Chapter 1: Breaking Down in Viper Territory

The engine sputtered twice before dying completely and Maya knew she was in trouble. She coasted to the side of the road and killed the ignition even though there was nothing left to kill. The street was empty except for a few abandoned buildings and the kind of silence that made her skin crawl.

She pulled off her helmet and looked around. This wasn't her usual route home from campus but construction had closed off two main roads and the detour brought her here. Wherever here was. The sun was setting fast and the streetlights in this area looked like they hadn't worked in years.

Maya climbed off her bike and crouched down to check the engine. Please be something simple she thought as she pulled out her phone for the flashlight. The battery showed fifteen percent. Of course it did because why would anything go right today.

She popped open the side panel and immediately smelled burning oil. Not good but not the worst thing either. She touched the starter and jerked her hand back from the heat. Definitely the starter then. She had a spare at home but that didn't help her now.

A car drove past slowly and Maya tensed until it kept going. She needed to call someone but who. Riley didn't have a car and the tow companies she could afford wouldn't come to this neighborhood after dark. She could call Sophie but her sister was an hour away and had school tomorrow.

Maya stood up and wiped her hands on her jeans. She'd have to push the bike somewhere safer and figure it out from there. She grabbed the handlebars and started walking. The Kawasaki was heavy and awkward and she made it maybe twenty feet before her arms started shaking.

"Well look what we have here."

Maya's head snapped up. Three men stood in front of her blocking the sidewalk. They wore leather vests with patches she recognized from around campus. Vipers MC. Her stomach dropped.

"Bike trouble?" The one in front smiled but it wasn't friendly. He was tall with a shaved head and tattoos crawling up his neck.

"I'm fine thanks." Maya kept her voice steady and tried to maneuver around them. They moved to block her path.

"You're not fine. You're broken down in our territory." He stepped closer and Maya stepped back. "What's a college girl doing in this part of town anyway?"

"Just passing through." Maya's hand tightened on her phone in her pocket. Fifteen percent battery. She could call 911 but what would she even say and how long would it take them to arrive.

"Passing through." Another one laughed. He was shorter with a beer gut and mean eyes. "Hear that? She's just passing through."

"Nobody just passes through here sweetheart." The tall one reached for her bike. "Nice Kawasaki. Looks old but you keep it clean. What year is it?"

"Don't touch my bike." The words came out harder than Maya intended and she saw his expression change.

"Don't touch your bike?" He grabbed the handlebar and yanked it. Maya held on but the weight pulled her forward. "I'm just looking. Don't be rude."

"Let go." Maya tried to pull back but he was too strong. The third man moved behind her cutting off any escape route.

"You got a mouth on you." The tall one's smile disappeared completely. "Someone should teach you manners. Can't have college girls riding through our streets talking back."

Maya's heart was racing but she forced herself to stand straight and look him in the eye. She learned a long time ago that showing fear made things worse. "I said let go of my bike."

He shoved the handlebar hard and Maya stumbled trying to keep the Kawasaki upright. It was heavy and off balance and she went down with it. Her knee hit the pavement and pain shot up her leg. The bike's weight pinned her leg and she couldn't get up fast enough.

The three men moved closer and Maya's mind raced through her options. None of them were good. She opened her mouth to scream when the sound of motorcycle engines roared down the street.

Six bikes appeared from around the corner moving fast. They weren't Vipers. The engines sounded different. More expensive. The bikes pulled up in a half circle around Maya and the three men and suddenly the air felt different. Heavier.

The riders killed their engines and the silence that followed was worse than the noise. They climbed off their bikes and Maya saw their vests. Iron Wolves MC. She didn't know if that was better or worse than the Vipers.

One of them walked forward and the others followed. He was tall with dark hair and the kind of face that probably got him anything he wanted. His leather jacket fit perfectly and his boots were expensive. Everything about him screamed money and danger in equal measure.

"Gentlemen." His voice was calm but something underneath it made Maya's skin prickle. "You lost?"

The tall Viper straightened up. "Blackwood. This isn't your territory."

"Actually." The guy called Blackwood smiled and it was nothing like friendly. "You're two blocks into neutral ground which means it's nobody's territory. Especially not yours."

"We were just talking to the lady."

"The lady looks like she wants you to leave." Blackwood's eyes flicked to Maya still on the ground with her bike. Something crossed his face too fast for her to read. "You alright?"

Maya didn't answer him. She was too busy trying to figure out how to get her leg out from under her bike without asking for help.

One of Blackwood's guys stepped forward. Older with grease under his fingernails and kind eyes. He lifted the Kawasaki like it weighed nothing and Maya scrambled to her feet. Her knee throbbed but she could stand.

"Thanks." The word came out grudging but she meant it.

"You should go." Blackwood said it to the Vipers without looking away from Maya. "Before I stop being polite."

The tall Viper looked like he wanted to argue but one of his friends grabbed his arm. "Come on man. It's not worth it."

They backed away slowly then turned and walked off into the growing darkness. Maya watched until they disappeared around a corner. Her hands were shaking and she shoved them in her pockets so no one would see.

"You okay?" Blackwood asked again.

"I'm fine." Maya looked at her bike. At the neighborhood around her. At the six bikers standing there like they were waiting for something. "I just need to fix my starter."

"Your starter's shot." The older guy crouched down by her bike. "It's completely fried. You're not fixing this here."

"Then I'll push it somewhere else."

"Where?" Blackwood's voice held something like amusement. "You know where you are right now?"

Maya did know and that was the problem. She was at least five miles from her apartment and it was getting dark fast. She had fifteen percent battery and no money for a tow truck and now she was standing in front of six guys from a motorcycle club she'd only heard about in rumors.

"I'll figure it out." She reached for her bike and the older guy gently moved her hand away.

"Wrench can fix it." Blackwood nodded at the older guy. "We've got a shop. He'll have the part. Two days tops."

"I can't afford it." The words hurt to say but lying would be worse.

"Who said anything about money?" Blackwood leaned against his own bike and studied her with eyes that were too sharp. "You go to Crescent Bay University right? I've seen you around campus."

Maya didn't like that he'd noticed her. Didn't like any of this actually. "So?"

"So you're a long way from campus and you're broken down in a bad area with no way home." He said it matter of fact like he was listing the weather. "We can fix your bike and give you a ride. Or you can stand here and wait for those guys to come back with more friends."

Maya looked at her Kawasaki. At the empty street. At Blackwood's face which was handsome in an annoying way and way too confident. She hated every option in front of her but she was also practical above everything else.

"Fine." The word tasted bitter. "But I'm paying for the part."

Blackwood's smile was slow and made her want to punch him. "Sure thing princess. Whatever you say."

"Don't call me that."

"What should I call you then?"

Maya grabbed her helmet and walked toward the truck one of the guys was backing up to her bike. She didn't answer because she didn't want him to call her anything at all. She just wanted to get her bike fixed and never see any of these people again.

Somehow she knew that wasn't going to happen.