After last night, she feared Brage was like the other bikers she'd known throughout her life. He couldn't be trusted, and she had good reason to believe she was in danger.
Without her brothers supporting her and under the watch of Slag Motorcycle Club, she only had herself to depend on.
"I was talking to a Moroad member. That's different than being with a Moroad." Catching a whiff of leather coming from Brage's vest, she concentrated on his beard. She couldn't let herself become disillusioned that the man in front of her would help her because they'd had sex together.
"Why?"
She swallowed, knowing Brage wouldn't stop questioning her until he was satisfied. "Moroad Motorcycle Club is in Federal, Idaho. That's where I grew up and went to school. It's a small town. There were only twelve kids in my graduating class. That might be hard for you to understand because Portland is huge. But where I come from, everyone knows each other. The Moroad member I talked to is only one of many who I know. For you to think I have an intimate relationship or belong to one of the members is stupid."
His eye twitched as he studied her. Only then becoming aware of the others outside watching the two of them, she refused to back down and look guilty.
Brage dropped his gaze and looked at her breasts squeezed between them. She shuddered, remembering what it felt like when he wanted to enjoy her and not kill her. He inhaled deeply and put distance between their bodies without letting her move away from the wall.
"Roar wants you to continue to work at the Fire Ring, but someone will be watching you at all times. When you're not in the bar, you'll be with me at the clubhouse. You're not allowed to walk out of the alley. If you walk away from me, stay in the area, and I'll leave you alone. Don't think that because I'm not beside you, any of the Slag members are going to help you leave." He lowered his hands from the wall. "You'll follow those rules until I learn the truth of why you're here."
"The truth?" She scoffed. "I told you the truth."
His gaze hardened. "Babe, I don't believe a word you said." His gaze hardened. "The kitchen in the clubhouse has everything you need. Make sure you eat."
She cupped the front of her neck with her hand. Her pulse frantically beat under her fingers. "You've kidnapped me."
He dipped his chin.
Unable to read what was going on in his head, she swallowed the lump of panic choking her.
"I...need my clothes. My uniforms." She held out hope that during work she could run out the front door. Since serving the customers, she'd noticed the bikers who acted like bodyguards were often pulled away from the front of the establishment. She'd bide her time, and look for a perfect escape.
Even if she had to confide in one of the male customers to help her get away, she would.
"I have men cleaning out your house. You'll have your belongings soon." He looked over his shoulder when someone called his name. Turning back to her, he said, "It'll only go worse for you if you break the rules or try to get someone to help you."
Then, he walked away. Left standing against the building, she gazed around at all the people. The members of Slag went about their day, talking, working on their motorcycles, and moving around the area. None of them paid her a second of attention.
She gazed at the nearest gate. The biker she'd tried to get her to help her leaned against the metal with his arms crossed. He wasn't looking at her, but she knew without any doubt that if she tried to escape, he'd stop her.
Chapter 12
Roar stepped out of the bar onto the sidewalk in front of the building. Brage pushed off the corner wall at the intersection, stubbing out his cigarette on the thigh of his jeans, and met his president in front of The Fire Ring.
"No problems with Dinah?" asked Roar.
He shook his head. "She's came out three times since her shift started but walked back inside once she noticed me here."
"Peer is making sure she keeps from talking to customers away from him and asking them for help. That's our biggest problem at the moment with letting her continue working here. We don't need word getting out that something illegal is happening within the club and have the cops swing by to look around." Roar pulled his hair back and quickly braided the mohawk on top of his head. "My other concern is having her around the women and one of them getting hurt."
They'd debated on whether to let her out of Brage's room. He'd suggested letting her have enough freedom to hang herself.
Dinah wasn't going to admit that she belonged to Moroad. She needed some incentive.
"I don't like the idea she's here," said Roar.
Brage crossed his arms and latched his hands under his armpits. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Roar that he had nothing to worry about. Deep down, he believed Dinah wasn't out to harm the women. But, until he was positive about what she was doing here, he'd lean toward being overly cautious.
"Has Elling found anything on the background check?" he asked.
"Not since the last time I talked to him. I told him either you or me would be around after the bar closes to check in with him. Hopefully, he'll have answers then."
It was important to know Dinah's connection to the Moroad member. He needed to get a crew out to go after the man connected to her and end any threats coming at them. There was no questioning if Dinah came to Slag to gain information. The only thing left to do
