10. Meredith

10

MEREDITH

T he bidding went by so fast, and now I'm being shoved around, taken out of the clump of other scared girls and women being sold for who knows what.

A dress is thrown at me, little more fabric than what I'm wearing now, but I take it. I take it, and I hope that what I saw and heard was real.

I tried to follow Dart with my eyes as I saw him moving through the crowd. Even through the bright lights above me, as I shifted, I could make out the large frame belonging to Grizzly.

Grizzly knows me. He's known me for a long time through Harlow. Surely, he recognized me and he's going to get me out of here. He got into a bidding war, but my fast-beating heart is certain he won. I'm going to get to go home.

But what about my father and the debt? If I'm simply safe and sound, my virginity intact, will the Bratva still consider this enough payment?

I can't think about that right now.

My arm is grabbed, and I'm practically dragged around, down a corridor I've never seen. No one else is around except for me and two women who aren't saying anything. None of the other girls have been led away like this. In fact, we were all told we'd wait until the end and each be claimed by our new masters.

What disgusting language too…

But they must have said something or paid extra, Grizzly and his men. They aren't going to let me rot here, just like they saved Harlow not too long ago.

As we approach a rusty old door at the end of this long corridor, I think about one thing. One thing I swear I saw—the glint in Grizzly's dark brown eyes, like I was more to him than Harlow's best friend, just for a moment. Like I might be his prize too.

A shiver runs through me as I think about the idea. It could never happen, of course, not with him. I don't even know if I would want that right now. My brain is so scrambled. Grizzly's a sexy man for his age, but I've only ever paid attention to Dart.

No one else.

The door swings open with a horrible clanking, and I blink into the night. In the alleyway, waiting for me, are three men.

Grizzly, Dart, and…it takes me a minute to recognize the third. He's been a member of the club for a long time, and I know he's close to Grizzly, but we don't really talk. Trap, that's it.

All three of them are looking me up and down, and I can feel goosebumps rise on my skin. The look is both protective and full of something else—something I dare not say anything about if I don't want to break the moment.

I've been through hell thinking about what's going to be done to me. My body has been messed with by people I'd never willingly let myself be so vulnerable in front of. But there is a slight thrill in the thought that someone worthwhile saw me go through all that and still thinks something of me. Especially when I've always been good little Meredith.

The rule abider. The smart college girl. The quiet one. The virgin.

I meet Dart's gaze, and all the things I've been through and the fact that I've been rescued crash over me. Being the most comfortable with him, I walk over and cling to his side. He ends up wrapping his motorcycle jacket around me.

"Here, sweetheart. It's the best I've got to keep you warm." Sweetheart…the endearment makes me feel warmer than the jacket.

Dart suddenly moves away, and I catch a warning look from Grizzly. Is he just worried about my vulnerability, or is it more of what I saw inside?

"I knew. I had to believe it. When I saw you in the audience, I just thought…" I can't finish the thought. The words are coming out all tongue-tied.

"Let's get out of here, darlin'," Grizzly says, an almost-grin twitching at the side of his mouth.

It's an unfortunately long walk back to the bikes, and if I wasn't feeling like I needed a moment of personal control I would ask to be carried.

Everyone keeps looking over their shoulders as we approach a parking garage, like they might come back for me or something. I'm too afraid to ask if it's a real possibility. Do they even know why I was in the auction?

With a nod from Grizzly, I climb onto his bike behind him and cling to him as the other two get on their own bikes. I look at Dart for some reason, and he gives me a sad smile.

"Don't worry. We'll take you to the clubhouse. It'll be okay. It's just a bit of a ride."

"I don't mind," I say. "Anything to get my mind off of…" I can't say it. Not yet. I'm just trying to hold the shock off, knowing it'll come at some point. But not here. Not on the back of a bike.

I force my body to relax, instead paying attention to the way the three are protecting me and looking at me…and wondering what it's going to feel like to ride on the bike behind Grizzly. I've never done anything like this, and if I ignore everything else and just isolate this moment, this can be fun and dangerous.

Something the normal Meredith never gets to do.

Grizzly begins barking orders at the other two, but I just focus on the softness of his shirt and the breeze around my hair, still stiff with spray. "Send a message to the informant. We need more information. See if he knows how the hell she ended up here."

"We're going to get to the bottom of this, Meredith," Trap says, speaking to me for the first time, his intense gaze showing his sincerity. I instantly feel reassured. Safe.

I look around at them one more time, my heroes, before Grizzly grunts at me. "You need to hold on tight and lean with the bike, darlin'. That's all I ask. Tap me twice if you're scared."

I hold him tighter but then mumble, "What do I do to let you know I'm having fun?"

I know he hears me, because he chuckles and revs the engine.

There's a jerk as the bike takes off, and I squeal. Another laugh, pure and unadulterated, escapes from Grizzly. I've never heard him like this. Free, and happy even.

I know he took it hard when he lost Harlow's mother a long time ago. The only way I've really known him is as the grumpy Prez and overprotective father. However, there are those little flashes of the man he used to be when he's around Harlow.

Harlow… Guilt and more fear grip me, bringing me back to myself. What's she going to say about all of this?

But no, I deserve one reckless night. Just one. I tell my brain to send all the fear away for once and just let go. There's no father to take care of here. No more danger. They won't let me get hurt.

I let my hands slide over Grizzly's muscles a little, just to see what he might do and what might be hiding under his shirt. He's definitely ripped, more than I would guess for someone's dad. But I need to remember his job. He's no ordinary man.

His muscles tense underneath my hands, and then he hits a sudden curve, barely even slowing down. I lean with him, and it's even better than a roller coaster as my stomach flies away from me. This time when I scream, it's with a high I've never felt.

I can tell he's trying to impress me as he takes back roads, speeding and weaving around and doing tricks. Every moment feels like the end and the beginning all over again.

I'm almost disappointed when we pull up to the clubhouse, the engine quickly shutting off. Probably not to alert anyone. I doubt there's a whole lot of sleeping going on, but no matter the reason, I doubt they want anyone to see me this way.

Instead, I'm being led to the side of the building, to a door that blends in so well I can barely tell it's there. It leads up a set of stairs. "Where are we going?" I finally whisper into the dark stairwell, Dart and Trap tight behind me and Grizzly holding my hand.

Grizzly stops and turns to me, reaching inside of his shirt and pulling out a string with a key tied to it. "My own personal entrance to my bedroom here in case I ever need it." He flashes me a sly grin as the other two get even closer to me, so close that I can breathe in their mixed earthy and musky scents.

There's a whole lot of man in this tight space, and my body becomes conscious of it.

I look down at Trap and Dart, part of me wishing Dart would say something or put his hands on me.

Instead, Grizzly pulls my attention back to him. "You'll stay with me tonight." He says it in a way that there's no arguing his authority. Even I feel compelled to do as he says. This pressure he exudes is otherworldly.

He continues up the stairs without another word, my hand still in his. His grip is tighter now.

I go along with it as he leads me into his room, interested in where the rest of the night is leading. I have no expectations other than my safety, but I can't ignore my curiosity about the Prez of an MC being so possessive with me like this.

He lets go of my hand and points to his oak dresser in the far corner. "Pick out a big tee to wear and some shorts. Then, go get yourself a shower. We know you've been through hell and deserve a few moments. Everything you need is in there, though the shampoo is probably a little more manly than you're used to."

I give him a look, opening my mouth to argue with the fact he's ordering me around.

"Seriously, darlin', you're going to do this before you go into shock."

I purse my lips and look down at what I'm wearing, recalling how it all got there. Everything becomes real again, and I start rummaging through his stuff. He's right, whether I like it or not.

"Now, you two go downstairs, have a beer or two, and get your asses to bed. We'll get on top of this Russian bullshit after she's had some rest."

I detect a soft growl from behind me as I find something I'm okay with and head to the bathroom. It's the only protest Dart and Trap give before I hear the door slam behind them and I stop paying attention.

I shut and lock the bathroom door. Not that I think Grizzly's going to come barging in and do anything to me—I just have a need to feel extra safe all of a sudden.

I practically rip the dress off, throwing it into the trash bin at the side of the toilet. The panties go too, and then the corset, which makes my fingers ache as I struggle to get through all the laces. As I put it in the trash, I detect a slight tremor in my hand and shake my head in disbelief.

"You okay in there?" Grizzly calls through the door.

I look up at the shower and realize I haven't even turned the thing on.

"Yeah. Just trying to get this shit off!" I holler back, forcing my voice to be even.

I reach for the showerhead. It's one of those fancy rain ones with an LED in it, and it slowly changes color from green to blue to purple and back again.

I take a deep breath and flip the light off, then grab a towel and washcloth from the linen cabinet and set them across the towel bar. I yank the curtain wide open and feel the water with my hand as I adjust it, sighing loudly as it gets really warm. Then, grabbing the washcloth, I get inside.

The tenseness in my body starts to melt away as the hot water pours over every inch of me. I didn't realize I was wound up quite this tight until now. I'm still not ready to admit I'm in shock.

It seems so silly, and I judge myself and my bodily reactions, knowing how many of those girls and women went to men who are probably forcing them to do unspeakable things right now—women who might never be free.

Sure, I went through prep. It was traumatizing to think about what was going to happen to me. But a part of me knew I was saved the minute I saw Dart. So, why am I so damn upset right now?

My heart feels like it's on a broken-down carnival ride as it speeds up and then slows when I focus on the water and my breathing.

Eventually, the water gets cool, and I get out, drying quickly and slipping on the tee and boxers I took out of Grizzly's dresser. My hair is wet, but I scrunch the towel around it a few times so it's not dripping when I leave the bathroom.

Grizzly's on the bed, the remote to his big screen in hand. His cut's off, and he's gotten into a pair of baggy shorts. It's kind of funny to see him this way, actually.

I focus on the amusement as I make my way to the bed beside him, sitting down and squirming my ass back up against the pillows stacked at the headboard. Grizzly places the remote in my lap, the Netflix logo shining at me from across the room. "Pick something to watch, and relax, darlin'."

His voice is kind, but there's a lustful glint in his eyes, and I can't help but notice a slight bulge in his shorts. I quickly look away, trying not to blush as I scroll through Netflix for something familiar. I can feel his eyes on me the whole time, and I can't tell if my little tremors are because of that or if it's just the adrenaline that's been getting me through my ordeal finally wearing off.

I pick a classic I used to watch as a kid, a funny black-and-white movie called Harvey . It feels particularly safe right now.

As the movie starts, I look over at Grizzly again, catching him eyeing me. He's hard as a rock now. My mouth waters, and I wonder what he's packing under there. Things a good girl like me shouldn't think about.

But the world is all new to me tonight. Both scary and thrilling.

He trails his fingers down my arm, and I look him in the eyes. Part of me wants to cave and let him erase everything that might have happened tonight, but is that the way I want to lose my virginity?

"Now, I'm going to be a gentleman tonight," Grizzly says softly. "I don't know what you're thinking in that head of yours, and I don't need to know unless you want me to. But you've been through hell, and I'm not going to touch you. Not like that."

"I'm not some fragile little doll," I snap for some reason. My eyes grow wide, shocked at my own words.

He just nods graciously, his brown eyes showing the kindness beneath his gruff exterior. "I know that, but I can see the shock really setting in. You probably won't even make it through the movie without crashing. So, I'm going to keep my eye on you, little darlin', and keep you safe."

His words prove to be true as my body goes from shaking to bone-tired over the next hour. I end up sinking into the bed, my eyes closing, safe in the reassurance that he's watching over me.