THE OUTLAW’S BRIDE Read online

  As if on cue, another motorcycle roared into the parking lot. I recognized Patches, the young, round-faced biker. He grinned at me when he saw me; unlike some of the other Angels, Patches always seemed happy to see me. I had a feeling women like me didn’t hang around often. I was a novelty; that was all.

  “Hi, Patches,” I said, trying to keep my tone both neutral and friendly. “How are you?”

  “Great,” he said. “I get to hang out at the library with a pretty lady.” He pronounced library like ‘liberry’ but I couldn’t help grinning anyway. After all of the tension with Trey, it was nice to be around someone who didn’t make a secret out of enjoying my company.

  “Hopefully it won’t be too exciting,” I mumbled under my breath. Trey was already walking back to his bike and climbing on. All of the momentary happiness I’d felt at seeing Patches disappeared and was replaced with emptiness.

  It’s true: he doesn’t think about you at all, I thought sadly as Trey roared out of the library’s parking lot. Just forget about him and go back to your life. You know he doesn’t want you around. He‘s not going to want to be a dad to Chuckie. You should just give up.

  “Angel, are you okay?” Patches was looking at me with a curious expression on his wide face. “You look sad.”

  “I feel sad,” I said. My voice sounded pathetic and I winced. Straightening up, I looked him in his guileless brown eyes. “But I’ll be fine. Everything is going to be fine.”

  Patches didn’t say anything else as I strode into the library with purpose. Suddenly, all eyes were on me. In my moment of moping, I’d forgotten about the slutty outfit I’d put on before work. Now, wearing skintight black jeans seemed like a horrible idea. But it was too late; I was already here. A nervous smile pasted itself on my face as I walked behind the counter and checked my little mailbox. It was empty. Even though it had seemed like weeks since I’d worked, it startled me to realize it had actually only been a couple of days.

  “Angel, you look nice,” one of the other librarians said.

  He was an older guy named Toby, with a pink scalp showing through his thinning brown hair. He smiled at me and I felt another touch of self-consciousness. There was nothing creepy or leering about his gaze, but I still felt embarrassed. Normally, I didn’t draw any attention to myself at work. It made me uncomfortable. I didn’t want people judging me for being a single mom and for dressing attractively. I knew it was outdated and sexist, but Centerville was a small town. I knew how easily people would start talking, and I didn’t want Chuckie to grow up with any kind of bad reputation. Also, I didn’t want any word getting back to my parents. Ever since they’d kicked me out, I’d tried to maintain a low profile. I was afraid – of what, I wasn’t exactly sure. But I had a feeling if they resurfaced, it wouldn’t be good for me or for Chuckie. At best, I saw them tentatively apologizing. At worst…I didn’t know. I didn’t even like to think about that.

  “Thank you,” I said, dipping my head. “Have the past couple days been okay?” A blush came over me when I remembered how Trey and I had spent a torrid night just a few days ago. I arched my back involuntarily, thinking of his lips and teeth on my sensitive skin. Shivering, I blinked and stared at my shoes. Damn Trey, he always had control of my body, even when he wasn’t physically near me. He’d changed something inside of me all those years ago, and it would never be the same.

  “We missed you,” Toby said. He smiled at me again and I blushed again, more deeply this time. It was almost like he could read the sex on my face. “You’ll be back from now on?”

  “I hope so,” I said. “Sorry, it was a personal crisis.” Inwardly, I cursed at myself but I didn’t know what else I could say. I didn’t exactly have a lot of respect for other librarians who called out at the drop of a hat. I had to save all of my sick time and vacation time for when Chuckie actually got sick. Last year I’d come in with a hundred-degree fever for three days in a row because I couldn’t have afforded the time off.

  Toby nodded. “I understand,” he said. “We all have those sometimes.”

  He stared at me and I felt a rush of irritation pass through me. I was obviously in the middle of something rough and he couldn’t even stop checking me out! Were all men like this, just useless pigs led around by their cocks? I frowned. I didn’t want to believe that. Daddy hadn’t been like that. Trey hadn’t been like that either. But now, after what had happened between us, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe he didn’t really love me after all. Maybe he was just using me for my body, and to make himself feel more important.

  “Angel, just let me know when you’re ready to catch up the events,” Toby said. He smiled at me and I felt the same irritation, only stronger this time. “We have a lot to talk about. You know we got approved for the new speaker series?” He made his hand into a fist and swung it cheerily through the air.

  I almost laughed; despite his strong pose, he was about the farthest possible thing from intimidating I’d ever seen. Hell, Chuckie was more intimidating and he hadn’t even hit puberty yet. That’s what always gets you in trouble, I thought. You can’t stay away from those bad boys, no matter how tough they are. No matter how much they hurt you. You always have a weakness for guys from the wrong side of the tracks. “Later,” I said absentmindedly. “I have to rifle through some papers first.” I held up the stack on the desk. “It looks like no one processed these late fees.”

  Toby actually blushed. “I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. “I know I should have taken care of those, but you know, I’m just so bad at math.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and I couldn’t help but feel a trace of disgust at his aging, soft body. He wasn’t muscular like Trey, and he had the charisma of a dead walrus. I couldn’t believe that before Trey had come charging back into my life, I’d actually contemplated going out with Toby.

  I was relieved when he left me alone. Patches settled in the corner of the library with a motorcycle magazine on his lap. He kept a hand tucked in his jacket and I knew his fingers were wrapped around the trigger of his gun. I felt safe when he was around, and before long, it felt like almost no time had passed since I’d worked. I’d missed the quiet of the library, the smell of old paper. It was soothing and comforting to me, even though I couldn’t get Trey out of the back of my mind. Trey and his sexy body and the way he’d left without a second glance. I shuddered. What was going to happen when all of this settled? Would another ten years pass before I saw him again?

  Stop thinking about him right now, I ordered myself. You know that isn’t going to help anything. There’s nothing you can do to change what’s going on, and there’s nothing you can do to change Trey. It would be better for everyone if you realized that right now.

  Morning turned into afternoon and I was busy helping patrons find the books they wanted. A popular sci-fi series had just released a new book, and I set up a waiting list, patiently explaining to some high school kids that they’d have to wait a couple of weeks.

  “Why don’t you have an e-reader lending program?” One of them frowned at me. “Most libraries do. This is the twenty-first century, after all.”

  I chuckled. “But Centerville is a small town,” I reminded the kid. “You know we don’t always have a big budget for those things.” When his face fell, I felt guilty. “But you know, I’ll say something to the board about it the next time we meet,” I added. “You never know; it might work out.”

  By late afternoon, my feet ached. I told Toby I was going to take a small break. When he nodded, I gratefully dashed into the atrium. It was a sunny, open space where people in the community would post ads for yard sales and the like. It was especially warm after the sun had been hitting it for hours, and I closed my eyes and breathed in. Something brushed against my arm but I didn’t open my eyes. I thought it was Patches, coming to make sure I was okay. Just a minute or two and then I’ll go back in, I thought. He can wait just another couple of seconds.

  But before I could react, something grabbed me and tugged me
off to the side. I stumbled, opening my eyes at the last second. It wasn’t Patches; it was Randy. I opened my mouth to yelp and he clapped a hand over me before I could make a sound. Dragging me over to the corner of the atrium, he pulled a knife out of his jacket and pressed the blade against my throat. I could feel the edge of the steel against my skin and I whimpered as Randy shoved the cold metal hard against me.

  “Don’t make a sound, girly,” Randy said. He was breathing heavily and he pressed his body against mine. I could feel he had an erection. Disgust swam through my body and I tried to twist away but Randy was stronger. “You wear that just for me, baby? You look so damn yummy in that.”

  “I didn’t do anything for you,” I managed to spit.

  Anger flashed in Randy’s eyes and he jabbed the knifepoint into my neck. I felt it break the skin; a trickle of blood ran down my chest.

  “You better tell your boyfriend to stop poking around,” Randy said in a heavy voice. His breath smelled like stale tobacco and rot and I flinched. “Did you know he made a little visit to the police station?”

  I opened my eyes wide. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice shaking. I took a deep breath and tried to steel my nerves. “I don’t know what he does.”

  “Well, you better make it your business,” Randy said. He pressed the blade into my neck and I whimpered. “Because if he doesn’t stop, you’re gonna be the next crime scene. You got that?”

  Chills ran down my body. “I understand,” I said softly.

  I thought Randy was going to reach out and grab me but he pulled the knife back and tucked it in his jacket. I stood there shaking as he walked out of the library, whistling confidently. Even though I felt like I was rooted to the spot, I forced my legs to move and walk back into the library. When I looked in the corner, I saw no sign of Patches. It was like he’d vanished.

  “Oh, my god,” Toby said. He came up to me in a hurry with a wad of tissues clutched in his skinny fingers. “Angel! Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said. My heart was pounding at the inside of my chest. “Can you give me a ride home?”

  “Sure,” Toby said. “Can you wait a few minutes?”

  I shook my head. “No,” I said. “It has to be now.”

  Tony sensed the urgency in my voice. He promised he’d be right back as he dashed off behind the front desk. As I waited, I knew I had to call Trey. He had to know about this, and soon.

  Chapter 17

  Trey

  I was out riding with Ram and Wolf when I got the call. Patches sounded hysterical, and I could tell he was really frightened. Anger boiled up in me as soon as his little yipping voice filled the earpiece of my phone. He wasn’t acting like a Skullbreaker; he was acting like a damn pussy.

  “Trey, something happened!” Patches bleated into the phone. “Something happened to Angel! She’s gone!”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” I pulled my bike over to the side of the road and closed my eyes. A million horrible thoughts were running through my mind. Angel could have been kidnapped, or dead, or dismembered and lying in a ditch somewhere. Panic racked through my body and I barely heard what Patches was telling me.

  “And when I got back from the bathroom, she was gone!” Patches gasped.

  I could tell he was distraught but I had no patience for him right now. If he hadn’t fucked up, Angel would still be safe and sound. This was all my fault for letting her go to work in the first place, and if I’d put my fucking foot down, she’d still be fine. Goddammit!

  “Stay there,” I ordered. “Look for her. I’m going to call her now.”

  I hung up on Patches without saying goodbye. Just as I was about to dial Angel’s number, my phone buzzed in my hand. When I saw it was her, relief and terror both spiked in my body. I knew it wasn’t necessarily her cellphone, but maybe someone who had kidnapped her was using her to get to me. I shuddered as I answered the phone.

  “Angel?”

  “Trey!” Her voice was scared but she didn’t sound like she was in immediate danger. “Trey! They came to the library! They scared me, Trey!” Her voice broke and I could tell she was about to start sobbing. “Trey, I’m home. I got a ride home. I’m safe, but I’m scared. You need to come home right now!”

  Tucking the phone into my pocket, I gunned my bike into gear and sped towards home. Ram and Wolf followed close behind — the reassuring roar of their bikes helped me realize I wasn’t alone in this, no matter how bad things got. Angel would be okay, she was at home, she was safe. She just had to stay there for a few minutes, until I got home, and then I could pull her in my arms and make sure nothing bad would ever happen to her again.

  I could have killed Patches. If he’d had any chance of getting patched into the Skullbreakers, it was long gone. He’d risked Angel’s life — possibly even Chuckie’s life — and I couldn’t ever forgive him for that. He’d had one job and he’d ruined it and fucked everything up. When I saw him again, he’d be lucky if he walked away with all of his teeth.

  The constant, reassuring presence of Wolf and Ram behind me roared in my ears. I knew they were dying to know what was going on, and I wanted to tell them. But protecting Angel was more important. The longer I thought about it, the more rage I felt fill my body. I couldn’t believe any prospect of the Skullbreakers would have been so stupid! Especially after I’d gone out of my way to tell the guys what was really going on.

  The ride home seemed to take forever. Angel’s car wasn’t in the driveway and for a moment I panicked that she’d up and gone somewhere. But she opened the front door, her silk blouse clinging to her generous bust, and looked at me with such a mixture of relief and horror that I felt my chest swell.

  She ran out into the yard. Her arms were around me and squeezing tightly before I’d even finished climbing off my bike, and I pulled her close and inhaled her sweet, musky fragrance. She was shaking and trembling and her forehead was damp with sweat. She looked like she’d been through hell.

  “What the hell happened?” I demanded, holding her at arm’s length. “What the hell, Angel? Where did Patches go?”

  “I don’t know,” Angel said. She looked around and I could see her pulse racing in her throat. “I looked for him and he was gone!” Her voice had a touch of hysteria in it and I watched as a tear squeezed out of her eye and dripped down her cheek. She continued, “I went into the atrium for a break and closed my eyes, and then one of those creepy guys was there! Randy! The one who grabbed me before!” She opened her eyes wide and looked at me. “And he grabbed me and stuck a knife at my throat and told me if you didn’t stop snooping, he was going to kill me!”

  I slowly digested the information. “Patches went to the bathroom,” I replied. “He must not have told you, the fucking idiot. I’m going to kill him!”

  “It wasn’t Patches’ fault,” Angel said quickly. I rolled my eyes. “He was watching me all day!”

  “Except for, like, the five minutes when he actually needed to pay attention to you,” I growled.

  Angel shrunk back. “Trey, please!” Her voice was rising to a hysterical fever pitch. “Trey, I don’t know what it is you’re doing but you need to stop!”

  “That’s right,” I snarled back at her. “You have no idea what it is that I’m doing, because it’s none of your business, Angel.”

  Angel’s eyes got wide and she backed away. A flush was rising on her pale cheeks and I could tell she was getting more heated with every passing second. She waved her hands in the air, gesturing wildly. “Trey, you have a family now,” Angel pleaded. “Don’t you see that? You have me! You have Chuckie! Our son. Remember? You’re his father, Trey. Why don’t you start acting like it?”

  A small, rational part of me knew Angel was just trying to make a point but I couldn’t help the rage that was building slowly in my chest. If it hadn’t been for her, and her parents, and her goddamned wealthy upbringing, this wouldn’t be happening. Angel and I would have stayed together and rais
ed Chuckie the way he should have been raised from the beginning. I may never have gotten involved with the MC, but I sure as hell could have put Angel through school. Maybe she’d even be some kind of famous scientist or artist by now if she hadn’t had to work so damn hard. The oddest mix of rage and betrayal swirled through my body.

  “Leave me alone,” I mumbled. “I don’t want to be around you right now. If you keep pushing me, I’m gonna say a lot of bad shit, Angel.” I stalked past her and pushed her to the side.

  Angel let out this hurt little gasp and dug her fingers into my arm. The skinny digits felt like they were made of ice. “Trey, please listen to me!” Angel jumped in front of me and stared deep in my eyes. She was wearing heels and she was tall, almost as tall as I was. Her green eyes flared and sparked with anger. “Think of us! Think of your family!” She pleaded at me with her eyes. “Trey, you have a family now. You can’t jeopardize our safety for the sake of some stupid fight! Come on, think about it!”

  An electric shock of anger went sliding though my body. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to pin this on me when she was the one who had left. I couldn’t even think clearly anymore, and all traces of the rational Trey left my body. Before I even knew what I was saying, I turned on Angel and raised my voice as loudly as I could without actually yelling. “Do you understand what you’re saying?”