Page 7 of The Biker’s Savage Desire (Chaos Brothers MC #4)

Red

“Please, I don’t know anything about anything,” Maci pleads in the back seat of the truck. “You don’t have to do whatever it is you’re doing.”

“I’m taking you back home,” I groan. “That’s all.”

“I heard you tell that girl that you’re taking me to the clubhouse.

Look, I don’t know anything. Yes, I’m a reporter.

Yes, I went out in search of Duke, but I didn’t find anything.

I swear.” Her voice shakes and I know a rebuttal from the kindhearted, though far too trusting princess, is coming next.

“Red, drop her off with me. We’ll stay at the inn, talk, have lunch, and by the time you get back from the clubhouse, I’m sure you’ll have the answers you need.”

“Can’t do that, princess. I made a promise to the MC. Breaking something like that gets you kicked out with your teeth in hand.” I groan under my breath remembering that I need to stay soft enough to protect Mae’s heart. “I won’t forget she’s human. Okay?”

“Wow!” Mae’s eyes widen as we weave the tree-lined, single lane road onto Main Street. It’s not a huge town center, but it does the job. “You can’t be serious. Human? Of course she’s human. You go talk to your buddies, figure out what you need to, but I’m keeping the girl with me.”

There’s a beat where I don’t say anything.

I just stare out at the rain-glossed main drag like it’s got all the answers, but Mae’s voice is laced with something heavier than a stubborn attitude.

Something I’d be a fool to ignore. She’s not fighting me to win.

She’s fighting because she knows I need to be reminded of who I am beneath the patch, of the guy I’ve been at the cabin, and the guy I want to be for her.

I sigh the kind of sigh that settles in your chest like you’re about to make a decision you’ll pay for in ten different ways.

“Fine,” I mutter. “She stays with you.”

Mae blinks, like she didn’t actually expect me to fold that easily. Hell, I didn’t expect me to fold that easily, but what the hell would she think of me if the guys fucked this girl up? I can’t risk losing Mae over whatever bullshit this is.

The sun shines heavy and hot, an attempt to dry the puddles left from yesterday’s rainstorm. I pull up in front of the inn, the air thick with humidity, and walk the girls upstairs, making sure they’re both tucked into the room before I leave.

“I’ll check in at the clubhouse.” I brush the pad of my thumb against Mae’s cheek. “Don’t leave the room, and don’t talk to anyone. I’ll call when I know what’s what.”

Maci busies herself with searching the room for snacks but turns back and swallows like she’s trying to keep her gratitude buried behind her teeth. Smart girl. Don’t thank me yet.

Mae leans into my chest, her arms wrapped around me as though she doesn’t want to let go. “How long will you be gone?”

“Couple of hours, tops. Call me if anything weird happens. I put my number in your phone.”

She nods and stares at me for a long moment before the door closes, the lock latches, and I wonder if I’ve lost my damn mind.

The hum of the truck engine does nothing to drown out the thoughts clawing through my skull as I drive.

Maci is for sure here for Duke. She admitted as much herself.

I blow out a heavy breath as I turn up the side road and follow the pine trees up the mountain until the wood sided clubhouse rises in the distance.

This is going to be interesting.

Inside, Duke sits like a demon in the center of the kitchen, the guys surrounding him as though they’re waiting for spontaneous combustion. He’s leaned back in a wood chair, arm thrown over the back, body lazily swung, legs parted. I’ve never seen him looking quite this strung-out.

“We have a problem,” he groans.

One of the guy’s shuffles, scraping his boot against the floor a little too rough, breaking up the stifled silence that resonates around our Prez.

I lean into the counter, toothpick in the corner of my mouth, trying to ease my nerves. “Yeah? What kind of problem?”

He scrubs a hand through his hair, like it might help push the truth back down where it can’t burn him alive. “I’m looking for someone.” His voice lowers as he says, “A girl. She’s sharp, annoying, won’t shut up, and I,” he laughs once, humorlessly, “I should hate her.”

A beat.

His jaw is clenched tight like it’s holding back something heavier. “I need to see her again.” He pulls his phone out of his back pocket. “I’m texting you all a photo.”

The room quiets to still silence as he starts pacing, fists clenched.

My phone dings in tandem with everyone else’s and I glance down at the screen, pretending not to recognize the curvy brunette I just dropped off at the inn with Mae.

Fuck!

“Whoever brings her to me gets a bounty and a favor. One big fuckin’ favor,” Duke groans.

Hushed chatter explodes amongst the guys, and I get the feeling they’re all for this twisted game of hide and seek. We’ve all been looking for a thrill since we got up here and a bounty raises the stakes.

“Duke, what are you doing?” I ask low and edged, the words more a warning than a question.

“I didn’t ask your fuckin’ opinion. I want her roped and ready, dead center stage in the horse ring at my ranch. I want those pretty pink lips of hers begging for mercy, and I want it now. Move! ” He doesn’t flinch, just tilts his head, his eyes cold.

Growing up poor teaches you one thing fast. Survival isn’t always pretty.

You steal some, lie a little, learn to make peace with the worst version of yourself, just to make it to the next day.

The military didn’t clean that up. It sharpens it.

They taught me to follow orders, even the ones that kept me up at night.

If I turn Maci in, Mae would never forgive me. And honestly, I’m not sure I’d forgive myself at this point.

The guys take off. It won’t take them long to hunt her down. The girl is all over social media. I should’ve reminded her not to post. Everything can be tracked nowadays.

“Red,” Duke barks before I turn away.

“Yeah?” My chest tightens as though he somehow knows that I know exactly where the girl is.

“You’re my best hunter,” he growls. “I’ll throw extra in for you if you get her to me tonight.”

This shit is insane. Duke’s spinning out, and everyone sees it. The cocky control he used to command is slipping, replaced with something… erratic.

He used to play the game ten steps ahead, cool as ice. Now, he’s making moves out of spite, not reason. It’s reckless, dangerous, and we're all just orbiting his madness, pretending it’s business as usual.

I nod again, slower this time, my stomach twisting. I’m not sure who I’m protecting anymore. Maci, myself, or the last scrap of loyalty I’ve still got left for a man unraveling at the seams.

I need to get the fuck out of here and get back to the girls, maybe give Maci a reality check, then take my princess and disappear back to the little cabin in the woods where life was a fuck of a lot simpler.