Someone at the edge of the stage flicked on a switch, surrounding the stage in blazing lights.

“That’s about right.”

“What did you say?” Jackal stepped back when she took a step toward him.

Penni looked down at her pretty dusty rose bra and unclipped it, tugging off the fragile material and handing it to Jackal.

“I want that back. It cost me a freaking fortune.”

She looked at the biker waiting with the water hose then at the women on stage, shorts plastered to their body. Reaching into her jean pocket, she pulled out her cell phone, handing it to Jackal.

He was smart enough not to open his mouth, simply shoving it into his jacket pocket with her bra.

Penni bravely walked toward the stage. When she got back to Queen City, she was going to make Henry give the women strippers a raise. It was worse than she thought, but it was easier than she imagined.

The man at the front of the stage who was pouring the water over the women’s bodies wasn’t given the chance to douse her. Jackal’s cruel visage had him handing the water hose over. She was so preoccupied with the freezing water hitting her body she didn’t have time to be embarrassed. The other women had been hit with the water on their breasts or pussy. Jackal aimed at the top of her shorts. Her breasts were still wet, but she wasn’t hit full force the way the other women had been.

Jackal jerked his head toward the crowd, reminding her of the reason for making a fool of herself.

She swayed toward the front of the stage, carefully scanning the audience for Striker.

Please be here, Penni pleaded to whatever powers in the universe that were listening as she tried to take her mind off the cold water. Of course, she didn’t hold out much hope anyone was listening with the loud music playing.

Her eyes were shifting from the middle of the crowd when she saw him. Excited, she turned toward Jackal.

“He’s over there, standing with the bikers with the orange happy faces on their jackets.”

Jackal immediately handed the water hose back to the biker he had taken from then took out his cell phone from his jacket. “You sure?”

“Yes.” Penni could barely answer him through her chattering teeth. She moved toward the steps off the stage as he talked to whomever was on the other end.

“Not yet.” Jackal blocked her before she could reach them. “What is he wearing?”

She had been so busy looking for his hair she hadn’t noticed his clothes. Penni turned to look again, but could not find him. She wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Where had he—

Then she saw him again when one of the men he was standing next to moved.

“He’s wearing an orange T-shirt—” Before she could say anything else, Jackal was leading her down the steps.

Cruz appeared.

“Take her to the hotel room,” Jackal ordered, wrapping a large towel around her shoulder that he had taken from a stack by the steps.

“Did you see him?”

Penni grabbed a handful of his leather jacket before he could leave, excited that her ordeal was almost over.

“I saw him, baby. Get changed. When I get back, I’ll take you home.”

Penni lowered her lashes so he couldn’t see the happy tears in her eyes.

“No way. I used to envy anyone who rode a motorcycle. From now on, my ass is only sitting in a car.”

13

Where is he? Penni had expected Jackal back an hour ago.

She sat there, staring blankly at the television screen, not watching the movie she had turned on to fill the silence in the room.

She turned and jumped up when heard the door open, her expectant smile dying as she saw Cruz in the doorway instead of Jackal.

“Hennessy wants you.”

Confused, she slid her bare feet into her tennis shoes. “Where’s Jackal?”

“He’s waiting, too.”

She wouldn’t find anything out being stuck in the hotel room. It wasn’t like she had a choice, anyway. Therefore, Penni went with Cruz, climbing onto his bike sitting outside the door.

The streets were strangely quiet as they passed the businesses that had been busy just an hour ago. Where were all the bikers in the bars? Her silent questions went unanswered as Cruz’s bike rode outside the city.

Penni began to feel afraid. Had Hennessy decided to kill her after all and bury her body in the desert?

As they rode, Penni saw the orange glow of a huge fire in the sky. Cruz slowed his speed, and Penni was able to see motorcycles parked in front of a huge bonfire.

Cruz maneuvered his bike through the swarming crowd. Relieved, she saw Jackal sitting on his bike with Hennessy and the Road Kingz. After they were parked next to Jackal, she leaped off Cruz’s bike, anxious to go home. At this point, she was even willing to ride Jackal’s bike to Queen City.

“Are you ready to leave?”

Penni didn’t like the grim expression on Jackal’s face as she eagerly came to a stop next to his motorcycle. Hennessy didn’t appear to be in a better mood than Jackal.

“There’s been a snag,” Jackal confirmed the dread she had been feeling when she had seen the Road Kingz stop talking when they had spotted her.

“I don’t care. You told me that, if I found Striker, you would let me leave. I’m holding you to your word. I want to leave now!” Penni demanded, facing Hennessy, her hands clenched on her hips, trying not to strike him. His men would probably kill her for disrespect, but Penni was at the point of not caring.

Jackal reached out, lifting her off her feet to sit sideways across the front of his bike. “Penni, I know you’re upset. Calm down and take a deep breath. It’s almost over. We only have one thing left to do, and Hennessy said we can ride out of here tonight.”

Penni clenched her jaw shut, unconsciously leaning back against Jackal’s chest.

“We talked to Striker. Unfortunately, he found another buyer.” Hennessy’s face looked so angry it was frightening. “Since he already took our money and doesn’t want to give me the product he has for sale, we’re at a stalemate.”

“What does this have to do with me? I can’t make him—”

“Yes, you can. I mentioned your connection to The Last Riders. Evidently, Striker has heard of them.”

Penni felt the angry flush heat her cheeks. She tried to pull away from Jackal. “Who told you about The Last Riders?”

“I did,” Jackal admitted. “I had to give him a reason to keep you alive. You might not have figured it out yet, but Hennessy doesn’t really like you.”

“Really? Let me tell you how I feel about him.” Penni shot her tennis shoes out, trying to kick him.

Jackal slid his hand intimately down her thigh, forcing her to stop kicking out. Cruz, who had made the mistake of stepping in between Hennessy and her when she had lashed out, found himself doubled over in pain.

“I’m killing the fucking bitch …”

Penni found that funny since he was still unable to move.

“Touch me, motherfucker, and—”

“You two shut the hell up.” Hennessy helped his enforcer stand up. “Take a walk,” he continued when Cruz managed to move. “Your brother teach you that language?”

“No, his friend Knox did. Want to meet him?”