Page 29 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door (Never Just One #4)

Harper

T he distant roaring of motorcycles pierces the air, and I feel an enormous swell of relief. They’re here. They came for me. And just in time. Who knows what Viktor was building up to with his strange and terrifying declaration? Whatever he has planned for me is a fate worse than death.

“Ah, the cavalry has arrived. Your knights in shining armor, here to save the day,” Viktor says sarcastically, seemingly unsurprised by the interruption.

The fact that he seems prepared for this can’t be good.

“I suppose it’s time to bring in the hostages.” Viktor snaps his fingers, and one of the guards retreats in the direction they took Katie and Paul.

When he returns with them, Katie seems dazed and frightened, but she’s alive, and I feel a surge of triumph.

Paul is looking even worse than before. The guards, having clearly given him a beating, have split his lip.

But that doesn’t stop him from smiling, and I know that’s because all he cares about is that Katie is alive and help is coming.

He has so much faith that the Shadow Pack will save the day.

I wish I could share his optimism, but something tells me Viktor has an ace up his sleeve.

I only wish I knew what it was.

Then the last person I expect to see is brought out, her hair matted and her skimpy clothes filthy, suggesting they have held her captive for a while. She has a glassy-eyed look of someone who’s been drugged, though perhaps she took them willingly.

“Susan.”

She’s too out of it to respond. I’m not even sure if she’s aware of what’s going on. I’ve no idea how or why Viktor has her here.

“Your little friend here was most helpful, telling me all about the Shadow Pack, and she helped me find someone very important. Someone to make sure you behave.”

His henchman walks over, carrying a tablet. On the screen, there’s grainy footage taken outside of what is unmistakably Pam’s house. A strangled cry escapes my lips as I realize that they might hurt my baby girl. My Jenny.

“Please, don’t hurt my little girl. I’ll do anything.”

“Call them off.”

“Yes, anything, just give me my phone and I’ll call them. I’ll tell them to stop. Just please leave the children out of it.”

Susan, still drugged but more lucid, looks up in alarm. “You never said anything about hurting no kids.”

Viktor hits her hard across the face with his pistol, splitting her cheek, “Shut up, you junkie whore. You got what you wanted. Harper’s out of the picture you can keep whatever’s left of your men. Though I doubt there’ll be anything worth salvaging by the time my men are finished with them.”

“You bastard!” Susan cries, lashing out with nails like claws, scratching his face. The guard intervenes, pulling her back.

“Touch me again, whore, and I’ll kill you,” he threatens, his voice low and calm.

While he’s distracted, I’ve noticed Paul slowly inching his way toward the table where a gun has been left. I do my best to distract Viktor and keep his focus on me.

“Please, let me call them off. I’ll do anything you say, just please don’t harm Jenny.”

With a triumphant smirk, Viktor pulls my phone out of his pocket and dials, putting the phone on speaker as he gestures for his guard to bring me closer to him.

Wolf answers the phone after a couple of rings. He sounds out of breath from fighting. “Harper?”

“Yes, it’s—”

Viktor’s free hand snaps out, grabbing me tightly by the throat, crushing my windpipe so I can’t speak. “She’s here, and so far, unharmed. I have hostages, including little Jenny. So I advise that you call your men off.”

He releases his grip on my throat, and I choke out, “Please, Wolf, stand down. They’re at Pam’s house.”

“Harper, listen to me. Jenny is fine. We’re coming for you.”

“No, you don’t understand—”

“Tell that asshole to check his cameras,” Wolf says confidently.

With a frown, Viktor gestures for the man with the tablet, who strides over and holds the footage up.

It’s the same as before, but after a moment, the camera turns around to show the face of the person holding it.

My heart leaps out of my chest with relief and confusion when I see Hawk smiling and waving, the body of one of Viktor’s men on the floor behind him.

“Surprise, asshole.”

I don’t get to hear anything else because Viktor throws the tablet on the floor with such force that it smashes into pieces. “Fuck!” he screams before composing himself, straightening his tie.

“Alright, so you have the girl. But I still have your pregnant whore. You gonna come and rescue your damsel in distress?” Viktor taunts Wolf.

Wolf chuckles, the sound almost a growl. “You clearly don’t know Harper very well. Our woman is no damsel in distress. You should have realized six years ago that you fucked with the wrong girl. Harper, we’re coming, but in the meantime, remember who you are.”

Viktor snorts with derision. “You’re even stupider than you look, Mr. Wolf,” he says, ending the call.

Now I know Jenny’s safe and Hawk is there with her, nothing is going to hold me back. Wolf is right. I came here intending to take Viktor down alone. I don’t need to wait for rescue. I can take on the bad guy myself.

My hands are only loosely tied at the front, and Viktor is currently unarmed as he’s still holding the phone.

Viktor thinks I’m helpless. That we all are.

He’s spent so long being alone, selfishly putting himself first, he’s forgotten that families look out for each other.

That we’re stronger together than we are alone.

The sound of Wolf and the others breaking down the door is our cue to act.

“Now, Paul!” I yell.