She looked up into the sky and rubbed her arms. The stars were out, not a cloud in the sky.
Strong fingers latched onto her wrist. Startled, she jerked her arm, finding she couldn't break free. She gazed up into Nate's face, and her pulse spiked.
"What are you doing?" She frowned, cold creeping into her gut. "Let me go."
He pulled her away from the clubhouse. She stumbled and barely kept from falling.
"Stop it." She tripped, barely staying on her feet. "What is wrong with you? You're hurting my arm."
Then she saw it—a black car parked against the curb outside the fence. The streetlight allowed her to make out a man sitting behind the steering wheel. She squinted, clearly seeing a man with a Deception MC vest.
Everything inside her tensed in full-blown panic. She yanked hard, but Nate's grip tightened. He was too strong. She couldn't get away. Everything hit her at once. He'd planned this. He knew the Deception member was outside the open gate. A gate that was supposed to be closed.
"Nate," she choked out. Anger and horror tangled in her voice. "What are you doing?"
No longer friendly or grinning, Nate's face had turned cold as if unfazed about what he was doing to her. She dug her heels into the asphalt, trying to slow him from dragging her off the compound.
"Kodiak is going to—"
He shoved her. Roma stumbled forward, her shoulder slamming into the waiting car. Panic exploded in her chest. She shoved back against Nate, twisting, trying to break free. But he refused to let go.
Her heart pounded. Her mind screamed—move, move, move. But Nate wrapped his arm around her neck from behind, stealing her breath and lifting her feet off the ground. She was losing. He was too strong.
The car door swung open. Nate shoved her into the backseat with practiced hands. She fought, kicking and hitting, but he deflected every attack, successfully getting her inside.
The door slammed shut, cutting off her scream for help.
She scrambled to grab the door handle, and there was nothing on the inside panel. They'd removed her only way of escaping the car.
The Deception member turned in his seat, flashing a grin that made her stomach churn. "Welcome to the ride, beautiful."
Roma's breath caught in her throat. Her vision blurred. She'd been stolen, from under Royalla's watch. Her pulse roared in her ears. Inside, she screamed for Kodiak.
She had to keep from panicking, so she counted streets, trying to remember where he was taking her. Without the man seeing her, she slid her hand behind her and slipped her fingers inside her pocket to reach for her phone. All she had to do was call Kodiak. He'd find her.
A wave of desperation swept through her. Her pocket was empty. She'd left her phone on the pool table after checking for any messages from Kodiak.
Her vision blurred. She squeezed her hand into fists. What was she going to do?
Chapter 30
Cash opened the gate. Kodiak rode into the compound, expecting chaos, but found no one outside. He simultaneously clamped down on his hand and foot brake, tires skidding against the asphalt. His pulse hammered so hard it felt like a fucking heart attack.
Roma. She was here—she had to be. He wouldn't let himself believe anything differently. The Deception member had to be lying.
He stalked toward the front of the clubhouse and threw open the door. "Where's Roma?"
Baker, too damn calm behind the bar, glanced up. "You must've passed her." He pointed toward the door. "She's outside with Nate. They were playing pool and stepped out for some air about ten minutes ago."
Kodiak stilled.
Everything inside him snapped.
Nate.
Roma was outside with Nate.
No.
