Chapter 28

Chapter 28

After an hour on the road,the skull guy pulls the bike off to the side. My stomach sinks at the sight of nothing in either direction. No mountains to hide in. No trees behind which to take shade. Absolutely nowhere to run.

No doubt, he intentionally chose this place to stop because of it.

“Why are we stopped?” I dare to ask, as he dismounts the bike.

“Making sure those shitheads didn’t follow.”

“Follow where? Where are you taking me?”

“You, my lovely piece of divine ass, are a gift.”

I frown at that, crossing my arms over my chest. “A gift? What do you mean? A gift for whom?”

“For whom? What are you, a fuckin’ English teacher?”

“What the hell are you? Santa Claus? Answer the question.”

His lips stretch with a smile, and he shakes his head. “Oh, Rhys is going to have fun with you, sweetheart.”

“What’s a Rhys?”

“Rhys is one motherfucker that you do not cross. If you were a dude, he’d probably gun a smart-mouthed shit like you down. But you? I imagine he’ll make use of your mouth in other ways.”

“So, let me get this straight. You traded me for a case of beans—insulting, by the way—so you can pass me off to some asshole who thinks he’s going to stick his shriveled up dick in my mouth? That isn’t happening.”

“Hey, don’t sell yourself short. Beans are hard to come by these days. And if Rhys doesn’t want ya, I’m sure as hell keepin’ you for myself.”

“Thought I was too scrawny.”

“I bullshitted. You’re actually perfect. And if I wasn’t pining for a promotion, I’d surely make use of your mouth right now.” He tips his head to the side, and I still can’t see his eyes behind the glasses he wears, but the angle of his head tells me they’re fixed somewhere in the neighborhood of my legs. “And the rest of you.”

“Promotion? This Rhys is your boss?”

“He’s the leader of the Skulls.”

“Skulls.” I tip my head back, eyes clamped shut in frustration. “Of course. Look, you take me back to Szolen, and I’ll double your case of beans, and add some jerky and a bottle of whiskey on top of it.”

“Tempting. But no dice. The moment I saw you, I damn near shit myself. You are spot on for Rhys’s type.”

“Type? Does he run a singles bar in the desert somewhere? Last I checked beggars couldn’t exactly be choosy out here.”

He shakes his head on a laugh. “Hell, you keep talking, and ol’ Rhys might be shit outta luck.” He reaches down to adjust himself in front of me. “That attitude’s givin’ me a serious boner, babe.”

“What is he offering you? I’m telling you, I have a house. And food. And medicine, back in Szolen.”

“For you? Hell, he’d probably make me road captain.”

“What does that mean?”

“Respect. Means I ride in front.”

My jaw drops with the pinch of my brows, an expression that doesn’t even begin to reflect my irritation. “You’re turning me into a concubine for some twisted asshole, so you can play leader of the pack with all your friends?”

“Concubine?” He strokes the skull mask covering his jaw. “Damn, you put it that way … sounds better than some shit gift. Have to remember to call you that when I hand you over to him. Never was one for surprises, anyway.”

“He sounds like a charmer. There’s nothing I can offer you?” The suggestion in my voice makes me cringe, but when my freedom’s on the line, to hell with virtue. “Anything?”

He huffs, kicking his leg over the seat, and straddles the bike once more. “That offer is tempting, babe. Any other woman, and I’d be on that shit like a wild dog on a hambone. But you’re for Rhys. End of discussion.”

He fires up the bike, giving one obnoxious rev of the engine, and we’re off.