A light tapping on my window woke me up. The sun was shining bright as I forced my stinging eyes to open.

  “Ma’am? You all right?” a pregnant woman called through the glass. She had a sweet smile and kind eyes.

  I rolled down my window, squinting from the sunlight. “Yeah, just had to pull off the highway last night before I fell asleep while driving.”

  “How about you come on inside and grab a bite to eat before you head back on the road? You look like you could use a good, hot meal.”

  I couldn’t argue with her; my stomach felt hollow. “Yeah, all right.”

  I followed her into the bar after she unlocked the front door. “It’ll only be a few minutes for me to open up and everything. Why don’t you just take a seat and look at the menu while I run into the back real quick?”

  “Thank you.” I did as she instructed. I stared down at the laminated page, not reading a damn word. I was still in shock that I was in the middle of the mountains in North Carolina because of my damn douche canoe of an ex. What a fucking joke.

  “So, where are you headed?” she asked, making her way behind the bar.

  I shrugged. “Fuck if I know. Just not back to where I came from.”

  “Well, Vilas is a town filled with people running toward things and away from them. I’m Raine.”

  She offered me her hand. Shaking it, I replied, “I’m Sloan.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. There’s a motel right up the road if you need to crash somewhere other than your car for a night or two while you’re trying to figure out what the hell you’re going to do. It’s cheap and a bit dodgy, but it’s the only one in town.” She filled a glass with ice and water, setting it down on a coaster in front of me.

  “Thanks. I’ll think about it.” The water tasted better than anything I’d ever had in my life—probably because I hadn’t had anything to drink or eat since the previous morning.

  I chugged down two glasses of water and ordered a cheeseburger with a fried egg on top. It seemed so odd to me that someone as sweet as Raine was working behind the bar of such a dump.

  She set my food down in front of me with a caddy full of condiments. “Enjoy,” she stated with a kind smile.

  “What time is it?” I asked. It was odd that I didn’t have my phone. Moments like that really showed me how dependent our society had become on technology.

  Raine glanced over at the bar’s register. “Almost noon.”

  I ran my fingers through my long greasy hair. I wasn’t sure how long I had slept, but it was definitely at least twelve hours. Even so, my body was still exhausted. I knew I needed to set a game plan before I made any other moves, and I still needed to check my car for tracking devices and wires.

  After I’d taken a couple of delicious bites of my messy burger, a few men wearing leather vests walked in. I had only seen bikers on TV and in the movies, and I would have been a liar if I didn’t admit that it was thrilling to see them in person.

  Two of the men sat at the far side of the bar while the third walked around the back. It was adorable how much Raine’s face lit up when the guy scooped her into his arms and kissed her. Now it made sense why she was working there—she was part of their lifestyle.

  Raine walked down the bar, hand in hand with her guy. “Sloan, this is my husband, Ryder.”

  They were a young couple and seemed so much in love. It radiated from them in the simplest of ways—the way he touched her, the way she smiled at him, the way he glanced at her when she wasn’t looking.

  We shook hands. “It’s a pleasure, darlin’. Raine says you’re just passing through, but if you need anything while you’re in town, we’d be more than happy to help.”

  I bit my lip. Why are these people being so kind to me? It’s so sad that when people are actually being genuinely nice and trying to help out a stranger, the first reaction is to question their motives. I had always thought one-percenters were scumbag vigilantes who treated women like shit and had a total disregard for the law. In only minutes, this couple was proving my assumptions to be wrong.

  “Nice to meet you. Could I actually get directions to that motel? I think having a home base for a day or two would be smart.” Right as Ryder was about to explain how to get to my destination, one of the other members walked up behind me.

  “I’m headin’ in that direction, I could point it out to you on my way.” He was tall, big—not in a bad way, just muscular and wide—and had stunning ice blue eyes and a smile that could melt any girl’s panties on the spot.

  Get a grip. You’re already running from one psycho of an ex.

  “That’d be great.” I threw some money down on the wooden bar top. Turning to Raine, I thanked her for everything. “I really do appreciate it.”

  “Don’t mention it. You know where I’ll be most of the day if you decide to come back in for dinner or something. It’s not often we get women in here, and it’s kind of nice to not be the only set of tits in this place.” She giggled as Ryder eyed her for a second.

  “You’re not a set of tits, babe, even though this pregnancy thing really has them looking nice these days.”

  She hit her husband in the shoulder before waving goodbye to me.

  “Ready?” the other member asked.

  As I started to follow Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick out of the bar, he turned to me. “I’m Trent, by the way.”

  I walked through the door he was holding for me. “I’m Sloan.”

  Chapter 3

  Trent

  It wasn’t every day that a gorgeous woman who ten of my brothers hadn’t railed at some point walked into the bar. I was really getting tired of the damn cut sluts who just wanted to lick the tip of a biker’s dick. It was like a badge of honor to them, and it repulsed me.

  Don’t get me wrong, I did fall prey to my primal desires from time to time—what guy wouldn’t? I just didn’t want to continue on that path forever.

  I walked a few paces behind Sloan as she made her way over to her beat-up Camry. Red spray paint was faded on the side of the white car. I could tell she had done her best to get the profanity off, but the word whore could be made out if you looked close enough. I didn’t want to call attention to it, but I couldn’t let this poor woman drive around like that. I thought about it for a second and decided that keeping my mouth shut about the paint was just not going to happen.

  “Hey, what do you have planned the next couple of days?” I asked while trotting up next to her to open the driver’s door for her.

  “Putting as many more miles between me and Boston as I possibly can.” Her tone was flat as she rolled her eyes.

  I held on to the door once she got in, racking my brain for a good reason to get her car to our shop. I didn’t have one, so I just spit out what was on my mind. “I’ll repaint your car if you don’t mind sticking around these parts for the rest of the week. I’m a mechanic over at a garage about a mile away. We have some really talented body work guys.”

  “Thanks, but I have been dealing with this for over a year now. I don’t even notice it anymore. Besides, I don’t have that kind of money right now.” She pulled on the door handle; apparently our conversation had come to an end.

  I didn’t want to push her too much. I hopped on my bike, made the two turns toward the motel, and drove into the parking lot. I waited for her to pull in and walk into the office. She didn’t wave, didn’t even acknowledge me, not so much as a thank you. For some reason, that made me want to know her more. There was something so dark and troubling in her, a storm brewing deep down. It felt like she needed rescuing, and I recognized it because it mirrored the tempest within me.

  After being at the garage for a few hours, I still couldn’t get Sloan out of my mind. I had barely gotten three oil changes done by the time Red came in from lunch with bright yellow mustard in the whiskers at the corners of his mouth.

  “Slacking off today, kid.” He rolled his eyes, picking his teeth with the side of a business card.

  “Just a little fogged today, brother. I’ll pick up the pace.” I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand before diving back under an Chevy Silverado to get the air filter off.

  “It’s that random broad, isn’t it? The one that was at the bar a bit ago?” Red knew me all too well. He spit on the ground next to my feet as he slouched into a folding chair.

  I rolled back out to grab another tool. “Yeah, man. There’s something about her. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

  He let out a forced laugh. “There’s always something about everyone with you, Tre. She was a hot little filly, though.”

  “Yeah, she is pretty. It’s not just that. She seems different than the shallow bar flies that buzz around this place.” The need to defend Sloan was consuming and compelling.

  “I guess, but be careful. They all turn into whores at some point. Look at me and my old lady—she won’t even give me the time of fucking day. My daughter ain’t even talking to me right now.”

  Bitter old man. “Once I’m done here, will you help me with something?” I had a plan. No one was going to like it, but it was going to work. Well, I needed it to work, anyway.

  “Fuck it. Why not?” He threw another pinch of Red Man in the back of his jaw before offering the bag to me. I declined; chew had never been my thing. I loved smoking cigarettes but had kicked the habit when I dried out. Being an ex-junkie put a label on my back in the club. I still drank, but never as much as the guys thought I did. Without maintaining control, I was worried I would fall back down the rabbit hole. That was something I refused to ever let happen again.

  I finished up with the truck’s oil change and stood to stretch out my back. “You ready, brother?”

  Red nodded, setting his reading glasses on the desk. He had been slaving away doing invoicing all damn day and was due for a little ride. I hopped into the driver’s seat of the tow truck and Red slid into the passenger’s side.

  “We don’t have any pickups or repos today, do we?” he asked, rolling down the window to spit.

  “This is a favor I’m doing, kind of a surprise thing.” I gripped the steering wheel tight as I pulled out of the lot.

  “We’re not stealing a vehicle, are we?” His eyes were wide as we drove down the road toward the motel.

  “Fuck no,” I answered, a little offended that he would think that I would steal a car. “We’re going to pick up that chick’s car. It needs a fresh coat of paint.”

  Red shifted in his seat to look at me better. “Does she know you’re picking up her car?”

  I rubbed the back of my freshly buzzed head. “Not exactly.”

  Red threw his hands in the air. “Fuck, Tre. Ryder is going to have a field day with our asses if this chick causes a scene.”

  “I’ll deal with Ryder if anything comes of this.”

  Her car was right where I’d seen her park it. I knew we needed to make quick work of this.

  Red just sat in his seat staring at me, his jaw hanging open a bit.

  I threw the truck into reverse and glared at him. “You going to fucking help me or just sit there with your thumb up your damn ass?”

  He grunted, “Fine.”

  It only took a couple of minutes to get the car up onto the flatbed. I was surprised no one came out of the rooms to check to see why a tow truck was in the parking lot, but that was better for me. I was sweating bullets driving back to the shop. I knew what I was doing was wrong in a way. Yes, I’d taken a complete stranger’s car without asking, but it was for a good reason. I was being a good Samaritan.

  It didn’t take long for us to get the car back to the garage and hidden in the back of bay. Even though I didn’t care who knew I had the car, it was technically stolen, and Sloan could make my life a living hell if she called the cops.

  Chapter 4

  Sloan

  Soaking in a warm bubble bath was just what the doctor ordered. It had been months since I’d felt that kind of relaxation. Usually every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ray’s crooked grin staring down at me while I was tied to his bed, and those flashes of consciousness haunted me. I couldn’t believe I had ever trusted someone so evil.

  The sound of bubbles popping in my ears as I sank down under the water calmed me. I thought about all the distance I had covered the day before. I was glad I had made it so far, but it still didn’t feel like enough. Will it ever be enough? Even if he were tracking me, it would take him a while to get to me. It was odd, but I hadn’t felt as safe as I did in this stupid, dirty motel room since I’d started running away from my ex.

  “I am so sorry, Ray. I really am. But, I know this is for the best.” I sat on his couch with my eyes diverted to the off-white carpeting in his living room. The smell of jasmine candles invaded my nostrils. I fucking hated that awful stench, but it was his favorite. He always burned them whenever I was over.

  He gripped my shoulders, shaking me a little. My eyes snapped to his. They were smoldering, with water welling in the corners. “But you said you loved me.” There was rage laced in his tone. Even though his voice was soft, I felt a devil’s touch in each word.

  “We’re just very different people. I’m taking the job in Chicago, and your life is here in Phoenix.”

  His grip tightened on my arms.

  “Ow—Ray, that hurts.” I tried to pull away, but that just made him turn his nails into the backs of my arms.

  “You need to feel the pain I’m feeling,” he growled.

  Before I even knew what was happening, his fist was connecting with the side of my head. I heard a popping sound and the side of my face felt like it was on fire. A scream bolted from my lungs as I shot to my feet and tried to race for the front door. I only got a few steps away before Ray’s hand was wrapping around my wrist and he was pulling me into his back bedroom.

  I softly pleaded and cried as he ripped all my clothes off. I tried to fight, but he was just so much stronger than me. One by one, each article of clothing I had on my body was torn from me. He didn’t say a word; it felt like something had snapped in him and he was on autopilot. He continued to punch me until I could barely keep my eyes open. I was slipping in and out as he forced himself onto me.

  I barely remembered the rest. All I could recall was waking up in a hospital bed with police officers asking if I wanted to press charges on my attacker.

  “Ma’am, do you know who did this to you?” a middle-aged officer asked me. She had kind eyes and a knowing somberness to her.

  I nodded as sobs erupted from my soul. “His name is Ray Clyde. He was my boyfriend.”

  She put her hand on mine. “Do you know what prompted him to hurt you like this?”

  “Yes,” I muttered. “I was in the middle of telling him I was taking a job in Chicago and didn’t want to do long distance.”

  “Are you all right with the doctor doing a rape examination?”

  Her question took me off guard. I couldn’t really remember if he had actually raped me or not and quite frankly, I didn’t want to know if he had. I wanted to live in an ignorant bliss of not knowing for sure. My entire body hurt. I knew he had punched and kicked the living shit out of me, but that was all I really could tell.

  “Is it necessary?” I pulled the blanket up higher on my chest.

  She pursed her lips. “If he left any DNA behind, it will help us put him away.”

  I reluctantly agreed to the tests. Being poked and prodded after already having been beaten and humiliated was the worst torture I could have ever imagined.

  I stayed in the heavenly bath until my fingers and toes were ugly little prunes. Sitting in the tub while the water drained out, I just sat there for a few seconds. I felt like I was in such a strange limbo.

  After drying off and throwing my wet hair up into a towel, I sank down on the bed to relax for a while. Guilt started to settle in when I saw that my shift was going to be starting at the hospital in less than an hour. It was the same bullshit I’d had to pull in Chicago when Ray had showed up at my place himself. I had been lucky enough to see him breaking into my bedroom window when I pulled in from work and that night I didn’t even pack, just hightailed it to the nearest police station.

  The cops really did everything they could to find him. I had an order of protection, and he was violating his house arrest orders. Until they got him back into custody, I was going to have to take matters into my own hands. Running was the only option. I knew if I tried to fight, Ray would end up killing me.

  My eyes darted around the room, my mind starting to race and play tricks. I knew if I stayed cooped up in the darkness alone for too much longer, I would start to go crazy. I grabbed my bag off the nightstand, dug for my keys, and decided another burger was in order.

  The sunlight hit my face hard, making my eyes slam shut. I rapidly blinked while I tried to get them to focus on where I remembered parking my car but…it wasn’t there. It wasn’t in the entire damn lot. Panic settled in. He found me.

  I was terrified. My entire body started shaking as I ran into the motel’s office only a few doors down from my room.

  “My car’s been stolen!” I yelled as I threw the glass door open. “My fucking car is gone!”

  The high schooler behind the desk grabbed the phone and called the cops.

  I sat in the poorly cushioned chair in the little reception area, rocking and holding myself as I waited for a responder to come take my statement.

  How is this happening again?

  Why won’t he just leave me alone?

  Wasn’t what I already went through enough?