Night After Night (Night Riders Motorcycle Club Book 1) by Kathryn Thomas Page A

Blake fell to the side of the road, Lauren looked back to his twisting form. Suddenly the thought of him injured tugged at her heart, but Eric started to pick up speed, and she could do nothing but hold onto the girl as another bike raced past them and screeched to a swift stop as it barred Eric’s way from further destruction.
     
    “You are done!”
     
    Pausing, his motor still purring, Eric hung his head as a slim figure with gray hair dismounted and stepped closer to his side. He regarded Eric for all of a second before he slapped his face hard with the back of his hand.
     
    “What the–?’
     
    “Act like a little bitch, and that’s what you fucking get.”
     
    Nursing his injured pride, Eric hung back as the other guy stepped closer to Lauren and the girl. He looked to Lauren for all of a second before plucking a knife from his boot. She shuddered at the sight of it, but the man leaned down and quickly cut the weeping girl loose.
     
    “Hey that’s my prize!” Eric said. “What? Just because you’re in charge, you think–?”
     
    “I know, Eric. Now stand the fuck down.”
     
    “But what about my–?”
     
    “Here, you twat!” The gray-haired man flung a stack of bills in Eric’s face, but he grinded his heel into the toe of Eric’s boot before he could make any move to run. “I won’t see you waste a good piece just of ass just because you want a chance at the other one,” he said. “Blake outbid you fair and square, and if you won’t take proper care of your purchase, then I sure the fuck will.”
     
    “Really, old man?” Eric challenged. “You gonna do all that?”
     
    “You best believe, fucking shit.”
     
    Eric’s eyes lingered on the crying girl, and then he turned his gaze back to Lauren. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, and as she turned her head, a feeling of total relief washed over her as Blake stumbled back to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder.
     
    “Take a hike,” Blake said. “Or a shit. I don’t fucking care.”
     
    Leaving Lauren on the ground, he got right up in Eric’s face, spitting through his gritted teeth as he glared into the bald man’s eyes.
     
    “But you don’t touch my girl. And it looks like old Paul bought yours right out from under you.”
     
    No one moved; they barely breathed. Lauren could sense that Eric was ready for another fight, but when the rest of the gang surrounded him where he stood, he simply pocketed Paul’s bills and stepped back to his bike. Before he turned his head, he focused on the other girl with a wink. “Whatever. Not the one I really wanted anyway, but you best keep an eye out for me, Blake.”
     
    He glared at Eric as he mounted his chopper. “Like you’ll know what to do with her.”
     
    Lauren relaxed some as Eric sped off, and she pressed the crying girl close until Paul stepped closer and offered his hand. “Come on now,” he said quietly.
     
    Pulling her from Lauren’s grasp, he stood the girl up straight and lowered her gag. She sputtered and sobbed, and Paul removed his jacket. Draping the leather around her shoulders, he asked her for her name.
     
    “I’m… I’m Grace,” she finally said.
     
    Paul’s face softened, and he pushed her under his shoulder as he shifted his focus to Blake. “Let’s head back to camp,” Paul said. “And no more surprises. You got that?”
     
    Blake nodded as Paul led Grace away. Lauren started to call after her when Blake pulled her up and waved his finger in her face.
     
    “Come on,” he ordered. “We have to keep moving.”
     
    “Why?” Lauren asked. “You gonna tie me up for a wild ride if I say no?”
     
    His silence made her uneasy, but he grabbed her hand and gave her skin a quick tug. “Wouldn’t you like to find out?”
     
    Scared as she still was, Lauren knew that he was putting her on and when she looked back and saw Grace settled on the back of Paul’s chopper, she followed him to the back of his without