Colt nods, and leaves the room. I turn, taking the keys for the trucks from my desk. I shove them in my pockets, and head back out. Colt has six mostly sober guys lined up. Meadow is staring at me, her eyes narrowed. I walk over, putting my hands on her knees. She’s still sitting on the bar.

“Stay here; don’t go. I’ve got shit to deal with, but I’ll be back in a few hours. Go sleep, if you need.”

She nods. “Okay.”

I press a kiss to her lips, and then turn, gathering the men and shoving them outside. I give them a run down on what’s happening as we drive.

Fuck, this is the last thing I need.

~*~*~*~

“He still got them out there?” I ask Jake, as my men move around the bar, checking things out.

“Yeah, so far no cops have showed. They’re not really talking, and one is refusing to allow him to call the cops. She copped it real bad. She’s all fucked up and battered.”

“Right,” I grunt, and then turn to Colt. “Let’s get out the back and talk to this guy before he calls the cops.”

We walk as a group through the bar, shoving the girl out of the way when she tries to stop us. We step out back, and see a familiar face soothing three girls. We’ve known Max for a long enough time, that he’s familiar with us and how we roll. Colt’s bar is just up the road, and we’ve always had good communication.

Upon hearing our entrance, Max turns and stares over at us, then he gets to his feet.

“You fuckers come any closer, and I’ll call the cops, but not before I put a fuckin’ bullet in your heads.”

“Pipe down, Max,” I say, my tone bored. “You know we didn’t do this shit.”

“Funny that, because you’re the only bikers that run this town, and these girls know what they saw.”

I turn my eyes to the girls, and I study them. Two of the girls are wide-eyed and confused, and I can tell just by glancing at them, that they’re off their trees. Beast gave them something to confuse them. They’re both blonde, busty, and pretty enough. They’re not beat up.

The third girl, she’s staring at her hands, but I can see her battered face. She’s trembling, and her entire body is rigid. When she finally lifts her eyes, I feel mine widen.

She’s got jet-black hair, long and curly, half way down her back. Her eyes, through, they’re cat yellow. I shake my head, never having seen anything like it. She’s a strange, yet oddly attractive-looking girl, but she’s been through the ringer. Her eyes are puffy and dark, and she has blood dripping from her lip.

“It wasn’t us,” I finally say, turning to Max. “It was Beast and his gang. They’re in town causing shit. Ask your girls here, go on.”

Max turns to the girls. “Were these the men who hurt you?”

The dark-haired girl shakes her head frantically. “N-n-n-no.”

Max narrows his eyes, and glares at me. “Then why are you here?”

“I’m here to clean up the fuckin’ mess that prick left behind. I’m takin’ the girls, Max. I need to sort this out, and keep it away from the cops.”

Max storms over to me, getting up in my face. “They were gang-raped,” he hisses. “You can’t not call the cops.”

I lean in closer, gripping his shirt. “You involve the cops, and a whole new world of trouble starts. You know how that shit goes down, Max. I’ll take ‘em, help ‘em, and then let them go when Beast has been sorted.”

“You know I don’t fuckin’ agree with this.”

“And you also know you get no choice.”

I step past him, and over to the girls. I kneel down in front of the dark-haired girl.

“My name is Axel, and I’m here to take care of you. Me and my boys, we won’t lay a hand on you, but you gotta trust us. We’re gonna take you back. We got some real nice old ladies in our club, and they’ll let you stay with them.”

The dark-haired girl shakes her head, her eyes wide. “No, please.”

“Listen to me,” I say gently, but firmly. “My men and I won’t lay a hand on you or your friends, but we can’t leave you here. You’re not safe, but I promise once you are, we’ll let you go.”

She studies my face, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

Then she croaks out, “I don’t get a choice, do I?”

“No, darlin’.”

CHAPTER 21

MEADOW

Let me fix your broken soul, let me make your world whole.

I’m just dozing off on the old couch in the dining area of the clubhouse when I hear the trucks pull up. I lift my head, but I’m still hazy. I hear doors slam, and a moment later, Axel and the guys come through the door, only they’re not alone. They have three girls with them. Two of those girls look like they’re meant to be models, with their blonde hair and busty bodies, but the last girl looks completely broken. She’s got her dark hair falling partly over her face, and her eyes are haunted. Not only are they haunted, but also they’re the most incredible eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re a stark yellow, and against her creamy, pale skin, they are piercing.

I get off the couch and walk over to them.

“What’s happening?” I whisper to Axel.

He looks at the girls. “Colt, take them to the bunks in the back room. Keep two watches on them. We don’t want them running.”

“You stole them?” I say, feeling my eyes widen.