Authors: Winter Hayles
Cherish
Cherish sat in stunned silence for several minutes, trying to process what Devlin just said.
"Marriage? You think we're going to get married?"
Devlin grinned at her. He looked like a man who knew everything. That just by saying the words marriage would make it so. "Yeah. Legally, you will be mine. We'll move into a bigger place. Then we'll start to have kids."
Cherish could only stare at him. This man was a lunatic. After all this he really thought she would just let such a thing happen?
"You're an idiot," she heard herself saying.
Devlin's grin faltered. His eyes grew wide with anger. "What did you just say to me?"
Cherish's anger was growing, too. And so was her courage. "You're a complete moron if you think that will ever happen. Children?" she said incredulous. "Of all the stupidity. You'd think I'd want your seed inside me? Give birth to a bunch of miniature versions of you? I'd sooner have an abortion than let you-"
Devlin's arm shot out and he backhanded her across the face. Cherish's head whipped back and she hit it hard against the window.
Cherish saw stars. She blinked, dazed.
Devlin was enraged. "You ungrateful bitch. Don't you ever speak to me that way again or I'll beat some sense into you."
This wasn't the first time Devlin had struck Cherish. There had been many times before. But it was the first time Cherish had spoken back at Devlin. She had always cowered and let him do what he wanted. Waited and prayed that his anger would pass.
But now she knew Caine was out there. Probably looking for her. She didn't have to do anything she didn't want to anymore. Certainly not for Devlin.
She wanted Caine, and Devlin could go to hell.
She levelled him with a hard stare. "We will never be married. You and I are over. Forever. Period." Her tone was firm. She was making a statement of fact. It didn't matter what Devlin said or did now. She was defiant.
She was deciding what to do with her life now. Not him.
Devlin was borderline apoplectic. But at the same time, he didn't quite expect this new Cherish, nor how to handle her. "Talk big all you want, bitch." He said. "You are mine. And you always will be."
Cherish found herself looking out the passenger window at the pavement. She could jump. Hell, she would jump. They were now approaching some semblance of civilization again. More buildings were passing them by. She could make a run for it.
Just then there was a loaded dinging noise.
Cherish looked over as Devlin cursed. The car was low on gas. She knew that the car would never make it even half way back to Krimson Klown territory now.
"What a genius you are," Cherish sneered. It felt good to mock him. After the near countless times he had done the same to her, belittling her, abusing her. "Try and kidnap someone on an empty tank of gas? Moron!"
Again, the backhand. But this time Cherish managed to get her hands up and block most of the blow. He still hit her, but not as hard.
The low fuel alarm kept dinging.
As if on cue, a gas station appeared ahead of them at an intersection.
Devlin suddenly grabbed her by the neck, "Keep still, and sit there. Or I'll make it worse for you."
Cherish knew he had to get gas. This would give her a chance to escape. It would be now or never. So she played it smart. She chilled out and nodded.
Devlin pulled into the station and drove up to a pump. At the pump next to them was a small van with a family inside. Two little girls jumped around in the back as the father pumped gas.
As Devlin put the car in park, Cherish gripped the passenger door handle.
"Don't," Devlin said. She looked at him. His face looked smug. She looked down. He had a pistol pointed at her from his lap. "You try anything and I'll shoot you dead. Then, I'll shoot those little brats, too. Then the parents." His tone was deadly, and Cherish knew better than to doubt his words.
She released the door handle and sat back. She glared at him.
Devlin looked around, then said to her. "Stay seated. If anyone dies here it will because of your dumb ass."
Cherish was fuming. This changed things. She knew, almost without a doubt, that Devlin would go ballistic here if she didn't obey him. She might risk her own life to escape him, but she wasn't going to let any innocent bystanders get hurt. Especially children. She would just bide her time.
She nodded once. "Asshole," she said, and sneered at him.
Devlin's grin returned. "Just looking out for my future bride," he said, and slipped the pistol under his shirt and behind his waste band.
He got out of the car and closed the door. Cherish looked. He had taken the keys with him.
As Devlin started pumping the gas Cherish thought about Caine. So Caine wasn't beaten at the Clubhouse. That was Grunt. And he wasn't in any trouble because of her. That was all just a story to get her to leave.
She felt a flare of anger at Addison. Cherish had actually started to trust her. She allowed herself to be manipulated by Addison and Basher to leave. No doubt, when Grunt revealed his deal with the Krimson Klowns Caine would have suspected Devlin might be involved. And Caine would have come looking to check on her. To protect her.
But she had let herself be whisked away by a bunch of fast talkers. She let it happened.
She would never let that happen again. And, God help Addie if she ever crossed paths with Cherish again.
She couldn't dwell on that now. Instead, she needed to concentrate on an escape. Somehow.
The van with the family had finished, and drove away onto the road. Cherish looked back at Devlin. She couldn't see his face, but he raised his shirt enough for just her to see the pistol in his waist band.
What could she do?
As if delivered from the God above, a black and white police car smoothly drove up off the road and into the spot the family had just vacated. Two police officers were inside.
Cherish's heart started to hammer in her chest. This was her chance.
Both officers got out of the car. They glanced in Devlin and Cherish's direction. Then looked away.
Now or never girl! She thought.
She gripped the car door handle again. Almost eagerly, she watched as one officer walked to the gas station entrance and went inside.
The other started to pump gas into the cruiser.
Devlin was still at the back of the sedan. He must have sensed that Cherish might try something because he stopped the pump long before the tank was full.
As he turned to put the pump back into its cradle, Cherish quickly opened the door and got out.
Devlin whirled around. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He hissed. He kept his voice low.
Without looking back at him Cherish said, "Whatever I want."
She passed the cruiser and loudly said, "Hello, officer!"
The officer looked, and noticed the beautiful blond waving at him and said, "Hello to you, too."
She went inside. The first officer was over by a counter making himself a big take-away cup of coffee. A clerk was behind another counter, next to the register, playing a game on his phone.
Now what do I do? She thought. Run over to the cop screaming? Or take a risk. She didn't want anyone to get hurt. Devlin was capable of following through on his threat to start shooting people.
She quickly decided to wait and see before doing anything. She went over to a magazine rack that was next to the main window. Outside, Devlin was putting the cap back on the tank, taking longer than it should. He was obviously trying to decide what to do, too.
If the cops start to leave, I'll say something, she thought. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Her head felt light. She prayed she was doing the right thing.
If only Devlin would just leave!
She watched, transfixed as Devlin calmly put the cap back on the tank, then opened the passenger door and put something inside. Then he turned and walked toward the station door.
What was he doing? Then she realized. He couldn't just drive away because he still had to pay for gas and the clerk would alert the officers. Plus, he was arrogant enough to think he could change her mind. He didn't realize she was giving him a change to leave, or was too much of a bastard to care.
As Devlin approached the door, the second officer had finished pumping gas, too, and walked over to the door. He followed Devlin inside.
Instead of walking over to the counter to pay, Devlin headed over to Cherish. She glanced at the officers. They were both at the coffee counter. The first officer glanced in her direction.
"You stupid bitch," Devlin said. "Do as you're told. You're only making it worse for you. Be a good little wifey and get back in the car."
Cherish had had enough. "Shut up, asshole!" she said loudly. "I want nothing to do with you! Can't you get that through your thick skull."
Devlin paled and looked over at the officers. They were both looking in their direction now.
He was desperate. "Chill out and this will go a lot easier for you. Keep your voice down, I don't-"
"What?!" Cherish yelled. "You'll do what? Want to say that louder so everyone can hear?"
Devlin was really shaken by this. Her defiance. The presence of the officers. But Cherish knew what was really rattling him: he had no control over the situation.
"You brainless cow, if you-" Devlin started to say.
"Is everyone okay here, ma'am?" said the first officer as he appeared beside them. Devlin gave a start in surprise.
"No problem," Devlin said. "She's just a little high strung."
Cherish would have laughed at that if she wasn't so pissed off. "Yes, officer there is a problem." She pointed at Devlin. "He is the problem!"
The second officer approached, but from a different angle. They were positioning themselves to cover Devlin, Cherish thought.
Devlin glared at Cherish, then blurted out, "Don't make this worse!"
Cherish blinked at him. What an idiot. She said, "How much worse do you think this can get?"
Outside, there was a sudden screeching of tires. Everyone turned to look.
A car surged up into the gas station lot. Cherish could see the driver, clear as day. Her heart leapt in her chest.
It was Caine.
Caine
Caine drove his car as fast as he could push it, and cursed when it couldn't give any more speed.
He estimated that Devlin and Cherish had a good five minute head start on him, and he hoped to catch up well before Devlin got into Krimson Klowns territory.
Not that entering another Club's territory bothered him. Normally, he would go through proper channels, but screw all that to hell. Cherish was in danger.
If he had to shoot his way straight in through the Klowns Clubhouse to get Cherish, he was going to do it.
He knew he was more than willing to die for her. This came as a shock. He never really had strong emotions for anyone, all his life. Even with women. And he had only known Cherish for a short while. But the feelings that she had awoken in him were as terrifying as they were thrilling. And he didn't want to lose that.
He would not lose her.
Flying down the road he was still careful to check each vehicle he passed. In the back of his mind he wasn't entirely sure what he would do if and when he came across them. Try and run them off the road? Cherish could be hurt. Shoot out a tire? That was an option. He would have to wait and see. Right now, he was running on pure emotion. Rage for Devlin, and what he had done. And something deep and wonderful, for Cherish. Both feelings roiled in his heart and mind.
He returned his thoughts to the road. He was fast approaching a lighted intersection, and started to slow down only a little. There was a gas station coming up on the right hand side. He noticed the black and white squad car but forgot it instantly when he saw the blue sedan parked at a pump.
Slamming on the brakes, he wrenched the steering wheel, and skidded into the gas station lot. He brought the car right up to the pavement just outside the entrance and stopped the car with a screech.
His eyes locked with Cherish's inside the station. There were other people with her, including some cops, but he didn't care. He'd found her.
Despite the hammering in his heart, he had the presence mind to ensure that his pistol was hidden beneath his shirt. Then, without even killing the engine, he slammed the car into park and jumped out of the car.
He walked through the entrance briskly and headed straight for Cherish.
Everyone there, Cherish, the cops, Devlin gaped at Caine in a mix of surprise and fear.
With a deadly glance at Devlin, he moved past all the men and stood next to Cherish, slipping and arm around her waist.
"You okay?" he asked her. He tried to keep any emotion out of his voice.
Cherish's eyes were welling the tears. The relief on her face was palpable. "I am now," she managed. Then she hugged his side, burying his face into his jacket.
Caine levelled Devlin with a glare. "I told you what would happen if you came back."
Devlin was throughly thrown off now by the whole situation. Cherish was no longer his, the cops were standing right there, and Caine had a murderous look in his eyes.
"Came to collect what was mine," Devlin said. But it sounded weak and futile.
"Nothing is yours here," Caine said. He was having trouble keeping his rage in check. "And if we weren't standing out in public right now, I'd take you out back and bury you in a hole."
"Ahem," said the first officer. He had been following the two bikers discussion with great interest. His partner still kept a few steps back and at an angle, one hand on his gun. "I take it this is a domestic situation?" the officer continued.
"No," Caine said. He looked right at Devlin. "This is business."
The officer nodded once. Looked at Devlin, then back at Caine. Then he asked, "So, how do you want us to handle this? Take him in? Introduce him to some new cell mates?"
Devlin's face fell.
Caine allowed himself a few moments of Devlin's discomfort. He had to handle this just right. Meeting up at the gas station had changed his short term plans. That didn't mean long term plans couldn't be made.
Caine looked at the officer. "Get him out of here. Make sure he leaves town."
The officer nodded again, then fixed Devlin with a don't-mess-with-the-police glare. "Sir, get back to your vehicle. Now."
Devlin was paralysed for several long moments. As if he really didn't know what to do. But there wasn't any options here except to leave.
Grudgingly, Devlin turned and headed to the door. The two officers followed, hands on their weapons. Cherish and Caine, still holding each other, followed them outside.
Devlin walked to his car, and as he opened the driver side door, Cherish called out, "Good bye, forever, asshole!"
Caine barked a laugh.
Devlin glared at her for a moment, but the first officer said, "Get in." The biker did as he was commanded.
As Devlin started up his car, and pulled out to the street, the officers got in their cruiser and quickly followed. In moments, both vehicles were out of sight.
Cherish sighed with relief.
Caine said, with a grin, "I take it you had an exciting day?"
Cherish laughed, then pulled him toward her. They kissed passionately and deeply. As if both had felt they may never have had a chance to do so again. Now they could make up for that.
After several long involved minutes, Cherish suddenly pushed away from Caine, her eyes wide. "Basher! Grunt! They took me to some dairy farm! They had some sort of deal with Devlin! There was a van full of-"
Caine put a finger to her lips and smiled. "I know," he said. "I know all of it now. Well, most. You can fill me in with your side later. But first, there is a very important task we need to do."
He took her hand and led her around to the passenger side of the car. She blinked at him in confusion as she got it.
When he got into the driver side and closed the door, she pulled closer to him. "What? What's this important task?"
Caine backed the car onto the street, then started in the direction he had come.
"We need to get you home right away," he said with a grin. "And get you naked."