Chapter 1 Chapter one

~BETRAYAL HURTS~

DIANA’S POV

I rested my hand on his thigh, holding his gaze as I leaned closer and whispered into his ear. “You really want to have some alone time with me?” I asked softly.

His eyes darkened with sudden interest. Loud music thumped around us, drowning out every conversation in the crowded club. Everyone was drinking, laughing, and dancing, completely oblivious to what was unfolding right in front of them. I slipped the tiny pill into my mouth.

“Yes,” he finally answered. “I’m willing to give you whatever you demand.”

I pulled away only an inch, staring directly into his eyes until he lost patience, grabbing me and smashing his lips against mine. I melted into him, letting the kiss consume us. With my lips moving lazily against his, I expertly transferred the small pill into his mouth, lingering in the heat of his touch until I was certain he had swallowed every last drop.

Then I pulled away, putting a teasing smile on my face. “You’re going too fast, honey.” I picked up the drink on the table and handed it to him.

He took it without a second thought. As his hand crept around my waist while he drank, every instinct in me revolted, yet I stayed completely still. Freedom was just one night away, and this was the last job I would ever take. I watched intently as the drug crept through his system, slowing his blinks and pulling his head down as he struggled against the dark. Knowing my part was done, I gave a discreet signal to the men on standby.

I pulled the glass from his grip and slipped away, hurrying straight into the bathroom. Reaching the sink, I cranked the water on high and rinsed my mouth again and again, spitting until I was certain every trace was gone.

The lingering feeling of his lips made my stomach churn with disgust. Enduring their touches and kisses was just part of the job, but there was one thing no one had ever managed to steal from me and that was my body. I had fiercely guarded my right to only sleep with men I actually desired, holding tightly to that single piece of control in a life where everything else was stolen.

Just as I turned off the tap, the bathroom door swung open and one of our men stepped inside.

“You know this is the ladies’ room, right?” I said without looking at him.

“Yes, but the boss wants you to come see him. You completed the task. We’ll take care of everything from here.”

Turning toward him, I could not hide my triumphant smile. “It’s finally time.” I pushed past him so fast that he stumbled backward, muttering something under his breath, but I simply did not care.

Walking back into the club, I swayed my hips with effortless confidence as I made my way toward the exit. For the first time in years, every single step felt like absolute relief. I slipped into my car, cranked the engine to life, and sped off toward the biker clubhouse.

Eighteen long years. That was how long I had belonged to them. Over time, I watched countless girls come and go, seeing honeytraps just like me finish their final assignments and walk away into normal lives. I was supposed to be one of them two years ago when I turned twenty, but the prez handed me another assignment, and then another.  Each time, he coaxed me into staying just a little longer. One last job turned into a never-ending chain of empty promises that freedom would eventually come. Tonight was different, though. Tonight, I was truly done.

Freedom was finally within my reach. Once I had it, I could search for the truth about my past, my family, and what had happened to them. I had spent eighteen years as Diana, the club’s weapon created to seduce and destroy.

As I drove toward the clubhouse, the smooth road gave me a rare moment to imagine a life of my own. Yet as the distance closed, a sudden chill crept down my spine, and an uneasy feeling took hold.

I slowed down, glancing at the road ahead as my phone began to ring. I checked the screen before lowering the Cardi B song playing through the speakers. It was one of the cooks from the clubhouse.

“Please don’t tell me she’s calling to ask me to pick up ingredients,” I whispered to myself with a small giggle before answering. “Hello?”

The first thing I noticed was her breathing, shallow and shaky. “Diana…” Her voice trembled. “Don’t come. It’s… it’s a trap.”

My smile disappeared. “What?”

“Prez Carlos doesn’t plan on letting you go.” She was struggling to speak between breaths. “He won’t let… you go, Diana.”

I slammed my foot on the brake and brought the car to a stop. “What are you talking about?”

“I heard everything. If you come here, they’ll make you sign a life contract and…” She paused, her breathing suddenly becoming frantic. “And if you refuse—”

Sudden footsteps echoed in the background, followed immediately by the sound of her running. “You snitch!” a familiar male voice roared through the receiver.

My heart dropped. “Nina?” I gripped the steering wheel. “Nina, I’m close to the clubhouse. If you can get away, I’ll wait for you. Just get here quickly.”

“No!” she cried. “You need to go now. If you refuse to sign, they’ll kill you. They won’t let you leave. You have to turn around and—”

A gunshot exploded through the receiver, immediately drowned out by Nina’s piercing scream.

“Nina?” There was only silence. “Nina!” I shouted, my heart hammering against my ribs as tears immediately filled my eyes. “Oh God…” I threw the car into gear and accelerated.

“Diana, you can’t escape from me,” Carlos’s voice came through the phone.

I glanced at the screen before tossing it onto the passenger seat. “You’re going to pay for this, Carlos,” I spat through clenched teeth. “Pray I don’t make it out alive, because if I do, I’ll hunt you down.”

I drove my foot deeper into the gas pedal, the tires screeching loudly against the pavement as I tore down the road. The relief did not last, because soon the unmistakable growl of bikes echoed behind me. A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed multiple headlights slicing through the dark, gaining speed rapidly. There was no doubt left in my mind that they were coming for me.

“Shit.” I pushed the car harder, but they were closing in.