Wild Ride(11)

Raven knew about Rip’s past. That he’d been an undercover cop in a gang of bikers. He’d finally left because he didn’t want to live that life any more.

He’d wanted a real relationship with a woman. And love. When he’d dated Marissa he’d been able to hide his gang affiliations for a while, but after a woman was murdered by one of the other gang members—the guy’s ex—all hell had broken loose. That article wound up in the paper and the gang was harassed by the police until the guy who did it was finally charged.

Rip had been under suspicion, too, as far as the local police were concerned, and he’d used that excuse to leave the gang, pretending to become a fugitive. He left the force and now traveled with Steele and his men. They all had a past, but all they wanted was a set of brothers to travel with and a chance to figure out their lives.

Now he had to save Marissa, his ex, from a ruthless man. He didn’t even want to think about what the guy might be doing to her right now.

* * *

This time when Killer pulled off the main road, and drove along a winding side road, instead of ending at a quiet clearing, they pulled up to a big wrought iron gate set in a tall, stone wall. As they approached, the gate opened and he drove through, then it closed behind them. After a few more minutes driving along the road, they came to what looked like a villa. He pulled up to the side and dismounted.

She followed suit and they stowed the helmets away, then shed their jackets in the heat and stowed them, too.

“Where are we?”

Instead of answering, he took her elbow and tugged her along with him, then ignoring the steps up to the entrance, he dragged her to a side door and pushed it open, then pressed her inside.

They were in a dingy hallway. To the right was a narrow staircase leading up. He pushed her to the left. At the sight of a door with bars, she stiffened, but he opened it and dragged her inside.

“What’s going on? Why are we here?” Her voice grew shrill with fear.

Once inside the cell, he pressed her against the wall.

Her shirt, which was tied around her waist because it was missing most of the buttons now, left her bikini clad breasts exposed. His gaze lingered on them, then settled on her face.

“I’m curious about this man you’re fleeing from. Exactly what are you afraid of.” His golden wolf’s eyes stared into her, assessing. He pressed his body close, pinning her against the cold stone wall, his hard muscular chest crushing the breath from her. His hands glided to her shoulders, grasping them firmly.

“That he’ll rape you?” His pelvis rocked against her.

Alarm vaulted through her. She’d ridden with this man all afternoon and had started feeling safe with him. Then they’d had sex against a tree, which had been wild and exciting.

Now, though, he felt… menacing.

She remembered Rip’s warning as she’d sped away on Killer’s bike.

His hands slid to the base of her neck and she sucked in a breath, drawn deeper into his intense eyes.

“That he’ll kill you?” he asked, his words slicing through her.

Her heart pounded faster. His fingers curled lightly around her throat. Her breath caught as she imagined his fingers closing around her neck and tightening. Squeezing the life from her.

She could read nothing in his eyes. Was he the type of man who could kill? Would he murder her here on the spot, then leave her lifeless body behind?

She knew that Rip and the men he rode with were capable of murder. Not for the first time she worried that she’d put herself in more danger than she’d run from with this man.

Then he glided his fingertips up her neck in a gentle caress, totally throwing her off balance.

“Or are you afraid of falling in love?”

Confusion coiled through her.

She had thought she was in love with Rip, and of course that made her afraid. How could she love a man like that?

“I think you’re afraid of all three.” He dragged a fingertip across her check, sending shivers through her. He searched her eyes. “You have a lot of healing to do.”

“Healing?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“That’s why you’re here on the island, isn’t it?” He searched her eyes with that compelling gaze of his. “Whatever it is you’re afraid of, you need to come face-to-face with it.”

“And that’s what you’ll do? Force me to face my fears?”

He shrugged. “I won’t force you to do anything. You’ll either face them, here on the island, or you’ll run away. Just like you did before. It’s your choice.”

He leaned in close and her heart pounded.

“I do want to help you, though.” His lips turned up in a predatory smile. “We just need to set some expectations.”