Prologue.

TEN YEARS AGO.....j

She was sitting in a crappy diner just off main street, the placed smelled like burned grease and cheese. The booths were grungy and other than two or three other people, she was the only customer. Even thought she was starving she only ordered a cup of hot chocolate, it was all she could afford. She sat at the back book, counting the change in her pocket for the third time and wishing she had enough for real food. Two dollars and six cents was all she had to her name.

She looked out the window and saw the snow start to fall and her heart broke a bit, it was freezing outside and soon the diner would close for the night forcing her to face the elements. Her jeans were ripped and thin, her long sleeved t-shirt and threadbare coat not shielding the cold at all, a knit cap covered the top of her head, greasy platinum hair sticking out the bottom.

She glanced at the other customers, none of them looked overly wealthy. She had become an expert pickpocket but didn't like to steal from people who weren't much better off than she was.

The tiny bell above the door rang and three large men strode in, they all were wearing leather jackets and biker boots. They began hassling the owner of the diner for their rent, none of them were paying much attention to the people in the diner.

She stared at them a minute or two, then looked away. They were dangerous men they could kill her for trying to steal from them, but then she was desperate and pretty sure she could out run them. She had long legs and ran track until she quit highschool, she could it, she could outrun them and then mail the empty wallet back.

She took a deep breath, steeling her nerve. She took one last drink of the hot chocolate and stood, the man in the back, her target looked at her. She dropped her head and pretended to be preparing to leave and he turned back to the other men. This was her chance, and she'd only get one.

As she neared the group she sped up her pace and pretended she was looking at her receipt, she slammed into her targets chest, more muscular than it looked.

"I'm sorry," she said, feigning embarrassment.

"It's fine, are you alright?" He asked.

"I think so."

He turned back to the other men and she skirted around him, slipping out the door. She wasn't even down a block when she heard the door.

"HEY! STOP!" He called.

She broke into a run, her feet pounding so hard on the pavement it hurt. She dared a glance back and was surprised to see he was gaining on her.

"Shit," She cursed.

Her converse were worn and made running painful, her skinny legs protesting the use of muscle she didn't have. She turned a corner and darter down an alley, a fence blocked her path but she sped up, determined to escape.

She pushed the gate on the fence and was glad the chain that locked it opened just slightly, enough she cold squeze through. She ducked under the chain and a hand grabbed her hair, she screamed and he yanked hard.

"Let go!"

"Give me my wallet!"

She tore free, losing a few strands of hair and her hat in the process. She was free though and she picked up speed as she ran, crossing the street she dodged a car, another nearly hit her and managed to clip her leg. She fell to ground, piercing pain in her leg and side, she pushed up though and took off again.

She ran for what felt like forever, her lung burning, heart aching before she finally stopped. She pressed her back against a wall and took gulping breaths of air. She pulled the wallet from her coat pocket and peeled it open, pulling out several bills she began to count it as she walked.

"Six hundred," She said to herself.

She put the money in her back pocket and was studying the drivers license when he grabbed her, so sudden the wallet fell from her hands. He caught her arm and slammed her up against a wall in a nearby alley. Her feet lifted off the ground, arms pinned down at her sides.

"No! Let me go!" She cried.

"Where's my money?" He asked.

"I don't have it."

"Bull shit," He gave her a hard shake.

She finally forced herself to look up at him, a firm jaw and five o'clock shadow, dark curly hair and piercing blue eyes. She was shaking and she knew it, even as she struggled against him.

"Look I don't want to hurt you, alright?" He asked.

"Piss off!" She snapped.

He laughed, the bastard actually laughed at her. His grip on her upper arms loosened and he set her back on her feet. When he took a step back she rubbed her upper arms where his grip had been almost painful. Then she pulled his wallet from her pocket and threw it at his feet.

"Take the damn thing," She said.

"Thanks, now the money," He held out a hand.

"What money?"

"You know."

She raised her chin, daring him to do something about it. He rolled his eyes and put his wallet in his back pocket.

"Fine, keep it."

She turned to leave the alley, wanting to get away from him before he changed his mind. He walked up beside her as she started down the street.

"That was a pretty sleek lift," He admitted.

"You were an easy target," She said with a shrug.

"Yeah I am, when I want to be."

"What's that supposed to mean?

"It means I saw you as soon as I stepped in the diner and I recognize someone sizing me up."

"Then why let me do it?" She challenged.

"I was curious if you'd actually try."

"I'll try anything," She said.

"You must be pretty desperate."

"Do I look desperate?" She asked, venom in her voice.

"No, you look hardened and ruthless."

She brushed passed a man on the street and lifted his wallet, if the biker noticed he didn't comment. Just followed her silently.

"Why don't you let me buy you dinner? We can talk."

"I'm not a hooker," She said bluntly.

"Good to know, but that's not why I want to buy you dinner."

"Why then?" She asked, turning to face him and crossing her arms over her chest.

"I want to offer you a job, with me. In the Animals MC. It's a rough job but you'll always have food, money, clean clothes and a roof over your head."

"What makes you think I don't already have those things?" She asked.

"If you did you wouldn't be picking pockets."

"Maybe I'm a princess and this is my disguise, maybe I'm in hiding."

"Well your majesty, how about a job?"

She glanced around and saw homeless people everywhere, she didn't like being homeless. The men frightened her when they grabbed her at night to touch her. She didn't want to be on the streets when she was old and gray.

"What would I have to do?"

"Tough work, obtain information for the club, persuade people to seeing things our way....kill people if needed."

She would do just about anything to have a warm bed and hot food. Her stomach growled at that moment to prove her point.

"Say I'm interested, what happens if I change my mind....down the road?"

"You want out, you ask nicely."

"I don't know."

"You're too young to be on the streets, and we wouldn't let you do the hard jobs until you've been there awhile and grown up."

"I'm nineteen!" She said, irritated he thought she was a child.

"Too young to be on the streets, alone."

"You can't be much older than me, you have no right...."

"I'm eleven years older than you. I know what I'm talking about, let me buy you dinner and we'll talk."

"Just dinner?"

"Just dinner."

"If I'm not interested?"

"Then I'll let you go and you can take my money with you, and that mans that you just stole."

She gave him a sharp look and he laughed at her, when he smiled he didn't look thirty. He looked younger almost attractive.

"Fine, dinner only. No funny business." She warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it, I'm Demon by the way."

He held out his hand and she hesitated a minute before accepting it, his grip was firm and warm. Almost comforting.

"I'm Lacy."