by Ellie Jean
“Shit.” Walking inside, I see Emerald wrapped in one of Slate’s t-shirts and nothing much on the bottom. “Am I interrupting?”
“When aren’t you?” Her glare bounces off me. I’m too wrapped up in my own head to care about anyone other than Crystal at the moment.
“Wildcat, go and cover those delicious legs. I’ll make it twice as fun now we have to start again.” Slate pats me on my shoulder, leading me to the kitchen. Lighting up, he hands me the packet and I do the same.
Pulling back the toxins, the smoke swirls inside, taking a fraction of the edge off. “I need Emerald’s help.”
A roar of laughter swamps the kitchen.
“It’s not that funny.”
“Like hell it’s not. I can’t wait to see her face when you ask her.”
Pacing the window, I blow out more smoke. “Can you talk to her. I need to know how the fuck I am going to win over her headstrong friend.”
“There’s no fucking way I’m going down that road. Give me a hit any day. That’s easier than dealing with my woman and her friend.”
“Don’t you think I fucking know that. That’s why I’m asking you. Surely you can sweet talk her.” Staring at the guy who would kill for me, I see his usually steel eyes flicker. “You’d take a bullet for me, but not talk to your woman about her best friend to help me out?”
“Oh this shit is too funny.” Emerald sashays into the kitchen and wraps her arms around Slate. Her squealing is as ear-piercing as a six-year-old who was given a pony for their birthday.
“Fuck…” Stubbing out the cigarette, I plaster my no-nonsense glare in place. “Will you help me?”
“You don’t scare me, and you don’t scare Crystal either. Why should I help you? You’ve done nothing but show her a good time on a few occasions, spreading yourself around the female population. She could do a lot better.” She flips her black hair over her shoulder and stares at me. Slate’s holding onto her arm, his posture still relaxed.
My toes burn and it ignites up the back of my legs to my spine and chest. I can feel my jaw ticking. I bite my tongue, the metallic taste freely moving through my mouth. I’ve killed men in battles, yet my stomach is lurching like it’s the most demonic war I’ve ever taken on.
Fuck, do I need her help?
It’s for Crystal.
It’s a new day to conquer.
“I’m sure she could.” I nod and sit on a stool. Crossing my arms to keep me restrained from throttling her, I wait.
“What is it you want Em to do?” Slate looks between our heated standoff.
I shake my head. I should have known this would be a fucking grill session with me being char flamed. “Have you heard from her or Kyle this morning?”
“I don’t honestly know.”
What was I thinking?
This has to be on me. Straightening my back, I lift my chin at my partner in crime.
I need to claim what’s mine. No one else can show her. I take, I crush, I command.
This will be no different. “And no, I haven’t. Have you?”
“My girl hasn’t called me, but she did leave her phone at Lace’s yesterday. No one else has called. Come to think of it, Kyle should be in at work this morning doing a favor for one of Dad’s old buddies, I’ll call the shop and see where he left Crystal last night. I’m sure he’ll clear up all the small details for us.” The evil smirk rears its ugly head again as she reaches for her phone and dials her brother’s number.
“Coffee?”
“Scotch.”
Slate opens the other cupboard and pours amber liquid into a thin glass.
Throwing it back, I take the bottle off the dark table and pour another.
My eyes are glued on Emerald. A confused look washes over her features. She dials a number and waits, looking at Slate. Her foot taps.
Resolving internally that Crystal will be mine to possess, my head feels ready to go get her.
My phone beeps with an incoming message.
Opening the screen to an unknown number, a video attachment pops open.
Muffled murmurs and talking can be heard, but the screen is dark. Ocean’s probably sent me a porno video from a random chick’s number. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“We need to get Ocean help. He’s addicted to porn,” I yell to Slate who is standing by Em who is still holding her phone to her ear.
“There are worse things to be addicted to.”
“True.” The screen lightens a fraction.
“Kyle’s not answering. I’ll try his apartment and then the office again.” Emerald will find Kyle, then Crystal.
An older male has a woman on her knees playing with her ass clad in fancy red panties, running the tip of his cock along the material. The camera zooms to her hands cuffed to a metal bed pole and long fingers run over her naked skin, stopping to cup her breast. “You slut. Look how much you’re enjoying this.” He tugs at her nipples, making her back arch. The light dims, but I see the panties pushed aside and a finger stabs into her wetness.
“Does she feel good, Milo? Like we’d expect one of their women to feel?” The camera stays on the male and the girl who is soundless.
A thousand small spiders run over my skin at once. Something’s not right here. My eyes search the picture for anything that will give me a clue as to what I am watching.
“I’m going to show her what experience can do. Has he flogged you, used a spreader bar or had you on a cross?”
“What is this, a Fifty Shades of Grey kidnapping? You’re boring me to death, you need new material.” Her voice is strong and clear. “I’m putting in my complaint now, in case there’s no time after our rendezvous.”
My body starts to shake uncontrollably. My glass crashes to pieces on the polished floor.
“Quiet.” Long purple talons whack my girl’s face. “I can see why he’s fascinated with you. I may have to keep you around longer.” The camera blurs, but the voice is clear. “We thought two would be more your taste, since your boyfriend is a whore.”
“Are you hard of hearing? I told you before I don’t have a boyfriend. You really should get your ears checked along with your personality.” A large male body fills the screen. “You’re mouthy. I wonder if you still will be when we finish with you? Move to her mouth and take your dick out. She needs to be gagged.”
“Fuck.” Slate hauls the phone from my hand, shielding it from Emerald.
Individual ribs feel like they’re snapping. My chest is splitting in two.
“No one’s going near her ass, I’m claiming it.” The older guy is a sick fuck. The lens slides over the naked female body, showing the younger guy trying to move back but is unable to because of the gun being held against his head.
“Your delicious cock, now, Kyle. You know how tempting her mouth is. You’ve been in there before. What’s the hold up? Milo’s ready to pump into her. You don’t want to be last to the party?”
Running my hands through my hair, I squeeze my eyes shut.
My heart splinters.
Who the fuck has them? Because they are going to wish they didn’t cross me or my brothers.
“Tanner, darling. I hope you have enjoyed the entertainment.” Christ. A scorned woman holds the cards. “Don’t get jealous. Although for future reference, I do get jealous and you fooling around, ignoring me has left my heart tainted even more than what it was. But this scene is about payback for my brother’s death. We have plenty of time, I will get to your whoreish ways another time soon.”
My Tiger’s body is so close to being assaulted and I cannot do a fucking damn thing about it.
Liza… the evil bitch has them.
She will pay for this.
Emerald’s hiss informs me she is now watching.
“There will be more to come unless we can work out a mutual solution. Beneficial to me. Of course if you offer your exclusive services to me, a deal could be struck.”
A loud yell from the older guy takes everyone’s attention. C
rystal’s body is jerking and pulling on the restraints keeping her on the bed. Like a dead weight, her body crashes to the floor where it continues to spasm. Kyle thrashes about, screaming for the key to unlock the handcuffs.
What the motherfucking hell is going on?
The video cuts off but not before I see Crystal’s head banging against the floor and Kyle’s hand gently trying to hold it from hitting it harder than necessary. My heart is being nailed to a coffin with each touch between them.
Taking the bottle of scotch, I swallow gulp after gulp. I rear it back and slam it into one of Slate’s clean walls.
“Who’s that holding a gun against my brother’s head?”
“The only thing you need to know Wildcat is that she and the old dude are dead. And God forbid anyone gets in my way, cause they won’t be breathing either.”
I am freezing. My bare side is on the floor with my legs being roughly covered with the brown blanket.
A large hand runs its warm fingers through my hair, helping to calm me. My mind is fuzzy, and my body is heavy and listless. Did that guy attack me? Catching sight of my wrist, a red welt is carved into my skin. I’d tried to be so brave, putting on a determined exterior, while inside I was withering like a flower. I’d prepared myself for the worst when they took Kyle. I knew this sardonic witch would try and break me. Her obsession with Tanner and me was unfounded, but she had no clue. I would do all I could to stay alive. Emerald will come for us. Slate will kill for Emerald and her family. I just had to survive. And like a flower, I could regrow as long as my roots, or my mind, in this case, was still intact.
“How are you feeling?”
Trying to move, I can’t except for a twitch of my head. Kyle’s eyes look worried.
“Like I’ve had a few bottles of champagne, ten tequila shots and been dancing in six inch, no, more like eight inch heels all night. But I’m guessing that I’m delusional.”
“You had a seizure.” There’s a frightened tone to his voice.
“Damn.” I hope that explains the lethargy that’s overtaken my body. “That’s a first for a long while.”
“Your seizure lasted about four minutes.”
I roll onto my back and Kyle pulls the scratchy blanket up over me. “Long enough to scare the other two off?” My mouth feels like the Sahara Desert took residency in there.
“They told me to deal with you.”
“A major epileptic seizure? Good to know I can still clear a room.” My chest is heavy, and I try to smile.
“Not the time to joke. This isn’t good, Crystal.” Spearing me with his stare, it’s ironic how within a few hours, we’ve change positions. Kyle looking after me and me lying on the floor.
“It’s not the time to go to defcon one status just yet either.” How am I spewing out these words? I was violated, touched by a creep and kidnapped by an unstable woman who has done who-knows-what to Kyle. Defcon one sounds about right. But I have to keep strong. No time to go weak. I’ll think about that when my mind isn’t on the brink of another seizure. “I just need to rest. You don’t have any marshmallows in your pocket by chance?”
“You need your medication, not candy. We need them to get it for you.”
“Good luck with that. She’s not the most hospitable kidnapper.” This one does make me giggle. Having no previous experience with kidnapping, I have no clue what one should be like. “But we are still breathing, so we should give her some brownie points.”
“I think you’ve hit your head harder than I thought. Rest and get stronger. We need to keep you stress-free.”
“Do you think anyone is searching for us?” My eyes close.
“If I know Emerald, she will be whipping up a tornado trying to find us.”
“Which means Slate and the others will be leading the charge. No doubt, Emerald will hate that.” Words flow through my dulled head. My stomach aches. I’d give my left lung for some raspberry marshmallows. But they’d probably poison them anyway. Does Tanner know? Does he care? I stormed off like a school kid and acted irrational too.
“She’ll be thankful to have Slate and the guys searching for us, even if it means yanking their balls so they include her.”
Smirking, I envisage Emerald yelling and cussing, and Slate placating her with some nonsense. Emerald will do her own thing. She will find us.
Kyle moves his legs and places my head on his lap. Stroking my hair, he kisses me gently on my forehead. Why are we only friends again?
I drift off.
My nipples hurt. Firmly, he pulls them, twisting them and pinching them. I grunt, holding back the words I want to cuss at him. I want to stay silent. No reaction. No satisfaction. Yellow teeth flash past me as he bends down, latching my hands into metal cuffs. Trying to get them off my skin wasn’t working. The rawness bit into my flesh. I stopped. I was wasting my energy. She’d been watching all along. Orchestrating what was playing out in front of her. She was in charge and deadly. This much I was certain. And she had some affiliation with The Savage Shadows.
Her one mistake was showing me how much Tanner meant to her. It had been fleeting, but I caught it and I would use it. Just like she had done her homework on us, I would catalog each minuscule detail and hopefully I would get the chance to use it on her later.
She’d brought Kyle back in long after they left me in the desolate room. Kyle was clothed in other clothing. There was a sadness in his eyes, but defiance shone bright. The snake had wasted no time calling for her favor to be given immediately. The older man had made quick work of getting his clothes off and latching me to the bedpost. Manhandling me in front of them both. Kyle struggled to intervene, but with a gun pointed at him, he was as helpless as me.
A coolness rushes over my pussy and I jerk forward.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Pulling the blanket up toward my chin covering my now sitting straight body, Kyle’s warmth envelops me instantly. My body craves the heat and support.
“Shhh…it’s all going to work out.” He lifts my chin so I am looking into his troubled eyes. “We will be out of here before you know it.”
I pray that he is right.
“Was there…” I hesitate. “Did he only use his fin…” I gulp back and search the floor. “Was that all that happened?” Holding my breath, I scrunch my eyes closed. If the jerk violated me while having my seizure, I would deal with it, but I can’t face Kyle’s eyes. His pity or powerlessness would eat me alive. Kyle would protect me from anything, yet he would be hurting from knowing that he couldn’t help me, couldn’t keep me safe. That’s the kind of guy he is. He will make a fine husband one day when he settles down and decides upon one woman to share his bed with.
“Nothing more happened. I assure you.”
Relief takes hold of my body and I sag against him. “Right.” A small amount of good news, for now. “Did the witch leave me any clothes? She decked you out, I see.” I need to ask him what happened, but is he ready to talk yet?
“Yeah. I’ll get them.” Getting up, he walks to the only chair in the room and takes them.
“Don’t you be getting any funny ideas.” Is my humor lightening the mood or making it worse? Crap… “If you want to talk, you know I’m a good listener.”
He hands me an average looking pale pink shirt and a black longer style skirt. They look like I should be going to a church sermon.
“I know. I think I need time to process it myself first.”
“Understand. But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I guess we both needed a vacation, although this destination kinda sucks big time.”
He laughs and I join in. We’re in a bad situation and there’s abso-fucking-lutely nothing we can do about it. Unless, with the return of my strength comes a brilliant plan to escape. It may be a while.
“Neither am I.”
I want to strangle someone.
Crystal first, for letting her sassy mouth fly. Doesn’t she know how unstable Liza can be? Hell, any fucking kidnapper?
Kyle for tou
ching her and fucking being there instead of me.
I should be strangling myself for being such a dick to her. Hotcakes had been tearing my barriers down, shredding them completely. I’d been caught. She’d overpowered me and I didn’t fucking realize the enormity of it until now. I’d been in denial about how much she meant to me, how much I craved her and how I wanted to be the only one protecting her. I’d fucked up royally.
“I’m going to get my brother and best friend,” Emerald growls, turning on her heels.
“Wildcat…”
She stops in her tracks, looking over her shoulder. The authority radiating from Slate has Emerald turning her body to face us.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.” Always a spitfire.
“I can, and I am. You’re not leaving this apartment.” Slate is rigid and harsh. “Something big is coming and we need facts before we go stirring up more shit.”
“They have my brother and your fucking woman, apparently.” Her finger points at me as she snarls out the words. “Why are you still here?”
“We will get them both back. We have rules for a reason, remember?” He smirks at her and she huffs like a petulant child. “Do I have to remind you of them?”
A grin spreads across her face. Her eyebrows raise.
“Would you two fucking cool it. I need to get to Crystal. Tell me Em, what was the thrashing about on the video?”
Throwing daggers once again, she fires, “It’s her story to tell.”
“Is she in some kind of medical danger? It looked…umm…serious.” I clench my hand, thinking about the reality of the situation.
“It could be. That’s why we have to move now. Let’s get the ship sailing. How do we find them?”
Looking at Slate, anger rolls off him. He’s not happy about Emerald’s participation in this. We will have to try and side track her with something else when we go and get them out. And we will. Sooner rather than later.
“Ocean should be here any minute and Caden is on his way.”
