The moment they put us down in this cramped little cell, they beat the fuck out of us. I got it the worst, because I was the one who threw myself in front of every punch. I’d do it again, over and fuckin’ over, if it meant protecting my boys. Krypt got it hard when I fell to the floor. He’s nearly as beaten as me. His face a mass of puffy, red welts and slices.
The other guys are all sitting on the floor, staring at their hands. They’ve been like that for hours now. We’re too hurt to be hungry, but that will come soon if they don’t feed us. We’ve already had to resort to pissing in the corner, causing the musky, dark room to smell even worse. Austin is pissing serious blood, and that bothers me, but there’s fuck all I can do about it right now.
I have to hold onto hope that Mack and Santana got away. The very idea that something might have happened to her makes me feel so fuckin’ sick my insides twist angrily. That girl is the first thing that’s made me smile in a long, long time. If I lose her now...fuck...I just can’t. I can’t lose the one thing I’ve fought so hard for.
Loud voices force my head up. I blink through the haze that seems permanently covering my eyes. Krypt lifts his head, too. His black eyes are so swollen I’m almost sure he can’t see clearly, but he turns his face in my direction, anyway. He raises a hand, winces in pain, and drops it. This isn’t how it’s meant to be, bikers that are some fuckin’ sicko’s slaves.
We fucked up.
No, I fucked up.
I put them in this position; I was the asshole who kept this for so long. If I’d come out and opened up from the beginning, Howard and his goons might not have found out about Santana’s sister, and we wouldn’t be here. This is my fuckin’ fault, and I’m takin’ full responsibility for it. I’ll lay my life down to get my boy’s outta here, and I will get them out.
“What the fuck do you mean she’s fuckin’ gone?”
I tilt my head, listening to the voices drifting in.
“Chain blown clean off, they fuckin’ took her.”
“Well, did you fuckin’ find them?”
“No, by the time we got to a car, they were far outta sight. The guys are still lookin’.”
“Use your fuckin’ brains and think about it, you fuckin’ fools. Where would they go with a severely underweight girl and another with a fuckin’ bullet in her leg?”
“The hospital. We checked. They weren’t there. My guess is they’ll go far, far away before checkin’ in. They’re not stupid.”
“Fuck!” he barks. “Keep lookin’, we need to find them. They’ll bring re-enforcements and a biker club isn’t someone we want to fuck with.”
“And if we don’t find them?”
“We kill these fuckers and then I kill you. Now move – cover the airports while you’re at it. Leave nothin’ uncovered.”
“On it.”
I turn my eyes towards Krypt, and I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking.
We don’t have much time left.
~*~*~*~
2014 - Santana
It takes me a moment to register that someone is speaking to me. I open my eyes and through blurred vision I see a Mexican nurse. She’s speaking in faint, poor English, waving her arms around and asking me questions I can’t understand. I’m in a bed, and from the feel of it, my leg is tightly bandaged. I rub my eyes. Where’s Pippa? Where’s Mack?
“Leave,” a voice calls.
I turn to see Mack standing at the door, looking worse for wear.
“Mack,” I croak.
He comes closer, his hand going out to stroke my hair. “You’re okay, the bullet didn’t go in, but you had a serious gash. I know you need to recover, but we have to get the fuck outta here. I’ve got everything you need.”
“I understand,” I whisper. “Where’s Pippa?”
“She’s doin’ okay. Sweet kid. She’s been on a drip for twelve hours; given her some color back. She even ate some soup. She’s been in and out, checkin’ on you. They put a fair few stitches in your leg, so it’s goin’ to be sore. I’d love to leave you here, but I can’t risk it.”
“I know.”
He kisses my head, and then he leaves the room for about half an hour. In this time, the nurse helps me clean up and gives me some fresh clothes. I’ve no idea where she got them from; maybe Mack got some when I was out. I make my way down the hall with one hell of a limp. Mack is coming my way, with Pippa by his side.
At the sight of my sister, fresh tears spring to my eyes. Now she’s cleaned up, I can really see her. The blond hair that was ratty before is now brushed, but it’s still dull. Her blue eyes look too big for her face, she’s still a mass of skin and bones, but her cheeks are pink and she seems to have come out of her shock.
I reach for her and pull her into my arms, breathing her in, so grateful she’s alive. Fresh tears burst from my eyes and my body trembles. So long I’ve believed she was gone, and now here she is. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to you, Pippi,” I whisper. “God I’ve missed you. I thought...I thought...”
“I missed you too, Tana,” she croaks. “You were the only reason I kept fighting. They told me you were dead, but I didn’t believe it...I didn’t...”
I did.
I’d believed she was gone, yet she’d held hope for me. Guilt washes through me, but I don’t have time to think about it now. I have to figure out how to help Maddox and the guys. When we get home, if we get home, then I’ll tell Pippa everything but right now we don’t have the time.
“We’re together again now,” I croak. “It’s going to be okay.”
I keep my arms around her as we walk down the halls. Mack has a handful of pills, and a bag of food. He leads us out the front doors and to a car I don’t recognize.
“Where’s the car?”
“Got Tyke to change it over, they know what we’re drivin’. This might throw them off for a bit.”
Good idea.
The car is bigger, a massive SUV that has a good amount of backseat space. It’s been stocked with food, water and clothes. There’s a pillow each for Pippa and I, plus a big, warm blanket. Mack helps us into the car, and then climbs in the front, taking over the driving. Tyke can drive, but I know the time it took to get here has done some serious damage to his already sensitive legs.
“Are you okay?” he asks, turning and staring at us.
I nod. “I’m okay,” I whisper.
“And you,” he turns to Pippa.
She stares at him, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly agape. He gives her a smile, a warm smile that melts my heart. Her cheeks grow pink, but she is unable to answer.
“She’s okay,” I say for her.
He smiles and turns back to the front of the car. After a moment, his voice grows serious. “I called the club, they’re on their way.”
“How long are we lookin’?” Mack asks, pulling out onto the road.
I reach over and take Pippa’s hand. It’s late at night; I don’t know what hour. I’m not feeling any pain in my leg because of the strong meds, but that’ll wear off soon. I wasn’t happy about taking anything, but I was out of it and didn’t get a choice.
“They’ll be here in a few days.”
“How many?”
“The entire club and anyone else they’ve been able to rally. Maddox left instructions, he’s a smart fuckin’ man. He had plans organized, and weapons. We gotta be thankful he’s ahead of every situation.”
“What if we’re too late?” I whisper.
Mack doesn’t look at me, but I swear I see him flinch.
“We’re goin’ to do everything we can, but you’re goin’ to stay away when we do it.”
“But-”
His voice allows no argument as he snaps, “You don’t get a fuckin’ choice. What the fuck do you think you’re goin’ to do with a fucked up leg, aside from get us into more strife?”
I’ve got nothing. Pippa squeezes my hand and I close my eyes. Don’t cry; be strong for him. He needs you to be strong. I can’t be there, I
know that, but an idea comes to my head all the same. I snap my eyes open and start rambling.
“No, you’re right. I can’t be there; I can’t run fast enough. But I can be a distraction. If we’re seen, we could lead some of them away. They might think we haven’t gotten our backup.”
“No,” Mack barks.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Tyke mutters. “If they think we’re still alone, they’re going to be off guard. If they spot us, or even the girls, they’re goin’ to send men.”
“It’s too risky,” Mack argues.
“Maybe, but it’ll take five or so of the men out of the picture. It’s worth a chance.”
Mack says nothing more, but I know he’s considering it. He’s a smart man; he knows he has to consider everything when it comes to a good plan.
“You girls get some rest,” Tyke offers. “We’ve got a fair bit of drivin’ to do. We’re five hours or more away from the house now.”
“I thought you said it was only four?” I ask.
“Misjudged, took us five hours to get to that hospital. We’re not goin’ all the way back, because they’ll be lookin’ for us. We’ve looked up maps and found a twisted route, not back roads, but not the highway either. Best you can do is sleep, you’re gonna need it.”
“Mack?” I whisper in the darkness, hating his silence.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” his voice is low and dark. “It ain’t over yet.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
2014 - Maddox
A booted foot connects with my ribs, hitting what’s already broken. I have no fight left. The pain has gone far and beyond. Now I’m drifting in and out of an agony induced haze that has me teetering on the edge of passing out, yet my body seems to want to keep putting itself through hell by keeping me awake.
I wish the fuckin’ darkness would come.
“Get up, you piece of shit,” Atreau barks. “You’re not so tough now, are ya?”
Arms curl around mine, jerking me up. There are two men holding me, straining with my weight. I spit blood in Atreau’s face, earning me a jaw crunching punch. I bare my teeth at him; grateful I’ve still got them all. He gets up in my face, his vile smelling breath making my empty stomach coil.
“I could beat you more, but I’ve got a load of crops that need to go out. You and your boys start work tomorrow, aren’t you lucky?”
“Fuck you, cunt,” I hiss.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you...we found your precious girlfriend. Looks like they didn’t get back up, after all. My men are moving in first thing; they’re at a hotel. Can you believe? And here I was thinking they were smart. Looks like they’re not, because they came back.”
My mind swims and my stomach continues its destructive path, twisting and turning. Mack wouldn’t be so fuckin’ stupid as to get caught...he knows better. He should have gotten the guys. What the fuck is he doin’ at a hotel? Krypt growls from his spot in the corner, and Atreau laughs.
“I thought bikers were smart, the ultimate. Looks like you sent the wrong guy to look after your girl. Don’t worry, you’ll see her tomorrow.”
“Why tomorrow?” I croak, my voice barely there.
“There are too many people there tonight. A wedding. I can hardly send my guys to go in and get them now. We’re watching them, though. They won’t get out without passing my men.”
Fuck. No.
“You fuckin’ certain they’re alone?” I challenge.
His eyes flicker. “We saw them, smart ass. They’re alone.”
“You’ll fuckin’ pay for this. I’ll cut your fuckin’ dick...”
He hits me again, so hard I spin and the men let me go. I land on the floor with a thump. Pain rips through my body, causing a tortured bellow to leave my lips. I might be tough, I might have lived with pain, but this...this is far and beyond anything I’ve ever lived through. It fuckin’ burns.
It doesn’t stop me from opening my mouth and snarling another insult.
I’m rewarded with a kick to the nuts.
That’s when darkness finally takes me.
~*~*~*~*
2014 - Santana
“They’ve seen us,” Mack mutters, pacing the hotel room.
I’m on the bed, my hands clutching Pippa’s. She’s watching Mack and Tyke, confusion flickering across her face as he rambles and storms across the room. He’s not happy with the plan, to say the least, but there’s really no other choice. They need to think we’re alone, that we’ve got no backup.
“That’s the point,” Tyke mutters from the couch. He’s leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, watching Mack pace.
“Don’t fuckin’ care,” Mack barks. “I don’t like this fuckin’ plan. They could bring ten or twenty men, maybe even fuckin’ more. Then what hope have we got? We’ll have our brains blown out before we can move.”
“They won’t kill us,” I say, my voice scratchy, my throat sore.
Mack shoots me a glare. “What makes you think that?”
“They want us as slaves, if they wanted to kill us they would have done it right away. We’re worth more to them alive.”
Mack shakes his head, contemplating this. “Possibly, but we can’t just risk it and assume we’re right. We could get ambushed at any moment.”
Pippa makes a strangled sound and her eyes dart around the room.
“Must you!” I snap, tired, terrified and sensitive.
Mack storms forward. “We wouldn’t even be in this fuckin’ mess if it wasn’t for you and your family. I don’t fuckin’ care if what I’m saying bothers you. I could lose the only fuckin’ family I’ve ever had because of you,” he roars so loudly I flinch.
I stare at him, my heart breaking in half, my lip trembling. I’ve held it together, I’ve stayed strong, I’ve forgiven Maddox for what he did and I’ve gotten my sister back...but my fault? No...no way. I let go of Pippa’s hand and stand on shaky legs. Giving Mack a look that tells him just how much he broke me, I turn and disappear into the bathroom.
I’m not going to yell and scream, or carry on. What will it prove? My heart aches so badly I can’t afford any more pain. I lower down onto the floor, the cool tiles causing my leg to ache when I stretch it out on them. Tears break lose and spill over, running down my cheeks. It fucking burns.
If I lose Maddox, the only man I’ve loved with all my heart, I’ll never recover. I don’t know what’s happening to him. I don’t know if he’s okay. I don’t even know if I’ll ever see him again. That thought alone has a sob ripping from my throat. I can be strong, but I can’t stand the thought of losing him.
The door creaks, but I don’t look up. A small frame pops down beside me, her tiny arms going around me. Together we cry, both of us living with our own demons. By the time our tears are dried up, the sun has begun to go down. Which means the guys will be here soon.
“Tell me about him?” Pippa asks, her voice low and soft.
I smile at her, my lips trembling.
“He saved me. He picked me up when I passed out on the mission Kennedy sent me on. I woke with him. He took care of me for five years.”
“Did he tell you about me?” she asks.
I swallow, shaking my head. “He told me you were dead. I only recently found out about you being alive. He was trying to search, for years he got leads and lost them. He said he was protecting me...I was in a bad way. I’m so sorry, Pippa. I should have been there...I shouldn’t have believed-”
“No,” she says, her voice the strongest it’s been since we found her. “He gave you a gift, Santana. I saw you; I saw what was happening. You weren’t there; you had gone. He’s right...he was protecting you. You would have come after me, I know you would have...and you would have gotten killed.”
“I thought you were dead,” I say, my voice breaks and a ragged sob tears from my throat.
“I’m okay,” she says, her own voice breaking once more. “They didn’t hurt me, because I always did what I
was told. I never fought. What was the point? Until I found another way, that was my life. I worked hard, I was hungry, but mostly...I was safe.”
“You were a slave for five years while I was living with a man, having a good, solid life!” I cry, clenching my fists.
“You didn’t know. How could you have known? He told you I was dead, and I’m glad he did. You laid your life on the line so many times for me. You kept me alive; you protected me. You deserved five years of happiness, because Tana, you gave me more than that...”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her close, thanking God for bringing her back to me.
“I’m never letting you go again.”
She laughs hoarsely. “I don’t think I’ll be in a hurry to let you lose me again.”
We laugh brokenly together and then pull apart.
“Do you love him, Tana?”
I swallow down more tears, and nod. “I do, very much.”
She squeezes my hand. “Tell me about them...”
“The club?”
She nods.
I smile.
“They’re the best family...not better than Mom and Dad of course, but they’re so loyal. They drive you crazy, but they’d lie down and die for you. I adore all of them.”
“Do you think...do you think...” she looks away.
“They’re going to love you, honey,” I soothe. “I promise.”
There’s a knock at the door that has us both looking up. Mack comes in, his face regretful.
“Mind if I have a chat with Santana?” he asks, his eyes trained on Pippa.
She nods, standing. I give her a weak smile and watch as she leaves. Mack hesitates at the door, but with a sigh, steps in and crouches in front of me.
“I don’t do this a lot...I don’t even fuckin’ know how, but...” he runs a hand through his hair. “I fucked up, Santana. This ain’t your fault – I’d do the same thing for a woman I loved. Maddox made the choice to take care of you and put his time and effort into looking for your sister. I can’t judge him for that, and I sure as shit can’t judge you. So...I’m sorry.”