Chapter 2

Lily

"Excuse me, but can you repeat what you said?" I pressed. I don't think I've heard him clearly. He didn't just say I should be his wife? Harry groaned and tried to free himself from the big man's hold.

"Have a seat first."

"I am not here to sit, young man," I replied. "Tell me, what did my brother take that belonged to you." I folded my arms across my chest. Deep down, I was burning. I just needed a little push and I will unleash everything. But first I want to hear what my brother did that he wants me to bear the consequences.

"You're sharp. I like that." He mused, the corner of his lips going up. "Can you drop that weird smirk of yours and start talking." I knew I was in a dangerous territory but I had worked on being a tough woman over the years. Things like this might scare me off but I know how to get out of the situation.

"Okay. I will tell you." All of a sudden, my throat went dry when he sat up. I thought I was tall but the man making rounds towards me was way taller than I expected. Did I forget to mention, that his eyes were almost darker than his t-shirt as he fixed them on me?

I slightly shifted back when he got too close, leaving a little space between us. "Your brother over there busted the headlight of my bike."

"What? How?" I blurted out. My brother doesn't own a bike so far, I know. And most of his friends are his age and likely don't own one. "He was overspeeding obviously."

"Wait... I don't know what you're trying to do here but Harry doesn't own a bike so how on earth did he break your headlight." I ended up looking up at him. Damn! The color of his eyes.

"I think he should be the one to explain that to you." I turned around to Harry. The cloth covering his mouth was taken off.

"Sister...I know...This will come as a shock to you." He commenced his eyes diluting with fear. One thing about Harry, whenever he gets into trouble, he avoids my gaze. And right at that moment, his eyes were looking at everywhere else but mine.

"Harry," I called in my calmest voice. "Tell me how did you get involved with this man."

"You can call me Ryker." He said. "I didn't ask for your name. I will call you man." I snapped with an eye roll before focusing back on Harry.

"I...used his bike...and ended up breaking the headlight." I still found myself calm.

"Okay. And how did you get his bike?"

"My friend's friend's brother got us the bike. And I wanted—" I nodded my head continuously pretending I understood his friend's friend's phrase. I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath trying to keep my anger at bay. But It would be a matter of time before I let everything out.

With my fake smile, I turned to Ryker, or whoever he calls himself. "Sir, I'm sorry for my brother's actions. He's careless and young. I will make sure I pay for the damages."

We will surely go on a hunger strike after this because we won't have more money after paying for the damages. I lost my job. And will soon lose the remaining morning I have left in my account.

"You can't pay for the damages which is why I laid out that offer." My smile instantly faded. "How much am I going—"

"Do you have ten thousand dollars?"

"Ten—what?" My eyes widened. It was his turn to fold his arms across his chest. "Per headlight. For both the two, that's twenty thousand dollars."

I clenched my jaw and furiously turned to Harry. "I will kill you today Harry!" I stormed towards him and gripped his hair. "Are you crazy!"

"I can explain Lily."

"You must be stupid If you think I will allow you to! How could you do this to me? After everything. After all my sacrifices! I will kill you today Harry!" I kicked his legs and got him down to his knees.

"I'm sorry Lily. I didn't expect it to turn out that way. I wanted to try it out and—"

"Shut your mouth else I will blow you. You are so fucking annoying!" I screamed at the top of my lungs raking my fingers through my red hair in anger. Crying won't help matters because, in the end, it won't get me what I want. It won't get me my job back or more money.

"Why getting angry? You have a job; you can raise the money."

"What? You are crazy Harry! Do you think my job is enough to clear your mess? I have lost that job, Harry." I never knew my brother was an ungrateful and foolish human being till now. I clenched my fist ready to blow his face for once maybe it would calm me down but my body was dragged away before I could do that.

"Let go of me! Let me teach this ungrateful fool a lesson!" I wiggled in Ryker's arms but he was strong. "Pull yourself together young woman."

I kicked his legs and his hands loosened around my body. "Get your hands off me!" I seethed. "I work my ass off every day without rest and you're here asking me to pay twenty thousand dollars for a bike? You might as well sell me and get the money."

Ryker was taken aback by my stunts. Just when I thought I was a spitfire, the next action from him made my body shake with fear. He yanked me forward by gripping my arm, his tight grip emitted a wince out of my lips. "Listen here woman, I am a crazy man. Don't come here and act like an uncultured woman. Your brother is not underage. He knows what he's doing. If you can't clean his mess, fine. We can settle it at the police station. Maybe if you and your brother spend two to three days in jail, you will come back to your senses."

Okay, I knew I felt the danger when I first set my eyes on him but I didn't know my life would be in danger as the man held me in his arms and attacked me with his crazily dangerous eyes. For a moment, I found myself short of words. All of these were Harry's fault. Sometimes I used to have thoughts that maybe he wasn't my real brother. Because he had never behaved well. He's always making trouble. Right from the time our parents were still alive.

Ryker noticed the way my body went cold. He released his hold on my arm and stepped away. "Mark, take him out." He said in command.

"Wait...where are you taking my brother?"

"Chill. He'd be next door till we are done from here. You can do whatever you want to do to him later on."

I threw a death glare at Harry who had an apologetic look on his face. "I will deal with you later Harry. Just prepare yourself." I warned. And he knew what I was capable of doing. I will lock him up and beat the shit out of his body. Up to the moment Harry was taken out, my eyes didn't leave him until the door was shut in my face.

"So..." Ryker started making me to return my focus to him. "Let's sort things out once and for all."

"I am not going to be your wife."

"You are going to be." The way his tone came out sharp and the way he had his eyes fixed on me tells me the man is not okay in the head. "I am not some toy for you to control." I broke the few-second silence that lingered around.

"I am giving you an easy option to sort out your brother's mess."

"And that is marrying you?" I said, a chuckle escaping out of me. "Yes. because I need a wife and you're the perfect candidate."

"I'm sorry but I can't marry a stranger. Someone I don't love and on top of that an arrogant biker."

Yes, he's arrogant. Very arrogant. And I don't like the aura surrounding him. It gives me a dangerous chill.

Ryker leaned over the desk and intertwined his hands together. "Okay, you can send the twenty thousand dollars then." He said it so casually as if twenty thousand dollars was a piece of cake. I don't have five thousand in my account talk more of twenty thousand. A freaking twenty thousand dollars that's like my salary for two years if not more. With bills hitting me, I don't get enough for myself.

I gulped down saliva. "I don't have it."

"I knew you don't." He chuckled lightly. "You don't look like someone who would be able to raise that amount of money."

He was indirectly calling me a poor woman. He looked like someone who would dash out that amount without feeling the pain. "I—"

The sound of the door opening interrupted me from saying what I intended to. I was confused. "Here's the contract, boss." The person who walked in said. His voice sounded familiar.

"You?"

We both stared at each other. I recognized him to be the man I slapped at the jewelry store who made me lose my job. Anger flashed in his eyes same goes for mine. "What the hell are you doing here!" I seethed proceeding to stand up.

"Wait boss don't tell me she's that stupid boy's sister?"

"Yes, she is."

The guy busted out with laughter. "You must be kidding me, woman. She is that same woman that slapped me at that jewelry store."

"And he is the same man that made me lose my job. He harassed me!"

"Interesting. I like this. Both brother and sister are crazy."

"I am not crazy!" I snapped at Ryker. "Let's do this sharp. If you want to save your brother's ass you should do the right thing. Either pay the twenty thousand dollars right now or you go to jail."

"Or..." he trailed off his eyes not leaving mine. "Be my wife and get a new job."

My eyes widened at his statement. "Yes, I am offering you extra."

My eyes darted between the two. If I choose the first option, I would have to sell off our house and raise the money and we will end up on the street with no shelter. And if I choose the second option, I will save my brother's ass and mine and also get a new job.

Won't my decision put me in problem? What if it was a trap? What if I put myself in more trouble? Nervousness kicked in. "You are going to play the role of my wife for just 12 months. After that, I will set you free with property settlement." Ryker cut through my thinking. Be his wife for 12 months is not a bad idea. But a dangerous idea.

Biting my lip, I placed my hands over the desk. Playing the role of a biker's wife doesn't sound like a bad idea. I am doing this to save my brother and myself. It would just be an act. I gulped down a lump before speaking up. "I will be your wife."