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  “Hard,” I rasp out before throwing my shot back. The burn slides down my throat, washing away the discomfort.

  “Yeah. Especially now that girl of yours is legal.” My gaze snaps to his. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re lucky, Jakey Boy,” he says, slamming his second shot back.

  “Yeah?” I scoff, my voice dripping with sarcasm. He nods for another, drinking that one down before looking me dead in the eye, serious and stoic.

  “She’s alive,” is all he says, then he gets up and walks away, leaving me sitting there alone, realizing I’ve been an ass. One hell of an ass.

  “Here’s the plan. Me and the boys are heading down to Cental to set up shop. Jake is headed to Siberia and will meet up with us in…what? Three days?” Rock questions, falling into his role as Pres. Back in Chicago, he was president until his own brothers—our brothers—turned on him, locking him up and beating him like a damn dog. All while his old lady, Buggs, was here in Montana giving birth to their son, Mason. Cute little shit he is. Making eye contact, I nod in response so he knows I heard.

  “Everything squared away with that shit?” he asks, referring to the run I'm going on.

  “Yeah. Good,” I say, my voice barely loud enough for him to hear. But he does hear, and gets that I'm ready. Because I am. No problems at all. Just a simple drop. Token of appreciation to a club in Idaho.

  It was just last year when I found myself in a fuck of a pickle with a rival club’s Vice President, Premo. Being rained down on by the wrath of the devil himself, we banded together and found ourselves an ally in each other. Diablo, the former leader of the Pardaѐ gang, had decided to rid himself of Premo by making it look like the Riders were responsible. His plan didn’t go over too well when we were both left alive after the onslaught of gunfire that mowed down the warehouse we had been meeting in.

  Our club, as well as theirs, suffered great losses that day. After that, Premo and I were assumed dead until the members of the Pardaѐ gang started dropping like flies. One by one, we made our way through the gang together, forging a name for the both of us, until we got to Diablo. Our bad blood had been put to ground along with the devil, gaining our club an ally.

  “Let’s ride out, boys,” Rock says. Whoops and hollers sound out all around from the brothers as we straddle out bikes. Looking over my shoulder, I find Rock standing by his next to Buggs with their boy wrapped around her hip. Watching him kiss his family goodbye and get on his bike, I think back to what Gin told me. She’s alive. Too bad that doesn’t mean she can be mine.

  Forty-Eight

  Kimi

  The night is cold and nips at my nose as the screaming fans surround Ari and I in the stands. We were lucky and got a spot right up behind the team. Sam found us right away, waving like a mad man at us both.

  There are ten seconds left, and the crowd is going crazy. Throughout the game, I’ve picked up enough on the process to know our team has the ball and they’re so close to scoring a touchdown, even I’m clenching my teeth.

  Zeke yells out something, the players move around, then the ball is tossed back to him. He grabs ahold and runs back a couple steps, looking for someone to pass it to when he finds Blake open. Holding my breath and anxiously gripping Ari’s hand, I watch as Sam plows into an opposing player before he gets to Zeke, giving him enough time to throw the ball. The entire crowd takes a combined breath and holds it in as the ball soars right to Blake in the touchdown area. Two of the other team’s players run at him as Blake jumps and snatches the ball into his hands. He falls to the ground, and the crowd erupts into screams and cheers near deafening.

  As we watch the team celebrate on the field, Ari asks me what we’re doing next. “I'm not sure. Sam didn't say anything about meeting up after. Maybe we just head back to the dorms?” I shrug, not getting much back from her. Just like me, she doesn't want to call it a night yet. We get an answer to that question when a sweaty and ecstatic Sam comes jogging up to us from the field.

  “We fuckin’ won!” he yells out, still panting from exertion. “Listen, we’re all headed out to a party afterward if you two would like to come.” His handsome smile shines as bright as his blue eyes.

  “Yeah, that sounds fun,” Ari answers, looking over to me. I just nod along and smile, trying to hide my hesitation.

  “Great. My truck is in the east parking lot. I’ll meet you over there. Sound good?” he asks, getting agreements from us both before he runs off back onto the field to joins his teammates.

  “He has a cute butt,” Ari says with a giggle as she watches him, and I laugh.

  “I suppose it is nice,” I admit. “Let’s get out to the car. When the lot clears out, we can drive over to where he told us,” I offer, and we do just that.

  “So, do you have any…um,” Ari starts, but stops herself as we sit in my car.

  “Any what?”

  “Do you, I don’t know…have feelings for Sam?” she blurts out.

  “Sam? Oh, no. He’s handsome, don’t get me wrong, but he isn't…” Jake, “he isn't my type.” No, I suppose I am more attracted to the unattainable type. Unattainable outlaw. Yep, that’s more my speed. “You go for it. I think he likes you anyway. You two would be cute together. But…hey, wait, aren't you—?”

  “Gay?” Ari laughs, finishing my question. “Oh, I like guys. Kimber is just a bitch. She caught me making out with one of her goody-goody cheerleading friends last year. Kicked her off the squad and she left the school in embarrassment. Kimber wouldn't let it go. Made her life a living hell, poor girl.”

  “She is a bitch. Wow.”

  “Yeah. We were just drunk and screwing around a little. It was fun, but it wasn't for her or me.” She shrugs, and we fall into a comfortable silence, waiting a bit longer as the place clears out and we are able to move freely to get over to the east side.

  Pulling up behind a row of mostly trucks and some cars, we spot the team members starting to trickle out of the stadium. Putting the car in park, I scan the rows of vehicles, spotting Sam’s truck right along with another one the bitch herself is standing next to. And she isn't alone. Wrapped in the arms of who looks like Blake, they’re both kissing and talking to each other. She reaches down to grab his…

  “Damn, that girl is giving him a hand job in the parking lot!” Ari laughs out, and I giggle right along with her. Finding the scene so funny, we don’t see Sam come up to Ari’s side of the car. He smacks the window, scaring the shit out of us. We both let out a scream, and Blake and Kimber snap their heads toward us. She must see who made the noise because she gives a scowl that could melt glass.

  “Oh my God! Are you kidding me, Sam? You scared the shit out of us!” Ari yells as he opens her door.

  “Sorry, Ari. I couldn't resist.” He smiles, his freshly showered hair still dripping and hanging down on his forehead. “So, you girls coming out tonight? Should be fun.” He waggles his brows, still leaning to peek into the car.

  “Yes, we are,” Ari answers.

  “Great. Follow me on out there.” We agree, and he runs off to his truck, stopping to talk to Blake before he gets in and starts the beast up. When he does, the rumble hits my ears sending a ripple along my spine. Reminding me of the bikes the guys ride, the vibrations the engines would send out. Jake’s was always so loud. Although I was only on it the one time when he brought me to live with Ellie, I can still feel that power between my legs, among other things he made me feel. Subconsciously, I clench my thighs together, then put my car in gear, shaking off the memory. I'm going to a college party. Because I'm a college student. It’s what I'm supposed to do. Right?

  The house party is not too far out of town in a wealthy community. Large houses are placed every couple miles, each one getting bigger as we drive up the road. When we get parked, Sam is already out and headed to my car. He opens Ari’s door, offering his hand for her to take, and I inwardly smile. Looks like he does like her. Good. “Well, ladies, come on in. Let the fun begin,” he says, keeping hold of Ari’s hand a
nd he leads us to the large house with Greek letters displayed above the entrance.

  “A frat house? Sam, are you seriously a frat boy?” Ari questions in playful disgust.

  “Unfortunately. The rent is cheap.” He shrugs in explanation, and Ari laughs.

  “I guess I can let it slide,” she jokes back, and we walk inside through to the back where there are already party goers well on their way to being wasted. Not something I'm planning on doing, but I won’t deny a drink. Remembering what Vin instructed, I take the unopened bottle of beer offered to me instead of the cup that was thrust toward my hand. Ari also gets offered one, but Sam takes it out of her hand before she can get a sip in and gives her an unopened bottle as well. A wine cooler of some kind. Maybe this guy is one of the good ones.

  Mingling and only sticking to my one beer, I try to enjoy myself, but there are just too many people here for me to do that. I stay close to Sam’s unoccupied side for a shield of some kind, but when the need to pee wins out, I go in search of the bathroom. At first, Sam says he and Ari will go with me so I don’t get lost, but I tell him no, not wanting to pull him away from his competitive game of beer pong.

  Walking up the long set of stairs to find the promised bathroom, I open the wrong door, finding the room occupies, and quickly shut it. Scurrying off farther down the hall, I almost forget why I even came up here when a slurred voice stops me in my tracks. “Hey, there she is. Little Kimi. Shit, you’ve been glued to Sam’s side all night, was wondering when we could get you alone.” I turn to see Zeke and Blake stalking toward me, a look on their faces I know all too well. My throat goes dry, and in a panic, I grab the closest door knob, get inside the room as fast as I can, and slam it behind me, but locking it before they get it open doesn't happen. The knob turns, and the two men burst through, sending me right into the bathroom vanity. They both close in, making their intent known.

  “Please, guys. You’re both drunk and I—” Blake puts his fingers to my lips as Zeke leans in closer to me.

  “Aw, don’t be like that. You’ll enjoy this, sweetheart,” Zeke whispers, nipping at my earlobe, making me cringe and flinch away.

  “Yeah. Promise. We will make you feel real good.” Blake’s fingers now roam along my stomach, pushing up my sweatshirt to find the top of my jeans. Their voices seep into my skin, and I feel like I’m being sent back into time. Just like it did back then, my mind starts to go blank, tuning out what they’re about to do.

  Not happening. Not happening.

  Hands.

  Not here. Not here.

  Voices.

  Getting louder and louder.

  Until the hands are pulled from me, and the sounds of shouting, slamming, shattering, and groaning penetrate the space around me. “Oh my God, Kimi. Shit. Kimi, can you hear me?” I slightly make out a concerned Ari holding my unfocused face in her hands. “Kimi!” she yells, the sting flashing across my face as her hand connects my cheek to bring me out of my trance.

  “You pieces of shit. I’m fucking bringing this shit to coach. You two are going to be off the fucking team!” Sam bellows as another crash sounds.

  “I’m sorry, Kimi. Hey, look at me,” Ari instructs. When I do, her face is ghost white and she has tears in her eyes. I feel ridiculous. My first party and I go and get myself assaulted. So stupid. Instantly, I think of Jake. I want Jake.

  “You slapped me,” I whisper.

  “Sorry.” She gives me a sad, guilty look. “Let’s get you out of here.” Pulling on my arm, she leads me out the door and outside to my car, then guides me into the passenger side, taking my keys from me, saying I wasn't in the right frame of mind to drive right now. I agree. Because really, I'm not. She’s right.

  Sam comes out shortly after to check on me and say goodbye to Ari. “I called the cops. They’ll be here soon. I've got the team keeping an eye on the pricks. We are getting a call on record. If you want to press charges, I will make sure you have the support of the team. Hell, of the whole damn school. That shit is wrong. I'm just glad I came when I did. Shit, Kimi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you go alone.”

  “No. This isn't your fault. They are men. It’s what they do. There are only a small select few who will respect a woman. You, Sam, are one of them. Thank you for tonight,” I tell him, then reach forward to shut the door, not wanting to talk anymore.

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  Also by Joy Blood

  Hell’s Riders Series

  All on Kindle Unlimited

  Jake’s Silence

  Gin’s Longing

  Rico’s Way