Rough Justice

chapter 1. meeting Jagger

"Jeff, Where are you? Jeff!" You manage to cough out. flames lick the blackened sky as a large house burns to the ground in the distance. You race through the thick cloud of smoke, searching desperately for your missing brother.

Jeff and you had spent your entire lives in your father's violent motorcycle gang, the Black Jacks.
Today, you were going to make an escape. You were going to get out of Montana. Away from this life of crime and endless abuse. Away from this world where you, as a woman, had no freedom.

You cough and squint through the roiling blaze. Jeff had asked you to meet him here, but this place was engulfed in flames when you had showed up and you couldn't find him anywhere, a frown deepens on your face, your heart laying heavy as you cup your hands over your mouth and yell. "Jeff!!!"

A large beam breaks off and crashes to the ground in front of you. You shield your eyes from the sparks.

Covering your nose and mouth, you turn to sprint from the raging inferno.
But your path is blocked by a shadowy figure. "Jeff?!" You ask, almost breathing a sigh of relief.
But before you could get a good look, something hard slams against the back of your head.

You fall to the ground, swallowed by darkness. Your head pounds. You groan and wake to ash falling from the sky, and a gun pointed directly between your eyes. "Who the hell are you?" A red-faced sweaty brute sneers and presses the gun to your temple.
Who is this guy? And why is he threatening me? You thought.

"Hiding behind your gun? Figures. that's what weak men do." The man growls and pulls you up by the front of your shirt. He cocks the gun.
"What did you just say to me, girl?"
He said, anger beaming through his sweat-covered face. "Oh, you didn't catch it? I'll try to use smaller words next time." You sneered, barely suppressing a half-smile.

"You're going to regret that smart-ass mouth of yours." His finger inches toward the trigger, but before he can do anything a powerful hand claps him on the shoulder. "Get off her, Axle." You look up at the tall, rugged man emerging from the smoke. His fierce eyes glint against the falling embers.

"Do I need to tell you twice?!" He yelled, his voice thundering through the empty woods. Sending a shiver down your spine. The red-faced man turns to argue with him, "I found her bike nearby. It's Black Jack colours. She's one of them, Jagger."

Jagger, why does that name sound familiar? You wondered as his thunderous voice beamed again
"I don't care. I'm the president of the sinners, and I just gave you an order.
Now, put the gun down and get off her." He ordered.

Oh, my god. He's Jagger Knight. He's the leader of the Sinners- the mortal enemies of the Black Jacks.
While most bikers are law-abiding citizens, the Black Jacks and the Sinners are lawless, and brutal.
They've been fighting over territory
For years, leaving countless bodies in their wake. Were you next?

Your mind races as you think of some way to escape. Axle's grip on you tightens. "She's the one who burned down our clubhouse. She deserves to pay." This pile of rubble was their clubhouse? "Look, I promise I didn't burn down your clubhouse. I was just passing by when I saw smoke and-"
You tried to explain but were cut off by Axle's voice. Making you sick to the stomach with resentment "like we'd believe a word you say, lying Jack."

Axle pressed the gun harder against your forehead. Lightning quick, Jagger wraps his hand around the barrel of Axle's gun and rips it from his grasp. He points it at Axle's head.

"This is your last warning. Get
The Fuck off her, now" he yelled, his face beaming with anger as he now aimed the gun directly at Axle. Jagger looms over Axle, his broad shoulders casting a long shadow. you blink at the sight of him -- raw and untamed.
God, he looks like he runs on pure diesel. You feel a flush rising to your face. Axle starts again. His voice filled with rage and sarcasm "whatever you say, Oh, Great Leader."

Gritting his teeth Axle reluctantly lets go of you and stalks off toward the burnt wreckage of the clubhouse.
Jagger sinks down next to you on the ground. His expression slowly eases into a smile as he asks, "You okay?"
Your jaw dropped, He wants to know if I'm all right? Didn't expect that from the leader of the Sinners. You didn't wanna lie to him after what he did for you so you decided to be truthful "Uhm, okay? I was almost killed just now!"

"I'm sorry about Axle. did he give you that cut, too?" He asked, his proposal seeming genuinely apologetic.
"What cut?" You asked, not knowing when you had got hurt due to passing out a few minutes ago. "The one on the back of your head." You reach back and feel your scalp. it's sticky with blood. A pool of heat gathers on your cheeks as you say, "Oh. I didn't realize." A sudden wave of dizziness and nausea overtakes you. You squeeze your eyes shut.

"Hey." A somber voice says, You force your eyes open as Jagger leans in, close enough for you to inhale a heady scent of whiskey and leather.
"Stay with me." You manage to squeeze out a few words" I never drop my guard."

"Good, some guys around here can't be trusted." Jagger said, his breath sweet like honey on your delicate skin. "Are you one of them?" You said softly, your words barely making it past a whisper. A smile playing on Jagger's lips as he says "smart question." You look into his eyes. They burn like molten rock as he measures you up.

Footsteps echo in the distance. Several of Jaggers men walk toward you in black Sinner jackets. God, this is just my luck. I try to escape one motorcycle gang and end up in the clutches of another. I need to get out of here,
and fast. Jagger rises to his feet as they approach. At the front of the pack, a young sinner carries a man soaked in blood. "What happened, wheels?" Jagger asked the Young Sinner, who looked down.

"I found gunner out back, shot to hell. I tried to stop the bleeding but it's no use." He said, the pain visible on his face as The young Sinner lowers Gunner to the ground, he is limp,
and his breathing is ragged.
"I'm sorry. I tried, Jag. But he's fading fast." The young Sinner says, his voice wavering between sentences. "You did fine, Wheels. Get him out of here, and we'll patch him up. He may still have a chance." A frown rested on Jagger's face.

Wheels carries the bleeding man to the road and drapes him over his bike. The Sinners watch them drive away. They're all distracted I can try to escape! Standing slowly, you sprint across the grass, making a run for the nearest opening in the woods. You made it about 5 feet before someone slams you back into the ground.
"Not so fast." Axle pins you down as you swear in the dirt. But before you can do real damage, Jagger shoves him off. "Dammit, Axle. What did I say?" You lift your face from the dirt, unable to look Jagger in the eye. "You want her to get away and tell all her Black Jack friends that we're weak?" Axle said, raising a valid point.

The Sinners whisper amongst themselves and glare at you on the ground. You hear the words, 'Black Jack bitch.' Jagger quickly stands up for you. Not a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "What I want is for you to know your place. That goes for all of you."
Jagger scowls at his men. "We don't hurt anyone without cause. I don't care who they are, or what colours they wear." The men went silent.
"Until we know more about this woman or what happened here, no one touches her." Jagger reaches down and offers you his hand, his men freeze in stunned silence.

I can't believe this. he's nothing like the man I imagined! He isn't like my father who would torture or kill anyone without a second thought.
You stare at jaggers outstretched palm, aware every Sinner has his eyes on you.

"I can handle myself, thanks." Jagger steps back, and you hear a few of his men snicker behind him. "Shut the fuck up." You choke back a chuckle as
You awkwardly rise to your feet, stumbling as blood rushes to your head. Axle laughs, "should've taken the boss' help." Ugh, it's probably not a smart idea to punch that guy in the jaw. "Let's go," Jagger says, turning around and joining the rest of the Sinners.

Before you can protest, Axle grabs your arms and drags you toward the road, but before you make it, the world begins to spin. You collapse in the dirt as the darkness swallows you up again.