11 Chapter 10 (2/2)

Without hesitation, the two other bikers hauled out of the room, slamming the door in their wake.

And then, it was just me and the VP who thought I looked crazy.

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'My name's Dornan,' the biker said.

Dornan?My blood turned to ice in my veins as I realised who he was. Dornan Ross. I'd never laid eyes on him, but the chatter among the families of my father's business a.s.sociates had painted a picture of cruelty and bloodshed that was just as bad, if not worse, than Emilio's lethal reputation.

'Emilio's son Dornan?' I asked, hoping desperately that I was wrong.

He gave a short nod. Great.

'Seems an awfully big party to greet one little girl, Dornan,' I said, looking outside to the a.s.sembly of bikers. I desperately wanted to change the subject before he asked me my name. Before he asked me anything about myself. Because he was so suave, I was afraid I'd spill all my secrets before he'd even asked me. 'You afraid I'll do something?'

He dropped his gaze only to check me out. I felt naked under his eyes as he let them roam slowly over every part of me.

'Are you afraid you'll do something?' he asked. He still looked amused. Beneath my latent fascination with him, I felt the vague stirrings of irritation at his casual nature. I was a piece of property, for s.h.i.+t's sake. And he was talking to me like he was about to hit on me in a bar and buy me a G.o.dd.a.m.n strawberry daiquiri.

'You do this a lot?' I asked abruptly.

He took a step closer. I took a step back. It was timed so well, it was almost as if we were dancing some sort of macabre waltz.

He laughed when we moved in unison.

'Depends,' he replied, 'on what this is.'

'Pick up pretty girls for your daddy?' I shot back.

Something pa.s.sed over his face for a moment and settled in his eyes. Something hard. And then, I blinked, and it was gone again.

'Sure,' he said, and his voice had changed somehow. Become more reserved, more guarded. d.a.m.n. The only person who'd shown me the tiniest bit of normality, and I had just alienated him. As usual, I was running off at the mouth before I thought about what I was actually saying.

'None as pretty as you, though,' he added. My gut twisted painfully at his words. I want you to look pretty. His father's words came back to haunt me.

He was silent for a beat. And then, 'I didn't catch your name.'

I weighed my decision for a few moments before deciding he'd find out as soon as he spoke to his father, anyway.

'Mariana,' I said softly. 'People call me Ana.'

'Ana,' he said, smiling. 'Welcome to the United States. The land of the free and the home of the brave.'

'Really?' I asked dubiously. 'You're quoting ”The Star-Spangled Banner” to the girl who your father owns like a slave?'

'For now,' he replied.

'For now, what?' I asked, confused. 'You going to start quoting Backstreet Boys next?'

His grin was maddening and thrilling all at once. 'For now, my father owns you. But my father isn't here,' he said, gesturing with his open palms around the motel room. 'It's just me and you. And I like you. You're feisty. I think I might just keep you for myself.'

I swallowed thickly at what that could mean.

Outside, the bikers were getting restless. It was hot, and I could see beads of sweat glistening on Dornan's forehead and cheeks. 'Straight home, boys,' he ordered, making a twirling motion with his index finger. Within seconds the air was filled with the deafening noise of over a dozen Harleys gunning it down the road.

Dornan handed me a black helmet and I lifted it onto my head without arguing. It was weird, but I was so relieved to be away from Murphy, and so far from Emilio, that I was willing to do whatever Dornan said. Which made no sense at all because his reputation preceded him. He was a bad motherf.u.c.ker, as bad as they came, and he was merciless. I had heard stories of the things he'd done, the ways he had killed people. His trademark was decapitation: cutting off the heads of the people who'd p.i.s.sed him off and sending them to whoever needed to be sent a message.

I really hoped I wouldn't p.i.s.s him off.

The inside of the helmet was blacked out, so I started to push the visor up with my hand.

'Leave it down,' he cautioned, grabbing my wrist as my world was engulfed by darkness. 'You try to open it while I'm riding, and I will pull over and hit you until your eyes swell shut. You hear me?'

I nodded, causing the too-large helmet to rattle around on my head, and he let my hand drop.

'Hold on, little lady,' he said, guiding me onto the back of a bike. 'We ride fast.'

A nervous thrill ran through me as he slipped onto the bike seat in front of me, reaching behind and curling his fingers around the backs of my knees. I yelped as he pulled, wedging me firmly against his leather-covered back.

He wasn't lying. As the last of the motorcycles tore out of the lot, we joined them, the drone so loud it felt like my teeth were coming loose.

I hung on to the man in front of me as tightly as I could, wanting to cry as I dug my nails into his washboard abs.

I didn't know if I was driving to my actual death, but part of me was dying as the wind tore at my loose hair and froze my neck.

I might just keep you for myself.

His words tore at the very fabric of my existence as I turned them over and over in my mind.

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