Chapter 28

Steel holdsmy hand as we walk downtown, checking out all the shops and reveling in the slightly warmer spring air. Since this is the Midwest, winter isn't always freezing; with the thermometer reading in the forties, it feels almost like summer to us Illinoisans.

We're headed to lunch and then Steel has promised me a ride on his bike since the roads are finally clear.

The thought of being nestled behind him on his motorcycle brings a smile to my face, one that I can't get rid of. There also might be a slight bit of nerves since this will be my first time on a bike.

But I can worry about that later. Right now, it's time to eat and I'm starving.

Steel opens the door to the Machine Barn and holds it open, allowing me to enter. He graciously holds it open for the elderly couple behind us, and my heart flutters at his chivalry.

I can't believe I was ever hesitant about being with him or believed he wouldn"t treat me with the utmost respect…unless we're in the bedroom, that is.

I sense his presence as he steps up behind me, his finger effortlessly sliding through my back belt loop. "You like seeing me be all chivalrous, don't you?"

"Yeah," I whisper, my attention shifting from him to the hostess making her way toward the podium.

"Who knew being mannerly toward grandparents did it for you, baby," he teases, his hot breath against my ear.

"Stop." I smile.

"Just the two of you?" the hostess asks, bending down and grabbing the silverware and menus.

"Yes ma'am," I reply.

"Perfect. Follow me." She heads toward the main dining room. "Our specials today are the Farmer's Daughter Breakfast and the Cattlemen's Meatloaf. Depends on what you're in the mood for since one is breakfast and the other is lunch."

We stop next to a small square table, and she motions us to take a seat with a subtle hand gesture. "My name is Kira and I'll be your server today."

"Thanks, Kira. Can we get two coffees and some water?" Steel requests and she nods.

"I'll be right back with those."

Steel and I sit at the quaint table, we browse through the menu, our stomachs growling in anticipation.

Kira returns with our drinks and after a moment of deliberation, we both settle on the Cattlemen"s Breakfast. Our food comes out in no time and we get lost in conversation as we eat, sharing our aspirations and dreams for our future together.

Time seems to warp as we lose ourselves in each other"s company. Before we know it, our plates are nearly empty, and the waitress returns to whisk away the remnants of our meal.

I"m sofull that even though the Apple Dumpling looks tempting, I can't possibly eat another bite.

"You ready, babe? Gonna be able to ride now that you ate so much." Steel chuckles.

"I'll be fine. Wouldn't miss this chance for the world. I'm ready to pop my bike cherry." I wiggle my eyebrows.

A low growl rumbles in his chest. "I can pop another bike cherry too. I know a place."

My belly warms at his words. Now is not the time. We're in a restaurant, for crying out loud. I can"t help but roll my eyes and shake my head. "Come on, you dog. Let's go."

Steel grabs the bill and we head up front to pay. I met Steel here since I ran into the office to get some work done, but now it's time for him to take me out on his Harley.

Getting to his bike, Steel grabs a helmet from his seat and hands it to me. "Safety first."

"Where's yours?" I ask, looking around but not seeing another helmet.

"I don't wear one, but you do. Now, put it on, Iggie."

"Yes, sir," I whisper, securing the black helmet tightly over my dark golden hair and fastening the chin strap.

Steel throws a leg over the bike and looks at me, holding a hand out for me. Grabbing it, I climb behind him and put my feet on the peg-looking things on either side.

"A natural already." Steel smiles, his eyes twinkling with pride. "You got your feet on the pegs. Now, wrap your arms around me, but not too tight like you're scared. Just a natural firm hold, ya feel me? When we turn, just lean with me. I won't let nothin' happen to you, Iggie."

I know he won't. But despite wholeheartedly trusting this man, my heart races in my chest as my mind fills with anxious what-ifs.

Shaking it off, I blow out a breath and wrap my arms around him. "Alright Steel, show me what ya got."

Steel lets out a seductive chuckle, sending a shiver down my spine. He turns the key to the ignition, and the bike roars to life. I"ve never felt anything like the intense vibration and raw power coursing underneath me. We pull away from the curb and fly down the street. The wind beats at my face but I can't seem to care.

A smile creeps over me and I lose all sense, putting my arms out like Rose in the Titanic. Free. I feel free.

"I love you, Steel!" I shout over the purr of the engine.

He reaches behind him, squeezing my thigh. "I love you too, Iggie. Have since that first day I saw you," he shouts back.

* * *

"Are you okay?Baby, are you okay?" Nancy's voice cuts Steel off.

Why am I at work? And why is Nancy in my office?

The memory of leaving Howards is hazy, but I can still feel the smooth leather of the car seat against my back as I got in. Maybe I fell asleep in my car. It was all a concoction of my mind, none of it was real. Can you dream that you're dreaming? Because I know Steel and I have never taken his bike out together.

And Nancy has never been in my office as far I know. So what's going on?

In an instant, it all comes crashing back like a tidal wave. I indeed left work except I got in my car and couldn't find my keys. Someone was in my backseat and they choked me out.

Fuck.Please, when I open my eyes, let me be safe and not kidnapped. Actually, let me open my eyes, period. It will mean I'm alive, at least.

Blinking them open, I take in the space I'm in. It resembles a garage, but someone has transformed it into a makeshift bedroom, complete with a bed and a small desk. One look at the overhead door mechanism and the track on the ceiling is all it takes to confirm that it"s still a garage.

"You're awake! Good, I was worried, babe. Mom told me not to panic, but I couldn't stand it if I lost you."

"Nancy, what did you do?" I croak, my throat dry and sore.

My coworker stares at me, her eyes vacant and devoid of understanding. "Iggie. I've asked and chased long enough. This playing hard to get needed to end."

"I'm not playing hard to get, Nancy. You're a nice woman and all, but I'm not interested," I tell her, hoping that this delusion ends, and she frees me.

"Don't say that!" she screams, the sound echoing through the room as her hand slaps me hard across the face. The force of the impact makes my head snap to the right, eliciting a sharp gasp from me. "I've put up with you touching that filthy biker and playing house with him. Then you leave the department so I can't see you anymore. I won't stand for it any longer!" She stomps her foot and stares at me.

I knew this woman was weird and slightly obsessed with me, but never did I think she'd knock me out and tie me up in some sketchy garage.

Nancy flips a piece of strawberry blonde hair from her face and pushes her glasses up her nose. "Mom and I converted the garage into your bedroom. I've been planning this for a while. Do you like it?"

This can't be happening. My chest feels tight as my heart races and a throbbing pain pulses through my head. Are there long-lasting side effects of being choked unconscious?

I feel like I"m floating in a hazy dream, but it"s not a pleasant one. It"s an unsettling sensation. Where's my phone? I was supposed to meet Steel at Brew Me and now I obviously won't be there.

He'll probably think I just stood him up since I broke it off with him. Instead, I'm a prisoner in this crazy bitch's garage and no one will look for me.

"Where's my stuff? My car?"

"You won't need a phone, and I didn't need that trashy biker following us. I'm sure he has GPS or something on your car. It's what he did to those women."

"He's not trashy," I spit. She fails to realize that while Steel may have been a slight stalker, he didn't kidnap and tie someone up in his garage. She's a lot more off the rails than I ever imagined.

Steel may be a biker in an MC, but he never once treated me like less than. He would have never tied me up and taken me hostage. I broke up with him and he respected my wishes. Nancy, though, can't even take the hint that I'm not into women and now look where I am.

"Don't be stupid, Iggie. He was beneath you. I know you were slumming it to get back at me, but that wasn't the way. I had to show you. Do you know how hard it was for me to get those pictures I sent you? What I had to do to get them and those files? What I begged Mom to do?"

"You sent the pictures and the reports?"

"Of course I did. You needed to know who Ashton Steel is. He forced those poor women to get protection against him by stalking them. It was only a matter of time before the same thing happened to you."

"How did you get those pictures?" I ask, not sure if I want to know the answer, but apparently, even in this situation, I'm a glutton for punishment.

"I've been watching you, following you. Then I had Mom make a contact in his little club. They're not as closely knit as he thought. Some money and sexy video calls with Mom and they had the pictures. Hell, they even beat that little bitch who touched you. Kiki was it?"

"Is she okay?"

"Don't know, don't care. She should have kept her nose out of our business and not touched what's mine."

"Nancy, listen to me. I am not yours. I am gay. It's nothing against you. I'm just not attracted to females. Do you understand? Now, let me go and we can forget all about this." I'm trying to reason with her so she lets me go. I've never led her to believe anything other than I'm attracted to men, so how did she get this delusional?

"He said you'd be stubborn."

He? Who is he and why does Nancy think he knows anything about me? There are only two men who know me well, Draco and my dad. Draco would never give this woman false hope and Nancy doesn't know my dad. So who could she be talking about?

"He said what? And who is he?"

As she approaches me, she gracefully climbs into my lap, positioning herself so she is straddling me, rubbing a hand down the right side of my face where she slapped me. "He said you'd swear women just didn't call to you. But you were born a man and men are attracted to women. You just have to be shown. How can you not appreciate something you"ve never experienced?"

Nancy grinds against me and my stomach flips. Trying to ignore the assault I'm enduring, I push again for more information. "Who is he?"

"He as in y–"

"Nancy!" Susan barks, and I snap my eyes to her. She's standing right inside the door, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. "You will not bring him into this. He helped as much as he could. You know he has too much to lose."

Nancy rolls her eyes, sighing. "Yes, Mother."

"Glad to see you're up, Ignatius. I see you and my daughter are getting on already."

"Nancy, you don't want to do this. You'll lose your job and go to jail; you both will."

She heads our way and leans against the wall to my left. "Worth it to see my baby happy." Susan smiles at Nancy. "My contact in that silly biker club has promised that once he"s the leader he"ll make sure I"m taken care of. A return on my investment you could say."

"Susan, please."

She ignores me. "I came out here to let you know dinner will be ready in an hour and I'll bring two bowls out."

"Thanks, Mom. We'll be done by then."

Susan turns and heads toward the door, turning to look at us one more time before exiting.

"Now," Nancy purrs, rocking her hips against me again. "Where were we?" She humps me slowly repeatedly and I'm on the verge of blowing chunks. She smells like a vinegar salad and this isn't what I want.

"Nancy. You need to stop. This is sexual abuse. Did you know that?"

"No, it's not. A woman can't abuse a man. Plus, you want it. Deep down I know you do."

"I don't," I snap.

I attempt to untie the rope while she ignores me, desperate to push her away.

"Why aren't you getting hard?" she whines.

I give her a look, as if she"s a complete idiot, because, well; Why would that happen? "Because I don't like women, Nancy. You don't do it for me."

She blows out a breath and gets off of me. "Well, it's almost dinnertime, but I have one more trick to try later before moving on to my last resort."

With that, she leaves the garage and I'm left alone tied to this fucking chair.

My mind races with questions, each unanswered one like a knife digging deeper into my flesh. What could I have possibly done to deserve this torment?