Lahat ng Kabanata ng Biker's Forbidden Desire: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

EMILIA POV I'd been in Kane's "care" for four hours and thirty-seven minutes. I knew because I'd been counting every second, using the mental exercise to stay calm. Stay focused. Keep myself from thinking about what I'd done. About Axel waking up alone. About the note I'd left. Don't think about that now. Focus on surviving. The room Kane had put me in wasn't a cell. It was actually nice, expensive furniture, soft lighting, a real bathroom. Like a hotel room instead of a prison. The second surprise was that Kane hadn't touched me. When I'd arrived just before midnight, walking through the front entrance like I was atten

EMILIA POVMarco looked at Carmen. "Talk sense into her."Carmen met his gaze. "She's right.""What?" Marco sputtered."She's right," Carmen repeated. "Volkov could have let Axel die. Could have extracted Kane instead, sold him back to us for a price. Could have done a dozen things that would've benefited the Bratva more. But he chose Axel. That means something.""It means Axel owes them," Marco said."It means Volkov keeps his deals," Carmen corrected. "Which is more than Kane ever did."The room fell silent."I'm going," I said finally. "Tomorrow at noon. Alone. And when I see Axel, I'm telling him exactly what I think of him staying behind to fight Kane while telling me to run.""That's if he's conscious enough to hear it," Tank muttered."He'll be conscious," I said with certainty I didn't quite feel. "Axel's too stubborn to stay unconscious when he knows I'm coming."Marco sighed heavily. "Fine. But you're wearing a wire."

EMILIA POVThe coordinates Volkov sent led to an industrial district on the outskirts of town.Warehouses. Empty lots. The kind of place where screams wouldn't be heard.Perfect for the Russian mob.I parked my bike where the GPS indicated and killed the engine.Three black SUVs sat in a semicircle around a loading dock. Men in dark suits stood at regular intervals. Armed. Watching.My heart hammered against my ribs as I dismounted.One of the men approached. Tall. Broad. Cold eyes that assessed me like a threat."Ms. Romano," he said in accented English. "Arms up."I raised my arms. He patted me down. Professional. Thorough. His hands found the tracker button Tank had sewn into my jacket.He ripped it off without a word. Crushed it under his boot.So much for Marco's insurance policy."Phone," the man said.I handed it over. He removed the battery and pocketed both pieces."This way."He led me toward the warehouse. The other guards watched but didn't move. Like statues. Like weapons

EMILIA POVI made it back to the clubhouse twenty minutes after leaving Volkov's warehouse.Marco was waiting outside.Arms crossed. Face thunderous."Inside," he said. "Now."I followed him through the clubhouse to his office.The second the door closed, Marco exploded."What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded. "Going alone to meet the Russian mob? They could have killed you. Kept you. Used you as leverage against Axel-""They didn't," I interrupted. "I saw Axel. He's alive. Recovering.""For now," Marco said. "Until they send him on whatever suicide mission they've got planned.""Weapons trafficking," I said quietly. "The first contract. He has to drive a shipment across the border into Mexico."Marco's face went pale. "That's federal. If he gets caught-""I know," I said. "Ten to twenty years. Volkov made that very clear.""And the second contract?" Marco asked."Wet work," I replied. "Killing someone. Vo

AXEL POVThe second the chapel cleared, Marco pulled me aside."My office," he said. "Now."I followed him.He closed the door behind us. Locked it."Sit," Marco said.I sat.Marco poured two glasses of whiskey. Slid one across the desk to me."We need to establish ground rules," Marco said. "Beyond what I said in there.""I already agreed to your conditions," I pointed out."Those were the public conditions," Marco replied. "These are the private ones. The ones between you and me."