RECKLESS AND WILD: MOTORCYCLE CLUB ROMANCE BOX SET (9 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“We're having a party, Dixie. It's Colby's birthday. We need you there.”

River's deep voice in my ear was creating a warmth between my legs and by the time I hung up the phone, moistness was filling my panties. He had the most intense effect on me, and my heart had begun racing as soon I saw his name on my caller ID.

The party was Saturday night and he wanted me to show up as his guest and wander around, discretely watching everyone else who showed up. If I saw anything suspicious, he wanted me to report back to him. I was looking forward to spending time with River, but I wasn't exactly looking forward to socializing with the club members, especially Spider.

A vision of River's bruised knuckles filled my head when I remembered that he had punched both Spider and Colby after the scene at the bar. As if reading my mind, River reassured me.

“Don't worry about Spider. He will treat you with the utmost respect. As will everyone else, Dixie. I promise.”

“Okay, I'll be there, River.” I'd have done almost anything this man asked.

“Thanks, babe.”

He hung up the phone. Babe, huh? He made it all sound so casual.

I still didn't know quite what to expect. I didn't know what to expect at the party, but I also didn't really know where River was going with all of this. I had only communicated with him by phone the last few days, and he hadn't made any effort to spend time with me. Colby had already made it quite clear that River wasn't the type to go out on dates.

Shaking my head as I hung up the phone, I shuddered at the thought that I had already slept with him twice, and we had never even had a meal together.

When visions of The Barbie's making dinner in his kitchen and dancing around to music flashed in my head, I pushed them to the back of the closet of my mind, and firmly locked them up in the box I had long ago labeled 'DENIAL'.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Just how short is too short? My tight black dress hugged my curves, and ended just below my butt cheeks. I wanted to look sexy. Even though I would be there to do a job, I wanted to blend in, and still get River's attention.

I didn't know what was really going to go on at this party. They were a rowdy bunch and my imagination had been going wild with visions of a drunken-filled orgy or huge piles of drugs on the pool table. I had never been inside the clubhouse, but I could only imagine it was filled with naked women and lots of intoxicating substances. However, I was determined to be completely passe about the whole thing. No matter what I witnessed, I would take it in stride. The last thing I wanted to do was make it obvious how sheltered and innocent I was.

But I also wanted to look damned good, and I had achieved that. My black curls had blessed me today by being smooth and silky, instead of a frizzy, frazzled mess and my tall, black leather boots complimented my short dress perfectly. I raked bright red lipstick over my full lips and headed out the door. Just as I made it to my car, a loud crack exploded in the sky, and rain began furiously pouring onto my windshield.

Great. There went my perfect curls. In five minutes, my head would be a complete frizzy mess. I debated going back inside my house to fetch an umbrella, but that would destroy my hair immediately. If I got lucky, the rain would stop by the time I got to the clubhouse.

But no such luck. It was raining harder by the time I arrived.

Loud rock music poured from the clubhouse, while dozens of people ran in and out of the flung open garage doors that led into the building, the downpour drenching them.

As I watched the scene from the shelter of my car, I noticed a black car parked at the end of the block with a person sitting in it. The lights were off, and they were making no move to get out. They were far away, and the rain pelting my windshield made it impossible to even see if it was a man or a woman. Sure, they could have been sitting there to wait out the rain like I was doing, but I couldn't help but wonder if I discovered something worth reporting to River.

I was in no hurry to be covered in nature's tears, so I sat there for fifteen minutes waiting and watching. When the rain finally did let up a little, I waited for the person to get out of the car and go into the party, but they didn't. Even more convinced this was something worth exploring, I stayed put and continued to watch.

River hadn't given me an exact time to be here, he had just told me to show up sometime after eight and that the party would go late. He had mentioned he might have to leave for a bit to attend to some club business, but if he did, it wouldn't take him away for too long. So, when I saw him get on his bike and roar out of the parking lot and head North, I didn't think about following him at first. I continued to carefully watch the other car and shortly after River turned the corner, the other car started up and began following him.

Dammit!

I knew I wasn't supposed to follow. River had clearly told me not to worry about watching him, that he would know if he was being followed by someone. But I couldn't help it. I knew he hadn't seen the other car, because they hadn't moved until he was out of sight and around the corner. I could have called him, but he was on his bike and there was no way he could answer his phone or even see a text if I sent it.

So I did it. I started my car, and pulled in behind the black, low-slung Mercedes. I still couldn't see who I was following, and I hung back a bit and tried to blend into the other cars around us.

River continued to head North on Main Street, but when he reached the light, he turned East and the black car continued North. Making a quick decision, I decided to follow the other car instead of River. Something was fishy, and I needed to see who was driving that car. When they reached the on-ramp to the freeway, I followed closely behind them.

They drove for miles and miles, and I was about to give up and turn around when they took the same exit that I had taken when I followed River that first, fateful night. When they pulled into River's driveway, I knew something was definitely not right.

My heart raced as I parked my car in the same, familiar place, and grabbing my camera and trying to ignore the rain, I stumbled through the dark woods down the pathway to River's house. When I reached the cabin, it was still and quiet. The car was parked in front, the driver nowhere to be seen. A light was on in the living room, but I couldn't see inside the windows because of the relentless rain.

I jumped as thunder exploded above me. I was soaked to the bone, my hair and clothes a floppy, wet mess. Rain pounded the ground, causing thick mud to splash onto my boots as I slowly approached the cabin. If I could get closer, I could wipe the window and see what was going on inside.

I sprinted from the useless tree canopy I was standing under, my faith in it keeping me dry having been lost quickly and I made a mad dash for the living room window. There was only a small patch of darkness I could hide in. River's cabin was lit up on the outside like a baseball field and I knew now why he said he would know if someone was watching him. I hadn't noticed it so much that first night, maybe because it wasn't raining, or maybe because I was distracted by the swell of River's sweet cock that I had the pleasure of viewing through his bedroom window, but nevertheless, it was quite a challenge to hide next to his house.

Inching up to the window, I crouched under it and quickly reached up and ran my hand across the glass. It wasn't much help, but I was able to put my face right up to it and peer inside.

I gasped when I saw one of the Barbie twins rummaging through a cabinet in River's kitchen. Of course! I hadn't recognized her car in the pouring rain.

What the hell was she doing here? She was going from one drawer to another, searching frantically through what looked like papers and mail for something that she apparently wasn't finding.

What did this mean? I thought she was one of River's lovers and yet she was here at his house alone. And what the hell was she looking for?

My camera was in my hand, but I knew the chances of getting a picture through the dark living room window was nonexistent. I would have to get closer somehow. Maybe if I could get a peek into the kitchen window, I could snap a picture of her and give it to River. If I told him I knew who she was, he would know I had seen her here before. No. I had to pretend I had no idea who she was when I told River about this, and it would be a lot easier to do with a picture.

I ran over to the kitchen window and wiping part of it off, I peered inside. I had the perfect view for capturing on camera, and the woman couldn't see me.

As much as I hated to admit it, she was pretty. Pretty, in a wholesome, natural girl kind of way. If you liked that sort of thing. Her tits were perky and the curve of her hips in her tight jeans was the kind of thing that made grown men moan. Her long blonde hair, while slightly wet from the rain, was still perfect, without a hair out of place. Of course it was. I hated her.

But no matter what her relationship with River was, she was screwed now. He might have known her, but I was damned sure he wouldn't appreciate her waiting till he left the clubhouse and coming to his house alone and riffling through his things. Maybe she was working for someone. Maybe she was a cop. Maybe her perfect twin was a cop, too.

Something was definitely not right.

But I had her. She was so busted now, and River would be so happy that I had successfully helped him find out who was betraying him.

Visions of River's thankful smile flashed in my head as I brought the camera up to the window. It took a moment to get the angle right, and I was thankful for the display screen that showed me that the picture was a good one. Just as I hit the button to snap the photo, blinding pain tore through me as Barbie Number Two slammed the barrel of her gun into the back of my head.

I fell down into the wet mud, and everything went black.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“What are we going to do with her?”

“We could shoot her?”

“There you go again, Polly, jumping the gun. I'm surprised you didn't shoot her when you found her outside.”

“Well, I thought about it, to be honest. But she looked so pathetic, like a wet rat out there. She was oblivious to everything going on around her, and trying to take pictures of you through the window. I could tell she was harmless. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the dumb little bitch.”

Their laughter echoed through the cabin as I slowly regained consciousness and began struggling at the duct tape wrapped around my limbs. They had dragged me inside, unconscious, muddy and bleeding, taped me to the chair and put a piece of tape over my mouth. They wouldn't let me talk at all, and with each groan I made and every time I jerked against the constraints, they laughed.

My head felt like a train had driven through it and my vision was blurred. I listened to them debate what to do with me and fear gripped my heart. I was so fucked. I couldn't believe I had put myself in this position, and I didn't see any way out of this. If they let me talk, I wasn't sure what the hell I would say anyway. My alibi of being a photographer was not going to help me, considering I was caught in the pouring rain and trying to take pictures through a window.

I didn't want them to know I was working for River, because I didn't know who they were working for and I didn't want to put him at risk in any way.

My only hope was for River to show up. But he had said the party was going to go late, and he was expecting me there. He would never think to look for me at his place. I wished desperately I had sent that text earlier, so that he would at least know that I had gone after someone.

Now, he might just think I changed my mind. He would party late into the night, and might even spend the night at the clubhouse. By that time, these two bitchy women could have done anything to me.

It was going to be up to me to find a way out. If there was one, that is.

My mind was foggy and I was pretty sure I felt blood trickling down the back of my head. I surely had a concussion this time. Lovely.

Fighting between anger at myself and anger at these two awful women, I struggled to think logically and come up with a plan.

“So who do you think she is?”
“I really don't know. She's definitely not a cop. No cop would just be peeping on you out in the open like that. Maybe she's just a pervert?”

Their laughter was like nails on a chalkboard.

Glaring at them, I tried to let them know exactly what I thought of them with my eyes. I wanted to scream at them, hit them with this stupid chair I was so painfully attached too and take them outside and push them down into the mud, and ruin their stupid, perfect hair. My dress was covered in mud, not to mention my hair, and even though River had told me I wouldn't be in any danger, here I was tied up like a fool. A very wet, very embarrassed and afraid fool. This was all my fault. River had told me not to follow him, and if I had done what he asked, I wouldn't be here now.

Would they really shoot me? I was hoping the answer was no. If they were going to, surely they would have done that by now.

Right? Sure, right.

Fuck!

I wiggled against the tape, making absolutely no progress at all at freeing myself. I was completely at their mercy. And they knew it.

“Gosh, just look at her, Polly. What a mess. I bet she could be pretty with a shower and some dry clothes. Should we do something about that cut on her head? I don't want this bitch bleeding out on these beautiful hardwood floors.”

“She's fine, Brandy. I didn't hit her that hard.”

Brandy and Polly. What kind of bimbo names were Brandy and Polly? I hated them even more.

“Well, should we let her explain herself? She looks like she has something to say.”

Brandy leaned in close to me, her green eyes peering into mine.

“Do you have something to say, bitch?”

I nodded my head. I had no idea what I was going to say.

“Okay, go.” Skin ripped from my lips as she pulled the duct tape off of my face.

I screamed in pain as tears began falling down my face. Dammit! The last thing I wanted to do was show these women I was afraid, and I couldn't help but start crying.

“Please let me go.” I said through my sobs.

“Why should I let you go? You were taking pictures of my sister.”

Her sister? Of course they were sisters, they looked just alike. Gross, River. I couldn't believe he was fucking two sisters.

“I'm sorry. I'm um...um...I can't explain it. I know it was wrong. I won't do it again, I swear, and if you just let me go, I won't tell anyone.”

“What do you mean, you won't tell anyone? Tell anyone what, bitch? You're the one in trouble here. You were the one peeking into the window like a goddamned peeping Tom!”

“Yes, I was. Which is bad. But now, you've assaulted me and kidnapped me. I think that's a higher level crime. That's what I meant. I won't tell anyone, just please let me go. I didn't mean any harm, I swear.” I was pleading with them, and I hated having to do it, to sound so pathetic, but it was my only option at this point.

“I don't know.”

“Yeah, me either. Let's make a phone call first.”

“Yeah, good idea. You just shut up now, you pathetic little rat.” Brandy leaned down and put another piece of tape on my raw mouth before I could say another word.

A phone call? Who the fuck were they going to call? I was terrified. I would have given anything for River to come crashing through the door right now. I was past the point of embarrassment, I just wanted to be free and get away from these violent bitches.

They both walked out on to the porch, leaving me alone in River's cabin. I looked around, remembering the last time I was here, when I had seen them all making dinner together, and then I remembered the time before that, when I had woken up in River's bed for the second time, that soft look in his eye that had quickly turned to lust and passion.

I was afraid now that I would never see that look again.

Hot, salty tears continued to fall down my face. They were right. I was a pathetic mess and as much as I wanted to please River, I obviously couldn't even do this right. He would be pissed that I hadn't followed his simple instructions and even if I did make it out of this alive somehow, he wouldn't have anything else to do with me. I had failed.