d accept me. You think that me needing to control women is a problem you can fix. You think that this hard side is something you’re slowly cracking into, but it’s not. You’re not even scratching the surface of the fucked-up shit in my head.”

He turns and walks down the front stairs, not letting me answer.

In a small, timid voice, I say, “You can’t make me stay here, Axel.”

He stiffens, and turns, staring back up at me.

“Then go, Meadow. If that’s what you want.”

With that, he disappears into the trees.

I stand in the room, debating for a solid two hours. I know this is my moment to make my choice. I’ve been coming backward and forward with Axel now for too long, and I’m tired of it. He walked away from me, leaving the door open. He told me I can’t accept what he is, and then he left. Now it’s my turn to decide if I can deal with what he’s got to give, or if I’m going to walk away.

Since Axel came into my life, there have been so many things pulling me toward him, and an equal amount pushing me away. He’s the kind of damaged most people would run a mile from, but for me, he’s the reason I breathe. I don’t want to let him go, not without knowing what it is he hides behind the shadows. The only way I’ll know is to go to him, and let him show me.

I’m being unfair if I deny him the chance to be himself.

Only when I’ve seen all of it can I make an informed decision.

I turn and walk toward the door, shoving past it and heading downstairs. Lady is standing in the living area, staring blankly at the television. I know it’s still bothering her, and I can’t say I blame her. I would hate to be in the position she’s in. I walk over, placing a hand on her arm. She jerks and turns to me, forcing a smile.

“What’s the matter, love?”

“I need you to take me to Axel.”

She stares at me. “What for?”

“I have things to sort out, and I need to do it now.”

She sighs. “Sweet, I have direct orders not to let you go. I can’t take you, you know that.”

Dammit.

“Please, Lady, this is important to me.”

She looks sorry. “I’m afraid I can’t, I’m sorry.”

She’s not going to take me, which means I need to find another way. I plant a fake smile on my face, and nod. “I understand, I’m sorry. I’ll just call him.”

“Give him a little time. He’ll come to you.”

She’s wrong, but I don’t tell her that. “I hope so,” I say in a timid voice.

“You should get some rest. You must be exhausted.”

At her words, my body tingles with warmth. I know I need to rest, and I know the better time to go to Axel is at night. I’m safer if I go at night. So, I hug her, and head back up the stairs. When I reach my room, I close and lock the door behind me. I change into a pair of panties and a long shirt, and then I climb into bed, feeling my body ache with exhaustion.

Within minutes, I’m out.

When the sun begins to set that night, I decide it’s time to find a way to get out of here and to Axel. Lady is resting right now, but I know I can’t walk past her, or she’ll hear me. I remember Axel climbing through my window, and decide it may be the only way I can get out without raising alarm. I walk over, staring down. It’s only one story, and if I do it right, she shouldn’t hear me.

Deciding this is my only option, I pull on some jeans and a tank, then I throw my hoodie on, and my best pair of sneakers. I have to prep myself to get the guts to climb out that window, but I think of Axel, and I know it’s something that has to be done.

It takes me a solid ten minutes to get down without making noise, and I come close to slipping at least four times. By the time I reach the bottom, my heart is pounding, and a fine trickle of sweat is running down my face.

God.

I turn and quickly rush down the driveway. It’s getting darker by the minute, and a cool air is whipping across my skin. I wrap my hoodie around myself, and keep running. When I reach the road, I head the right direction back into town.

It takes me forty-five minutes to flag down a car. It’s an old woman that pulls over, and she seems to take pity on me because she goes out of her way to turn around and take me where I need to go.

“What’s a girl like you doing out on your own?” she asks, just as we get into the city.

“I got a bit lost after a party,” I lie.

“Young girls these days.” She shakes her head. “I never went to parties when I was young.”

I smile, but it’s forced.

“Where do you need to go, love?”

I give her that address and her eyes widen. “Isn’t that a biker lot?”

“My...father is there.”

“You shouldn’t be hanging around with them. They’re scoundrels, the lot of them.”

I don’t bother arguing with her.

“I just need to get my dad, that’s all.”

The minute we arrive at the Angels compound, I jump out of the car, quickly thanking the woman before she has a chance to argue with me, then I run through the open gates. I’m surprised they’re open, but it makes sense as soon as I get to the front door of the clubhouse, and I hear the pounding music coming through the door. They’re having a party.

I open the front door, and step inside. The scene before me has my head spinning. There are men and women everywhere, and the brothers are all up in the women. Some of them are having lap dances, others have their women bent over the bar, driving into them like mad men. Well then, I guess this is the real side to an MC club. I shake my head, and push my way through the people, looking for Axel.

“Meadow?”

I hear Colt’s voice, and turn. He smiles down at me, taking my shoulders. “What are you doin’ here?”

“I came to see Axel.”

He frowns. “Aren’t you meant to be with Lady Matilda?”

“It’s a long story. Is he here?”

His eyes grow a little hard. “He’s...busy.”

“Busy?” I say loudly, so he can hear me over he music.

“Meadow...he’s...ah...got someone with him.”

My blood turns to ice, and I feel my fists clench. “He what?”

“Look, I don’t think tonight is the right time for you to be here...”

I roll my eyes. “Do you think this shit shocks me?” I mutter, waving my hands around, indicating the room in general.

He looks confused. “I thought...”

“Look, just tell me where he is...please Colt?”

He sighs loudly, and rubs his forehead with the palm of his hand. “He’s in his office.”

I shove past him, and rush toward the hall. I don’t know what I’m going to find when I go into Axel’s office, but I have to go in. I push past a couple fucking against a wall, and only once I’m past do I recognize that it was Jax, and one of the whores. Nice. I get to Axel’s door, and I don’t wait, I just swing it open. The first thing I see is the blonde-headed girl on his lap. She’s got hair halfway down her back, and she’s wearing nothing but a thong.

She’s grinding against him, shoving her big fakies in his face. He’s got his hands on her hips, but I can’t see his face. My heart beats wildly, and I want to be sick, but I step in further, slamming the door loudly behind me. Axel jerks, and his head whips around the girl. His eyes lock directly onto mine. His entire body stiffens, and we hold eye contact for the longest moment. I see a challenge in his eyes, and I imagine he can also see it in mine.

The girl doesn’t stop giving him a lap dance. She doesn’t even notice I’m there.

She’s probably off her face.

“You said I didn’t want to know what you are, that I wouldn’t like it, but you haven’t given me the chance to find out. So, here I am. I want to know, Axel,” I say, my voice stern and determined.

I spot the handcuffs on his desk, and I lean over, taking them, and holding them up. I keep my eyes locked on his as I snap them on my wrists, binding my own hands in front of me. “Show me.”

His body stiffens, and his eyes fill with lust and need. He searches my face, to see if I’m for real about this.

“I’m not walking out of here, so you either throw that whore off your lap, and give me what I want, or I’ll walk out, and I’ll never come back. You choose, Axel.”

His jaw ticks, and he growls to the girl. “Get the fuck out.”

She frowns, turns her head, and shoots me an icy glare. “But Pres...”

“You heard me,” he snarls at her, not taking his eyes from mine. “Get the fuck out.”

She gets off his lap and without putting her shirt on she walks past me, and out the door, slamming it loudly behind her. Axel doesn’t move from his chair, but his eyes are filled with something deadly, something terrifying that has my body spiking with need.

“You want to give me what I want?” he says in a gravelly tone.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“You fuckin’ sure about that?”

“We’ve been dancing around this for long enough. Show me what you are, and I can decide if it’s something I want in my life.”

The room fills with silence for a long moment, then his eyes narrow, and a deadly look appears on his face.

“Run,” he says, his tone husky and laced with dominance.

I don’t need him to say anything else, because I know what it is he’s asking me to do. He wants me to run, and he wants me to give in to the dark side of myself. He wants to catch me, he wants to put me on my knees, and fuck me with brutal force. The idea of that has my blood pumping. I turn, without giving it a second thought, and I run.

I fly through the door and down the hall, and I hear his chair skid back. I don’t even think about the fact that my hands are still cuffed. I shove through the people in the main living area, and I get a few whistles from the boys, and a few “Atta girl, Meadow!” I guess they know what Axel likes. I stumble through the front door, and I take a quick left, heading past the bikes and into the trees to the left of the house.

I hear Axel’s boots crunching through the dirt, and I know he’s close behind me. The idea of being chased, the idea of having him catch me and fuck me, has everything inside me throbbing with need. I duck behind an old shed, and I try to catch my breath. It’s dark out, except for a few faint streetlights. I peer around the shed, and I see Axel jogging towards me. God, he looks so fucking dangerous.

It does great things to me.

I tiptoe out from the side of the shed, and bolt toward the bikes lined up at the front of the lot. I hear Axel’s pleased growl, and his husky, “You keep runnin’ baby, but when I get you, I’m goin’ to fuck you so hard you won’t be able to scream my name.”

My skin tingles, and I run harder towards the bikes. My entire body is aware of him, and adrenaline courses through my veins. I want him to catch me, yet at the same time, I want to keep running, and feeling this overwhelming urge that’s washing through my body. Sweat trickles down my face as I stop beside the front gate. I drop my cuffed hands to my knees, taking a breath, but it’s too long.

Axel’s body slams against mine.

I start to scream, and I kick back, hitting him lightly in the shins. He groans, and presses my body against the wire fence. My face smooshes against it, and I cry out, feeling the bite of pain as I bite my own lip. Blood trickles into my mouth, and I find myself reacting, even though it’s so incredibly wrong. I’m turned on. I want him to hurt me. I want this rough.

“Fight me, don’t you stop,” Axel breathes into my ear. “I won’t hurt you, Cricket,” he murmurs, running his finger down the side of my face. “But I need you to fight.”

So, that’s what I do.

I start by squirming, trying to twist my body around. He presses his body against mine, and reaches up, tangling his fingers into the fence. He thrusts his hips, ramming both out bodies harder into the wire. I groan, and throw my head back, hitting him in the face. He snarls, and takes my hands, quickly uncuffing me before pulling them harshly behind my back and jerking my body back into his.

I hear the cuffs drop onto the ground.

I guess he’s letting me play this fairly.

“Stop that,” he rasps into my ear. “I’ll make it hurt if you do that again.”

“Maybe I want it to hurt,” I hiss, fisting my hands together and shoving them backward into his stomach.

He stumbles off me with a grunt, and I spin around, ducking to the left and attempting to run. I don’t get two steps before Axel lashes out, taking my ankle and pulling me so hard I go down into the dirt. My face just misses being smashed into it by mere centimeters. Axel flattens his body over mine, and takes my head in his hands, jerking my head back by my hair and breathing down on me. “You’re being a bad girl,” he husks, running a finger down the side of my face.

“You’re not letting me play fair,” I whisper. “I was cuffed before, it wasn’t a fair chase.”

I feel his weight lift off me, and he jerks me up, pulling me into a standing position.

“Run, then. I’ll give you five seconds, and if I catch you again, Meadow, I’m going to fuck you,” he murmurs, and then his eyes grow lusty. “Hard.”

I turn without answering, and I run into the trees at the back of the lot. I hear Axel counting loudly, and my body shivers. I am sweating now, and my breathing is hard and ragged, but the chase is so worth it. I hear Axel take off after me, and I squeal with delight as I weave through the trees. It’s dark, but I can see enough because of the lights surrounding the clubhouse.

“The minute I get hold of you,” Axel yell, “I’m goin’ to rip your panties down, and put my dick so deep inside you, you’re goin’ to scream.”

I shiver, and swallow. I make my way to the fence line again, and I press myself against it for a second, letting my eyes scan the trees.

“Then I’m goin’ to kiss you so hard your lips will bleed.”

Oh, my.

I take off, using the fence line as a guide to get back to the other end of the lot. I can hear Axel to my left, and I know he’s gaining on me, but if I run, it’ll make a lot of noise, and he’ll figure out where I am.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sings. “You know I’ll make you come so much your legs will give way.”

I feel a smile on my face as I keep moving along the fence, keeping my body plastered against it. I can feel my own arousal dampening my panties, and now I’m eager for him to get his hands on me. I want to know what he’s got to give.

“You can run, Cricket, but you can’t hide.”

I stop moving and catch my breath, staring to the left of me, waiting for him to lunge out of the trees. He’s clever, because he’s managed to get ahead of me, and come around from my right.

I’m not looking, but the moment I hear his boots crunch the other side of me, I know I’m done for. I squeal and launch off the fence, but he has me, my face smashed to the fence in a split second. I squirm in his grip, crying out.

“Let me go!” I scream, playing the perfect part.

The part that has my heart thudding.

The part that has my panties dripping.

Axel uses one hand to hold me against the fence, while the other goes to my jeans, yanking them down so hard the entire lot goes. My bare ass is now on display, and I can feel the cool trickle of air against my skin. I shove backwards, but Axel slams me forwards. “Uh-uh-uh,” he croons. “Time to get fucked.”

I hear his zipper go, and then he’s inside me. Deep. Brutal. I throw my head back and scream as he crushes my body against the fence, and thrusts deeper, harder, faster. His fingers go up and tangle in the wire beside my head, and my screaming intensifies. I shove back again, trying to get away, wanting to keep playing. Axel growls, and his hand comes down and whacks my backside. A painful sting radiates through my body.

“Oh God,” I whimper.

“You like it,” he snarls into my ear. “You fuckin’ love my cock deep inside you.”

“No I don’t,” I spit. “You fucking pig.”

He chuckles, and pulls out of me, spinning me around. I stumble because of the jeans that are around my ankles. I land on my knees, and his cock shoves into my face.

“I have something for my girl with her sassy mouth.”

He tangles his fingers in my hair, and gently pulls my head back, before plunging his cock into my mouth. I groan and reach up, wrapping my hand around his shaft. He moans, and begins using my hair to drive his thrusts. Getting a cheeky idea, I move my hand from his shaft, and I cup his balls. His cock swells in my mouth, and with a grin, I squeeze. He roars, and takes two steps backward. I shove to my feet, yanking up my jeans as best I can while darting off into the trees.

“You little shit,” he bellows after me.

A giggle erupts from my throat as I dodge the trees. Axel catches up to me quickly, and I relish in the feeling of his arms wrapping around me, spinning my body and throwing me over his shoulder. He carries me to a clearing, and lowers me onto the soft grass. When he’s over me, I look up into his eyes. A smile tugs at his lips, and it makes him look so incredibly flawless.

“My dick is so hard for you right now, so tell me, Cricket. You want it hard, or you want it slow?”

I stare up into his eyes, and I see a softness there I’ve never seen before. A huge part of me wants him to fuck me hard on this grass after our little chase in there, but a bigger part wants him to fuck me slow, making me come over and over again.

“Slow,” I mumble. “Fuck me slow, Axel.”

His smile widens, and he leans back, taking my jeans and discarding them. Then he’s back over me, cock in hand, shoving it toward my entrance. I inhale deeply as he slides in, and my eyes grow heavy. He leans down, taking my leg and bringing it up over his hip as he begins to rock against me, gently sinking his length in and out of me.

“Axel,” I tremble. “God, it’s so good.”

“So fuckin’ sweet,” he murmurs, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine.

I let him take me in a deep, hungry kiss. He kisses me like it’s the last time he’ll ever do so. His hands cup the side of my head, and his hips work my pussy, driving that beautiful cock in and out, hitting the perfect spots.

“Oh, God,” I cry out. “I’m going to come.”

“Mmm,” he murmurs against my skin.

He moves one hand from my face, and reaches between us, stroking a finger over my clit. I erupt beneath him, shaking and shrieking out his name. He rumbles against me, and his hips work faster. Just before he comes, he pulls out of me and squeezes his cock, holding his release back.

“Roll over onto your hands and knees,” he orders.

I can see the desperation in his eyes. He’s so close. I do as he asks, rolling onto my knees and putting my ass into the air. He takes my hips, and sinks into me quickly. I throw my head back, and arch my body as he thrusts toward his release.

“You want it on your ass, darlin’?” he groans.

“Yes, oh, yes.”

He thrusts three more times, before pulling out. I hear his raspy cry, and then I feel the hot spurts of come hit my ass and begin to slide down.

“So fuckin’ beautiful,” he murmurs between groans.

I lower my body onto the soft grass, exhaling.

Well, that wasn’t so bad. In fact, if I’m being honest with myself, it was quite thrilling. Axel uses his shirt to clean me off, and then he flops down beside me. I roll to face him, propping myself up on my elbow.

“I survived,” I whisper.

He meets my gaze. “There’s more.”

Oh?

He sees my expression become curious, and elaborates. “Those shackles in my room? Next time you suck my cock, you’re going to be chained to them.”

My pussy pulses and I bite my bottom lip.

He grins.

“Looks like that’s going to be sooner rather than later.”

AXEL

I grin, watching her sitting on the bar talking to Jax and Cobra. The two men were wary of Meadow when she first came into the picture, but now they’re warming to her. She’s between them both, laughing, throwing her head back, and letting those gorgeous locks tumble down her back. Her laughter is like a melody flowing through the room, making it light and warm. I shake my head, horrified that I’m thinking such...pussy thoughts.

“Pres, we need a word.”

I turn to see Colt standing beside me, his eyes hard. I nod, and following him down the hall. We get to my office, and he closes the door once we’re inside.

“What’s up?” I ask, leaning against the desk and crossing my arms.

“Just got a call. There was some trouble in town.”

I narrow my eyes. “Trouble?”

“Bunch of girls were...raped. Some club members.”

I feel my neck prickle. “Club members? Have you motherfuckers been out, and if I so much as find out you’ve put your cocks in someone that doesn’t want it I’ll...”

“It’s Beast, Pres.”

I feel anger swell in my chest. “Beast?”

“He’s fuckin’ with us. The cops know the only MC in town is us, and Beast has made a run for it. You know what’s goin’ to happen if they pull us up? We got that gun shipment in last night. We haven’t moved it on yet. If the cops show up here...”

“That smart motherfucker,” I snarl. “We can’t move that shit right now, it’s not due to be delivered until Thursday. Fuck, we need to get into town and sort out this mess. Now.”

“Most of the brothers are drunk.”

I clench my fists. “You find the ones that can ride, and you gather them. We need to get in and sort this situation. Who rang you?”

“Jake, he’s at the bar down the road. He heard the commotion and asked around. There were three girls raped in an alley about an hour ago. They came into the bar, and the bar attendant is trying to convince them to call the cops. He said there was talk of the local MC’s doing it. People assume it’s us. The cops will be onto it, if they’re not already. We can be expecting a visit if we don’t wrap this shit up.”

“Scrap the fuckin’ bikes, we’ll take the trucks. They’ll be lookin’ out for us. Let’s move.”

Colt nods, and leaves the room. I turn, taking the keys for the trucks from my desk. I shove them in my pockets, and head back out. Colt has six mostly sober guys lined up. Meadow is staring at me, her eyes narrowed. I walk over, putting my hands on her knees. She’s still sitting on the bar.

“Stay here; don’t go. I’ve got shit to deal with, but I’ll be back in a few hours. Go sleep, if you need.”

She nods. “Okay.”

I press a kiss to her lips, and then turn, gathering the men and shoving them outside. I give them a run down on what’s happening as we drive.

Fuck, this is the last thing I need.

“He still got them out there?” I ask Jake, as my men move around the bar, checking things out.

“Yeah, so far no cops have showed. They’re not really talking, and one is refusing to allow him to call the cops. She copped it real bad. She’s all fucked up and battered.”

“Right,” I grunt, and then turn to Colt. “Let’s get out the back and talk to this guy before he calls the cops.”

We walk as a group through the bar, shoving the girl out of the way when she tries to stop us. We step out back, and see a familiar face soothing three girls. We’ve known Max for a long enough time, that he’s familiar with us and how we roll. Colt’s bar is just up the road, and we’ve always had good communication.

Upon hearing our entrance, Max turns and stares over at us, then he gets to his feet.

“You fuckers come any closer, and I’ll call the cops, but not before I put a fuckin’ bullet in your heads.”

“Pipe down, Max,” I say, my tone bored. “You know we didn’t do this shit.”

“Funny that, because you’re the only bikers that run this town, and these girls know what they saw.”

I turn my eyes to the girls, and I study them. Two of the girls are wide-eyed and confused, and I can tell just by glancing at them, that they’re off their trees. Beast gave them something to confuse them. They’re both blonde, busty, and pretty enough. They’re not beat up.

The third girl, she’s staring at her hands, but I can see her battered face. She’s trembling, and her entire body is rigid. When she finally lifts her eyes, I feel mine widen.

She’s got jet-black hair, long and curly, half way down her back. Her eyes, through, they’re cat yellow. I shake my head, never having seen anything like it. She’s a strange, yet oddly attractive-looking girl, but she’s been through the ringer. Her eyes are puffy and dark, and she has blood dripping from her lip.

“It wasn’t us,” I finally say, turning to Max. “It was Beast and his gang. They’re in town causing shit. Ask your girls here, go on.”

Max turns to the girls. “Were these the men who hurt you?”

The dark-haired girl shakes her head frantically. “N-n-n-no.”

Max narrows his eyes, and glares at me. “Then why are you here?”

“I’m here to clean up the fuckin’ mess that prick left behind. I’m takin’ the girls, Max. I need to sort this out, and keep it away from the cops.”

Max storms over to me, getting up in my face. “They were gang-raped,” he hisses. “You can’t not call the cops.”

I lean in closer, gripping his shirt. “You involve the cops, and a whole new world of trouble starts. You know how that shit goes down, Max. I’ll take ‘em, help ‘em, and then let them go when Beast has been sorted.”

“You know I don’t fuckin’ agree with this.”

“And you also know you get no choice.”

I step past him, and over to the girls. I kneel down in front of the dark-haired girl.

“My name is Axel, and I’m here to take care of you. Me and my boys, we won’t lay a hand on you, but you gotta trust us. We’re gonna take you back. We got some real nice old ladies in our club, and they’ll let you stay with them.”

The dark-haired girl shakes her head, her eyes wide. “No, please.”

“Listen to me,” I say gently, but firmly. “My men and I won’t lay a hand on you or your friends, but we can’t leave you here. You’re not safe, but I promise once you are, we’ll let you go.”

She studies my face, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

Then she croaks out, “I don’t get a choice, do I?”

“No, darlin’.”