Titan (Hades Abyss MC 5): Mississippi Chapter

by Harley Wylde

  I flipped him off. “I’m going to make this short. Delilah is gone. Someone shot Samurai and grabbed her. Samurai is in the hospital, and Delilah is on her way to New Orleans. I’m going after her and I need a few men to ride with me. Delilah’s dad is going, so we won’t need anyone to drive the club truck.”

  “Wait. Samurai has been shot?” Stone asked.

  “Yes. He was in surgery last I heard. Charming is aware of the situation. I don’t expect Rooster to go with us. He needs to be here for his brother. I need Boomer here to handle any shit that comes up. Do I have any volunteers?”

  “I would, Pres, but I don’t want to leave MaryAnne alone,” Patriot said. “She’s still pretty fucked-up from being in that place.”

  I nodded. It was good he was looking after her.

  “I’m in,” said Philly.

  “I’ll go too,” Brick said.

  “Well, I can’t let y’all have all the fun,” Stone said.

  “Three is all we can spare,” I said. “I can’t let anyone else from the club go with us. There’s a club down there, Broken Bastards, who are going to watch out for Delilah. If they see her in town, they’ll let me know where she’s being held. I’m sure they’ll give us a few men to help extract her.”

  “Reapers will probably send a few men. They’re about the same distance to New Orleans as us,” Wizard said. “I’m messaging Wire now.”

  “Tell him I’m rolling out in about ten minutes. Anyone going with me, go pack a change of clothes and meet me at the gate.” Stone, Brick, and Philly walked out. “I need the rest of you to keep things running smooth here while I’m gone.”

  “Focus on Delilah,” Boomer said. “Everything here will be fine.”

  I looked around the table and stood. “I’ll turn it over to Boomer. Any upcoming jobs will probably have to be restructured since I’m taking some brothers with me.”

  I went out to my bike. Lance was idling next to it, and texting on his phone. Barney pressed his nose to the window, leaving a smear on the glass. I shook my head and smiled. I didn’t know what Delilah was going through right now, or what shape I’d find her in, but I hoped the little dog would be a comfort to her.

  Before I forgot, I sent a picture of Delilah over to Breaker. I didn’t know if she was already in New Orleans, or if the men who took her had changed their course. When I caught up to them, and I would no matter how long it took, I was going to make them regret ever so much as looking her way. If they’d hurt her, they’d die. Slowly and painfully.

  “Hold on, baby,” I muttered to myself. “I’m coming for you.”

  I started up the bike and pulled over to the gate, then waited for the rest of my brothers to join me. New Orleans was a two-and-a-half-hour trip, but I had a feeling I would get there in a lot less time. I’d break every law between here and there if I had to. No way I was leaving her with those men any longer than necessary. If Breaker found her before I arrived, I hoped he’d extract her if he got the chance.

  My phone chimed with an incoming text.

  Sending men out now to look for her.

  Good. The sooner I had her back in my arms the better.

  Chapter Twelve

  Delilah

  I’d convinced the men I needed a bathroom break, and Luther had gone with me to stand guard. It gave him the perfect opportunity to call Titan. Even though I didn’t get to speak to him, at least he knew where we were going. I hoped that meant he was coming for me. Under other circumstances, I’d have enjoyed seeing New Orleans. Being held captive and threatened put a damper on things. At least Luther had kept me relatively safe.

  As we approached a bricked-off property with a black metal gate, my heart slammed against my ribs. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what we found inside. Between the brick wall and the trees hanging over the top, I couldn’t see what lay behind it. Was my “husband” in there? Or my grandfather? Luther hadn’t told me much. Other than our brief conversation as I threw up, and me giving him Titan’s number when I used the bathroom, we hadn’t had a chance to say much to one another. He’d made sure the two goons in the car with us kept their hands to themselves with sharp reminders I’d been paid for, and I was grateful to him for that much at least.

  “Maybe we should have cleaned her up first,” Eddie said, eyeing me.

  I knew I looked a mess, but what did they expect? They’d snatched me from the gas station parking lot, and I hadn’t exactly been prepared for an outing when I’d left the compound. I still wore the hideous unicorn slippers, but it was better than being barefoot. The car pulled through the gate and up to a large house. Not quite a mansion, but definitely a home owned by a very wealthy man.

  The car came to a stop and Luther got out, reaching in to grab my arm and pull me from the car. The door to the house opened and a man in a three-piece suit came out, his shiny shoes clicking on the bricked walkway. An air of arrogance surrounded him. Even though he was older than me, he seemed younger than Titan. His blond hair had been brushed back and looked like it had product in it. But it was the ice-cold blue eyes that made me shiver. There wasn’t an ounce of humanity in his eyes.

  “Took you long enough,” he said. His gaze scanned me from head to toe. “Take her inside. She’ll need to be properly bathed and dressed. We’re having company tonight and I want her to look her best.”

  “Yes, Mr. Boucher,” Luther said.

  Luther led me past the man and into the house. I didn’t bother looking at my surroundings. It didn’t matter if the house was beautiful. It was a cage. A prison. And I had no doubt I was going to die here if Titan didn’t find me soon. The room Luther led me to was spacious, but I noticed there were bars across the windows. A dress had been laid across the foot of the bed, if you could call the filmy garment a dress. I eyed it, wondering exactly what I was in for tonight. Luther nudged me toward another door, and we entered a decently sized bathroom.

  “Luther, why am I here?” I asked.

  “On paper, you’ll be Boucher’s wife.”

  “And not on paper?” I asked.

  His gaze shuttered and his lips tightened into a hard line. Right. I was essentially a whore for Boucher to use as he saw fit. I pressed a hand to my stomach, hoping I could keep my baby safe until Titan arrived. Luther reached past me into the shower stall and turned on the water, as steam filled the room he moved in closer, a hard look on his face.

  “Make it seem like you’re scared and disobeying,” he said softly. “There are cameras and probably listening devices in here and the bedroom.”

  I made my eyes go wide and pressed a hand to my lips. I didn’t need to feign fear. I was terrified, just not of Luther. It seemed he’d gotten tangled up in this mess as a way to save his daughter. He’d been kind to me, or as kind as he could be in this situation.

  “I’ll find a way to get a message to your man. Let him know where you are. I’ve been using a burner phone, but if Boucher gets his hands on it, he’ll know I was the rat and my daughter will be lost forever. Understand?”

  I gave a slight nod and took a step back, trying to act scared.

  He gestured with his hands, making it seem as if he were furious with me.

  “There’s a group of bikers in town. Broken Bastards. Maybe I can reach out to them, see if they know your husband. Don’t do anything stupid, Delilah. Boucher won’t kill you quickly. He’ll make you suffer.” He backed up and folded his arms over his chest, nodding at the shower. “Get in.”

  My hands shook as I undressed, but I noticed Luther was staring at a spot just over my shoulder and not watching me. If there was a camera, like he’d said, they would think he was staring at me but I could tell otherwise. I got under the spray and cleaned myself, using quick efficient motions to get the job done as fast as possible. When I got out, Luther handed me a towel and I wrapped it around my body. He gave me another for my hair and I dried it best as I could without a hairdryer.

  “I’m stepping outside the door. Don’t try anything,” Luth
er said with a stern look. “Make yourself presentable for Mr. Boucher. He’ll be up shortly to see you.”

  Luther went out into the hall and shut the door. I heard the faint sound of a lock clicking, then the low murmur of his voice. Whoever he called, I hoped they were sending help and would get me out of here before tonight. Assuming there weren’t cameras and stuff out there too. If there were, Luther could be in serious trouble.

  If Boucher’s friends were anything like him, tonight would be a horrific event.

  I finished drying my hair and braided it. I fingered the braid, second-guessing myself. It would only give him something to easily grab. I shook my hair loose again, then pulled on the ridiculous garment. Even though it had little ties that held it closed, it was little more than a gauzy robe you could see through. Shame burned through me, knowing Boucher and anyone else in the house would see me. I might have been a webcam girl, but that had been on my terms. This was different.

  Even though Boucher hadn’t touched me -- yet -- I still felt violated.

  I went to the window and stared out at the pretty grounds below. A room with a view. As long as I didn’t mind being behind bars. Literally. I hadn’t noticed any bars on the front of the house, so I had to wonder if this was the only room that had any. How long had he been planning this? Was I the first or had he taken other women against their will?

  The door opened behind me and I spun, hoping it was Luther. It wasn’t. Boucher walked in and shut the door behind him. He shoved his hands into his pockets and observed me, his gaze taking in every inch of my nearly exposed body.

  “I’m thinking the white is no longer appropriate. Are you still untouched? I was promised you’d be a virgin, but it’s been months since I brokered the deal with Montcliff.” He came closer, an easy stride that said he had all the time in the world. “You can either answer truthfully, or I can find out the hard way.”

  My palms grew slick with sweat and my stomach rolled with nausea. He was going to rape me. Maybe do something even worse, although at the moment I couldn’t think of what that might be.

  “I’m not a virgin,” I said softly. “I’ve been living with someone.”

  Probably best not to mention I was married to Titan and not just living with him. Although, if he’d wanted a virgin, it was doubtful his sham of a marriage was still on the table anyway.

  “Pity.” He came closer still and I fought the urge to run. There was nowhere to hide. He removed his hand from his pocket and reached out to cup my cheek. His touch revolted me. The tic in his jaw said he’d noticed my reaction and wasn’t happy about it. “On your knees. Let’s see what you’ve learned.”

  On my… I whimpered and took a step back, bumping into the window. He reached out, so fast his hand was a blur, and gripped my hair, yanking me toward him. I crashed against his chest, nearly falling to the floor.

  “Tonight is going to go a little different than I’d planned. But never fear. You’ll get plenty of attention, my little whore. Instead of letting my friends watch as I claim my virgin bride, I’ll let them have a turn with my new toy.”

  I felt the burn as bile rose in my throat.

  “Want to see the special room? We’ll be having lots of fun in there, until my little toy is too broken.” His smile was cruel. He gripped my hair tighter and used it to drag me from the room and down the stairs. We went through another door and down more stairs. At the bottom, he flicked on the lights and the horror of what I saw was enough to make me scream and battle to break free.

  I kicked, hit, and struggled to get away. Boucher only laughed and seemed to enjoy my little display. He led me to a large wooden X that had shackles attached. I eyed it, fear surging through me.

  “Don’t like the cross?” he asked. “Did you and your boyfriend dabble with bondage?”

  I shook my head, unable to speak.

  He pressed me against the wooden structure and shackled my wrists, then spread my legs and fastened them in place as well. He stood back, eyes gleaming. Before I could process what he was doing, he ripped the material of my gauzy dress off my body and let the tattered pieces fall to the floor. Boucher cupped my breast, squeezing hard enough I couldn’t stop the cry that rose to my lips. Tears pricked my eyes and I had no doubt he’d leave bruises.

  “I think my little toy should be punished. I’d wanted a bride. Instead, I got a whore.”

  He walked over to another wall and opened a large wooden cabinet. The contents were beyond horrifying. Whips, chains, what looked like a branding iron, other things I didn’t recognize, and lots of knives. Boucher took out a long whip, the kind I’d seen on cartoons and funny memes. He approached, flicking the end so that it made a loud snapping sound.

  “Let’s test your pain threshold, shall we?” he asked.

  Before I could utter a word, he flicked the whip, the leather end biting into my thigh and leaving a raised welt behind. I cried out and yanked at the cuffs holding me. He did the same to the other side. Tears streaked my cheeks and I wondered if I’d live long enough for Titan to find me. What if he got here too late?

  A throat cleared at the top of the stairs. “Apologies, Mr. Boucher, but there’s a Mr. Satyr here to see you, as well as two of his friends.”

  “Satyr?” he asked, letting the whip drop to his side. “Very well. Send him down.”

  Send him down? As in down here with us? I felt like my lungs were constricting to the point I couldn’t breathe. A loud whooshing filled my ears as I tried to focus on what was happening around me, although I wondered if passing out might not be better. At least then I wouldn’t know what they were going to do to me.

  A man in a leather cut came down the stairs, two men on his heels. Broken Bastards MC. Wasn’t that the name of the club Luther had mentioned? Were these the men he hoped would rescue me? Or were they friends of Boucher? None of them gave me more than a quick glance before focusing on the monster in front of me.

  “My invitation get lost?” Satyr asked.

  “Didn’t think this was your type of party,” Boucher said. “Orgies are one thing, but this is another matter. But of course, if you’d like to join me…” He waved a hand at the case on the wall.

  Satyr glanced at me and the intense look in his eyes only increased the tension I felt. They weren’t hard and cold like Boucher’s, but I didn’t exactly get warm fuzzies looking at him either. The other two men came closer, their gazes locked on my face. I glanced at their cuts. Discord and Bomber.

  “Pretty little thing like you would look much better on the back of a bike than on that cross,” Discord said. He gave me a subtle wink and everything in me went still. Was that a message? Was he trying to tell me they were here to help?

  “Perhaps I’ll sell her to you when I’m finished,” Boucher said.

  Discord ran his fingers down my cheek. “I don’t know. I may want her now. Why should I let someone else brand her? If I’m going to buy her, I’d rather she wear my marks and not yours.”

  I started shaking, my stomach roiling, and I couldn’t stop the sobs that rose in my throat. I was going to be tortured. Raped. Probably killed. I should have never left the compound. Even worse, I’d never told Titan how I felt about him. Our child would never get the chance to be born. I couldn’t see through the tears that fell rapidly, couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “Jesus,” Discord muttered. He gripped my hair, pulling hard enough to get my attention. I tried to focus on him. “Stay with me, little girl. Woman of your standing doesn’t break this easily, you hear me?”

  Of my standing. I sniffled and sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm myself. When I was able to see him clearly, and I no longer felt like I was unraveling, I noticed his gaze seemed to be conveying a message. Woman of my standing. He knew! He knew I belonged to Titan.

  “That’s it,” he crooned. “Be brave. You’re strong. A fighter. Men like me don’t like weak women. Understood?”

  I nodded.

  “I have plans for the bitch,” Boucher said.<
br />
  “How much?” Discord asked. “How much to walk out of here with her? She’s pretty enough I want to keep her a while. You go marking up her skin and I won’t pay near as much.”

  “I paid one hundred thousand, expecting a virgin bride. Instead, I got a whore. I’ll earn my money back one way or another,” Boucher said.

  “You want your money? I’ll pay you back the money you spent on her,” Discord said. “But only if you don’t touch her. I want her just as pretty as she is now, and I don’t want to put my dick anywhere yours has been.”

  Boucher turned red, then purple. I thought he was going to attack Discord. Instead, he nodded to someone out of sight. Two men came into the room, each grabbing an arm, and hauled Discord away from me.

  “Satyr, you’ve been to my parties, and you’re welcome to stay but your friend needs to go,” Boucher said. “Are the two of you going to be as problematic?”

  “Nope,” Satyr said.

  Bomber eyed me, as if he were appraising a cow he might purchase and shook his head. “No problem here. I just want to have some fun.”

  “Fine, then you can both stay, as long as you keep out of my way. I need to teach this bitch a lesson.” Boucher pushed them aside and stood in front of me with the whip again.

  I fought not to cry out, not to scream or beg, as the leather bit into my skin again and again. He left red stripes along my ribs, across both thighs, and even across one breast, the same one he’d already bruised. Tears wet my cheeks, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of making a sound.

  He tossed the whip aside and strode over to the cabinet. I held the gazes of Bomber and Satyr. I’d have missed the clue if I hadn’t been paying attention. Bomber shoved his hand into his denim pocket, then untucked three fingers. He tapped them twice before shifting again and crossing his arms.

  Three. Three what? Three minutes? Hours? Three more men were coming?

  Boucher approached me again. The blade of the knife he held gleamed under the lights. He tightened his grip on it before reaching for me. His fingers closed over my hair and wrenched my head to the side. I heard him sawing through the locks as he tossed down one handful after another of my hair. When he was finished, the strands didn’t even brush my shoulders.