[Black Horsemen MC 01] • Taken by Lies

Secrets are her weapon of choice

Everyone knows the woman who sings for the bar-goers every Friday night. They know her because she knows them. Gloria Straut keeps her friends close and her enemies closer. Living in the tough part of town, she has to know how to fight her battles—which she has perfected flawlessly .

He’d rather let his fists do the talking

Vinny Di Molto is muscle. He knows people talk when faced with the threat of a fist. He knows because it’s his job to know. Someone’s got to be the bad guy, and though he could be happy doing anything else, he has his brothers who have his back and the bike’s not too bad of a trade-off, either. It pays to be the one people are always afraid of.

When two immovable forces fatefully meet

The thrill of a challenge is something Gloria and Vinny crave. When Gloria stumbles upon a back alley meeting, eavesdropping might be her undoing. Vinny’s never been one to get blackmailed but there’s a first time for everything. Things should go smoothly, as long as feelings and desire don’t get in the way.

**EXCERPT**

Vinny hovered at her doorstep as she cleared the large, king-sized bed of all of her clothes and gear. Gloria tossed it all on the one open desk chair. Closing the door behind him, he entered slowly, hands in pockets, as he took a seat on the foot of the bed. With nowhere else to sit, she took her place next to him. For the first time, she was able to take him all in. In the soft lighting of her bedroom lamp, his body almost radiated life. He smelled so familiar, of the woods and fresh earth after rain.

She broke the silence first, “Thanks for the ride. I haven’t been in ages.”

“I could tell. So why would a girl who disliked ridin’ so much be working at a motorcycle bar in the middle of nowhere?” He was being playful, flirty almost.

She shrugged. “Dunno. One day, I walked into the tavern, asked for a job singin’, an’ I guess I never left.”

“Thought you weren’t the settlin’ type.” She flushed and looked away, and he caught her. “Haw! So the fearless chick isn’t as bad as she says!” His hand reached toward her face to brush over her pink cheeks. “I like it.”

“If I weren’t fearless, I wouldn’t be here with you,” her breath arched at his touch.

“Maybe you like being afraid. Everyone does in a way.” His guard crashed to the ground as he looked into her pale green eyes.

“Then what are you afraid of?”

Vinny paused as he thought about what the right answer would be. He struggled, so, instead, he picked the truth, “Being tamed.”

“Lucky for you, I like ‘em wild.”