“Did he sell me to you?”
He looked taken aback, so she knew she’d be wrong in the assumption. Part of her was actually disappointed. If she had to belong to a man, why not this one? She pushed her twisted thoughts away and focused on her reality. The one where bikers treated women like trash, cheated on them, and beat them without a second thought. She didn’t want to be a man’s punching bag.
“Now there’s a thought,” he said. A devilish little smile revealed the crinkles next to his eyes. Why did it have to turn her on? Had she ever seen eyes so black?
She kept quiet.
“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.