Venom: Dark Riders Motorcycle Club (4 page)

"I'll prove it," he said. "Kiss me."

I hesitated. Did I have a choice? Would he
really
pull that trigger?

"I'm only going to say it one more time," Venom said. "I'm sure your boyfriend wouldn't look as cute without a face."

I went over to Venom. It was just supposed to be a quick kiss, the kind you give your mom when you come home, but he grabbed me. Venom pulled my hands behind my back and pressed his lips onto mine. His tongue pushed between my lips, invading my mouth. Finally, after what felt like forever, he let go.

"See what I mean? Anything I want."

Venom turned to face Clay and Keg. He waved at the rifle.

"Get this cleaned up. Let's go."

Keg started to pack up the gun. Clay came behind me, and then everything was dark again.

W
HEN
WE
GOT
BACK
to the base, there was a ruckus. Bikers were moving all over the place, yelling and running. It looked like chaos.

A small guy came up to us. He didn't have his patch yet, and his leather jacket only had an empty space where the tarantula should go. He looked up at Venom.

"Prez," he said. "We have a problem."

"A problem?"

"She got out. Everyone is looking for her, but…"

"We leave you alone for a second, and
this
is what happens? How did she get out?" Venom yelled.

"Well, I went in to give her food, and the next thing.…"

He never got to finish his sentence. The boom hurt my ear. For a moment, I was surprised how small the hole was. He didn't gush blood, like in the movies.

The guy's body crumpled to the floor as Venom put away his gun. Venom waved his hand in its direction.

"Get this cleaned up."

My stomach churned and I couldn't hold it back. I bent over and vomited on the floor. Venom wrinkled his nose and walked past.

"That too."

I shivered, holding myself tight as Keg led me back to my room. Venom just killed one of his own. In
cold blood
.

It wasn't uncertain anymore. These weren't just threats. He
would
kill.

The tears didn't come until I was alone in my room again. They soaked the fabric of the pillow until it was soggy and wet.
 

What exactly was I supposed to do? Save myself, or save the Riders? Did I have a choice? Could I even do
either
?

Every time the image of the young guy came to my mind, I started to gag. That wouldn't be me. That wouldn't be Asher. It
couldn't
be.

Two days went by before the ruckus in the clubhouse calmed down. I was left alone in my room, with food that I couldn't eat. It wasn't until everything was quiet that Venom sent for me again. This time they let me go alone.

When I got close to his door, I heard voices.

"They still think that you guys set the place on fire," the voice said. It sounded
familiar
.

"Good, and do they suspect you?"

"No, they don't have the slightest clue." It sounded like… It couldn't be!

I pressed the door open, and started to walk in. But my footsteps stopped as soon as I saw him.

"Lilly, you're here! I believe you two know each other," Venom said.
 

In front of his desk, wearing his Dark Riders jacket, was Joel. His lips curled into a sneer and I had to keep myself from jumping at his throat.

"I'm glad you guys are such good friends, because you're going to be working together," Venom said.

"What?" We said in unison. I guess Joel didn't want to be around me either.

"Joel already knows his job. Lily, I'm sending you back to the Dark Riders," Venom said. "Now don't get too happy, it's only for a short while. I needed to get Asher's handkerchief and Mav's real name. That should be simple enough."

"Why do you need that?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it. Think about it as a vacation. All I need in return are these two tiny little things. You have one day, and you'll be leaving now so…"

"Can I have a moment to get ready?" I interrupted. "I need to look a little better kept if you don't want them to get suspicious."

I crossed my fingers behind my back and held my breath. Venom stared me down and I did my best not to look shady.

"Fine," he said. "But hurry up."

Yes! I ran upstairs, back to my room. I tore a piece of paper off of a magazine and scribbled on it with the only pencil in the room.

I shoved the note in my pocket, and looked in the mirror. After brushing my hair and fidgeting with my clothes, I actually did look a little better. I ran back down.

"Done!"

"Good," Venom said. "We'll be tracking your every move. I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to do anything I wouldn't do. I wouldn't want there to be any
accidents
."

My mind flashed back to Asher's image in the crosshairs. I gritted my teeth.

"Yeah," I said. "Right."

As usual, they blindfolded me again. I also felt them pin something to my clothes. Venom didn't come with us this time. It was just me and Joel, which was a bit of a relief. Even though I hated him, Joel was the safer driver.

Instead of gently lifting me off, Joel basically kicked me off his bike. I landed in the dirt and ripped off my blindfold.

"What the hell!" I yelled.

"Oh, sorry about that," Joel said. "You must have slipped."

Without even telling me where I was, he drove off into the distance. Such a gentleman. It took me a while to realize I was on the edge of town. I sighed and started walking. This was going to take a while.

A
S
I
WALKED
INTO
town, my eyes took everything in. It felt strange, being on my own again. It wasn't on a bike, blindfolded, or locked in a room. I was
home
.

I followed the same streets I'd walked since I was a little kid. It wasn't part of Venom's plan, but I didn't care. I had to see my mom.

When I finally made it to her doorstep, I paused. My hand hovered over the doorknob. Maybe I shouldn't go in, maybe I should keep her out of it. I dropped my hand and started to leave.

As soon as I turned around, the door creaked open.

"My baby!"

My mom's arms wrapped around me. She squeezed me tight, burying my face in her chest. I could hear her heart racing.

"Lilly, w--, where--"

She couldn't even get the words out. Mom sobbed, her tears dropping on the back of my head and wetting my hair. Her whole body was shaking, quaking with her sadness.

"Mom…" I said. I tried to get up, but she pulled me back.

"And you didn't even call!" she bawled, the volume getting louder.

Hearing her like this, my heart ached. Is this what she was like the whole time? Worrying? Crying?

I pushed myself out of her grasp, and this time I was successful.

"Come on mom, let's go inside," I said.

She leaned on me, still sniffling and holding tightly to my side. I pushed through the door and was shocked. The place was a
mess
.

Dishes stacked in strange configurations everywhere. Take out food boxes piled up inside and next to the trash can. The prescription bottles rolled on their sides on top of the coffee table. No order. No organization.

But the worst part was the smell. The scent of rotting food filled the air, and made it difficult to breathe. I covered my mouth with my hand.

"Mom, what happened here?" I asked.

I ran to the windows and opened them wide. Next I found some air freshener and sprayed it around. That wasn't enough. I would have to scrub everything down. Did I have time?

Instead of answering, she launched her own attack.

"Where
were
you? The last thing I knew, you were going to the Dark Rider's club house. Then I didn't see you for
days
!

"Do you know how
worried
I was? I couldn't even call you. Your phone kept going straight to your answering machine!

"What was I supposed to do, huh? Keep acting as if everything was okay while I couldn't find my baby? As if nothing was wrong? I even went to them, went to those bikers and they didn't know what happened to you!
 

"What was I
supposed
to think?"

The words poured out of mom like she had been waiting forever to say them. It took all of her breath, and when she was done, mom crumpled to the floor. She started sobbing again.

"I just wanted to know," she said, "know that you were safe. That's all…"

I went to my mom and wrapped my arms around her small frame. Now it was my turn to bury her face in my chest.

"I know mom," I said. "I'm sorry. I'm okay. I'm here now."

Yes, but for how long? And would the Tarantulas be watching mom too now? I pushed the thought out of my mind.

"Mom, I'm going to clean up around here, okay?" I said.

I picked her up off the floor and lead her to the couch. Magazines spilled over the cushions, but I pushed them aside. I brought her an herbal tea and patted her hand.

"You sit right here, okay? Let me take care of everything."

She didn't look like she had the energy to protest anymore. She just nodded her head and sipped the warm liquid.

I took the opportunity to get a new pair of clothes. After all, I had only worn those and the waitressing outfit since the Tarantulas took me. They were only a pair of jeans and a shirt, but it was amazing how good it felt to have clean fabric on my skin.

I went back into the kitchen, put on an apron, and rolled up my sleeves. It was time to get some work done. I attacked the dishes, scrubbing them and throwing out the old food. Next were the take-out containers. Then mom's medicine.

As I worked, my mom closed her eyes and started to hum a song. Her voice seemed to hang in the air, filling the whole place with music. I smiled.

It almost seemed like I really
was
home. Just taking care of my mom. Not spying on Asher for a rival motorcycle club. If I just closed my eyes, I could forget…

Don't do anything I wouldn't do. I wouldn't want there to be any accidents.

Venom's voice came into my mind and my eyes sprung open. I looked out the window and it was already getting dark. I didn't have time. I hadn't gotten what they wanted yet.

I ripped off the apron and went over to my mom.

"Mom?" I said.

When she looked up at me with her peaceful smile, it hurt. I knew that smile wouldn't last long. "Yes, baby?"

"Mom, I want to stay, but I have to go."

Mom's brows furrowed and her smile disappeared.

"What? You just got here. Why do you have to go?"

She started to get off the couch and I backed towards the front door.

"Just promise me mom, promise me that you won't get involved with any of these bikers, okay?" I said.

My voice began to crack, but I tried to keep it steady. I opened the door.

"Why?" she yelled. "What happened with them?"

"Just promise me! Stay away from them!" I yelled and ran.

She tried to follow me at first, yelling my name, but there was only so far she could go. The tears poured down my face and spilled into the dirt below me as I ran. I wiped my eyes with my arm, trying to keep my vision clear.

"I'm sorry mom," I whispered into the evening air, but there was no one around to hear it.

I
HAD
TO
PULL
myself together before I headed over to the club house. When I had run far enough, I crouched down on the side of the road and cried until I had no more tears.

It seemed silly to be so sad you couldn't cry anymore. It made me laugh through the sadness. Dad
did
always say that if I kept crying so much, I'd run out of tears someday. Who knew he was right?

I took a deep breath and stood up again. It was a while before my heart stopped racing and I could breathe properly. I straightened my clothes and threw back my shoulders.

I looked confident, right? Nothing was wrong. Nothing at all.

I walked up to the big mansion, and remembered the first time I was there. I was so nervous, and so excited. That was before everything happened.

And now? Now I wasn't nervous. I was anxious.

Well, it was now or never. I pounded on the door, waiting to see who would answer. No one came at first, so I tried again. A voice came from behind the door.

"Okay, okay. Hold on!"

The door opened and there he was. Asher. His mouth dropped open and his face went pale. I heard the breath leave his lungs as he looked at me. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I could see the pain in his eyes.

"Lilly…"

All at once he was on me. Asher's body swallowed mine, surrounding it with his height and strength. He squeezed so hard that it hurt.

"Asher…"
 

I started to speak but I was cut off by his kiss. His lips pressed hard against mine, almost bruising them. I could feel the desperation behind it, the need.

It wasn't what I had expected. I wanted it to be different. He should have been angry. He should've hated me like the rest of them. Asher shouldn't have cared.

But he
did
.

It would've been so much easier if he didn't. Then I wouldn't have to feel bad. After all, what kind of person sells out their first love?

Nausea rose up in my stomach. But I
had
to do it, didn't I? I was trying to help. Or else Asher would end up…

"Let's go upstairs," Asher said.

He pulled me behind him like an impatient child. I followed him, trying to keep up. As soon as he closed the door behind him, the questions started.

"What
happened
to you?" he asked.

"The Tarantulas took me, but I got free."