Ride or Die: The Billionaire Biker’s Innocent Bride

SCARLETT’S POV “Scarlett! Table six is waiting!” I swallowed the pain in my feet and forced a smile. “Coming!” It was almost eleven at night, and I had been standing for over twelve hours. My legs hurt. My back hurt. Even my fingers were tired. But I couldn’t complain. Complaining wouldn’t pay the rent. I picked up the tray of dirty plates and carried it into the kitchen. “You’re still here?” Mia, my coworker, asked. I nodded. “Someone has to clean up.” She shook her head. “Girl, you work too much. When was the last time you had a day off?” I laughed without humor. “When I was sixteen.” Mia rolled her eyes. “I’m serious, Scarlett.” “So am I.” She sighed before leaving. I was twenty-three years old, working two jobs, and still struggling to keep my family from becoming homeless. During the day, I worked at a small clothing store. At night, I waited tables at this restaurant. Sometimes, I wondered if this was all my life would ever be. Work. Bills. Sleep. Repeat. I pulled my phone from my apron and checked my bank balance. $327. That was everything I had left. Rent was due in three days. I closed my eyes. “God, please. Just one good thing.” My dream was simple. I wanted to own a fashion boutique. Ever since I was little, I loved drawing dresses and making clothes. My mother used to sit beside me while I sketched. One day, sweetheart, people will wear dresses with your name on them. I smiled sadly at the memory. Mom had been dead for seven years. The police said it was a car accident. But I never understood why her case had been closed so quickly. After her death, everything changed. My father started drinking and gambling. At first, he promised it was temporary. Then he began losing money. First, our savings. Then Mom’s jewelry. Then almost everything we owned. Now, my nineteen-year-old brother, Noah, and I were the only people keeping our family together. My phone suddenly rang. NOAH. I answered immediately. “Hey, little troublemaker. What’s up?” “Scarlett!” I froze. His voice was shaking. “Noah? What’s wrong?” “Please come home.” My heart began beating faster. “Why? What happened?” “It’s Dad.” I closed my eyes. Not again. “What did he do this time?” “They took him.” My stomach dropped. “What?” “Some men came here looking for him. They broke everything. They said Dad owes them money.” “How much?” Noah started crying. “Scarlett, please. Just come home.” The call ended. For a moment, I couldn’t move. Then I grabbed my bag. “Mr. Collins!” I shouted toward the kitchen. “I have a family emergency!” I didn’t wait for permission. I ran. Twenty minutes later, I reached our apartment building. Something was wrong. Our front door was hanging open. My heart almost stopped. “Noah!” I rushed inside. The living room looked like a storm had passed through it. Our old television lay broken on the floor. The sofa had been turned upside down. Glass covered the carpet. And my mother’s favorite picture frame was shattered. “Noah!” “I’m here!” He came running from the kitchen. I grabbed his shoulders. “Are you hurt?” He shook his head. “Where’s Dad?” Noah lowered his eyes. “They took him away.” “Who?” “I don’t know. They were big men. One of them had a snake tattoo on his neck.” I swallowed. “What did they want?” “Money.” “How much?” Noah looked at me. Then he whispered, “Five million dollars.” I stared at him. “What?” “Five million, Scarlett.” I laughed. Not because it was funny. Because it was impossible. “That’s not funny, Noah.” “I’m not joking!” “Five million dollars? Where would Dad even get that kind of money?” “I don’t know!” I pressed my hands against my head. Five million dollars. We could barely afford groceries. How could my father owe someone five million dollars? “What did the men say?” Noah wiped his face. “They said Dad borrowed money from someone powerful. They gave him time to repay it, but he kept hiding.” “Who is this person?” Noah opened his mouth. But before he could answer, a loud sound came from outside. VROOM! Then another. And another. Motorcycles. Several of them. The noise grew louder until it sounded like thunder outside our building. Noah rushed toward the window. His face turned white. “Scarlett…” I walked beside him. Five expensive black motorcycles had stopped outside. Men wearing black leather jackets climbed off them. A silver snake was printed across the back of each jacket. BLACK VIPERS. My blood ran cold. Even I knew that name. The Black Vipers were one of the most feared motorcycle clubs in New York. People said they controlled businesses, owned expensive properties, and had connections powerful enough to make problems disappear. And their leader? Eros Devinci. A billionaire businessman with a reputation that made grown men tremble. I had seen his face in magazines. Thirty-two years old. Handsome. Rich. Dangerous. The kind of man ordinary people avoided. And now he was standing outside my building. “Stay behind me,” I whispered to Noah. Heavy footsteps approached our apartment. Then a deep voice spoke. “Scarlett Hayes.” I turned. A tall man stood in the doorway. He wore black jeans, heavy boots, and a leather jacket over a fitted black shirt. Dark tattoos covered his neck and disappeared beneath his sleeves. His black hair was slightly messy. And his face… God. He was dangerously handsome. Sharp jaw. Straight nose. Cold gray eyes. But there was nothing friendly about him. Two large men stood behind him. The stranger stepped inside as though he owned the apartment. “Who are you?” I demanded. One of his men frowned. “Watch your mouth.” The stranger raised one hand. The man immediately became silent. Then those gray eyes returned to me. “Eros Devinci.” My stomach twisted. I knew it. “What have you done with my father?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he stared at me. Not the way men usually stared. It was different. Almost as though he had seen a ghost. His gaze moved across my face, studying every detail. For a second, something strange flashed in his eyes. Recognition. Then it disappeared. “Scarlett Hayes,” he repeated quietly. “Yes, that’s my name. Now answer my question!” One corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re brave.” “And you’re trespassing.” One of his bodyguards stepped forward. “Miss, you should show some respect.” Eros stopped him again. “Leave her.” He walked farther into the room. I refused to move back. Even though my heart was beating so hard I could hear it. “Your father owes me five million dollars,” he said. “Then ask him for it.” “He doesn’t have it.” “Neither do I!” “I know.” I blinked. Something about his calm voice made me uncomfortable. “Then why are you here?” Eros slipped one hand into his pocket. “Because your father made me an offer.” I frowned. “What offer?” He looked at Noah. “Your brother should leave.” “No!” I snapped. “Whatever you want to say, say it here.” Eros studied me for another moment. Then he smiled. “Very well.” He stepped closer. “Your father borrowed money he couldn’t repay. He begged me not to punish him.” My stomach tightened. “So?” “So he offered something valuable in exchange.” I looked around our destroyed apartment. “We don’t have anything valuable.” Eros’s eyes settled on mine. “Actually, sweetheart, you do.” I felt a strange chill. “What are you talking about?” He leaned closer. “Your father offered me you.” Silence. For several seconds, I couldn’t understand the words. Then I laughed. “What?” “He offered you as payment.” My mouth fell open. “You must be insane.” Eros said nothing. I stared at him. “You think I’m some kind of property?” “No.” “Then why would you even consider something so disgusting?” “Because your father seems to believe you’re worth more than five million dollars.” Anger exploded inside me. “My father doesn’t own me!” “I never said he did.” “Then get out of my house!” Eros smiled. That smile made me even angrier. He was enjoying this. Enjoying watching me panic. Enjoying the power he had over my family. I didn’t think. I simply raised my hand. SLAP! The sound echoed through the apartment. Noah gasped. The two bodyguards immediately rushed forward. “You little—” “STOP.” Eros’s voice was sharp. Everyone froze. Slowly, he turned his face back toward me. A red mark was forming on his cheek. My hand trembled. For one terrifying moment, I thought he would hit me back. Instead, he laughed softly. Then he smiled. A slow, dangerous smile. “Interesting.” I swallowed. He stepped closer. I moved back until my body touched the wall. Eros placed one hand against the wall beside my head. His gray eyes held mine. “Your father offered me his daughter, sweetheart.” My breathing stopped. He leaned closer. “And I’ve decided to accept.”