Farrah
Demon had been right, about a lot of things. I’d never admit it to him. His ego was big enough already. But I wasn’t a kid anymore and had one of my own on the way. It was time to grow up. I’d left the Dixie Reapers for a chance to spread my wings and stand on my own two feet. I’d yelled at my daddy about treating me like a child, and yet, I still acted childish at times. I missed him now that he and grandpa had gone back home. Since it didn’t seem this mess with Earl would be fixed anytime soon, they’d returned to their club with a promise from me to check in every day.
I didn’t think for one moment at eighteen I had everything figured out. I’d wanted the chance to try, though, and had hoped moving away would give me more opportunities to learn who I was and what I was capable of doing. So far, it seemed I was capable of finding trouble and getting knocked up. Although, to be fair, I’d found trouble since I’d been old enough to walk.
Which was why I now found myself driving to the clubhouse in the late afternoon with two pans of lasagna on the seat beside me. My cooking skills had slightly improved, mostly thanks to the help of Lilian and Rachel. Making a cake from a box was one thing. The lasagna was a new skill level I’d recently achieved, at least somewhat, and I was nearly certain I wouldn’t poison the club, so I’d decided to do something nice for the single men and feed them. As much as I wanted to take credit for the idea, I was merely doing my part. Steel’s woman, Rachel, had stopped by to introduce herself two days ago, a little black pug dancing at her feet and her daughter by her side, and mentioned all the old ladies chipped in and chose an afternoon or night to feed the single men in the club, although the frequency was up to them. Some only cooked once a month, while others made something once a week. I doubted anyone wanted my cooking very often, so I’d most likely take a meal once a month.
I pulled to a stop in front of the clubhouse and parked as close to the steps as I could. Already a line of bikes filled the parking area. The Prospect at the gate gave me a slight wave but I knew better than to pull him from his post in order to have help carrying the dishes inside. Instead, I held my head high and marched inside, hoping to snag the first guy I came across. If I even attempted to carry both inside, I’d likely drop them. They’d nearly ended up on the ground just getting them to my truck.
Smoke hung in the air and stung my eyes and nose. I waved a hand in front of my face, but it didn’t help much. Considering it was still daylight outside, I was a bit surprised at the number of both bikers and club whores lingering in the main room. Then again, the Devil’s Fury had far more single men than the Dixie Reapers. It made me wonder if my dad’s club had been like this back before I’d been born.
I scanned the room, but the cigarettes and whatever else they were smoking made my vision blur. I knew it couldn’t be good for my unborn child either, so I stumbled back outside. How did the other ladies deliver the meals? I highly doubted the Devil’s Fury men liked their women wandering into the clubhouse when it had mostly, if not fully, naked women running around. I hadn’t seen Demon in there, but I knew his bike was parked in the lot. My gaze narrowed. If he hadn’t been in the main area, exactly where had he been?
I pulled my shirt up over my nose and went back inside. I shoved my way through the crowd looking for him, then eyed the darkened hallway. I’d only made it two steps down the corridor before a door opened and he came out, zipping his pants. Everything inside me went tight, hoping like hell he’d just used the bathroom and there wasn’t a woman in there. My heart fell to my feet and shattered as the door opened again and a naked woman strolled out, wiping her lips. She smirked at Demon before pushing past me, which was the exact moment he realized they weren’t alone.
“Farrah.”
I shook my head, turned, and bolted.
“Goddamnit, Farrah!”
I heard him chasing after me, but I didn’t dare stop. I fought my way through the clubhouse and dashed out the door. Rushing down the steps, I blindly reached for the handle on my truck door. Tears blurred my vision as I yanked on the damn thing, finally flinging the door open. I scrambled onto the seat and jammed my key in the ignition. My tires spun as I backed up and shot toward the gate, the poor Prospect diving out of the way as I barreled through.
I heard the pipes on several bikes and saw them in my rearview mirror, but they damn sure weren’t Devil’s Fury. My heart pounded and my palms grew slick as I took a corner a little too fast. I didn’t know where I was going, except away from Demon. On the next turn, the lasagna slid into the floor but somehow managed not to splatter all over the place. Still, I wasn’t sure anyone would want to eat them now. A quick glance told me they were a hot mess after the tumble to the floorboard. When the diner came into view, I pulled over and stopped. Pressing my head to the steering wheel, I tried to take calming breaths.
How could he do that to me? He’d sworn not to touch anyone else. Maybe I should have been more specific and told him I didn’t want him to trip and his dick accidently fall into anyone’s mouth either. Anger and hurt flickered through me, and my eyes stung from unshed tears. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of making me cry!
Someone opened the door of my truck and pulled me out. I should have fought, but I didn’t have it in me right then. I’d survived being kidnapped once, which meant I could do it again if it came to it. Since they didn’t seem to have a vehicle with a trunk, I didn’t feel threatened just yet. I eyed the patches on the guy’s cut. Savage Raptors MC. Lynx.
“And just where the hell are you going like that?” he demanded. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”
I sniffled and wiped at my tears, the ones I’d sworn not to shed, looking up to focus on his face. I didn’t recognize him, but the way he spoke to me made it seem as if we knew one another.
“Lynx, we need to get her out of here before they come looking. Whatever happened, it’s clear she wanted to leave the Devil’s Fury,” another man said.
Lynx nodded and helped me back into the truck. “You okay to drive?”
“Drive where?” I asked.
“We’ll take care of the truck. Just take her on your bike,” the other man said again.
Lynx assisted me back out of the truck and over to the most badass Harley I’d ever seen. All sleek black paint and chrome, the bike was slung low to the ground. He swung his leg over the seat and held out a hand.
“Why should I go with you? I don’t know who you are or why you’re here,” I said. “I wasn’t born yesterday.”
His lips twitched as if he wanted to smile. “Get on the bike, Farrah.”
I jolted at his use of my name. “How do you know who I am?”
“Because I’m your uncle. Now get on the damn bike,” he said.
Numb. In shock. And having no idea what he meant by being my uncle, I found myself reaching for his hand. He helped me onto the back of his bike and pulled out of the parking lot. We hit the streets of town and soon the highway. As the wind whipped through my hair, I realized we were leaving Blackwood Falls. I gripped him tight, not wanting to fall off as the bike picked up speed. By the time he pulled over, my bladder was screaming for a pitstop.
Lynx stopped in front of a motel that seemed decent enough and patted my thigh. I got off the bike, thankful for all the rides I’d been on with my family because my legs held me up and didn’t feel like jelly. One of the other men from Savage Raptors went inside and came out a few minutes later with several room keys. He handed one to Lynx.
The biker stood and reached for my hand, leading me over to the nearest room. He unlocked the door and motioned for me to go inside. If he was kidnapping me, this was the strangest way to go about it. I gave him a cautious glance as I scurried past and went straight to the bathroom, where I shut and locked the door. Once I no longer felt like I’d pee in my pants, I unlocked the door and went to wash my hands at the sink.
Lynx sat in a chair by the window, or perhaps sprawled was a better word since it looked like he’d melted.
“Why did you say you’re my uncle?” I asked. “And where are we? Why did you take me away from Blackwood Falls?”
He held up a hand. “One question at a time, dear niece. First, I said I’m your uncle because I am. Your mother, Ridley, is my half-sister. I go by Lynx these days, but the name on my birth certificate is Wilson Benton. Ridley and I share the same mom, but her stepdad was my father. Unfortunately.”
If my mother had a brother, why hadn’t we ever met before now? Why hadn’t she said anything about Wilson, or Lynx as he called himself now? Were the Savage Raptors a rival club? Had that been why he’d been kept a secret from me all these years? He didn’t look too much older than me, for that matter.
“As to where we are, I’m taking you back home. To my home.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, silencing me.
“I’ll tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it. At the moment, I’m trying to keep you safe. The man who kidnapped you isn’t who you think he is.”
“The junkie? Earl?” I asked. “How did you know about that?”
“It’s a long story. Right now, you need to rest. Write down your sizes and I’ll have someone get some clothes for you. I’m sure you’d like to eat as well.”
I pressed a hand to my belly. Oh hell! I’d ridden on the back of his bike, who knows for how many miles, while I was pregnant. Demon was going to kill me. For that matter, he might kill me anyway for getting onto Lynx’s bike to begin with.
I sank onto the edge of the bed. I’d ridden off with a stranger, all because Demon had hurt me. I didn’t want to stop and analyze why it felt like my heart had broken. I didn’t love him, barely knew him. Right? I wasn’t certain who I was trying to convince. It seemed I’d done something incredibly stupid and fallen for a biker, like I’d always said I wouldn’t do.
I felt Lynx’s gaze on me. For whatever reason, the man didn’t unsettle me. It was almost comforting being in his presence. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but perhaps he’d spoken the truth and we really were related. It didn’t explain why my mother had never mentioned having a brother, or why we’d never met before.
“What do you need right now, Farrah?” he asked, his voice soft and coaxing.
“I-I don’t know.”
“Why did you come tearing out of the Devil’s Fury compound? I was on my way there to speak with you, but the moment I saw your truck fly through the gates, I knew I had to follow you.”
“How did you know what I drive? Or anything about me?” I asked.
“You think Wire is the only hacker who’s part of a club?” He smirked. “I’ve kept tabs on my sister over the years, and her family. Which is why I knew you were in danger.”
“Danger?” My eyebrows went up. “From Earl? The man is a junkie. If he hadn’t caught me by surprise, he’d have never managed to shove me into the trunk.”
He rubbed his chin and I noticed he had the dark shadow of stubble but not a full-out beard. “Earl isn’t a junkie. Or rather, he sometimes pretends to be one, if he thinks it will get him what he wants.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Earl isn’t really Earl at all.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “The man is a shadow. The face you saw probably isn’t even his real one. He takes on whatever persona will help him blend in.”
I shook my head, starting to get a headache. “That makes no sense at all. He took me to the Devil’s Boneyard to trade me for drugs.”
“Did he?” Lynx asked. “Or did he want it to appear that way? Maybe he used you as a way to gain entrance into their compound and thought it would also hurt the Dixie Reapers and the Devil’s Fury at the same time.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He leaned back in the chair again, looking so relaxed, except for his eyes. They were nearly the same shade as my mother’s, but Lynx’s looked troubled. What was going on? He’d said I was in danger, but why? I wasn’t anyone special. Yeah, my daddy was the VP of the Dixie Reapers, and I’d now been claimed by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Devil’s Fury, but why would anyone care?
“You want to eat here or go somewhere?” he asked. “We need to talk, and not just about this mess. Something else is going on and you’re going to tell me what it is.”
Dammit. He wanted me to tell him about catching Demon with the club whore. My stomach knotted and a sharp pain spread across my chest. I absently rubbed at the ache, hoping it would go away.
“You may not know me, Farrah, but I’ve kept an eye on you. Same for your sister and brother. You’re my family, and there’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe. Understood?”
“Yeah. I get it.”
“So talk to me, niece. What had you running out of there like your ass was on fire? And why the fuck were you crying?” he asked.
“Demon,” I said, as if it would explain everything.
His gaze scanned me. “I don’t see any property ink, or a cut.”
“I only recently got my property cut and I didn’t think to put it on. Wouldn’t have made a difference anyway.” My eyes burned again as I thought about Demon walking out into the hall as he zipped his pants, and that bitch coming out after him. We hadn’t been having sex much the last few days, but it wasn’t because of me. He’d pulled away and I didn’t know why. Had he gotten tired of me already?
“Talk to me, Farrah. What did Demon do?”
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. “I caught him with a club whore. He said he would be faithful. I should have known better. A guy like him can have anyone, and probably has. Why would he give that up?”
“Damn.” Lynx stood and came to sit beside me, reaching for my hand. “I don’t know why he’d want anyone else, Farrah. You’re beautiful, bold, and if you’re anything like your mom, I’m sure you’re not the quiet sort to take things lying down. He’s lucky to have you.”
If only Demon felt that way.
“I hadn’t even realized how attached I’d gotten until then. It felt like my heart broke. How is that possible? We’ve only been together a short while. I can’t love him already, can I?”
“Sure you can.” Lynx stood and tugged on my hand. “Come on. We’re going to get some food, some clothes for you, and we’re going to have a little chat. Maybe realizing you’re gone will give him the wake-up call he needs.”
Or freedom to do whatever he wanted. The thought made me miserable. I shouldn’t have run. It was cowardly, but it had hurt so damn bad seeing him with that woman. I’d always fought for what I wanted. Until now.