All Chapters of Bad Boy Biker : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Riverdale hadn't changed much in ten years. Same cracked sidewalks. Same faded storefronts. Same feeling of being trapped in amber while the rest of the world moved on.Valentina parked outside Mack's Bar & Grill, the neon sign buzzing and flickering just like it had when she was eighteen. The place looked seedier than she remembered, but beggars couldn't be choosers. And right now, she was definitely a beggar.The bar smelled of stale beer and fried food. A few early drinkers hunched over their glasses, not bothering to look up when she entered. Valentina approached the bar where a heavy-set woman with faded blonde hair wiped down glasses."Help you?" The woman looked up, recognition flickering in her eyes. "Well, I'll be damned. Valentine Porter. Or is it still Valentine Ross?""It's Valentina now," she corrected, her married name sticking in her throat. "And it's Ross again. Hi, Patty."Patty whistled low. "Never thought I'd see you back in this dump. Heard you married some rich fe

"You look like you haven't slept in days," Sandy said, sliding onto the stool beside Valentina during their break. "That room at Mack's keeping you up?""Something like that." Valentina sipped her coffee, willing the caffeine to kick in.Truth was, Duke's visit three nights ago had left her restless, memories surfacing like bodies in a lake. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face—then, and now. The boy who'd loved her. The man who looked at her like she was both salvation and damnation."You should find a better place," Sandy suggested. "Mack's is fine for passing through, but not for staying.""I'm working on it." Another lie. Valentina had no plans beyond surviving each day. The future was a luxury she couldn't afford to think about.The door chimed, and Hank's booming voice cut through their conversation. "Ladies! Break's over. We got customers."Valentina looked up to see Duke entering with Axel and two other Riot Kings she didn't recognize. As usual, heads turned. The c

Valentina paced the length of Patty's small apartment, checking her phone every few minutes. She'd been staying there since the break-in two nights ago, sleeping on a lumpy pull-out couch that smelled like cigarettes and cheap perfume."Would you sit down?" Patty sighed from the kitchenette. "You're making me dizzy.""He should have called by now." Valentina bit her thumbnail, a habit she'd abandoned years ago. "What if he doesn't find anything?""Duke knows what he's doing." Patty set a mug of coffee in front of her. "If there's anything to find out about who trashed your room, he'll find it."Valentina wrapped her hands around the warm mug, trying to stop their trembling. Since finding her wedding ring nailed to her door, she'd barely slept, jumping at every sound.A sharp knock made her flinch. Patty checked the peephole, then opened the door to Duke.His face was grim, jaw set in a hard line. The sight of him—broad shoulders filling the doorframe, dark eyes scanning the room befor

“Hey,” she croaked.He looked up, relief evident in his expression. “Hey yourself. How you feeling?”“Like I got hit by a truck.” She struggled to sit up. Duke was there instantly, helping her.“Easy. You’ve been out for a few hours.” He touched her forehead. “Still hot, but not as bad. Think you can eat something?”Her stomach growled in response. Duke’s mouth curved in a smile that made her heart skip.“I’ll take that as a yes. Sit tight.”He returned with a steaming mug. The scent made her blink in surprise. “Is that...”“Lemon tea with honey and a tiny splash of whiskey.” He helped her take it. “Your mom’s recipe for colds, if I remember right.”The familiar taste brought tears to her eyes. “You remembered.”Duke sat beside her again, closer this time. “I remember a lot of things, Valentine.”She sipped the tea, letting its warmth spread through her. “Thank you. For all this.”He shrugged, uncomfortable with the gratitude. “Don’t mention it.”“No, I mean it.” She met his eyes. “Yo

"That’s not—”“I said it’s fine.” His voice hardened. “We’re adults. We have history. Doesn’t mean we have a future.”The words struck like physical blows. Valentina stepped back.“Is that what you think? That I’m still hung up on James?”Duke shrugged, the gesture too casual to be real. “Aren’t you? He’s still your husband. And judging by the way he tracked you down, he’s not ready to let you go.”“I left him,” she reminded him, anger building. “I walked away from that life.”“And came running back to your hometown.” Duke’s eyes were cold. “Convenient.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means maybe you’re just using me as a rebound. A way to feel something after your marriage crashed.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not interested in being your consolation prize, Valentine.”Fury rose in her chest, hot and cleansing. “You arrogant, self-centered ass. You think this is about you? That I came back here for you?”“Didn’t you?” His voice was dangerously soft.“No! I came back because I had