The insurance policy had been taken with the eight friends when they had started their survival business. That way, if any one was killed, the business would not be affected. The insurance was made out to the surviving group members. The bomb he had planted and planned to detonate would have killed a large number of them, especially those carrying the larger chunks of stock.

“What did you do with my brother’s body?” Viper braced himself for Memphis’s answer.

“I buried him behind the Road Demon’s clubhouse.” When Viper struck out at Memphis, no one tried to stop him. Memphis was still alive when Viper pulled back with a final jab to his jaw. Memphis lay on the floor groaning curled into a ball.

“Tomorrow I will ask for a meet with the Road Demon’s to try and get Gavin’s body. If it’s not there…”

“I am telling the truth. What are you going to do with me?”

“Keep you alive long enough to bring Gavin home. After that the club will deal with you one by one.”

Memphis had hoped for a quick death, but Viper had taken away hope with his words. Each of the original members would stand in a circle with him standing in the middle, the members would then each give him a killing blow. It wouldn’t matter if he were dead after the one chosen to go first. In this case, because it was Viper’s brother, he would be allowed the first strike. After each had their turn, he would be disposed of just like he had disposed of Gavin. The only difference was Gavin would be coming home to a proper burial.

“We are going to show you the same mercy that you showed my brother,” Viper’s promise was deadly accurate.

Chapter 19

Beth came out of the restaurant, her heels clicking on the pavement. Pastor Dean had asked to meet her to talk. It had been hard sitting at the booth with him bringing back memories of the dates they had shared, interchanged with thoughts of what might have happened if she hadn’t been so attracted to Razer from the moment she saw him. Fortunately, Beth had realized that a relationship with Dean would have never worked. The sexual chemistry that she had shared with Razer was absent with Dean.

The meeting hadn’t lasted long. He was unhappy with the way she was looking. Beth had to admit she had lost quite a bit of weight since Razer had finished with her. The paleness of her face and lackluster hair gave her an appearance of being ill. Beth had assured him she was fine, but she could see the disbelief in his eyes.

“Thank you for your concern, but I am fine.” Beth laid her hand on top of his.” It’s not everyday a girl gets kidnapped and pistol whipped.” She gave a self-deprecating smile. “Perhaps I should have taken that Las Vegas trip.” Beth had returned his gift, not wanting to go alone. She had no one that she could bear to spend time with right now other than Lily and she was busy with school.

“I could arrange it for you.”

“No thank you, I have no one to cover my patients right now. Perhaps this summer when Lily is out of school. I have couple of interviews next week to hire someone to replace Evie.” Dean saw the flash of pain Beth was unable to hide. Beth without waiting, began discussing church business, offering to volunteer to have a rummage sale for a member who had a fire and their belongings destroyed.

Dean leaned back in his seat watching her pick at her food as she talked, getting the message that the members of The Last Riders were not up for discussion.

Beth left Dean sitting with two church members who had stopped by their table to volunteer their services. With a grin, Beth escaped using the excuse of an early workday before leaving Dean in their clutches.

Outside, it was just getting dark when she heard the loud motors of the bikes. Beth didn’t hesitate in her footsteps across the parking lot, neither did she turn her head to see the passing bikers. She didn’t pay attention to the rising sound of the motors drawing closer and it was only when she almost walked into Razer’s bike that she lifted her head. Another pulled in behind her pinning her in between the two bikes. Shade and Evie each gave her a nod as Razer and Shade’s motors were cut. The sudden silence was a relief.

“Beth.”

“Razer.”

“How have you been?”

“Good.” Beth didn’t ask how he was, she didn’t care. At least that was what she kept telling herself.

“You don’t look so good.”

Beth shrugged. “Appearances can be deceiving.” Razer nodded. Beth stared at her car behind Razer’s back to keep from looking at him.

Razer cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him. Beth stared at his mirrored eyeglasses to keep from staring at him on his bike. His hair was a little longer since the last time she had seen him. Wearing leather pants and a black shirt with a leather jacket, she wanted to jump on the back of his bike and forget everything that had happened. A wry smile touched her lips at imagining Razer’s horrified reaction if she did.

“Yes they can and that’s why I want to talk to you. Can we go somewhere to talk? I would like to explain some things to you.”

“No explanations are necessary, you got your message across clearly the last time I saw you.” Beth took a step to the right, trying to get to her car.

“Beth let him explain. I want to explain how sorry I am for the way things went down. If you would listen…”

Beth stopped and turned meeting Evie’s eyes. Evie flinched from the pain this time Beth didn’t try to hide.

“I don’t need explanations, Evie. I provided employment for you until the factory opened. It’s not your fault that I misinterpreted it and thought we had become friends.”

“We were friends… no we are friends. Beth listen to me…”

With a sad smile, Beth shook her head.

“No Evie, you are no friend of mine. You left me in that hospital to wake up alone, not knowing what had happened and scared. I kept thinking you would come by and bring me a few magazines or a few things I could have used. You never did. Then when I came to the club and humiliated in front of everyone by a man I cared about, did my friend stand by me? No, she ignored me and cut me deep by quitting when I needed her most. Did my friend come by and see me to let me cry on her shoulder? No you didn’t. A friend would have been there for me. I would have been there for you.”

Beth finished in a soft voice. Evie looked stricken when Beth finished. Again Beth took a step, determined this time to leave.

“Beth, wait I can explain.” Razer’s hand snapped out and caught her arm, keeping her from leaving. Beth took a deep breath and let Razer have his piece also.

“Razer, explanations are not necessary for the simple reason they won’t make a difference to how I feel about you. You were wrong that night at your house. I wasn’t beginning to care for you, I had fallen in love with you. I knew you didn’t return my feelings and I let it happen anyway. I have had a few bad weeks since then, but I am getting over you. If the explanations you want to give me end with you wanting to be friends, that won’t work for me. It would be too painful for me to see you with other women and not touch you myself.” When Razer would have spoken, Beth raised a hand to stop him. “Let me finish, on the other hand, if you are hoping these explanations lead to us being back together again, that no longer is an option. You are incapable of giving me the relationship I need to be happy, which involves trust, fidelity and love. Because even if you swore to do all three, I would never ever believe in you again.”