by Jenika Snow
Rooney’s Pain
The Ruthless Rejects, 2
Sam Crescent
Jenika Snow
Contents
Synopsis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Where to find Sam & Jenika
The club had always come first, because that was our code, in our blood. They were family. We were a brotherhood. And I’d never wanted anything for myself, not until one person came into my life and turned my world upside down.
Brynleigh.
She’s the one person who held my heart, who I secretly loved but couldn’t have because of the life I led. She didn’t deserve to be mixed up with me and the violence and danger the MC world brings. But I’m too much of a selfish bastard to let her go.
But then that choice is taken out of my hands when she’s kidnapped by an enemy of the club, and used as a pawn in a deadly game of chess. I love her and would go to hell to make sure she was safe.
And that’s exactly what I was going to do.
It’s up to me to protect her, to bring her back from the darkness and keep her close.
But keeping her safe came with a stipulation from the man who held her captive.
Kill Venom, the president of the MC.
And if I don’t then Brynleigh is as good as dead.
Chapter One
Brynleigh
Hard and cold.
Painful.
Those were the three things I registered before I even opened my eyes.
The crook of my arm stung and I groaned, trying to move my hands but unable to. I peeled my eyes open, the lids feeling so stiff and grainy. I blinked, the only sight greeting me that of darkness.
The scent of motor oil filled my head, the motion of a moving vehicle letting me know I was definitely in a car.
A trunk.
I tried to remember what had happened, how I had gotten here. My heart was racing and fear spiked inside of me. I struggled again, realizing my hands were bound in front of me, my legs secured as well. I felt myself start to hyperventilate, breathing in the noxious scent of that motor oil, feeling myself gag, telling myself not to throw up.
I had to be calm, stay in control.
Closing my eyes and breathing out very slowly through my mouth, I thought about what had happened. Flashes of light filled my head, memories slowly surfacing.
I’d been at home, about to cook dinner. I’d heard a crash in my bedroom and went to investigate. A rock had been thrown through my window, glass all across the floor. I’d turned around and someone had been behind me, their hands wrapped around my arms, the snarl on his face instantly causing fear to fill me.
Even now, as I thought about what had happened, I felt that terrifying feeling of things ending flashing before my eyes. And then he’d stabbed a needle in the crook of my arm, whatever he injected me with burning, stinging instantly, and then after that everything had gone dark.
I opened my eyes again just as I felt the car start to slow, then heard tires crunching over gravel.
Then the engine was cut.
The sounds of doors opening and closing had my body shaking involuntarily. I started breathing hard and fast, feeling like I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. Whimpers left me on their own as I heard voices come closer to the trunk.
Then the trunk was opened. I moved as far back as I could, light instantly filling the space, making me close my eyes and wince.
“Get her out. Boss man wants her inside.”
I tried to move further away when one of the men reached inside for me. He had his hand by my mouth and on instinct I bit him. He cursed and drew his hand back, looking down at the bite mark on the side of his palm.
“Fucking bitch,” he said and growled out, rearing his hand back as if he was going to hit me.
I braced myself but, just as he would have struck me, someone grabbed his wrist, stopping him. The man who stood beside him wore a stoic expression, his focus dark, his expression void of any kind of emotion.
“That is not what this is about,” the man said in a dark, cold voice.
He let go of the other man’s wrist and pushed him back. The other guy moved away, the fear clear on his face. I tensed and cowered again when he reached inside, but he didn’t hurt me, and instead undid the restraints on my hands and then on my ankles.
He helped me out of the trunk and once my feet were on solid ground, I took a step back. Rubbing my wrists, I looked down and saw the rope burn on them. I wanted to cry so damn badly, but I held it in.
I had to be strong, find out what was going on.
“You’re probably curious about what’s happening to you,” the man who was clearly in charge said. He had a thick European accent.
I looked up at him and swallowed, my throat feeling so tight and dry. I was dying of thirst, my mouth feeling as though I had swallowed a cup of sand. Just then the crook of my arm started throbbing, that sting intensifying. Glancing down, I saw a puncture wound, dried blood around it, a trail snaking down my forearm like cracked, dried paint.
“Come on.”
I stared at him for a prolonged moment, keeping my hands close to my sides, too afraid to reach out and take what he offered. He tipped his head to the side, as if knowing my fear, allowing it to happen.
His hands were now in his front pockets, the suit he wore crisp, expensive looking. He started moving forward, the small pebbles beneath his feet crunching under his expensive loafers. For a moment I didn’t move, couldn’t for the life of me. But one of the men gently shoved me forward.
I stumbled, nearly tripping and falling. I followed him up white marble steps, onto a landing, and finally inside this impressive house. It was the first time I realized I’d been in the driveway, in front of this mansion.
I looked over my shoulder and could see a manicured lawn for as far as the eye could see, noticed several men outside, guns in their hands, even a few dogs on leashes. Wherever I was it wasn’t a good place. And whoever was leading me inside wasn’t a good man.
He went into a room and I realized it was an office, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves behind a polished mahogany desk, leather seats in front of it, wealth pouring from every nook and cranny.
“I’m sorry about all the show, but we had to make a point to Rooney in order for him to comply.” He looked down at the crook of my arm, where I’d been drugged.
I felt my brows knit and rubbed the spot he looked at.
“Let me introduce myself.” He grinned but it was far from pleasant. “I’m Vincenzo Montego.”
I couldn’t think, couldn’t even breathe in that moment. “Rooney? He’s involved in this?” I felt the world drop out from under me. The man I loved, was in love with, was somehow part of me being kidnapped?
The man turned around and faced me, crossing his arms over his chest, staring at me quietly. He was attractive, with short dark hair slicked back from
his face, an olive skin tone, and eyes darker than the night that surrounded us. He had this air around him, danger and violence pouring from every part of his big muscular body. My flight or fight instinct rose up.
I knew instantly that this was a person I needed to stay away from.
“Yes and no. He had no idea on what we planned to do with you. In fact, you were our surprise to him, our leverage to make him comply.”
“Leverage?” God, the sickness in me started to rise. This wasn’t happening. I found myself backing up, knowing that I had to get away. But the wall stopped my retreat. I looked to my side and saw armed guards right outside the door.
“Let me be clear,” Vincenzo said. “You are not a prisoner here, but you can’t leave. You’re a means to an end, but will have free range of the house. I’m not a total fucking monster.”
I knew that was a lie. This man was bad, evil. I could tell, feel it.
“I can’t leave,” I said softly.
He shook his head slowly. “No, you can’t, and as long as Rooney does what we say, you’ll stay unharmed as well.” He took a step closer to me. “But if he doesn’t comply, sweet Brynleigh…” He tipped his head to the side again. “Then it will be very bad for you. Very fucking bad indeed.”
Chapter Two
Rooney
Once I got inside my house, I threw my keys against the wall, picked up the planted pot that had a dead flower in it and launched that across the room. Anger unlike anything I’d ever felt unleashed inside me and I wanted to kill. No, that was too mellow a word. I wanted to hunt and to tear apart every single fucker that stepped in my way.
I wanted to hurt … everyone.
Brynleigh was supposed to be safe.
I’d always been so careful.
So fucking careful.
Gripping the back of my neck, I let out a roar.
They’d given me a fucking cell phone with plain and clear instructions. Whenever they called me, I had to do as they said. If not, Bryn would start to come to me, piece by fucking piece.
I couldn’t put her in danger.
It pissed me off.
I was so fucking angry.
How had this happened?
I was so careful.
I always made sure no one knew who Bryn was. Even my own club didn’t know her.
“Fuck.”
I didn’t like this.
Fucking hated it.
Being at anyone’s mercy was not who I was.
I couldn’t allow anything to happen to her, nor to my club either. What the fuck had I gotten myself into?
I couldn’t even think right now.
Slamming my fist against the wall, all I could see was Bryn.
My woman.
Now at the mercy of someone I didn’t fucking want her to be around.
Pacing up and down. I tried to think of how to get out of this. Whatever happened, I couldn’t allow any danger to come to Bryn.
Just as I was about to leave my place, to get away and think, I stopped.
The cell phone they’d given me, the one that wasn’t traceable, started to ring.
Dread filled me.
I hoped Bryn knew how to keep her shit together.
Picking up the cell phone, I answered the call.
“What?”
“Is that any way to speak to me?” Vincenzo chuckled as if this was fucking funny.
“I don’t give a fuck how I speak to you. Where’s Bryn?” I asked.
“Tut tut, Rooney. You should know by now that you’re not in any position to make demands.”
Suddenly, I heard a feminine scream.
I didn’t have a clue what was happening to her but I knew it was Bryn. “Get your fucking hands off her. Bryn, I’m coming for you. I won’t let anything happen.”
Silence fell and my heart raced.
“You’re in no position to threaten me, Rooney. Now, I want the MC.”
“You want it?” I rubbed at my face and my hand was fucking shaking. In all of my life, I’d never been afraid. Hearing Bryn’s scream, though, it was messing with my head and I couldn’t think. “What is it you want?”
Caving to this bastard was not easy.
All I wanted to do was hunt him down and kill him. Cut him limb from fucking limb until he was dead. I’d bask in the blood I drained from his body.
None of that could happen until I got Bryn safe.
“Simple, I want Venom gone.”
I didn’t understand any of this, but I didn’t start spouting off questions. “He’s not going to give up the club.”
“You don’t understand me. I want Venom dead. Gone. He’s not to keep breathing.”
My stomach clenched. “That’s not possible.” Venom was the very essence of the club. There’s no way I, or anyone else, could kill him. If I did, it would start an all-out war within the club. It would be a disaster.
Venom was the only one who knew how to deal with the business. He was the club.
“Well, if that’s not possible, I guess I don’t have a use for her any longer.”
“No, please, stop it.” Bryn screamed again.
“I’ll do it. I’ll do it.” There’s no way I could have her death on my conscience.
“Good man. Until then, I’m going to keep Bryn company.”
“Wait. Let me talk to her, please.”
Silence met my request. I’d never begged anyone, not even Venom.
When it came to Bryn, it seemed I was more than happy to step out of my comfort zone.
This wasn’t good. Not even a little.
Even if I could hurt Venom, which no way in fuck I could, killing Venom would give me a death sentence.
“I think we can arrange that. Be warned, Rooney. I’ve got people watching you. There’s no way you’re going to be able to get her back. If you fail, she dies. If you try to warn Venom, she dies. If you come after me, she dies. I will make her pray for death. I’ll hurt her so they can’t identify her body. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.” I answered through gritted teeth.
This guy was pissing me off. The moment I got my hands on him, I was going to make him regret threatening me, regret taking the one person I loved more than life itself.
Bryn was my one weakness. I’d been the one to fuck up, and now I had to get us out of this.
“Hello,” Bryn said softly, tears in her voice.
“Bryn, baby, it’s me.”
“Rooney, I’m so scared.”
“Just do what they say, and stay safe. I’m going to come and get you.”
“I’m so damn scared.” She sniffled.
I pressed my head against the nearest wall, pissed off, feeling helpless, scared as fuck.
Rubbing at my eyes, I ignored the tears that were sliding down my cheeks. Fuck, crying because I was weak in this moment was not how a member of the Ruthless Rejects handled shit.
Fuck, if a woman got me to cry, it would be Bryn.
“I’m going to do what is needed.”
She started crying harder.
“Listen to me closely, baby. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get you back, to protect you. I’ve told you that I’d always be there for you.”
“Please, Rooney. Be safe, be smart. I know what the club means to you.”
“I’m nothing without you.”
And then the line went dead.
I was tempted to toss the phone across the room, but it was my lifeline right now, my only contact with Bryn and making sure she was safe. Resting my back against the wall, I slid down and stared off.
Killing Venom wouldn’t be easy.
Taking on the club would be certain death.
He’d understand, though, right?
He’d do anything to protect his old lady. Surely, he’d know what was at stake. With Rebekah, Venom had started to soften around the edges. It made him vulnerable and with him being weak, I’d be able to strike.
The club would be a problem.
Kill Venom, save Br
yn, then run.
That’s all I needed to do, and even as I thought that, I knew deep down it wouldn’t work.
Just as I was giving up hope, my doorbell rang. I didn’t want any company right now. I needed to come up with a plan.
“Rooney, open up.”
Fuck. Just thinking about him had brought him here. Venom at my front door.
Reaching behind my back, I pulled out my gun. Taking off the safety, I couldn’t think about my luck with how quickly this opportunity had opened up.
With the gun behind my back, I walked to my door and opened it up.
Venom winced. “You look like shit.”
“I’m having the king of all bad days.” I liked Venom. Well, as much as a person could. “What’s up?” Could he see how nervous I was, that something was up with me?
“I was in the neighborhood, and hadn’t heard from you. I was thinking we could talk. You in the mood for company?”
I’m in the mood to kill him to save my woman. But even thinking that, my heart ached. Venom was family, like a brother.
He’d understand. He’d do anything for the woman he loved.
“Sure.”
I stepped back, giving him plenty of room to enter. I closed the door and looked at his back. He looked around my place.
He’d never visited me at my place before.
This was a first.
Any other day, I’d offer him a beer.
“Nice place you got here.”
I kept the gun at my side, wanting nothing more than to shoot, to end this, to bring Bryn back.
I can’t do it.
I’d never been the kind of guy to shoot a man in the back.
