Totally Captivated - Chapter 1

Totally Captivated

This book is currently being serialized right here on this blog and on Wattpad. Find out more in the "Free Reads" section.

When I skip town my brother, president of the Four Horsemen MC, sends his best friend and second in command out to bring me back: Ryder, the man I've secretly loved for my entire life.

But there's a reason I can't go back to Baker, and I can't let anyone discover it. My new life is built on lies and Ryder's presence could not only expose me, it could destroy everything I've sacrificed so much to protect.

Chapter 1Ryder
It was cleaner than the last bar I’d been in, I’d give Bobby that. Someone had cleaned the floor recently, and black linoleum beneath the upholstered stools in the bar still gleamed. Never thought I’d see the day when Bobby the Body outclassed me. Then again, I wasn’t exactly on the up and up these days. Which was why, despite being Gracie’s best friend, I was perfect for this job.A few bleached blonds in matching black halter tops smiled at me as I walked in. Well, what do you know? Even the waitresses here were cute. Yes, Bobby certainly seemed to be moving up in the world.I wonder where, exactly, he got the money to do that.The last thought makes my eyes narrow and my lips tighten as I smile back. The left girl froze, eyes wide, tongue running over her trembling bottom lip. Damn, I had to watch myself. It was always bad to startle the clientele before asking questions.Luckily her friend didn’t startle easy. Immediately, she pulls out a menu and her brightest smile. She saunters up, her cut-off jeans hutting her hips in all the right places, lashes hanging low over her bright eyes. “Hey,” she whispers, eyes dipping to my own hips before coming back up to meet mine. “Welcome to Irish Hell, home of the best burgers on the West coast.”I raise my brows and hook my thumbs in the loops of my faded jeans. “That’s quite a claim.”She raises her brows too and gives me a saucy smile. “Well, we don’t say things around here we can’t back up.” She takes two aggressive steps towards me. “I like your tattoos.”Oh fuck. She’s easily the hottest thing I’ve seen in the last three days. Perfect, round tits, a flat stomach that was just soft enough to make it feminine, and nice big hips that had me almost begging her to turn around. I’m an ass man. Drop a fine, round ass in front of me and I’ll follow it like a horse to water. But now is not the time to get distracted. I bring my gaze back to her eyes. “Well, there’s a lot of them to like. Figure most people can find at least one or two they can tolerate.”She steps forward, grin deepening. “I especially like that one.” She points at the first one I got way back when I was fourteen.I have two full sleeves, and yet that one always stands out despite my attempts to blend it in with the others. Maybe because it’s so fucking maudlin and cliche—a raven soaring with a red rose in its claws.When you first start getting tattoos, you get them to mark special occasions. Things you never want to forget. But I didn’t think of what seeing that fucking thing branded on my skin would do to me. Often I don’t get tattoos anymore to mark special occasions. I get them to hide or conceal the old ones.My stomach tightens. Of course. Chicks always dug that one. “I’m actually looking for someone.”Her grin disappears. “Yeah?”“Yeah. I think he comes in a lot.”She perks up again when she hears it’s a guy I’m looking for, but I continue as if I haven’t noticed. “His name’s Jimmy Wilson.” Bobby’s newest alias rolls off my tongue. “Can’t miss him. Brown hair and eyes, pug nose, about average height—”“And above average weight?” she finishes with a breathy laugh. I nod. “Yeah, I know him. Big tipper.”That didn’t surprise me. Bobby was always a big tipper. It was one of that sleaze ball’s redeeming qualities.She pulls the menu closer to her chest and and turns. “He’s actually out on the balcony.”“Great.” I give her my slowest, sexiest smile. Better warm her up to me fast before we go meet Bobby.She tilts her head to the side and holds the menu out in front of her with her arms straight. There’s something innocent and cute about that gesture. “Okay, well come on. I’ll take you to him.”Her ass is just as beautiful as I thought it would be. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see in the room. The dim lighting, cream walls and black floor are such a contrast to the bright sun streaming through the windows, making it look like I’ve walked into a picture taken in the fifties. The tables are all dark, polished wood. I can’t see any blemishes or chips on them. Damn Bobby’s done well for himself. I’d feel bad about doing this if I didn’t know what he’d done.The dark room opens up into a panoramic view of the lush landscape of Sonoma Valley. You can even hear water rustling from the creek down below.“Hey Jimmy! Someone’s here to see you,” the waitress sings.I raise my eyebrows. Bobby’s always been a good tipper, but he must have gotten really good since leaving Baker.Bobby’s ugly ass face turns around with a grin. “Hey Katie, how—” His grin disappears when he sees me.There we go. That’s more like the Bobby I know.Katie glances back at me with eyes as wide as the waitress’ who had known me for what I was moments after meeting me. “Uh, you sure you’re a friend of Bobby’s?”“Oh yeah. We go way back.” I step past her and plop a hand down on Bobby’s shoulder. The gesture is a friendly gesture for the waitress’ benefit, and a way to make sure this asshole doesn’t try to run. Looking like he’s about to shit his pants is one thing. But I’m pretty sure she’d call the cops if she saw me mow him down in the center of the bar and throw him in the back of my van.“It’s alright Katie,” Bobby squeaks. “He’s just an old friend.”The waitress takes a step back, the soft breeze teasing her hair, eyes never leaving mine. Let’s just say I prefer the look she’d given me earlier. I’ve never raised my hand against a woman in my life, and don’t like But I guess the dangerous, pretty boy is just fun to look at and, maybe, if you’re feeling risky enough, indulge in for one night.It’s obvious she doesn’t believe him, but she’s also not the type to make a fuss if the victim appears willing. She leaves.I let go of him and take the seat in front of him. I want him to see my face.“So, long time no see Ryder.” I don’t think it’s possible for his voice to get any higher.“Where is she?”Bobby gulps. Maybe he was expecting me to start out by waxing poetic about the fucking weather. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”I smile out of the side of my mouth and lean back. “Don’t fuck with me.”He pulls a cigarette out of his pocket. “I really…um…” he fumbles with the lighter, wincing as he burns the tip of his thumb. “Look, I have no idea okay?” he says quickly through puffs of smoke.“You’re smoking that like you’re thinking it’s your last cigarette.”He takes a long drag and blows out softly, turning the floral smell of the late-summer breeze to the scent of ash. Now there’s a fitting image if there ever was one.“Is it?” he asks.“Depends,” I answer honestly.Bobby eyes the door.“Don’t even think of running. I’ll catch you before you take three steps and I’m in a bad mood. Drove all the way from Seattle last night—”“Why were you in Seattle?” Bobby interrupts.My glare deepens. “Why do you think?”Luckily he has enough intelligence to not answer. Bobby’s so fucking lucky I found him here and not someplace more private.“Gracie’s gonna kill you, you know.”Bobby goes as white as the starched, bleached sheets his mother puts out all pretty like for the guest in her Bed & Breakfast. “You told Gracie?”I actually hadn’t told Gracie yet, but I’ll let him go on thinking I did. “What the fuck were you thinking messing with his sister, huh?”Bobby’s cheeks wiggle as he shakes his head. “Hey, I didn’t do anything to his fucking sister, alright?”My heartbeat spikes. “Watch your mouth.”Bobby looks at me like I’ve gone crazy. Jesus, this guy is more dense than I thought he was if he can’t see what Jessie means to me. Growing up, I thought of her as my own little sister. And no, I don’t take kindly to assholes applying the adjective fucking or anything like it to that girl. This conversation has gone on long enough. “Did you sell her to someone?”“What the fuck?” Bobby shoots up from his seat. “You better not be telling those kinds of lies to Gracie.”I cock my head. “What’s the truth, then? I’ll tell him that instead.”Sweat pours off his forehead. He wipes it with his bare hands, making them wet. Sticky. He’s freaked out alright. And he should be.It irritates me. It reminds me that I should have been looking closer for signs that something was up. The fact I hadn’t even noticed anything bothered me more than just about anything else. I figured the girls were going on some sort of road trip. I mean, that’s what they said they were doing. Girls did that sort of thing the summer before starting college, didn’t they? But then Jess didn’t show up at Freshman orientation. I got a hysterical call from Amy, and after taking my ass up to Oregon State, discovered the girl had dropped out three months before, when this road trip supposedly started.“I’m not gonna lie. This isn’t looking good, Bobbie. You better come clean.”Bobby looked like he was about to hyperventilate. Damn, whatever he was in, he was in deep, but he still had balls. Grease slipped from the sides of his mouth as his purple lips puckered. “Fuck you.”“I know she got in touch with you about two weeks before she skipped town,” I continue, ignoring the insult, “and that you left soon after. Hid yourself pretty well. A little too well. It’s almost as if you didn’t want to see any of your old friends again.”“None of you guys are friends.” Bobby’s voice is soft and cold, but also sad. I’m surprised to hear that. “All any of you ever wanted to do was use me.”“Don’t you think it’s a little late for you to be acting like a martyr?”He shakes his head, snorting. “You don’t get it. Jess was the only one of you who didn’t treat me like that.”I snap. It isn’t smart. But I swear I haven’t slept more than five hours this past week. Every fucking time I see a girl with a ponytail I think of her and want to scream. “So why the fuck did you fuck around with her?”“I didn’t.” His eyes fill with something I’m not used to seeing on him, especially when he’s on the defense. It’s triumph. “I helped her do what I did—get the fuck away from you.”My vision goes red. “What?”“She—” he suddenly thinks better of it. “Look, forget I said anything.”My smile makes him shudder. “Not gonna happen, Benny.”He takes a step back as I get up, already pressing himself against the unpainted cedar planks behind the trellis, out of sight from the windows, right where I want him.“Come on Ryder,” he whimpers as grab his shirt and slide my forearm over his neck.“Where is she?”“I don’t know.”“Stop bullshitting me.”“I swear, I know nothing!” Drool slips down his chin, mixing with the grease, sliding on the tattoo of a skull and a gun. Another damn cliched tattoo I’d gotten when I was underage.“Come on, Bobby. You gossip like a teenage girl.”His eyes roll back. “I just made her an ID, alright? Her and her friends. I didn’t ask questions.”Fine. He wants to play this game, I’ll roll with it. For now. “Why the fuck not?”“Because when a friend comes and asks you for help you do what you can, alright?”His answer makes me pause. Maybe the asshole has more than one redeeming quality. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.“She didn’t want any of you to know. Not Gracie, and especially not you.”Especially not me? What the fuck was that about? I tighten my fist around his shirt and push him deeper into the wall. “Did she say not to tell me specifically?”“Shit Ryder, I’m gonna piss my pants.”I maintain the pressure of my grip but take a step back. “Just answer the question.”“Ryder—”“I said answer!”“Okay. Okay.” He swallows. “Shit, do I really have to do this man?”“Bobby, I’ve searched three states in one week for you. I really don’t have any more patience.”“Fine, fine. Yes, she said—she said not to tell you specifically, alright? You happy? She said, no matter what, she didn’t want you to know. I didn’t ask why because it’s not hard for me to see why someone wouldn’t want you around, alright? I mean, you’re not exactly a people person. Now can you fucking put me down already?”I release him. A nauseous, painful feeling shoots through my gut as if I’ve been sucker-punched. It’s hard to breathe. She’d said that about me? Really?“Fuck Ryder, my burger’s cold!” Bobby’s hand is shaking so bad that when it brings a fry to his mouth, ketchup smears over his lips.I sigh and reach into my wallet for a ten. “Sorry man. Buy yourself another one.”He glares up at me. “Well, you suddenly got quiet.”I don’t answer but take my seat in front of him again.Bobby smiles. “Don’t like that she cut you out, huh?”“Shut up.” My heart’s still beating way too fast. Floor’s moving a bit like I’m tipsy. But I’ve got to keep my head on straight, at least until I find her. “What’s her new name?”Bobby set down his napkin. “Damn Ryder. You’re really not gonna let this go, are you? She’s fine.”“How do you know?”“I just know. She’s strong. Can take care of herself.”“I’ll be the judge of that.”Bobby snickers. “You guys never did trust her. Never saw her for who she was. She’s grown up now.”“Stop stalling, Bobby.”He sighs. “You sure you should be the one to find her? I mean, she did specifically ask me not to…”I didn’t want to hear the rest of what he had to say. “It’s better that I find her instead of Gracie,” I reason.Bobby’s eyes narrow. “You sure about that?”“Yeah.”Bobby sighs. “You got a pen and paper?”Turns out I do. His eyes sink as I slide it across the table. Bobby’s good at what he does, but he’s easy to break. Just the threat of violence and he’ll spill everything. He turns the pen around in his hand.“Marie Herrington. Here’s her social, and her mother’s maiden name.” He hands me the paper.“Kraft, huh?” I murmur, folding the paper and stuffing it into my pocket.“Yup. Like the food manufacturing and processing conglomerate and the private security company.” I reach across the table as I get up, grabbing what’s left of his burger.“Hey, that’s mine!” Bobby whines.“I gave you a ten to buy a new one.”Bobby raises the corner of his lip as his eyes flash. “Thanks a lot, man. God, you’re an asshole.”I take a big bite. Mmmm, it’s just as good as the waitress said it would be—juicy and full flavored. Even lukewarm, it’s easily in the top ten burgers I’ve ever had. I might swing back through here on the way home.“See you later, Bobby.”“It’s Jimmy now.”I shake my head. “Alright then.”“Hey.” He shakes his finger at me. Now that he knows he’s safe, all of his ridiculous bravado has returned. “I don’t know anything else, so don’t contact me again, alright? I don’t want anything to do with any of you. I’m trying to start fresh.” He wheezes and he takes a drag. Maybe I went a little too hard on his throat. “It’s pretty here. The people treat me nice.”“People are the same everywhere.”“Not like here.”I smile grimly into the distance. “Well, if they’re treating you that good, it’s because they don’t know you yet.”