My heart feels like it might burst in my chest. I wasn’t expecting all of that to come out of her mouth, even if I knew she was feeling it.
“Look at me, Liv.”
She shakes her head, burying her face deeper into my chest.
I roll us over again till I’m holding myself over her.
“Look at me, sweetheart. I want to see you when I say this.”
She turns her head and stares into my eyes.
Goddamn her eyes. Her fucking other-worldly eyes with green and blue and golden flakes.
“I know I love you. All of you. Even the parts you haven’t shown me yet. You’re so precious to me, my whole fucking world, my life.” Tears start to pool in her eyes and she looks away. “No, love, don’t hide from me.”
I lift a hand to her face and gently turn her back to me.
“You have me now, I’m here for you. I promise to protect your dark parts, your painful parts. I promise to love you, cherish you, pleasure you. I promise at least two orgasms a day.” I grin at her and I see a smile pull at her lips. My words feel more like vows, and fuck if I don’t mean every single one of them.
I bend down and kiss her again, melting into her touch. I stand up and pull her into my arms, walking us back to the couch where I grab a blanket and lay us down, still naked. We both fall asleep within minutes, the emotional and physical toll of the last few hours draining us of all energy.
Chapter 15
Liv
I wake up on top of a very warm and cuddly Carter. We must have fallen asleep here last night, as the sun is shining through the blinds in my small apartment, casting shadows over Carter’s beautifully chiseled nose and eyebrows.
God, I love this man so much. And I told him. And He said it back. And I’m not running for the fucking hills.
It’s that last part that really shocks me. Ok, that’s not true. It’s all pretty crazy. But it feels right. So right.
I untangle myself from Carter and make my way to the bathroom, in desperate need of a shower after our activities last night.
Shit, just thinking about what we did makes me impossibly wet. I turn the water on and think about when he took me against the wall. It was rough, dirty, explosive sex. Seriously, the stuff of dirty romance novels. But when I rode him – and really, when he took control, it was something completely otherworldly. So tender, such a slow build. It was more intimate than anything I’ve ever done with anyone, fuck, it felt like I was revealing all of myself to Carter, like he was seeing the real me without my walls and without my bullshit.
After all of that, all of the drama, all of the vulnerability… we went and said we loved each other.
And now I can’t stop the stupid happy smile currently spilling my face in two.
I love him. He loves me.
I grab a towel and dry off, pulling a brush through my hair and throwing it up in a messy bun. I grab some yoga pants and a t shirt, not sure what the plan is for today, but figuring I’ll want to be comfortable for whatever plan we have to take down Spider.
Stepping back out into the main room, I check on Carter. He’s still totally passed out and it’s adorable. One arm is thrown over his eyes, shielding him from the sun, and the other rests on his abs. His perfect abs, that feel so good when I run my fingers over them…
Down, girl.
I get to work on breakfast, or well, whatever I can pass for breakfast around here. Instant oatmeal, a banana, and some coffee.
My phone beeps on the counter and I check the message that just came in. It’s from an unknown number.
I’m outside of your apartment. I have a clear shot of your naked, sleeping boyfriend. Come outside in two minutes or I’ll shoot him.
Another message comes in, this time a picture that was just taken, showing Carter on my couch and me in the background, reading my phone.
I don’t have time to feel anything, I only have time to act. The only thought in my head is to save Carter.
I won’t let him die for me.
Grabbing my shoes, teal chucks for good luck, I slip my phone in a side pocket of my yoga pants and head out the door. I barely make it down the stairs before one hand grabs my arm while the other goes around my mouth, muffling a scream.
A sickly-sweet chuckle rises up of the man holding me tight to his chest. The sound makes my stomach drop.
“You, my pet, have been very naughty.”
I shut my eyes, trying to remember any of the self-defense moves I learned not all that long ago.
Pulling air into my lungs, I force my breathing to regulate. I’m no good to anyone if I have a panic attack.
“You won’t be my problem for much longer. We’re pickup up right where we left off with our deal. I deliver you to the Devil’s Knights, and I get a cut of what they make off of you. I always knew you’d come in handy.”
I whimper and buck against him, my body revolting at the thought of being forced into prostitution.
“I see they’ll have to break you in a bit. You got a little too confident when you ran away from me, didn’t you, pet? Did your boyfriend in there fill your head with silly ideas of a happily ever after? You know that’s not in the cards for you, you piece of shit.”
Spider spits the last word into my ear and starts dragging me towards his car, holding both of my wrists behind my back with one hand and keeping my mouth covered with the other.
“Your momma was a no-good junkie who didn’t even care enough about you to stay alive. No one wanted to adopt the broken girl in foster care. And I was so good to you, provided for you, and what did that get me? A huge fucking headache trying to track you down.”
He opens the back door to his car and I see an opportunity to twist away from him while he only has one hand on me. I throw my head back and feel it connect with his nose. I don’t hear a crack, but it surprised him nonetheless. He loosens his grip around my hands and I twist away from him.
Unfortunately, he’s quick to recover. I feel his large hand grasp my neck and pull me back towards the car, smashing my head on the open car door again and again.
I don’t pass out, but I can’t exactly see straight.
When I stop fighting, he throws me in the back seat and shuts the door. I immediately go to open the door again but he covered the locks so I can’t access them from the inside.
I only have seconds to act before he does something to incapacitate me. Spider is at the back of the car now, walking around to the driver’s side.
I reach down for my phone and dial Slash’s number. I know he’s the MC’s tech guy and I hope that means he knows how to track a call. I also hope he’s awake enough to answer and smart enough not to hang up.
I say a silent prayer of thanks to whoever finally decided to design yoga pants with secret pockets.
When Spider gets in the car, I begin talking, hoping Slash has picked up and will hear me.
“Where are you taking me, Spider? You said you’re going to sell me to the Devil’s Knights?”
“Shut the fuck up, bitch.”
He reaches back and slaps me across the mouth and then grips my cheeks tightly in his massive hand.
With his face inches from mine, he spits on me and then laughs.
“You look good with my spit on you, pet. You like that? Like being my slutty little pet? I told the Devil’s Knights I’d have you to them by tomorrow, which means we have all night for you to give me a proper goodbye.”
He releases my face and shoves me in the back seat.
“I almost forgot about this,” he says as he pulls out the collar he made me wear for years.
“No, please, no, please!”
“I said SHUT UP!”
His fist connects with my temple and I fly backwards, stars exploding across my vision. I’m vaguely aware of his hands around my neck and the snap of the choke chain in place. My skin burns at the memory of the metal chains tightening and jingling around my neck.
“There. Now you will do as I say. Isn’t that right, my pe
t? Or do I need to tie you up in other ways?”
I blink through the fear and try to make rational choices. I could try to fight – my arms and legs aren’t bound. But, he will overpower me and then I will be completely tied up. However, if I comply for now, I can maintain a little freedom and hopefully use it to my advantage later.
“Yes, master.” I sob.
“Good girl. That’s my good girl. We’re going to have fun tonight before you start the next adventure in your life.”
I close my eyes and lean back in the seat while Spider pulls out from the alley he parked in.
Chapter 16
Carter
Something is wrong. My eyes snap open and I’m alone, naked on Liv’s couch. It doesn’t take long for me to look around the little studio apartment and see that Liv isn’t anywhere.
At first I thought maybe she bolted after telling me she loves me, but that just doesn’t set right. No, this is something else. There’s a pit in my stomach and an aching in my heart and everything in me is screaming for me to go find Liv right the fuck now.
I quickly wash up in the bathroom and pull on my pants when I hear someone banging on the door. Grabbing my shirt, the banging starts again, loud and insistent.
“Carter, it’s Slash, open up! Liv is in trouble!”
I swing open the door, practically causing it to fall off its rusty hinges.
“What? What is it? Where is she?”
“Liv called me about twenty minutes ago, I thought it was just a pocket dial at first, I couldn’t really hear anything, but then I heard her voice asking Spider where they were going.”
“FUCK!”
“We’ll get to her, man. I tried calling you but I’m guessing your phone is dead?”
I checked my phone, sure enough, dead as a doornail.
“What else do you know?” I ask as we head outside towards our bikes.
“She’s smart, Carter. She must have known I’d be able to track her call. She kept me on the phone long enough for me to pick up the signal. Spider is taking her to his motel and then planning on dropping her off with the Devil’s Knights, but we won’t let that happen, ok?”
“Shit. How… how the fuck did this happen? I failed her, Slash, I fucking had her in my arms, I…”
I punch the side of the brick building where my bike is parked. It hurts, but I deserve so much worse. My Liv is back in her worst nightmare, right after I promised she was safe, after I told her I loved her. How can she ever forgive me? How can she ever trust me again?
Slash grabs my shoulders and spins me towards him, shoving me against the wall.
“Listen to me, Carter. I know. I know you’re scared. You have to get your shit together right the fuck now to save Liv. No time to spiral, no time to punish yourself. Take a breath and follow me to the clubhouse.”
I do as he says and take a breath. He’s right. It’s not about me right now.
I nod towards our bikes and we head out to the clubhouse.
***
Once inside, River calls church immediately, and we get to work on our plan to find Liv.
Slash has Spider’s phone tagged and it’s been stopped at the same spot for the last 15 minutes. We’re assuming that’s where he’s staying and where he’s keeping Liv. It’s not as simple as storming in there and getting her – however much I want that to be the case.
If we go in blind, we risk getting shot, or worse, getting Liv killed. There’s also future relationships to think about, even though I couldn’t give two shits about that right now.
River reminds us that we have a very tentative peace with the Scorpions and the Devil’s Knights, though we all knew it wouldn’t last. River can’t stand human trafficking or prostitution any more than the rest of us, and we knew it would only be a matter of time before we started a war over it. Everyone was hoping we’d be able to wait a bit and shore up more resources, but it looks like war’s coming sooner than anticipated.
“Whatever we do, I think we can all agree we don’t kill Spider, right?” Jax says.
“Um, yeah, fuck that,” I spit out. “If I see Spider I will rip him limb from limb.”
River shoots me a glare and I shoot him one right back.
“This is taking too goddamn long. We know where she is, why aren’t we there already?” I roar.
“Carter, be smart about this. We’ve been over this. Storming in puts everyone at risk, Liv included,” River says.
“Fuck, I know. This fucking blows. We have to do something. Do we have eyes on the place yet? Do we know if Spider has any of his men guarding the place?”
Slash grips my shoulder again in an attempt to calm me down. “This stuff takes time, I know that’s not what you want to hear. I’m hacking into the cameras at the motel now, ok?”
I nod, trying to breathe through my anger. No. Not anger. Rage. Desperation. Helplessness. Above all, fear. I’m fucking terrified that I’ll never see Liv again, never hold her, kiss her, feel her hair between my fingers. I hate that she’s all alone, I hate myself that I couldn’t protect her. How the hell did I let this happen?
“Yo, Carter, I think you’re gonna want to see this.”
I look up to the screen Slash is pointing at and see Spider stumbling out of a room in one of the shit hole motels lining the highway outside of town. It looks like his nose is broken and he’s struggling towards one end of the parking lot.
Slash hits a button and the video is now coming from a different camera on the other side of the parking lot.
Liv.
My beautiful Liv smashes in the car window with a chain… that’s around her neck.
I fucking see red.
Once the window is broken, she unlocks the car and brushes off the seat as much as she can before sitting inside and hotwiring the car. I knew she was a badass.
I don’t have to see any more.
“I’m going to her. No one can stop me.”
“I’m coming,” Slash says.
“Me too,” Dom adds.
I nod at them and we head towards the door.
“Wait!” River yells.
I’m about to punch him in the fucking face, prez or not. River rummages around in an old toolbox and then pulls out a pair of bolt cutters.
Everyone’s face pales, knowing I’m going to have to cut a fucking chain off of Liv’s neck.
I walk over and take the bolt cutters from River and he pats me on the back.
“Bring her back to us, Carter.”
“I will.”
With that, Slash, Dom, and I ride out.
Chapter 17
Liv
Just drive, baby cakes, you can do this.
My head is pounding like a motherfucker and I know my neck is bloodied and bruised from this goddamn choke chain, but I have no time to stop. I have to keep going. Keep driving.
I’m not even aware of which way I’m driving and it doesn’t really matter.
I’m free.
I know Spider will call in for backup or whatever and there will be people out looking for me. I’m not out of the clear yet. But I’m away from him.
He tried to kiss me and I smashed his face in with my head, actually managing to snap his nose this time. He fell on the floor and pulled my leash with him, causing the chain around my neck to dig into my skin and suffocate me. I found the pressure point in his bicep and squeezed the fuck out of it till he loosened his grip on the chain leash. I grabbed it from him and whipped him in the face before taking his gun, kicking him in his (very small) balls, and running out to the car.
Hotwiring the car was the least of my worries. My mom and I lived in that Corolla for almost two years… and we never once actually had a key for it.
My hands are shaking as I come down off of the adrenaline rush, exhaustion flooding in to take its place. Fuck. I’m in a car. I’m in a fucking car.
Pain seeps back into my awareness, slowly taking over my body. I feel the bruises forming over my face and arms. I taste the blood in my mouth
, gushing from a molar I lost earlier. My temple pulses from where he hit me with the butt of his gun. Tears fill my eyes and cause me to swerve a little.
I’m no good to myself or anyone if I kill myself in a car accident. I decide to pull over onto a little side road and get my shit together.
I park and gasp for air. I’m not sure if I can’t breathe because of the chain around my neck or because I’m in the middle of a panic attack.
I scramble for the chain, trying to find the clasp to loosen in from my neck. I know from experience, the collar can only be removed with a key, but it can be loosened if I finagle it just right. My fingers shake and I can’t seem to do anything except claw at my neck which isn’t making anything better.
I imagine Carter’s voice.
What’s five things you can see?
The steering wheel, the rearview mirror, the oak tree ahead, the yellow lines of the road, the clouds in the sky.
Good. Now tell me four things you can touch.
I force my fingers to release their grip around the collar and move to my hair, my shirt, my yoga pants, and the cool leather of the seat.
I already feel the panic start to recede and I can breathe a little easier.
Three things you can hear.
The car idling, chain clinking next to me, and motorcycles.
Wait.
Motorcycles.
Getting louder.
I look in the rearview mirror and I swear I see Carter, Slash, and Dom pulling up behind my car.
I must have passed out. I’m just dreaming that they are here.
I blink and see Carter running over to the driver’s side of the car.
He’s really here. He’s here. My Carter came for me.
“Liv, baby, you’re ok, you’re ok now.”
I can’t even form thoughts, let alone words right now. I just stare at his gorgeous green eyes, full of relief and love that I’m sure match my own.
He finally breaks our stare and starts slowly opening the door.
Loving Liv (Chaos MC #2) Page 11
