Cole: A Bad Boy Romance by Michelle Hart

of Hell were all there on the other side, guns loaded and pointed right at us. They could open fire on us at any moment and we'd be fish in a barrel. But he couldn't risk killing his sister. She was the only thing that mattered to him in the world—his only weakness.
     
    We parked our bikes and I untied Claire from me. Byron stared us down from afar. She looked at me with a sense of desperation. She wanted my help but I couldn't. My MC came first and this trade was essential to us surviving. “Be a good girl and we all get out of this alive,” I whispered to her.
     
    I pulled my Remington out and held Claire by the arm as we walked to the edge of our bikes. Blaze walked alone to meet Byron in the middle. They shook hands and spoke quietly so I couldn't catch anything they were saying. I kept my eye on the army full of Blacks, looking for any sign of a trap.
     
    “Please, Cole,” Claire begged. “We can both run away and never look back.”
     
    I squeezed her arm until she yelped. That would make her shut up so we could get this over with.
     
    “Whatever happened to no family, Blaze?” Byron asked, his finger dangerously close to the trigger on his handgun.
     
    “Desperate times, Byron. Did you bring all your weapons and drugs?”
     
    Byron nodded and pointed to the truck behind him. A few of the Fires of Hell members opened up the truck to reveal piles of rifles and crates that most likely held the cocaine which their MC was known for. “I won't let you get away with this, Blaze. You're making the wrong move here.”
     
    “I'll take my chances.” Blaze reluctantly shook Byron's hand again.
     
    “Time to go, Claire,” I told her.
     
    She wouldn't budge until I shoved her forward. Every step was torture for her. She kept trying to look at me with tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted compassion and I had none to give.
     
    Byron looked Claire in the eyes. “Get the fuck over here you fucking bitch. You're going to get hell when I get my hands on you.”
     
    Claire stopped in her tracks. Her hands balled up into fists. “I'm not going with you, Byron.”
     
    Things were going so smoothly. I knew I should have taped her mouth shut.

Chapter Twelve
     
Claire

I pressed my body against Cole's, hoping he'd save me from Byron. We could drive away and never look back. But he did nothing. Cole wasn't my savior—he was just like every other biker I knew.
     
    I tried my best to avoid eye contact with Byron. He was chatting with Blaze and looking over at me every once in awhile. The rage in his eyes was an inferno. Nobody would be able to stop him from almost beating me until my life was hanging by a thread. Then he'd throw me to his dogs to have the leftovers. I couldn't go back to him. If Cole wasn't going to save me then I had to save myself.
     
    Whatever happened to the Byron that protected me from bullies when we were kids. He used to be so kind. When I grew up and boys started to get interested in me, Byron became even more protective. No man could touch me. Which was probably why he was so angry whenever I sneaked out to go meet a guy.
     
    Byron glanced over Blaze's shoulder. “Get the fuck over here you fucking bitch. You're going to get hell when I get my hands on you.”
     
    I planted my feet on the ground and gathered every ounce of confidence and willpower. My brother no longer scared me. “I'm not going with you, Byron.”
     
    Byron bit his bottom lip, his fists so tight that dark blood was dripping onto the dirt floor. “What the fuck did you say to me?”
     
    Cole tried to push me forward but I held my ground. The lineup of the Fires of Hell bikers were looking around like they didn't know what to do. The Rabid Dogs MC looked just as confused. “You can go to hell, Byron. I'm no longer under your control.” It felt so good telling him off. Just like the slap across his face at the frat party. “I'd rather stay with the Black Widows and be killed than go with you.”
     
    Blaze