I laugh. He’s got a point. What’s the harm with walking around the corner to the café? Plenty of people around, the campus is a busy one.

“Sure, I’d like that.” I say, shutting down my laptop and shoving it into its case. I stand and introduce myself. “I’m Apple, by the way.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

I swoon because every single person I’ve ever met has always had a smart comment to go along with my name. “Thank you,” I reply as we walk.

“How old are you, Apple?”

My name sounds so sweet coming from this man. “I’m eighteen, you?”

“I’m twenty two. And you’re just a young little thing.”

I halt on the sidewalk next to a bunch of cars. I hate when people say that. I wasn’t too young to take care of myself when my mother was too drunk or too involved with social activities. “I may be young, but I can assure you, I’m not naïve.” I huff, turning to walk away.

Good looks aren’t that important. First impressions are. Who is this jackass?

His hand grips my shoulder as something digs into my lower back. “But Apple, you are naïve.” His voice, daunting and evil, sends chills down my spine. “Don’t try screaming or running away, my young little Apple. I’ll shoot you before you can finish a word. Keep walking.”

I want to scream for help. I walk beside him as his gun aims at my body. I try to give off ‘help me’ looks, but everyone is oblivious to the tears streaming down my face. Everyone is walking by laughing or talking on the phone. I want to scream ‘don’t you see this man is trying to kidnap me’. He’s stops me at a black four door pickup. “Up you go.” He chuckles as the door swings open and someone grabs me from underneath my arms.

“Let go of me!” I scream as the door shuts behind me. I pound on the window, screaming for help. The stranger that lifted me into the truck smacks me on the side of the head with something, and everything goes black.

The air from my lungs whooshes out of me as the man that once said my name was pretty stares at me with a blank expression. I don’t think he recognizes me.

“What? You don’t remember my friend?” Winter growls. And it’s the first time I notice she’s in the room. “Her name is Apple. You remember picking up an Apple from a college campus, don’t you?” Winter’s voice is laced with something that sounds like vengeance. It’s scary as hell. I look back over to the man who ruined my life and watch as his blank expression turns.

“Oh shit.” He says, and the voice causes me to back up until I hit something rock hard. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Mason. It’s Mason, and he’s growling, straight up growling. I slowly turn around until my face is digging into his leather cut. His hand cups my chin, forcing my attention to his. “Listen to me baby. I’m gonna take care of this, and you’re gonna go back to the other building with Winter.”

“Yeah, okay,” I answer him, knowing my voice sounds small right now.

He bends down, kisses my lips lightly, and runs his thumb over my nose stud. He has this fascination with it. I always catch him staring at it.

“Hey Belov-Breaker,” He growls. “Can you walk her home?”

I turn around to look at Winter, automatically knowing ZZ used her Russian name to scare the shit outta my kidnapper more than what he already looks to be scared.

“Sure I can.” She smiles sweetly at ZZ before turning her attention back on my kidnapper. “Oh, that’s right you little f**ktard. Let them eyes get real big and let the piss continue to drip down your leg. Fuckin pu**y.”

As Winter walks over to me, I place my left hand on Mason’s chest in the shape of the letter L. His eyes snap to mine, and he bends down kissing me quickly on the lips again and nodding for me to follow Winter.

***

Chapter 21

ZZ

I’m on fire. I swear I’m a man on fire right now. It took everything I had not to f**kin kill this prick in front of her. I don’t want Storm seeing this side of me. She knows this shit goes on; she’s not an idiot. But I just don’t want her thinking about me that way when it’s just us. Of course, I want her to feel protected, but scared of me? No. Fuck that. I’ll carry my demons by myself.

When I hear the door shut and I know the women are outside making their way to the new building, I slowly walk towards the f**ker that ruined Storm’s life.

“Your call ZZ,” Pyro says to me. He’s the acting President right now and also the VP, so he just gave his blessing to use the club, the brothers, and everything we have to ruin this f**ker.

“It’s like f**kin Christmas,” I chuckle. “Bag him,” I say as I light a cigarette. I don’t want this f**ker tainting this place any more than what he already is.

I watch as my brothers stand him up and cover his head with a black bag. Shadow comes walking up with a rope and ties it around his neck, forcing the bag tighter around his head. Good, I hope the motherfucker has a hard time breathing.

The door opens, and Rap comes rolling through in his wheelchair. Poor bastard has two broken legs from trying to keep Storm safe. “Look what I found in this ass**le’s car,” he says, handing me a briefcase. “Look inside brother. You’re gonna be pissed.”

I look at the briefcase and grin when I see the pry marks around the lock from Rap’s knife. I know having him as a patched brother is gonna work out in the long run. He’s meant for the MC. I throw it onto the bar and open it up. There’s a bunch of shit, but the thing that catches my eye is a photo album. I flip it open. Pages and pages of Polaroid’s of girls beaten and tied up.