Faith’s Temptation (Dueling Dragons MC Book 1) (24 page)

We stand outside for a few more minutes and are just about to finish our cigarettes when my cell phone rings. I reach into my pocket. It’s my oldest brother, Will.

“Hello?” I say into the phone.

“Faith, how are you doing?” Will asks and I tell him that I have been stressed because Ryder is gone on a run, but I leave out all the gory details.

“I called to tell you.... How do I put this?” He exhales loudly. “You need to get home now. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Daddy’s going to die within the next few days. If you want a chance to say goodbye, you need to get your ass down here.”

I start to shake and hyperventilate. I’m on the verge of crying hysterically. Layla takes notice and steps forward to take the phone out of my hand.

“Who is this?” She looks at me out of the corner of her eyes, trying to gauge my response to what I’ve been told. I feel the tears sting the back of my eyes.

“Uh huh, well, she can take off as much time as she needs. She will always have a job and a home to return to. I’ll have my son stay in her apartment to keep an eye on things.”

She hangs up and pulls me into her arms, rubbing my shoulder.

***

Ryder

All I can think about is the fact that I am in this fucked-up federal jail, looking around at the blank white walls, and the cot that’s in the corner looks like it needs to be shit-canned. The place smells like piss, but what more could you ask for? I could be in county jail. There I’d be shoved into an eight by ten room with another dude. Let me tell ya, when you have to drop a deuce, it is all out in the open and you just have to suck it up.

Fuck, I need to get the hell out of here. I called everyone that I could think of, but no one can cover my million-dollar bail. Even the MC can’t come up with that.

I just want to get home to my girl. I wish I could call her and explain what’s going on. She’s probably worried as hell, especially since I just hung up on her after begging her to promise to wait.

I knew getting pulled over while transporting two thousand pounds of drugs and all those guns would get me in trouble. I just don’t know how they knew what I was hauling. It was probably the full biker escort through the sleepy little town I passed through in Northeastern Missouri. Fuck, who knows what the hell is going on.

I’ve been in this shithole for about a week. They keep questioning me, thinking I’ll give up the MC or the mafia. They told me that, if I gave up whoever I was working for, they’d give me some kind of deal.
Yeah, right, cocksuckers! I ain’t that stupid!

The cell door creaks and opens with a thud.

“Porter, grab your bedding and roll up your mat. You made bail.”

I slowly stand and grab my things. I know that I didn’t just all of a sudden make bail. Someone high up somewhere bailed me out. I’m fucked! How am I going to get out of this shit? I can’t just ask the cop to leave me in here. If I do that, they’ll know something’s wrong. That’s the last thing I need.

I roll up my mat and wad up my blanket and pillow, walking toward the cop.

“Drop your stuff to the left of the door, then turn and face the wall with your hands behind your back.” His voice is husky and gruff from years of smoking and yelling at all the misfits in jail.

He takes me to a little room and gives me my street clothes and I’m allowed to change. Through the small opening in the door, I can see who bailed me out.

The leader of the Leyba Crime Family and three Caucasian goons, all about six foot four—if not taller—stand there waiting for the feds to release me. They’re built like brick shit houses.

Shit! I hope the MC figures something out, or I’m done for. I walk out into the little room where these four big Mexicans are waiting. I am a bigger guy, but these guys make me feel small.

“So, Ryder, you’re not as stupid as I thought you would be,” says a gray-haired man with a thick Spanish accent. He’s got to be in his seventies, at least. “Your father wasn’t very smart, but I see that you must take after your mother. She is such a beautiful woman.” He grins, almost as if he knows my mom has a soft spot for me.

I follow him out of the facility, noticing the three goons are close behind me, making sure I don’t try anything.

Outside, my eyes are hit with the natural light. I shut them, hoping to help my eyes adjust. “Where are you taking me? Or am I not allowed to know?” I try not to sound annoyed or pissed off, but, honestly, I’m a little of both. If I’d listened to Bambi or even my sister all those years ago, I wouldn’t be in this mess.

The gray-haired man reaches the car and turns to look at me. He laughs. “Well, dumb fuck, you didn’t think we’d just let you get away with getting our product confiscated, did you? Just know that what was taken is worth about four times what your father owed me. So I figure you’re mine until I decide what to do with you.”

Quickly, he surveys the parking lot and signals for his goons to blindfold me and knock me out. It’s the last thing I remember.

Follow-up with Ryder and Faith in…

Ryder’s Redemption

Book Two in the Dueling Dragons Series

MORE GREAT READS FROM ENTICE

The Shadows Series
by Marni Mann
(Erotic Romance) A sensually-inspired art student with an abusive past is seduced into the life of high-end prostitution, but the thrill of the mansion fades when she meets a man who stimulates not only her art, but also her intellect and emotions.

Binding Agreement
by Pam McKenna
(Erotic Romance) Intensely erotic, Binding Agreement follows sensible Kay as she is led into the world of sexual submission at the hands of the gorgeous yet tortured John, a Dom who shows her how to become fulfilled in every way.

Left to Chance
by C.D. Taylor
(Erotic Romance) After too many drinks at her friend’s wedding, Eliza wakes up married to Gabe, a man she loathes. Eliza starts to develop feelings for him and wonders if this marriage could be the real thing?

A Soldier's Wish
by Tammy Godfrey
(Erotic Romance) Cold winter nights heat up fast when soldiers Jason and Melody reunite in this steamy and sweet erotic romance.

Shifted For Love
by C.A. Tibbits
(Fiction Romance Paranormal) What will happen when two shifters fight — over a love that has been ordained, and one that is forbidden?

Would you like to read more books like these?

Subscribe to
runawaygoodness.com
, get a free ebook for signing up,

and never pay full price for an ebook again.

Discover more books and learn about our

new approach to publishing at
booktrope.com
.