So we do have an ‘in’ on the information and contacting Almanza by calling the Jacoby brothers. And I know the information they give us will be rock solid. So I don’t have to waste time double checking everything, I can move forward with getting Yesnia home. This gives me some peace. Trapper will send the address and I’ll get to Yesnia.
It’s a blur as they end the call and I vaguely hear Shooter call Tripp to give him the rundown.
I don’t care who they call as long as I get the address to find Yesnia sooner rather than later.
Yesterday isn’t soon enough for my heart.
At least now I know I’ll be dealing with people I can trust by working with Draven.
Hang on, Yesnia, I promise we are coming to get you.
8
Yesnia
Cartel Lessons: The enemy of my enemy is not my friend. Too bad he missed the memo.
“Say it again,” he whispers as he trails his lips across my jawline.
“Axel,” I moan.
“I can’t get enough of you, Yesnia. My name on your lips, it drives me wild.”
Breathless, I kiss him with everything I can. Rolling us over, he’s now over me. He pauses to stare at me. I feel the passion, the love, the way we simply are together.
“Axel, I want this life with you,” I whisper.
Before I manage another word, he kisses me hard as I wrap my legs around his body. His hand trails up and down my thigh giving me goosebumps. Gripping the back of my head, he pulls me away from his lips before his mouth attaches to my neck and he sucks … hard. I cry out as the sensation shoots straight to my core.
His fingers slide in me, two of them working me to a feverish frenzy. I’m building. I’m climbing.
“Axel, I love you,” I cry out.
Waking with a jolt, I’m startled by a noise in front of us. I’m panicked realizing it was just a dream and I’m not in bed with Axel after all. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Maybe it was residual drugs in my system, maybe it’s just my body shutting down, I don’t know. The problem is I don’t know anything.
Where am I? Clueless.
What day is it? I have not the first idea.
Does my dad know I’m gone? I hope so.
What comes next? Well, that is simply terrifying to try to think of.
I’m in the dirty basement/shack. It’s dark, it’s damp, and I feel like this is a special kind of hell.
The questions keep building one after another in my mind. How long has it been? Are my parents okay? The guards? I think about the men I’ve never spoken to but have seen around the property. How did these men get in? What does it mean for the people who were outside protecting me? While the security on staff weren’t allowed in my home, I knew they were out there keeping watch. What happened?
I have too many questions without any answers.
Laura leans against me dozing in and out as well. I try not to disturb her because we need our strength which means we need to rest when we can. The time passes slowly when you have no light and no food. Reading my body, I know enough time has passed that I’m beyond thirsty and I need to pee so bad if I move, I might have an accident.
Light begins to radiate to our left along with the sound of a door opening and closing. The sound of boots on stairs gets closer as a shadow moves into our space. The figure reaches up and pulls a string. A soft light flickers on over us.
It hurts my eyes as the light brightens.
I keep blinking.
I fight to focus and take in every detail of my surroundings that I can. The space around us is drab. The floor is nothing but sand. The ceiling shows pipes and wires so we are indeed in a basement. The walls are concrete blocks stacked and held together by mortar.
The man in front of me wears cargo pants and a wife beater shirt and a devilish smirk that gives me chills. His demeanor doesn’t scream capo. He’s not a guy high up in this world. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. In fact, none of the men I’ve ever seen in my father’s presence have worn cargo pants and a wife beater. No, these men usually show up in suits or at the very least slacks with a button up shirt or a polo. While logically I know they don’t work some corporate job, they carry themselves in a professional manner that this man doesn’t have. It only leaves me with more questions. Mostly, why me?
“Yesnia Dominguez-Almanza, you are a sight to behold.”
I spit at his feet.
Is it the smartest thing I’ve ever done? No.
Do I care right this minute? Again, no.
This man may intimidate me. He may have the upper hand. He may hurt me in ways I don’t want to think about. What I won’t let him do is break me.
“Tisk, tisk,” he mutters before reaching out to pull me up by my hair.
Laura screams watching me as tears fill my eyes, but I refuse to show weakness. I struggle to get my balance with my ankles bound together and the man yanking me around like a rag doll by my hair.
“Your father is a bold man, Yesnia.”
“My father’s going to kill you,” I spout off as the man only jerks harder. I may be stuck right now. There is even a strong possibility this man may end my life. No matter what I know without a doubt my father Javier Almanza won’t rest until this man is no longer breathing however that comes to be.
My captor laughs, “she thinks her daddy will save the day like some hero. No, this is a story where I end you all.”
He will not get in my head. I ignore his threats. His words are that of a desperate man who has made a critical error in taking me.
I notice another man wearing cargo pants and a wife-beater tank top move from behind my captor over to Laura. He lifts her up in much of the same manner as me, only when she rises, he cups between her legs as a way to steady her.
No.
Lord in Heaven no. This new man is vile. The way he’s groping her is wrong and he’s entertained by this. By the tent building in the crotch of his pants, I would say he’s turned on by it too. My stomach rolls over and over in fear.
My eyes lock onto my friend. I try to somehow give her strength.
“Laura is not part of this,” I tell the man holding me. “Let her go and just use me. Whatever you’re going to do, you do it to me.”
Laura swallows back her fear and shakes her head at me. I will never have a friendship stronger than what she’s giving me in this moment. I got her in this mess yet she’s trying to take on more for me. I will forever be in her debt and she will always be in my life. I vow it.
“Sweet Yesnia, Laura is your motivation to help us. And you, dear girl, are motivation to get your father to fall in line.”
I shake my head. “I have nothing to do with my father’s business. He won’t do whatever it is you want. He barely knows me,” I lie because my father knows me well. His business, well that’s the truth, I’m not part of it in any way. “He keeps me at the house only to appease my mother. We don’t even talk.”
There isn’t a day since their return after I healed that I haven’t spent time with my father. We have endless conversations about everything and nothing.
Swiftly, the man’s hand comes up and across my face. “Lying will only cause you pain, Yesnia.”
“What is it you want from me?” I shriek as the man begins to rub roughly between Laura’s legs. The only thing sheltering her from full violation right this moment is a pair of panties and pajama pants.
“Have you ever heard the saying, an enemy of my enemy is my friend?” my captor asks.
I nod because yes, I’ve heard the statement, but it’s stupid. I don’t tell him that. The enemy of one’s enemy is simply another level of enemy. In the world my father lives in, there is nothing outside of family and foes. There are no friends. You are either blood in or blood out.
“Your father is an enemy to my enemy. I wanted an alliance. He declined my offer. Now, I must force his hand.”
“Again, mister, I didn’t catch your name,” I state, hoping to get something to go o
n, “I am not part of my father’s world. In fact, I’m nothing more than an accessory.”
“If these two are of no use,” the man holding Laura says, “then let me play with them.”
Fear and fury rush through me. He turns to me with a smile showing a gold capped teeth on the bottom. His head drops to Laura’s neck and she cries out in pain. When he pulls away, there is blood on his mouth where he bit her neck. I fight the bile rising in my throat to keep from throwing up.
Keeping my eyes on Laura, I try to remain strong, but inside I’m falling apart. She didn’t ask for any of this. Guilt eats at me.
“Let me call my father, I can talk to him.” I try to change tactics. If I can get my father on the phone he will tell me what to do until he can get his men here. He can trace the call or do something to find me.
“All in due time,” my captor explains. “You see, we’ve planted the seeds far and wide for your father to begin his manhunt. Once he’s ended Sanchez, you can have contact. I just needed to get a visual to report that you are alive and unharmed,” he lets out a maniacal laugh, “for now that is.”
The man holding Laura presses her against the wall. Her hands are pinned behind her and her legs are stuck together in place. Roughly, he pushes his hand down her pants and she screams as he laughs.
“Oh, baby, so wet for me,” he sneers as her pants saturate and the air smells of her urine. Laura struggles against him whimpering in pain and humiliation.
“Leave her alone!” I cry out, and the man in front of me laughs as he pulls a knife from his side. He presses it first to my neck, drawing my attention back to him. Swallowing I push down all the nervous energy running through me. Refusing to show weakness, I meet his stare.
“Do your worst,” I taunt him.
The knife grazes my skin, not penetrating before he moves it to my hands cutting me free of my bindings.
“Chico,” he calls out to the man assaulting Laura.
Chico pulls his hand from her pants to lick his fingers before backing away from my friend. I want to puke. Laura falls in a slump to the dirty, wet ground beneath her. The man who freed my hands moves to her and cuts her top bindings as well. We are still bound by our ankles with zip ties but we can manage to shuffle now.
“Paco, bring them food,” the man who seems to be running things yells and a third man emerges with a gallon jug of water and a box of frozen packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Suddenly, my stomach growls in hunger, but I have no desire to eat. The Paco man drops the box to the dirt floor with the water before the three of them back out of the room, never turning their backs to me.
Instantly, I start thinking of all the things I should have done. The things I could have done. Except in the moment, I didn’t do anything to help myself or Laura.
Survival.
We have to have water and food. We need the energy to fight back. We’re better equipped now, having our hands free. Yes, drink, eat, and plot our next moves, that’s what I need to do.
Lifting the jug, I go to Laura. Breaking the seal, I at least know the water is clean and processed bought water. Sitting beside her, Laura cries as she stares off into space.
Traumatized.
“I’m sorry, Laura. I’m so sorry. Here, honey, you gotta drink.”
I lift the jug to her lips, but she doesn’t move. Shifting to avoid the muddy dirt from her accident, I set the water down out of the way. Then I slide her into a dry area. Crouching beside her, I hold her in a tight embrace.
“Laura, don’t check out on me. We’re gonna get out of this. And you will make him pay. Together, we will shove his cock down his throat if that’s what you want.”
She shifts and looks at me with wide eyes too swollen to cry. “He touched me,” she whispered.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeat, unable to say anything else.
“I think—,” she says before turning her head and beginning to dry heave. “I think I’m gonna be sick,” she stammers between heaves.
“Shhhh,” I whisper holding her hair out of her face. “I know this is too much.” I’m at a loss for words. Nothing I can say will fix this. “I don’t know how, but we gotta hold on. We gotta be strong, Laura. We’re gonna get out of here, and we are gonna make them pay.”
She nods, but continues heaving. I move to get the water. Laura takes a sip only to immediately throw up bile.
Time passes before she gets her body under control. I give her space and work to undo the zip ties on my ankles. With patience, you can reverse the clip in the clasp to loosen the tie. Since we have light now, I can see, and I have nothing but time. With shaking hands, I work at freeing my feet.
When I can’t focus because of dehydration, hunger, and fatigue, I give up on the zip ties and drink some water.
When Laura’s heaving subsides, I bring the water back to her. She sips a little.
“I know you’re not okay,” I tell her, “but are you okay enough to help me find a way out?”
Her eyes lock to mine and something clicks. “I’m okay enough to tell you that we are going to get out of here, and I’m going to watch that filthy son-of-a-bitch take his last breath.”
Well, alright. She has her fire back. With that, I grab the box of sandwiches and get each of us one. We eat silently. No longer able to hold it, I scoot my way to the corner of the room and wiggle my pants and panties down to pop a squat.
It’s not lady-like.
It feels all wrong.
I feel disgusting.
But I had to relieve myself.
Finally, my stomach stops hurting, and I’m able to think more clearly. Going back to the zip ties, I work to release my feet once again. Laura sees what I’m doing and begins to work on her own. It takes us a bit, but finally we work our way free. Standing and stretching, we both find a new burst of energy in our freedoms from the restraints.
Now we just have to hang on until my dad finds us or we find our own way free.
Either way, I know this is not the end of my story.
9
Axel
A silent man is a deadly man. Contained fury is to be feared.
Javier Almanza.
Welcome to a special kind of Hell.
“Axel,” he repeats. “Are you with me?”
I don’t speak. If I open my mouth right now, this man would know the level of hatred I have for him. Instead of telling him exactly what I think, I remain quiet as I pace the area outside of the cave.
“Axel, we have a situation to discuss.” There is a slight tremble to his voice giving away his trepidation. “I do not trust anyone but you with this matter.”
We aren’t friends.
We damn sure aren’t family.
I know why he’s reaching out to me. I don’t give a fuck about him, though. None of this is for him. Clearly, he doesn’t know that I have all the answers.
Javier Almanza is in over his head because he doesn’t even know the enemy he’s in this war with. He’s been bested and never saw it coming. It’s a damn shame.
Still, I remain silent. Of course, he can’t trust anyone else. This is his mess, not mine. I’m the only one who has kept Yesnia safe. It damn sure hasn’t been him. He should be afraid. The fear in his voice, the thoughts in his mind, the panic in his heart, he needs to feel all of this.
“Axel, answer me!”
I laugh. It’s cold, stiff, and not the kind of laugh that indicates a damn thing is funny. “You are not the one callin’ the shots, Almanza.” I pause waiting for his reply. “In fact, I think you don’t have the first clue about what you’re up against much less where your daughter is.”
“What do you know?”
“Well, if that isn’t a funny question for you to ask seein’ as I called and you didn’t fuckin’ answer. I called ready to talk. I called ready to assist you. That window is gone. I know where she is. I know who has her. I know fuckin’ everything, Almanza.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Not a motherfuckin’ thing, but to stay the Hell out of my way.”
It’s his turn to laugh at me. “Not gonna happen, she’s my daughter.”
“You haven’t the slightest clue the game being played here. You’re in over your head, Almanza.”
“And you’re not?” he counters. “This is my familia. This is my world.”
Having enough, I unleash the beast trapped inside me. “The world in which you got your daughter shot. The world in which the woman I love almost died. The world in which you have no clue who really holds her captive or if she’s still breathin’. Looks to me like you lost control. Looks to me like the only way I can make sure my woman is safe is to handle shit myself.”
“What do you know, Hellion?”
I laugh maniacally. “I know this, Javier Almanza, you need to stand down.”
I end the call without a second thought. He fucked this up. He needs to worry. He needs to wonder. This situation never should have happened. I have more connections than him. And I’m not about to let him in on a damn thing until I have Yesnia safe in my arms again.
Only then will I give him answers.
The light of a new day comes with Javier Almanza blowing up my phone. I ignore every call. If I speak to him now, we will be at war. A war I won’t back down from. A war, however, that will distract us both from getting to Yesnia. For her and her only, I’m leaving him alone.
In the last few hours, Hellions from the Haywood’s Landing charter arrived including Karma with a lock down on an address from his cousin Draven. The Sumter South Carolina Hellions have made their way to rally with us in Catawba. With the help of the Jacoby Brothers we have information on all the players.
The cave has us all shoulder to shoulder with only standing room as all the brothers file in.
Tripp takes a seat at the head of the table as the overall club president and our officers shift accordingly. Tank, Haywood’s Landing VP, sits where Shooter normally does and hands Tripp the gavel. Tripp bangs it on the old table, calling the sermon to order.
Bleed for It: Hellions Motorcycle Club (Hellions Ride On Book 3) Page 8
