I stood at the back door, waiting to hear his fists on the heavy metal door that opened from the common area of my building. I could hear him coming — heard the exterior door open, and heard his feet descend the five steps to my front door. The second he knocked, I silently slid open the sliding glass door, closed it quietly and took off around the building toward the parking lot.
Pausing at the corner to make sure he hadn’t come back outside, I made a run for my car. I prayed that the engine would start, and as I pulled out of the parking lot, I looked in my rearview mirror. Bug stood on the sidewalk, watching me drive away, hands on his hips, radiating a fury I’d never seen before.
My nervous energy emerged, and I laughed like a crazy woman as I drove off, knowing that I’d just delayed the inevitable showdown that would have to occur, but quite pleased with myself regardless.
“Next stop, the Ritz,” I howled, realizing that I was on the verge of tears. I didn’t want to ruin my mascara, so I forced myself to calm down and pay attention to the road.
I looked down at my phone and saw two missed calls from Bug. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I knew he couldn’t reach through the phone and hurt me, so I called him back.
“You rang?” I said when he answered.
“You’re a stupid, fucking cunt, and I’m gonna make you wish you’d never been born.”
“What seems to be the trouble, sugar?” I figured I might as well have some fun, since there was no way I could calm him down.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you, but first I’m gonna fuck you until you bleed, you fuckin’ whore.”
“Well, as delightful as that sounds, I’m afraid I have other plans for this evening.”
“Go ahead, you fuckin’ cunt. You go ahead and laugh. I’m comin’ for you when you least expect it. You ‘re gonna think you’re all safe and sound, and you’re gonna wake up to find my cock in your ass, you fuckin’ slut.”
Now I was pissed and more than a little scared. “You don’t scare me, Bug. I’ll tell Joker what you’ve said, and he’ll stop you.”
“Not a one of my brothers will believe a whore instead of me. I’ll tell ‘em you’re all pissed because I won’t make you my old lady. I’ll tell ‘em that your old pussy is too worn out, and I don’t want it no more.”
“Fuck you, Bug. I just took back what was mine, you piece of shit.”
“When you least expect it, cunt. When you least expect it.”
He hung up and I nearly had to pull over because I was shaking from head to toe. I was absolutely terrified, and I believed every word of what he’d said. Bug wasn’t the smartest guy, but he was certainly mean enough to at least attempt to do the horrible things he’d promised. All the pride I’d felt at having taken my money back evaporated into a cloud of fear and helplessness. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I was going to pass out. I found the nearest gas station and pulled into it, managing to get my car into a parking space before I completely lost it.
I opened the car door and got out, gasping for air and starting to feel light-headed. What had I done? I’d been all proud of myself, thinking that I’d finally stood up for myself and that I’d taken a big step toward making better choices in my life, and look what it had gotten me. I finally caught my breath and started deliberately slowing my breathing down, trying to get myself under control. My heart was racing, and I realized that I needed help. There was no way I could handle Bug by myself, and he was right — I couldn’t rely on the Savage Sons to protect me. They’d take his side, every last one of them.
Finally calmed down enough to drive again, I got back in the car and wondered if maybe Luke could be the answer. Even though his father was the MC’s President, Luke seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and he’d clearly been bothered by the way Bug treated me the night Luke and I had run into one another at the clubhouse. Part of me wanted to be independent enough to handle everything all on my own, and part of me just wanted some big, strong man to come in and fix all of my problems. If he looked good enough to eat, that was even better.
Feeling better about the plan I was working through in my mind, I got back on the road toward Luke and the Ritz Carlton.
Chapter 21
Luke
When I heard the knock on the door, I nearly jumped out of my skin, even though I’d been pacing around the enormous suite waiting for Krystal to arrive. Champagne and strawberries were ready on the top of the bar, and I looked in the full-length mirror that covered one of the walls in the sitting area. I’d had the laundry service at the hotel press my dress shirt, so my white shirt was crisp and perfect, untucked over perfectly broken in jeans and flip-flops. The look was casual and polished, the perfect contrast to the biker guys that Krystal usually hung out with. The irony of the fact that I was about to join the same MC wasn’t lost on me, but I really wanted to impress Krystal.