Page 30 of Just Heartbeats (Royalla Motorcycle Club #1)

Roma lined up her shot, steadying her grip on the pool cue as she eyed the angle.

The clubhouse was quiet, with only the faint murmur of voices from a few guys in the back who had stayed behind while the others had gone out.

Nobody was drinking because of the lockdown.

No outsiders were allowed on the compound.

It was quiet and safe. And, she was bored stiff and missing Kodiak.

She got up and worked in the garage every day, but it wasn't the same without him there, too.

For every week that passed in lockdown, it seemed like months had gone by.

She hated having him gone. Time slowed, and she worried constantly about him not making it back to her.

The memories of losing her dad plagued her.

She envisioned Cruz riding in and telling her that Kodiak was shot, or worse, dead.

Closing her eyes, she steadied herself. Then, she blinked and focused on the ball.

She sank the solid eleven ball into the pocket, straightening with a grin. As soon as she took her next shot, she knew the ball wasn't going where she wanted it to go. "Your move."

"I'll call it." Nate leaned against the table, pointed the stick across the felt. "Left corner." The eight ball dropped into the leather pocket. "That's it."

"Good game." She pulled the balls out of the pockets and rolled them to the end of the table.

"You're getting better." Nate racked the balls. "You only had two more left on the table."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "Or you're getting worse."

"Up for another game?" He tilted his head.

"Sure."

"I'm gonna grab a smoke first. Want to step outside for a bit and cool off?" He hitched his thumb toward the door.

Roma glanced toward the clubhouse door. Kodiak had told her she could only step outside on the compound property while he was gone if another member escorted her.

While Royalla was safe, he wasn't taking any chances, even on Royalla property.

Nate was trusted, even if Kodiak believed Nate flirted with all the girls, including her.

"Sure." She set her cue stick down, checked her phone on the edge of the table for any messages, and then stopped at the bar and told Baker she was going outside with Nate for a few minutes.

"Don't wander." Baker lowered his brows. "Stay with Nate."

"I will."

The moment the door swung open, the cool night air pressed against her skin, carrying the scent of fir trees.

Only a few bikes were parked alongside the building.

Those members were inside the clubhouse.

The lack of chaos unnerved her. She much preferred the activities and people who used to bring excitement to the clubhouse.

She looked up into the sky and rubbed her arms. The stars were out, not a cloud in the sky.

Strong fingers latched onto her wrist. Startled, she jerked her arm, finding she couldn't break free. She gazed up into Nate's face, and her pulse spiked.

" What are you doing?" She frowned, cold creeping into her gut. "Let me go."

He pulled her away from the clubhouse. She stumbled and barely kept from falling.

"Stop it." She tripped, barely staying on her feet. "What is wrong with you? You're hurting my arm."

Then she saw it—a black car parked against the curb outside the fence. The streetlight allowed her to make out a man sitting behind the steering wheel. She squinted, clearly seeing a man with a Deception MC vest.

Everything inside her tensed in full-blown panic. She yanked hard, but Nate's grip tightened. He was too strong. She couldn't get away. Everything hit her at once. He'd planned this. He knew the Deception member was outside the open gate. A gate that was supposed to be closed.

"Nate," she choked out. Anger and horror tangled in her voice. "What are you doing?"

No longer friendly or grinning, Nate's face had turned cold as if unfazed about what he was doing to her. She dug her heels into the asphalt, trying to slow him from dragging her off the compound.

"Kodiak is going to—"

He shoved her. Roma stumbled forward, her shoulder slamming into the waiting car. Panic exploded in her chest. She shoved back against Nate, twisting, trying to break free. But he refused to let go.

Her heart pounded. Her mind screamed—move, move, move. But Nate wrapped his arm around her neck from behind, stealing her breath and lifting her feet off the ground. She was losing. He was too strong.

The car door swung open. Nate shoved her into the backseat with practiced hands. She fought, kicking and hitting, but he deflected every attack, successfully getting her inside.

The door slammed shut, cutting off her scream for help.

She scrambled to grab the door handle, and there was nothing on the inside panel. They'd removed her only way of escaping the car.

The Deception member turned in his seat, flashing a grin that made her stomach churn. "Welcome to the ride, beautiful."

Roma's breath caught in her throat. Her vision blurred. She'd been stolen, from under Royalla's watch. Her pulse roared in her ears. Inside, she screamed for Kodiak.

She had to keep from panicking, so she counted streets, trying to remember where he was taking her. Without the man seeing her, she slid her hand behind her and slipped her fingers inside her pocket to reach for her phone. All she had to do was call Kodiak. He'd find her.

A wave of desperation swept through her. Her pocket was empty. She'd left her phone on the pool table after checking for any messages from Kodiak.

Her vision blurred. She squeezed her hand into fists. What was she going to do?