“When’s the last time you saw your father?”
Ally shrugged. “I can’t even remember it’s been so long. Last time I saw him, he wanted to borrow two hundred dollars for a debt.”
“Did you give it to him?”
She scoffed. “I have ten cents in my bank account.”
The man chewed on his lower lip as if conflicted. She hadn’t moved, even though her entire body ached. Then he stepped away and talked to one of the other bikers wearing cuts.
“Sure thing, Lord.” Then the biker grabbed the cop from last night by the sleeve and led him away toward the barn behind them.
Her nerves began to pick up. She was next. They were both dead.
Ally attempted to think of anything to distract him from killing her, to appeal to any shred of humanity left inside of him.
“Why do they call you Lord? Is your club like a cult or something?”
She immediately regretted her words, holding her breath and tensing.
He raised an eyebrow. “It’s just a name. Don’t read so much into everything.”
The guy holding her exhaled a frustrated sigh, giving her a jostle. “What are we doing with her, boss?”
“Relax.”
The way he looked at her was unnerving or titillating, she wasn’t sure. He reminded her of a wolf sizing up its prey. She shouldn’t be in this situation to start with.
“How much does my father owe you? Why aren’t you after him instead of me?”
It wasn’t like she’d be able to pay off his debt for him, but it still wasn’t fair for her to have to pay for his sins. She’d never done anything wrong. Ally even released spiders rather than killing them.
“Your father’s already dead.”
Her mouth parted, but no words came out. She hated her bastard father, but knowing he was dead shocked her to the core. And made her more aware of her dire circumstance.
“The Straight to Hell MC is known for a lot of things, I’m sure, but one thing in particular. Care to guess?”
She shook her head.
“Revenge. When we deal with a rat, they’re not the only one to suffer. Torturing and killing their loved ones sends a strong message to any other fucker thinking to do the same thing. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s worked very well for us.”
Her eyes began to fill with tears. She held her breath and tried her best not to let her emotions spill over. There were so many dreams she had that would be left unfulfilled. No one would miss her.
A loud gunshot echoed from the barn and she gasped, instinctually rushing forward, clinging to Lord’s t-shirt. The guy beside her attempted to pull her back, but Lord stopped him.
She let her hands slowly fall away from him, and she stared down at the ground, never feeling so alone. The third biker rejoined them. The cop had to be dead. Dead like her father. Dead like she’d be soon.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He ran both his hands into her hair at the sides of her head, forcing her to look at him. He exhaled in a near growl. An angry sound.
“You’re your father’s daughter. All I’ve thought about the past few days is wiping your bloodline off the face of the earth—to see you broken and bloodied, begging for me to end your life, only to keep prolonging your suffering. I imagined that fucking Prixman watching from heaven or hell or wherever the fuck he is.”
Tears fell down her cheeks, pooling where his hands met her cheeks. “He wouldn’t care.”
“It’s better when they care. Makes the torture more satisfying.”
She let out a soft, shuddering breath.
“Who do you live with?” he asked.
“Myself. I’ve been alone a long time.”
“Kids?”
She frowned. “I’m only nineteen.”
“I know girls on their third kid by your age,” said Lord. “Nothing surprises me.”
“I’m a virgin.”
Why did she feel the need to blurt out that fact? His jaw tensed, a look of pure evil passing over his vision. Her knees felt weak, but she forced herself to keep it together.
He stared at her for the longest time. Then he released his hold on her head and led her to where the four Harleys were parked. “Burn the cruiser. Burn the barn.”
“Yes, Lord,” said one of the men.
“This is over. Meet me back at the club when this shit is cleaned up.”
He mounted his bike, then revved the engine. Lord drove off and she immediately tensed up, not wanting to be alone with the other three bikers. Were they going to burn her alive? Did they do all the horrific dirty work for him?
Before she had a full-blown panic attack, he circled around over and over until the dirt and grass created a halo around where she stood. He stopped dead in front of her, supporting the bike with his booted foot. Lord nodded behind him.
She was so confused.
“Not too bright, are you? Get on the fucking bike.”
Ally had never been on a motorcycle, and as she squeezed on behind his massive frame, she realized she’d never been this close to any man. When he hit the gas, she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on for dear life. He pressed one hand to hers for a few moments. His skin was warm and rough. The protective gesture seemed uncalled for when he had her fate mapped out.
Within minutes, they were gone. Away from the farm, away from the other bikers, away from what she thought would be her final resting place.
Now it was the future that worried her.
Where was he taking her? Why was she still breathing?
All she could do now was rest her head against his back, hold on, and watch the world flash by.
Chapter Three
Taking her hadn’t been part of the plan, but the one thing Lord was used to was adapting. He knew in his gut killing her wouldn’t bring him any kind of pleasure. Her grip tightened around him and he liked it. He could never tolerate touch—until now. He savored the feel of those thick, juicy thighs holding on to him. It had been a long time since he’d seen a curvy woman like her.
The current women of the club were slender. Some were nothing more than skin and bone. Just feeling this woman, he knew she was different. It was a gut feeling that had taken him by surprise as soon as he laid eyes on her. There was no denying it.
His cock hardened at the thought of seeing her naked. He didn’t know what the fuck to do with her.
When her head rested against his shoulder, he tensed up. He hated being touched, but this … her touch didn’t piss him off. Was she trying to get comfort from him? This chick confused him, no doubt about it. There was no way any woman should ever want to get any kind of anything from him. He was a monster, through and through. He’d learned by pain and suffering himself to never let anyone in.
Ally.
That was her name.
Lord wanted to know more. Every detail. Was Ally short for Allyson, Alysia, something else? For some fucked-up reason, he actually cared to find out.
He also needed to constantly remind himself that she was the enemy. The daughter of a rat bastard. They weren’t friends.
Gritting his teeth, he tried not to think about what he really wanted. The moment she’d asked if her father had sold her to him, he’d seen the glint in her eyes. Even as her body had shaken in fear, he knew she was attracted to him, and what was more, she hated herself for it as well.