Prologue: Ella
“Stupid idea,” Ray said. He was my boss, a big and intimidating man, standing at six feet five, skin the color of creamy chocolate, and bald. Although much older, Ray was ripped with muscles from head to toe and still had a fantastic way of showing a sweet side that no other person could compare to. “It’s late and rainy. Take a cab tonight.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at Ray’s suggestion, but I refrained and told him goodbye instead.
My house was three blocks from the museum’s bar, and I usually walked home at night, anyway. As the days grew closer to winter, though, the nights crept up faster and made the evenings darker. Shady people lurked in the shadowed alleyways, and Ray had told me he didn’t like the idea of someone as “feminine” as me walking home alone. As much as I thought of myself as a fighter, deep down I knew he was probably right.
I stepped out of the museum’s bar after washing up and grabbing my things, then walked to the curb, hoping to hail a cab. Ray hadn’t been kidding about the rain. It was freaking pouring like a monsoon (just my luck), and it didn’t take long before my outfit was soaked and clinging to my skin. The downpour made it too difficult to see two feet in front of me, and I doubted any taxis were going to spot me even if I stood under the lights of the museum. After five minutes of waiting, I grew tired of it. I wasn’t about to spend the rest of my night standing in the rain and waiting for a ride that wouldn’t show.
I turned from the curb and headed home on foot. Not an umbrella in sight—of course—why would I have one in my purse? What did weather forecasters know, anyway? “Oh, it’ll be sunny without a cloud in the sky.” Tell that to my hair and soaked shirt, Mr. Weatherman.
This is a stupid idea.
My mind already knew it, but for some reason, my legs just kept moving forward. I searched the streets for taxis, but had trouble differentiating them from other cars. I sighed and wiped soaking-wet strands of hair from my face, heading down the street and looking for the quickest way to get home.
What a perfect ending to an already crap day, I thought.
I turned a corner at a light and continued, trying to think of what I was going to do when I got home.
Change my clothes, warm up with a mug of hot coffee, and then immediately head for bed. Sounds like a good plan.
A firm hand seized my upper arm and knocked me out of my daydream. I gasped as I was yanked backward toward the corner of two buildings. The moment was a flurry of blurred images, droplets of rain, and someone’s rough hold snatching my hair and dragging me into a darker place.
From the muted sounds of the rain, I assumed it was an alley.
I cried out in panic—the hand in my hair freaking hurt. I tripped in my shoes, attempting to struggle, and lost a heel in the chaos. Because why not? I was in a B-rated horror flick as the chick who lost a shoe and died. Was this my end? My attacker threw me to the concrete, and I tensed before my head could crack against the hard ground, buffering my fall. I scrambled to get away but nearly ran into a burly figure just behind me.
Although the rain was torrential, I clearly made out the powerful muscles and beady eyes of one of my assailants. I turned around to run but realized I was trapped by the first man who’d grabbed me. He had longer hair that hung around his face and shoulders in a stringy mess. His face was hollow, and his eyes were glazed over and full of … lust. Gross. He and his buddy were devouring my bare legs with their disgusting gazes, and my now-exposed cleavage that was heaving in breathless fear through my thin blouse.
“I told you one would come around.” He bumped his elbow into his muscled partner.
“Give us your money!”
“Hey, hey, it must be our lucky day.” The scraggly-looking man pointed and narrowed his eyes. “Damn. Look at those legs.”
“We should strip her down so we can make this easy. Then get her into the van.”
Like hell they would!
I panicked, struggling to find a way around my attackers. I screamed at the top of my lungs but feared my voice was lost in the pounding of the rain. I backed away, breathing heavily. I was not going to die tonight, not in a dirty alleyway, and not at the hands of dick-bags like this. Nope, I was twenty-five and had my whole life ahead of me. Screw this shit. I searched in the darkness for something I could use as a weapon, but I was immediately cut short…
A heavy motor ripped through the alley and a blast from a headlight washed over the dark space, scaring away the shadows. My attackers were lit up, and they shielded their eyes from the blinding light. A powerful motorcycle tore through the small area, forcing the two men to back away. Within seconds, the biker leapt off the seat of his ride and threw himself toward the men.
“I suggest you keep your hands off her.” His deep voice growled loudly.
The men sized him up, seemingly unimpressed at first, then I saw them staring at the MC logo on his jacket. “We ain’t got no quarrel with you, brother.”
He took a step closer. “Well, if you touch her, then you do.”
Muscle Head hiked his thumb toward me. “This your woman?”
“Yes.”
They nodded and left me to make their getaway back into the shadows.
I was left shivering and half-stooped due to a missing shoe—yes, a bit terrified—okay, a lot, and yet hopeful that the man on the bike was there to save me—and not, you know, mug me like the other two assholes. I watched in shock as he took two steps past me, staring hard into the darkness where the two men had run, and then turned toward me. He eyed me up and down for a moment, saying nothing, and then walked back to his bike and motioned for me to join him.
Not unless I’ve lost my damned mind! I thought to myself, shaking my head at him. I could barely see him past the headlight of his bike.
“Get on.” He gestured with his hand, his voice harsh through the rain.
I stepped toward him but hesitated.
“You’re bleeding. I won’t hurt you. Get on, quick.” This time, his voice was even louder.
I’m…bleeding? I wondered in surprise, checking myself over to see exactly where. I couldn’t see much. My clothes were muddy from falling, and it looked black in the darkness.
“I’ll get you to safety. They’re going to come back with their gang. Do you want that?”
I had no choice. Damn it.
I didn’t want to die at the hands of two degenerate thugs—or worse.
Although the biker somewhat terrified me, I forced my feet toward him. Guess I’ve lost my mind after all. I decided I had to embrace that pulsing sense of danger. I swung my leg over the bike and sat my butt down. The feel of the leather seat was soft against my bare inner thighs, and the feeling of the machine vibrating beneath me sent a shiver racing through my body. He kicked down and the engine roared louder.
That sound. Oh, God.
He was strong. Firm. Solid. I threaded my arms under his shoulders and laid my palms flat against his chest. That chest was rock hard, and the touch of the wet leather of his jacket under my hands was strangely calming. I bit my lip. The lead biker revved his engine once more and took off, tearing out of the alley. I ducked my head and pressed it against his back to avoid the cold sting of the rain, amplified by the swift movement of the bike. From my position, I wasn’t sure where he was taking me, and I only hoped it was someplace safe.