Chapter 9 Molly

Ididn’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, I saw it was bright outside beyond the brown curtains covering the hotel room window and the crack in the white panel hanging between them. The bed was a little too hard for my liking, but I didn’t have any problem falling asleep, probably because of the adrenaline in my body after being kidnapped, the auction, the rescue, hiding with Slash on his motorcycle, and then speeding toward this hotel on his Harley.

What a crazy, messed up, awful night.

If I pretended that last night never happened, would it be erased from my memory?

With a sigh, I sat up, looking for my phone, before I remembered Tiny had crushed it at the club. Shit. All my photos, videos, contacts. They were gone. Forever.

I smacked the mattress with my palm in frustration.

“What’s got you all twisted, princess?”

Princess? I turned to Havoc, watching his lips form a smirk. The look on his short-bearded face was roguish and way too confident.

He winked as if he knew, and it humored him. His deep brown chocolate eyes held me captive.

“Those assholes at the auction busted my phone.”

He arched a brow.

“I lost everything.”

Havoc stroked the stubble on his jaw. “Don’t you have an iCloud account?”

Um, yes. “I guess I didn’t lose it all.” I didn’t even think of that with everything going on. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” His gaze dipped to my lips and snapped back to my eyes. “Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got kissable lips?”

“Havoc.”

“What? Too much?”

“Yeah.” My gaze roamed the room. I didn’t see Slash or Gunner.

“They went for food,” he explained, sauntering closer before he sat on the mattress only a foot away from me. “You need anything?”

“Water.”

“That’s one of the things they went to purchase. The tap here is disgusting, and the machine is out. Only soda left.”

I’d wait, then.

Havoc leaned back on his elbows, flashing a grin. “Want me to help you with some of that tension you got goin’ on, baby? I’ve been told I have a wicked tongue.”

I blinked. “Does that usually work for you?”

He laughed. “Not at all, but since I’m tryin’ to take your mind off all the bad shit, I thought you’d be down with it.”

I couldn’t help smiling at his logic. “It’s a no.”

“I’ll try again later.” He winked again, and those full lips lifted into a sultry grin. “I should warn you, I’m persistent when I want something.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, princess. I want you.”

I never had a guy talk to me so boldly before. “I’m not that easy.”

“I know.” His grin widened. “That’s why I’m enjoyin’ it so much.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. It was hard not to like him. Havoc had that charismatic quality that drew people in. He was a jokester, flirtatious, and easygoing. Even though this was our first lengthy conversation, I could tell that about him.

I liked him.

He wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. Havoc’s sharp jaw was covered in dark shadow, just enough to give him a dangerous edge when combined with the scar that zipped through his upper lip on the left side.

He was built like an endurance athlete—lean and muscular—but in a sleeker, deadlier way. Slash’s big body could break down a wall, crashing through the structure like a wild beast. Havoc was more like the monster living in the shadows, ready to strike like a vicious viper. You wouldn’t see him coming, but when he sank his fangs into you, you’d know you should have been more cautious.

His leather vest spread open, and his white shirt stretched over his washboard abs. Havoc’s muscular arms showcased as much black ink as Slash’s but stretched up his neck and ended below his jawline. I saw a skull and a black widow but knew that a tombstone and reaper filled the space on the other side of his neck. He liked his ink. All three of the guys were covered in tattoos.

The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Keep checking me out, baby. It’s fuckin’ hot to see that lust in your eyes.”

God. There was something raw and sensual about Havoc. Sure, he was cocky. He cracked too many jokes, and his full lips constantly twitched as if he were holding back a laugh. But the way he stared at me like I was his new favorite sucker, and he needed a lick shot, heat straight to my core.

My fingers itched to touch the light stubble on his jaw, so irresistibly chiseled above the corded muscles of his neck.

A lean, muscled, lethal machine.

We’d have a hell of a lot of fun, and maybe that was just what I needed once I was ready.

Slash and Gunner entered the room, saving me from a reply. They brought four bags of takeout with a half dozen burgers, fries, shakes, onion rings, a side salad, two fish sandwiches, and a case of water. Gunner pulled food out of the bags and placed it on the table, spreading it all out. He added a chicken sandwich at the end. It caught my eye because it was one of those big, yummy ones with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

Havoc jumped up. “You get first pick, princess.”

Slash smirked at the endearment. Gunner scowled.

I slid from the bed and approached the table, picking up the salad, a ranch dressing packet, the chicken sandwich, and onion rings. Pausing, I decided to grab the chocolate shake too. My stomach loudly gurgled as I took my stash back to the bed and started to eat, unable to contain myself as I opened the wrapper and took a generous bite. I moaned as I chewed, far too hungry to care about manners.

I was halfway through the sandwich before I realized all three bikers were staring, with equal looks of hunger on their faces that had nothing to do with the food.

I swallowed and bit my lip. “What?”

SHE DIDN’T HAVE ANYidea what her low, throaty moans were doing to my body. My cock reacted quickly as a snap of the fingers, and I went rigid, straining against the zipper of my jeans. Havoc lightly groaned, pressing against his crotch. Gunner’s frown deepened, but he remained focused on her like he couldn’t prevent the wicked thoughts in his head. I didn’t know why he was fighting his attraction to her, except that he was still battling the demons of his past.

“Nothin’, Sweet girl,” I replied, taking a bite of my burger and focusing on the food instead of my dick. It wasn’t easy.

She finished her sandwich and opened the salad, squeezing a little ranch over the top. “So, when can I talk to Embry?”

Havoc turned to me, waiting for the answer. Gunner already knew since I’d spoken to Grave while we were picking up our order at the restaurant.

“Once we’ve got you secured and eliminated the threat.”

I didn’t agree with keeping her in the dark, but that choice belonged to my pres, and my uncle agreed. Havoc and Grave were adamant. No contact.

“But I need to talk to Em.” Her voice cracked. “She’s my best friend.”

Shit. I walked to the bed and sat beside her. “Hey, I know this sucks. It’s for your safety.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Bullshit.”

I didn’t expect her to fight me on it. “Molly.”

“No. After everything I just went through, I need stability and familiarity. I need my bestie because I’m hovering on the edge of losing my shit and trying to keep it together. Okay?”

Damn. I actually agreed with her. “I can’t go against my pres.”

“I’m not asking you to do that. Just accidentally leave your phone available for me to use.”

Havoc laughed. “Cute. I fucking like that fire, princess.”

Gunner sighed. “I’m not sayin’ we should ever go against Hades. That’s fucking suicide. It’s not okay. Hell, I’ll always have his back. But this? Keeping her from the only person in her life she can talk to about last night? It’s not right.”

Fucking great. They were siding against me over a woman.

“She’s got her sister, Lark,” I reminded them.

“True,” Gunner relented. “Not Torin. No FBI. No law.”

“Hades said no one, right?” Havoc asked, wadding up his burger wrapper. “Then it don’t matter who she talks to about it. Hades is gonna be pissed either way.”

Right. “Fuck.”

Molly chewed on her lip. “What if you call Embry and put the call on speaker. It’s not disobeying an order then,” she pointed out.

A technicality. One that Grave would kick my ass for when he found out.

“Fine.”

Havoc lifted his hand and high-fived Molly as she smiled. Even Gunner looked amused and happy for her.

“She’s with Grave. He picked up Embry and my aunt and brought them to the clubhouse. They’re safe,” I announced as Molly nodded. The phone only rang once before my cousin’s frantic voice came through the line.

“Slash! Where’s Molly?”

“I’m right here,” she answered. “Oh, Em. It’s a shit show.”

“Are you okay?”

“No,” Molly admitted, holding back tears.

“Tell me you aren’t hurt.”

“No, just a little shook up.”

“Shit. Tell me what happened.”

“No,” I growled. “We gotta keep this short, Em. Hades said she’s on lockdown. We’re taking her back to Ohio.”

“Oh, wow. That’s serious.”

“This is a disaster,” Molly blubbered as tears filled her eyes and began to overflow.

“What are you gonna say to Lark and Torin?”

“Nothing.” I hated seeing Molly cry and pulled her against me. “They can’t know shit until we’ve got this sorted.”

“Hades would lose his shit and bust us all back to prospects,” Havoc added.

“I don’t know what to do, Em.”

Embry sniffled. “Molls, you have to go with Slash. If he says it’s bad, it’s bad. I don’t know what those bikers were doing at your house or what shit Fred got mixed up in, but you’re going to need my cousin’s help.”

“I know,” Molly admitted, laying her head on my shoulder.

“What do you want me to say if Lark and Torin reach out? You know they will, Slash.”

I did. “You can’t tell them where she is or any details that could lead trouble back to us or Molly. Promise me, Em.”

“Okay. But what do I say?”

“That you don’t know anything because you don’t. These are traffickers we’re dealing with, Em. Talk to Grave. He’ll explain as much as he can.”

“Oh, no,” she whispered. “Molls, be careful. Stay with Slash.”

“I will,” Molly promised. “I wish you were here.”

“Me too. Maybe Grave will take me to Ohio soon.”

I doubted it but didn’t say so. “We gotta go, Em.”

“I love you, Molls. You too, Slash.”

“Love you, Em.”

I hit the end button and tilted Molly’s chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “We’ve got this. You’re safe, and that’s not gonna change. We’re renting a U-Haul, stashing the bikes inside, and driving to Ohio.”

“No motorcycles?”

“It’s not safe. You’re too exposed. I won’t take that chance after they almost found us last night behind that dumpster.” I brushed her face with my fingers, swiping away the remaining tears. “No rats. Yeah?”

She shuddered. “Definitely.”