Page 115 of One Night with the Biker

“I know the fucking story. What’s your point, motherfucker?”

“Did you love her?”

“Did you?”

“I cared about her.” Sighing, he finally faced me. “But relationships don’t work out for me. I’m done with them. If I survive today, I’m freelancing.”

“A gun for hire?”

He gave me a sardonic grin and lifted his bionic hand. “Haven’t quite learned to shoot again. I’ve been wondering if I could find someone to make a prosthetic that fires bullets.”

“You’re crazy,” I said around laughter.

“Iron Manvibes,” he said. “One of Ainsley’s favorite movies.”

“I know,” I said quietly. She’d told me during our overnight stay at the cabin. I hated that I didn’t immediately catch the reference. “We discussed our favorite movies.”

His look of approval surprised me. “Then you took time with her. Got to know her a little.”

I suddenly felt sick, remembering how special I thought she was, how special she made me feel. I nodded, unable to do much more.

“Then she must’ve talked a lot.” Roman laughed sadly. “Say one thing and she talked for hours.”

Bowing my head, I blinked and smiled. I’d made a similar observation about her.

“Do you know why I keep talking about my little sister as if she’s already gone?”

What little peace I felt while Roman discussed her abruptly fled. I didn’t want to hear that he’d given up on her. Or anything that would confirm I’d never see her again or hear her laughter. Hold her in my arms or match wits with her.

“I’m trying to prepare myself, Reese. Psych myself up if she really is dead, but I’ve been afraid to move from the table, afraid I’d break my…” He shook his head and gave a short laugh. “My whatever. I’ve been trying to will her to fight. To stay alive. I want to hug her tightly and apologize to her. I want to tell her about the girl I met. If I still believed in love, I might…” His voice trailed off again. “It doesn’t matter. London has enough problems without me adding to them.”

“Ainsley’s alive.” She had to be. I couldn’t imagine my world without her. “And when I rescue her, if you don’t apologize, I’ll cut off your fucking feet and cut out your tongue.”

He smiled and clapped me on the back. “I’m going to hold you to that,” he said and walked back into the clubhouse, leaving me alone.

I never considered all the creature comforts such as food, water, and a soft, warm bed that I enjoyed for as long as Iremembered. They just were and I took them for granted. But when one languished in a cage in the trailer of a dead ex-friend those things tended to be missed.

Wizard threw me in the back of the van, shoved Chi Chi aside and drove us back to the Bloody Scorpions’ property. I didn’t want to consider what they’d done to Chi Chi’s body. I’d liked him a lot. We’d gotten to be friends over the three weeks he delivered things to Jinx and me and checked on us daily even when he had nothing to bring.

Gradually, the images of Chi Chi’s death faded into a haze of exhaustion. By the second day, the truth was inescapable. I wouldn’t make it out alive. Nor would my baby. I’d never see Reese again or admit that I loved him.

I hoped Jinx got away from Louisiana. She deserved better than to have his will forced upon her when he’d fucked up so badly. Seeing my parents and my brother, and introducing my baby to them, was my only consolation. I hoped Roman forgave me in the afterlife.

The opening front door pulled me from my lethargy. I was thirsty, hungry, and achy. I couldn’t even raise myself on my knees because the cage was too small, so I remained in a tight ball. Yesterday’s vomit and pee were dried and a sour ammonia smell permeated the room.

The cage door clanged open. Rough hands grabbed my ankles and jerked me onto the floor. Nova had kept a very neat house. She’d liked cleanliness and pretty things. Now, she was gone and what she liked no longer matter. The world wouldn’t know how much I’d valued her and her friendship. Her death wouldn’t matter in the big scheme of things.

Perhaps, death was good. I was so tired of losing the people I loved. I was still grieving my brother, wishing I could see him…

“Get up, Ainsley.”

Asshole couldn’t be serious. “I don’t think I can, Wizard.”

He kicked my back and I cried out in pain. “Stand up.”

“Can’t you just kill me?” I asked tiredly. “Abuse my body afterward.”

“I won’t be able to hear you scream my name.”

---