struck her left cheek and sent her reeling across the floor. Her head hit the bedpost, everything fading to gray. With a bark of derision, he slowly walked to where she lay and prodded her shoulder with the toe of his boot, forcing her onto her back. He didnât bother to crouch, merely towered over her, his face twisting in disgust. âBlack Jack bitch. My nameâs Axle. Soon to be President Axle. Should have killed you when I had the chance, but Iâm about to remedy that now.â
With a jerk of his chin, he motioned for his pierced companion and his now-recovered friend to pick Arianne up off the floor.
Cheek stinging, still dazed from the fall, she didnât struggle when the two men clamped a hand around each of her arms and yanked her upright.
Choose your fights. The words of the old Black Jack road captain drifted through her mind as she contemplated how she could get free. He had sheltered Arianne and Jeff from the worst of their fatherâs wrath, and it was because of him Arianne had developed her skills as a mechanic. She still took flowers to his grave, an unmarked mound north of town at the base of the Bridger Mountains.
But this was a fight she couldnât win. Not through physical force and not with the two bikers holding her arms so tight, she had to grit her teeth against the pain. And wouldnât her options be better downstairs?
âDoes Jagger know about this?â She struggled to keep up with her captors as they dragged her down the hallway.
âHe will soon enough.â Axle smirked. âWeâre gonna take you to the meeting and give everyone a show theyâll never forget.â
Meeting? Her heart skipped a beat. Were they taking her to church? Outlaw MCs never allowed anyone other than full-patch brothers to attend âchurch,â the monthly or extraordinary mandatory meetings required of club members. Bad enough dealing with these goons, but facing the entire full-patch contingent at once, knowing so many of them wanted her to pay for the attackâ
She squared her shoulders and swallowed her fear as Axle preceded them down the stairs. If her father had taught her anything, it was that fear made people weak. And weak people couldnât fight.
Her captors were either stupid or desperate if they thought they could drag her into church without causing a minor riot. But at least Jagger would be there. Hopefully, he would keep her safe. If not, sheâd be kicking ass and taking names. Today was not a good day to die.
They stopped outside a set of double doors, the paint chipped and cracked and the once gold-colored handles now blackened with age. The redhead with the piercings lightly slid a knife across her neck. âBe a good girl while the boys are talking.â
Axle threw open the doors and her captor pushed her forward, the knife still at her throat.
âJustice for the Sinnerâs Tribe.â
She had only a moment to take in the faded grandeur of what must once have been a massive living room, the sea of Sinner cuts, and Jagger sitting at the head of a table before the room exploded in chaos.
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
Justice?
Jagger grimaced as shouts and yells echoed around the room. Axle wasnât here for justice. He wanted Jaggerâs position, pure and simple, and knowing he was facing a possible dismissal, heâd decided to risk a stunt like this. Arianne was a pawn to him. Unnecessary. Expendable.
In danger.
He forced his gaze away from Arianneâthe bright red mark on her cheek, the bruise on her temple, and the knife gleaming at her throatâand focused on the men seated at the table beside him. The executive board consisted of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, road captain, and sergeant at arms, as well as two members at large. He had served with the same board for five years, the only change being to the members-at-large, now Tank and Bandit. None of them would support Axleâs