Defining Darkness (Royal Bastards MC Tampa Chapter Book 1) Read online

  I have to be strong.

  Not only for myself, but for my sister, Ivy, and the other four women living this hell right here with me.

  As we huddle in the confined space, some sob, some stare blankly into space, while one woman holds her hands together sending out a muffled prayer.

  I don’t think God will help us now.

  We’re in the hands of the devil.

  The ship is slowing, sending a surge of anxiety through me.

  When this all started, I had no idea what the hell was happening. My sister and I were enjoying a night out in Havana, that was until we were cornered in an alley by some masked men with guns. The rest is kind of a blur. Then I found myself waking up in this shipping container which is the size of a freaking pea, with four other women who are just as terrified as me.

  We’re all still wearing the clothes we were taken in. I have to admit, I’m completely out of place among the other women in here. They’re all dolled up, even my younger sister Ivy’s in a glittery red dress which clings tightly to her curves and has her entire back on show. It’s sexy as hell, just like the others in their mini dresses and tiny skirts. Me? I’m wearing a gray dress, the shoulders are covered in shiny silver beads, and the length sits mid-thigh. There’s nothing adventurous about my outfit. Nothing that screams sex appeal

  Their faces are covered in black streaks from their mascara, where I am wearing only the slightest hint of makeup. Their hair’s perfect, or it was. My dark auburn strands are down and straight. There’s nothing about me that would have caught their attention, and it has me wondering.

  Maybe because I was with Ivy, they took me too.

  The whimpering woman lets out another loud wail as Ivy clings tighter to me. The ship jolts as if it’s pulling in to dock.

  I sit taller, smoothing my hand over Ivy’s wavy hair. “Hey, look at me!” Her watering eyes meet mine. “I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I’m not going anywhere without you. We’re a team, si?” My Spanish accent coming through thicker when I’m scared. Even though we live in Cuba, we learned English from a very early age. Our wealthy parents always told us it would come in handy.

  Ivy wipes a tear from under her eye. Her big brown doe eyes stare back at me. “Eva, we don’t know why they took us. Where we’re going. What the hell they’re going to do to us!”

  The praying woman begins to pray louder as footsteps and muffled talking resonate outside the container.

  I take a deep breath gripping her hands. “No, we don’t, but I promise you, Ivy, I’m going to do everything I can to keep us together, even if it means fighting them with every part of me I have. We already lost our parents, all we have is each other.”

  Heavy thumping resonates outside the container.

  I stand in front of the five other women in some sort of protective stance. My chest heaves as Ivy grips onto me for dear life as I hold her behind me. The sobbing and praying continue as I back us all to the rear of the container.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be okay,” I tell them, not believing my own words for one second.

  The container doors fly open, the hinges creaking and moaning. I’m going to hyperventilate at any given second. A glow from the lamps on the dock light up the night sky as eight men stand at the doorway blocking any chance of escape. My body shudders as their faces are shadowed in darkness, but I don’t mistake the leather cuts the majority of them are wearing.

  Damn bikers.

  Why the hell are bikers involved?

  “We don’t have a lot of time, so let’s make this easy on all of us. Come forward. Don’t fight us, and we can move this process along.” His American accent is broad, gruff, but somehow it makes my insides squeeze. This man holds authority, but also there’s something about him that has me intrigued. I can’t see his face as he’s shrouded in darkness when he takes a step closer.

  “What do you want?” I call out.

  He might have my interest piqued, but I’m not going to roll over and simply let him take us.

  Not without a damn fight.

  He exhales. “Great! A feisty one. Look Chiquita just do as you’re told. No need to make a scene.”

  I stand taller, puffing out my chest. “No. You tell me right now what the hell you want—”

  “Or what? You’re backed into a shipping container with nowhere to go. You’re shit out of luck. Do as I say, or I’ll be forced to make you. I don’t want to mark that pretty face of yours.”

  Ivy clings to me tighter, pulling on my arm a little. I can tell she wants me to stop, to back down, but there’s something about this man that’s pushing all my buttons. So, I step forward, the light from the dock now reflecting a little more on his face. His bearded chin shows off his chiseled face. His hair flopping into his eyes as they stare me down. He appears haunted—the look suits him. I don’t miss the myriad of tattoos lining his arms, or the way his body is toned as if he works out for half the day, every day. This guy is crazy good-looking, but I can’t let that distract me.

  “You think I’m scared of you? I’ve had worse come after me and mine. Whatever you have in store for us, I’m sure it can’t be that bad.”

  The men all chuckle as the ringleader shakes his head. “Chiquita, you have no idea what you’re in for. We’re just the delivery service. Once you leave us, you’re all in for a whole other level of torment. Until then, maybe we should prepare you a little for the kind of treatment you’re in for. Boys, I’m sick of her yammering, let’s get the cargo and move out.”

  My muscles tense as the men storm toward us. The other girls scream as I stand my ground, my arms out in some sort of lame attempt at defending them all. The main guy races up in front of me, his eyes focusing squarely in on mine.

  Our eyes lock.

  His dark chocolate orbs bore into mine as a moment passes between us.

  I see him.

  All of him.

  He hesitates as the other men wait for his order.

  The other girls whimper behind me, clinging to me for any kind of comfort they can get.

  “You want to be their savior, Chiquita? You believe standing in front of them is going to stop us from taking you all to the buyer? You can’t fathom how wrong you are.” He rushes forward, his hands wrapping around my waist. Before I have a second to think, he hoists me over his shoulder.

  I let out a loud scream, feeling my grip on Ivy tear away from me. I shake and shudder as I kick my legs out, my palms slamming into his back with as much force as I can muster, but it’s like he doesn’t even feel it. He just keeps walking with me as I yell at him, “No. No. My sister! Ivy, Ivy,” I scream as I lift my head to look and notice another strong man yanking her along as she struggles in his grasp. I can’t help it as the dam wall finally breaks.

  Tears.

  Tears I am not used to shedding run down my cheeks

  I was supposed to protect Ivy.

  I was supposed to always be by her side.

  How can I, when I can’t get away from this fucking brute?

  “Ivy!” I call out again as we reach a black van. Fear cripples me as the man slides me down his body, and I feel every toned muscle.

  What the hell?

  I’m stunned at how the move doesn’t repulse me.

  What the fuck is wrong with me?

  Every single part of me shakes as he stares in my eyes.

  “Don’t worry, Chiquita, this will all be over soon.”

  Is he going to kill me?

  My eyes shift to look around. Ivy’s being taken to another black van, and I move to run to her, but the brute grips my biceps holding me in place.

  “Uh-uh, you’re not going anywhere. Say goodbye.” He narrows his gaze on me, his mind ticking over as his eyes wander my body, up then down. A shiver travels the length of my spine. The way his eyes devour me is not something I’m used to. Men always pay attention to Ivy. This man, whoever he is, sees me.

  Not that I want him to.

  I want him t
o let Ivy and me go.

  So now I do the only thing I can think of—plead. “You don’t have to do this. Let my sister and I go. We’ll go back to Cuba. You’ll never see us again. There will be no trouble.”

  He purses his lips. “Can’t do that, Chiquita. If I don’t deliver the six packages, I don’t get paid. I’m running a business. You understand?”

  “So, what? I’m nothing but money to you?”

  He shrugs. “It’s nothing personal. I didn’t pick you off the street, the buyer did. As I said, I’m just the delivery man.”

  The brute says it so matter of fact that anger rushes through me like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I bring my free hand up, slamming it across his cheek, pushing his head to the side. The sting reverberates through my palm as he turns back, glaring at me. “You really are a firecracker, aren’t you? While I’ve enjoyed our time together… more than I was expecting, I really need to get you into this van. Will you go willingly?”

  My breathing is rushed and hard as I glare at him with nothing but loathing. “Que te la pique un pollo!”

  The corner of his lips turns up, the smirk makes him even more attractive.

  Stop being attracted to the asshole, Eva!

  “So, that’s a yes?”

  Coating my mouth, I spit at his feet, causing him to chuckle. “Have it your way, Chiquita.”

  He holds my biceps firmly, spinning me around. He’s so strong, I can’t fight him.

  Fear cripples me as I peer over to the other van where Ivy’s being loaded inside. “Ivy!” I call out to her. “Please… please don’t take my sister. She’s everything I have. Please. I beg you.”

  The brute yanks open the back of the van, trying to push me inside. My hands grip on to the edges, but they slip with the humidity in the air. “Please. Please tell me my sister can come with me. Please. Please don’t split us up!”

  “Get in the van, Chiquita!” His voice is deep. There’s an annoyed sound, but it’s also full of tension. He shoves me forward as I let out a small squeal and fall face-first onto the metal checker plate floor of the van. He’s on me in a second, drawing my hands together. I try to fight him with everything I have, but he’s too strong as he ties my wrists with cable ties. I clench my teeth. “You’re nothing but a bastardo!”

  He tilts his head. “Royally, sweetheart.”

  As he grabs something beside me, I furrow my brows, but I’m shutting down. I fought. Just not hard enough. I thought I might have gotten through to him, whoever this guy is, but I’ve gotten nowhere. Suddenly, his hand sweeps out in front of my face, a white rag covers my mouth as he holds it against me tight.

  My eyes widen as I struggle against him, struggling to fight for life.

  The toxic fumes invade my system as I fall backward on the checker plate. He towers over me, darkness slowly creeping in my sight. His face lingers over mine, his eyes staring at me like he’s drinking me in.

  “I got you, Eva.”

  He called me Eva.

  With one last inhale, my body stops fighting.

  The brute’s eyes are the last thing I see before everything goes black.

  Darkness has me.

  I have nowhere left to run.

  Chapter Three

  NYCTO

  What the fuck am I thinking?

  I’ve done this run thousands of times for Andrés.

  Never, ever, has there been a woman who put up a fight as Eva did. They’re always too busy crying and begging like little girls but not Eva. No, my feisty firecracker stood up and tried to defend the women she doesn’t even know.

  She made me stand up and take notice. Plus, it did not go unnoticed that she’s not the typical type Andrés goes for. Everyone else in the shipping container was done up and overly sexualized.

  Even her sister, Ivy, has the look mastered.

  The sex appeal men want.

  The sexy attractiveness depraved men pay good money for.

  But with Eva, she’s a natural beauty. Stunning. Almost breathtakingly beautiful. With her Cuban sun-kissed skin, dark eyes, and plump lips—perfect for sucking cock. Fuck if I don’t want to wrap my fingers around her long, auburn hair and ram into her from behind. Her slender, toned, and shapely curves are perfect for holding onto, even if she is trying to hide them under that dress. Ignoring all that, I have to say nothing about her screams sex kitten. Hell, she’s probably still a fucking virgin for all I know. That’s the type of innocence she’s exuding right now.

  Maybe that’s why she caught my eye.

  Maybe that’s what has drawn my attention.

  Maybe that’s why I’m going to be in a world of fucking hurt.

  Because I couldn’t let her go.

  As I sit in my van in the clubhouse compound, my other brothers are anxious for me to get out. They’re waiting to see where the hell we go from here.

  Because I have royally fucked-up.

  I’ve made the mistake of letting Eva get in my damn head.

  Now the club could pay for my singular action.

  My hands grip onto the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turn white with the force. I need to face this, I just don’t know how. I still haven’t figured out the why.

  A shadow steps beside the window of my driver’s side door, and I turn. Void flares his nostrils, the vein in his neck pokes out and pulsates in the way it does when he’s annoyed as all fucking hell. My VP understands as much as I do what this means for the club. What it means for our relationship with Andrés. Taking a girl won’t sit well with him when she’s already been paid for by someone else.

  I could offer to pay double.

  But who fucking knows who her buyer is?

  How will they react to the news?

  What would they accept as payment?

  Would they accept anything—they would probably want their merchandise.

  I only see one way around this problem.

  Lie.

  Taking a deep breath, I open the door, then slide out. “Don’t fucking say it,” I murmur to my VP.

  “Don’t say what? That you’ve royally screwed us? That the club’s going to be at war with the largest human trafficker in the southern US? We all know how the Alaskan brothers are faring with the Russians. We don’t want a mess like that here, do we?”

  “They have their shit to deal with, we have ours. I’ll settle it. Let me come up with a plan before you have your fucking hissy fit you’re throwing at me right now.” I slam the van door shut as I traipse around to the back.

  Void follows, matching my pace. “You think Andrés is just gonna sit down and take this, Nycto? If you do, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

  Rolling my shoulders, an image of Eva swarms my mind—a feisty little Cuban goddess who’s out cold in the back of this van. I knew the moment she started sassing me, I was done for. There’s no way I was letting Andrés get his fucking mitts on her. He likes to test the products before he sends them out. With the way she fights back, she’d have been black and blue in no time. For some damn reason, I am yet to know the answer to, I hate the idea of her gorgeous face being harmed in any way.

  So, I did the only thing I could.

  It had to be done.

  I might be the devil, but even the devil can be tempted by an angel.

  “You’re right.”

  Void’s eyes widen. “I am?”

  I dip my chin. “Yeah, Andrés isn’t going to like the idea of me taking her. So, I’ll come up with something else.”

  “What? You gonna lie?”

  Shrugging, I grab the door and yank it open. Eva’s still passed out cold. She really does look like an angel. Her hands bound, her breathing even as she lays comatose on the floor of the truck.

  The things I could do to her if Void weren’t here.

  I am a sick fuck.

  “I’m gonna tell him she ran.”

  Void snorts out a laugh, then his eyes meet mine. He stops. His face falls when I don’t j
oin in. “You’re fucking joking, right? You think Andrés is gonna believe a tiny little thing like her escaped the clutches of the Royal Bastards?”

  “She kneed Dash in the balls. You know he’s still recovering from being shot at the safe house with Sage, then… she took off. Headed for the water… we couldn’t find her.”

  Void furrows his brows. “You’re throwing the prospect under the bus?”

  “Isn’t it their job to take one for the team?”

  Void rolls his shoulders. “You better be prepared for this to backfire on you, Prez. You want the responsibility of what you’ve just done? This is all on you.”

  I peer back at Eva, a sudden rush of adrenaline spiking through me. “Did the other girls make it to Andrés?”

  Void’s eyes drop to his watch. “They should be there any minute.”

  I crack my neck to the side. “Take the cargo to the Brick Cell. It’ll be safe in there. I need to get Eva inside before she wakes up.”

  “I fucking hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “Don’t I always?”

  He lets out a huff. “Sometimes, I seriously question that.”

  A crack of thunder roars overhead, the threat of a summer storm narrows as I flip him the bird. He walks off as I turn back to Eva. She’s bound and lying helpless in the back of the van—out cold. As much as her being tied up is having a serious effect on my dick, she doesn’t need to be bound anymore.

  She has nowhere to go.

  We’re behind the fence.

  There’s no way out.

  Grabbing my Swiss army knife, I cut the cable ties away from her hands. They fall to the bed of the van as she murmurs in her sleep. I swipe a strand of hair away from her face while taking her in.

  My head falls to the side—I can’t comprehend why she’s captivated me.

  No woman ever has.

  All I know is I couldn’t let this angel meet the fate Andrés had destined for her.

  Moving in, I hoist her into my arms, bridal style. I can’t help but notice her fingernails are painted bright red. Maybe my innocent firecracker isn’t so innocent after all? Her arm instinctively loops around my neck. She’s holding on, but very loosely in her dazed state. Her other arm dangles haphazardly as I start walking her toward the clubhouse. The bunker’s set in the ground, so the opening is dug out, and the driveway curves down to meet it. The front of the bunker has a set of large concrete double doors. From the original design, we adjusted the hinges, then painted the Royal Bastards’ insignia on the front.