Steel 4: Blackthorne MC #4 Read Online Free PDF

prickly spines.
    I hauled out the bicycle and wheeled it back up to the road.
    I guessed I was about midway between the club and the town of Blackthorne. Halfway, I thought. I could do this.  
    I got back on the bike and cycled hard, keeping my head down and praying I wouldn’t meet another car on the road at this time of night.
    Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on my side.  
    This time, I didn’t even notice the truck until I was almost on top of it.  
    Its black paint, kept it well hidden in the moonlight. The headlights were off, and it was parked at the side of the road. I didn’t dare look up. I hoped that the owner had run into engine trouble and left it there to walk into town.
    “Please, please,” I muttered under my breath, “Just let me get to the town safely.”
    The tall figure came out of nowhere, forcing me to squeeze the brakes tightly. The bike skidded to a stop, jolting me forward and nearly throwing me from the bike.
    What the hell?  
    I pushed my hair back from my face, looked up and found myself gazing directly at Nick.
    What was going on? What was he doing here?
    At first I couldn’t speak, I was too shocked. I was too surprised to be disappointed that I wouldn’t make it to Blackthorne now.
    I shook my head at him. “What are you doing here?”
    Nick gave me an exasperated smile. “I could ask you the same question, Ella.”
    It started to sink in that I had just lost my chance of escape. My legs ached, my butt was sore from the saddle, and I was thoroughly fed up. I clambered off the bike and threw it down on the ground.
    “What do you think I was doing?” I yelled. “I was trying to get out of here.”
    Nick stared at me with conflict in his eyes, as though he was deciding what to do next.
    Maybe I still had a chance…
    “Maybe, you could just let me go and pretend that you never saw me.”
    Nick reached out his hand towards me, but then thought better of it and hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans.  
    He sighed. “I know you’re not going to believe me but going to the sheriff in Blackthorne is not a good idea. I will help you get out, Ella. I just need more time.”
    I shook my head in disbelief. I wasn’t some little girl that needed saving. I was trying to save myself. And I would have been successful if he hadn’t been standing in my way.
    The slow realization dawned on me that Nick could be out to save his own skin. Maybe he didn’t want me to go to the sheriff because he would get in trouble.
    “I won’t mention you.” I chewed my lower lip.   “I don’t even have to mention the Blackthorne club…or Victor.”
    Nicked frowned.
    “I’ll say I got lost, or my car broke down and I ended up here…” I said, improvising wildly. “So you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble.”
    Nick’s face was a mask of disgust. “Is that really what you think of me? You think I’m worried about myself?”
    If he wasn’t worried about himself, I couldn’t think why he wouldn’t let me go. So I shrugged.
    Nick turned away and ran his hand through his dark hair before letting the strands fall back against his forehead.
    I held my breath. I knew what happened next would determine my future.
    He turned back to me eventually and said in a quiet voice, “Let’s go back, Ella.”
    “You’re taking me back to Victor?” My voice was high-pitched and verging on the hysterical. I couldn’t believe he was going to betray me like this. “You’re choosing Victor over me? Just so we’re clear, you’re choosing a man who murdered someone you cared about over me?”
    Nick’s face hardened, and when he turned to me, anger blazed in his eyes. “Don’t say that. It isn’t true.”
    “No? Well, that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing. Let me go, Nick, please. No one will ever have to know.”
    I gazed up at him, searching his face for some sign that he might take pity on me and relent, but his eyes met mine with determination as he grabbed my hand