“No,” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed.
“Look at me,” he snapped, and I forced myself not to jump.
Just to piss him off, I took a few seconds before I looked up at him, keeping my features as benign as possible.
He raised an eyebrow. “We’re not getting off on a good foot here, Quinlan. Are you sure you want to continue with this attitude?”
I didn’t answer.
Michael crossed his arms and stared at me. “I don’t like this, Quinlan. We’ve been apart for far too long, you’ve forgotten your manners.”
Again, I didn’t comment. It wouldn’t do me any good and could just anger him more.
“I will get you some soup and water. I plan to remind you exactly how happy you were with me.”
Are you high?
I screamed all manner of obscenities in my head, keeping my eyes down so he wouldn’t be able to read my expression. If I couldn’t keep my disgust to myself, I’d regret it and I just wanted to bide my time and get home.
“Quinlan.”
I looked up at him.
He raised an eyebrow as he said, “Thank you, Michael.”
I took a few breaths, then forced out, “Thank you, Michael.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome, my love. I’ll be back shortly.”
He left me and I went about looking for some kind of escape. The problem was the room was dark. One small transom in the brick above me provided a little bit of light, but not enough to see what I needed to see to get out of there.
* * *
Badger
“I want you to hack into wherever the fuck you have to hack into to find the asshole’s movements,” I snapped at Rabbit.
We’d managed to get the security manager at the store to show us the tapes from the previous half-hour, and saw Michael shoot something into Quin’s neck, then carry her out the back. Walmart had video of Michael disabling the emergency exit alarm, so we deduced he had been following us for a while.
I fought back my need to rage. More at myself than anyone else. I should have known he was following us, but I’d gotten complacent, allowing the Howlers’ to handle it. All of this was on me, but when I found him, he was gonna regret he was ever born.
After getting the information from Walter, we headed back to the compound and Rabbit went about putting together a map of where Michael went. We were able to determine the make and model of the car Michael dragged Quin into, but we couldn’t quite get the license plate. He’d filled up at a local gas station, we knew this because he got out of the car while the attendant pumped.
Rabbit hacked into traffic cameras in the vicinity and found what looked like Michael’s new car, so I left him to make a map while I checked on Kinsey.
As my foot hit the last step on my descent back to the great room, Alamo and Doom walked in and looked ready to kill.
“Michael?” Alamo demanded.
I nodded. “He’s got Quin.”
“What the fuck?” he bellowed.
“Found him,” Rabbit called, rushing into the room, holding his phone in the air. “I’ve sent the info to your phone.”
“Let’s go,” Alamo said.
“I want point on this one,” I said. “I sat back at Jasmine’s shop, but tonight, I want the fucker’s head in my hands.”
Alamo nodded. “I got your back, brother.”
I decided to take Quin’s car, figuring she probably wouldn’t want a cold ride on the back of my bike. Following the GPS coordinates Rabbit had provided, I pulled up about a block away. I wanted the element of surprise and didn’t want my brothers’ pipes to alert Michael.
Sliding out of Quin’s car, I waited for Dash, Alamo, and Doom to make their way to me. “I want Michael,” I reminded them.
“You need to think about your record, brother,” Dash warned.
“Right now, I don’t give a fuck about my record. He’s mine.”
Alamo nodded. “You can have him, but I’m running point.”
“Fine by me.”
Quinlan
“NOW THEN,” MICHAEL said, holding up a black cocktail dress on a hanger. I was flat on my back on the mattress, both my wrists now cuffed to the bed. “We can do this one of two ways. I can remove your restraints, allow you to put on this beautiful dress, and we can have some supper before we make love,” he said motioning to a small table, containing two place settings.
My stomach tightened, but I fought every urge to react.
“Or, you can be difficult, and I’ll keep you cuffed to the bed.” Michael traced his finger up my thigh, causing me to shiver. He scowled and continued, “And then instead of making love, I’ll have no choice but to beat you and take what I own until there’s barely anything left of you at all.”
I couldn’t help but react to this. Tears filled my eyes and I shook my head.
“So, you’ll be a good girl and join me for supper?”
I nodded.
“Good, now then, let me get you out of those cuffs,” he said, before removing the cuff from my left wrist and placing it in his pocket. As he leaned over me to gain access to the cuff on my right wrist, I threw my head forward and bit the top of his left ear. Michael screamed in agony as I bit down as hard as I could. I heard the pop of cartilage as he stood up, blood pouring from the wound.
Michael removed his shirt and held it to his ear for a few moments while he composed himself. After a few seconds, he threw the shirt to the floor and turned his attention back to me. His torso was covered in blood and he was smiling. “The hard way it is.”
* * *
Badger
The house was located on a large corner lot and looked as if it hadn’t been occupied in quite some time. This complex had been built in the 40s for the employees of a large department store that closed in 80s. It had been fully abandoned less than ten years later, and squatters and druggies often found shelter in the empty homes. The four of us quietly made our way to the house and I could hear Michael’s voice booming from inside.
“That sonofabitch has her in there,” I said, quickening my pace toward the front entrance. Alamo put a hand on my shoulder to slow me down, but I shrugged him off, putting a boot to the door, which didn’t budge.
“Help me, goddammit!” I yelled, and Doom and I put our shoulders into the door, which finally crashed open.
Michael entered the front room just as we gained entrance to the house. He was shirtless, and blood was smeared across his face and chest. I didn’t know if it was his blood or Quin’s and I felt rage flood my veins. He was out of breath and holding a pair of handcuffs. I rushed him at full speed and put my right shoulder directly into his sternum, causing him to hit the ground, voiding him of all air in his lungs. The cuffs were still in his right hand, which I stomped with everything I had; the bones in his hand crunching under the full weight of my heel.
“Where is she, motherfucker?” I screamed. Michael writhed in agony under my boot but said nothing. I took the cuffs from his mangled hand and secured him, face down on the ground.
“Watch him,” I said to the others and raced off to find Quin.
* * *
Quinlan
I came to, curling up as tight as I could, my body shaking with cold on the mattress, and tried to contact Badger telepathically. Unfortunately, the shaking was interfering with my transmission… oh, and he couldn’t read my mind. I shouldn’t be surprised that Michael had left me with nothing. He was determined to make a point and if I died from exposure, his point would certainly be made.
Pain shot through my head, as the beating I’d just endured started to register. I had no idea what my face looked like, and I remember passing out just as I thought how grateful I was that Michael wasn’t hitting me in the stomach. At least, he hadn’t so far. I had to protect my baby at all costs, and if it meant other parts of me got broken, I could live with that.
If I lived at all, that is.
I didn’t know how long I’d been here. I knew it was hours, not days
, but my mind was fuzzy and I was sure I had a concussion. All I knew was I wanted Knox and I needed the pain to stop, but I knew my ordeal had only just started.
Just before I’d lost consciousness, Michael was about to cuff my left hand back to the bed, but I now realized that it was still free and Michael was not in the room. I should have waited until my right was free as well to bite him, but it all happened so fast.
I heard a crash above me and pushed myself up in a futile effort to protect myself. Another crash and thumping and I found myself covering my ears with my hands. I had no idea what the hell was going on, but if Michael was angry enough to make this much noise, whatever fate that was about to befall me wouldn’t be good.
Hearing a loud pop had me up and off the bed, trying to climb under it with one hand still attached to the frame, until I heard Badger’s voice yell, “Quin!”
“Knox?” I rasped, unable to get much louder than a whisper.
“Quinlan!”
“Here!” I yelled, but it came out as a squeak and I burst into tears realizing I had no voice. I knew there was nothing within reaching distance for me to make noise with… well, other than the puke filled bucket, so I tried to pull the bed away from the wall in an effort to drag it along the floor. I didn’t have the guts to try and follow his voice, in case others were with him.
“Quinlan!” Badger called again.
I whimpered as I tugged on the edge of the bed with all my might, achieving a satisfying scrape when the metal dragged against the wooden floor.
“Quin?”
Badger’s voice was close now. At the top of the stairs, I think.
“Knox!” I tried to yell, but again, nothing significant came out.
“Fuck,” Badger hissed, and then he was there in front of me and I was sinking to the ground. “She’s here!” he yelled and rushed to me, lifting me off the floor and setting me gently on the bed.
“Don’t let anyone down here,” I whispered as the warmth of his leather jacket settled over my shoulders and I leaned into him.
“Okay,” he promised. “Gonna get you out of here, baby, just hold on.” I cried out when he left me, but he returned quickly and kissed me gently. “Gotta find a way to get you free of the cuff. I won’t be long.”
I could barely see and I didn’t know if it was because of the dark or because my eyes were swollen so badly.
“Is she okay?” Valen demanded.
“No,” Badger replied. “I need a fuckin’ handcuff key. Search Michael.”
I felt myself relax. They had Michael. They would deal with him and I could go home. I just wanted to climb into bed and curl up next to Knox.
“Baby.”
I jerked awake and reached blindly for him. “You’re here.”
“I’m here. I’m gonna get you free, then we’ll get you to the hospital.”
“I want to go home,” I whispered. “I want to see Kinsey.”
“I know, baby, but we need to make sure you’re okay. Kinsey’s good. Willow’s got her.”
“Key,” Alamo called.
“Don’t let him see me,” I begged.
“Okay, baby.” Knox left me again and then he was lifting my cuffed hand and releasing me. I threw both arms around his neck and crawled onto his lap. “I’m gonna lift you.”
“I do not want to go up there with my business hanging out, Knox. I’m gonna walk.”
He stood, setting me gently on my feet. “My jacket’s big enough to shield you, baby. Trust me, okay?”
He wrapped me tightly in his leather, then lifted me into his arms and shielded me against his chest, carrying me upstairs and through a wooden door. As we reached the top of the staircase I could hear my brother’s voice, “Thank God,” but I kept my head buried into Badger as we walked.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Alamo ground out. “What the fuck did he do to her face?”
“Is it that bad?” I rasped.
“Need y’all to shut the fuck up,” Knox ordered, setting me gently on something soft.
I realized the fact I couldn’t see well was partly because my eyes were swelling, and now the pain that had been kept at bay by adrenaline was flooding me.
“Shit,” Badger hissed. “Baby, stay with me, okay?”
“I’m going to be sick.”
Before he could do anything about this fact, I leaned forward and puked all over the floor. Once my stomach calmed, Badger handed me a tissue and I wiped my mouth.
“I’m gonna get you to the hospital,” Badger said, and lifted me again.
As we walked toward the door, I heard Michael’s voice hiss, “This isn’t over Quinlan.”
“You’re right about that,” Alamo said, before kicking Michael in the ribs.
Badger carried me out to my car and gently placed me inside.
“I’m gonna have Dash and Doom come stay with you. I’m only gonna be gone for a few minutes, and I promise I’ll be right back.”
“Not Doom,” I begged.
He frowned, but nodded. “Just Dash, then.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
* * *
Badger
I sent Dash to look after Quin and turned to Alamo. “Time to call Dalton,” I said.
Dalton was ex-FBI, but he still consulted for the agency, and he’d worked with Alamo and Doom on busting a sex trafficking ring that one of our Portland women had been kidnapped into. Since then, Dalton had helped the club with a few situations that had come up. Coincidentally, those events ended up being a win for Dalton as well in the form of checking off the delivery of some of the criminals on the most-wanted list.
“What about Fuckface?” Doom asked, motioning to Michael.
“We’ll leave him here cuffed and giftwrapped for the feds,” Alamo said.
“Works for me,” I said. “I just want to get Quin to the hospital and make sure she’s okay.”
Doom bound his ankles with strips of what was left of the curtains and cuffed him to the radiator. “Let’s roll,” he said.
“Go on ahead, I’m right behind you,” I said and Alamo shot me a look. “It’s okay, I just need one minute with him before we go.”
Despite his obvious reluctance, Alamo left. and I walked past Michael back down to the basement.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Michael protested, but I said nothing as I went downstairs to collect a propane tank I’d spotted earlier. Michael had it hooked up to a two-burner hot plate in the basement, where it looked like he was preparing to cook some sort of psychotic dinner for two.
I hauled the tank upstairs, and set it near Michael, just out of his reach, turning the valve to the fully open position.
“You know what the real tragedy is with these old abandoned houses?” I asked as Michael struggled to free himself. I could now see the source of the blood covering him was not Quin’s but was from an injury he’d sustained to his ear. Upon closer inspection, I could clearly see it was a bite mark.
“Holy shit. Did Quin do that?” I asked. “Good for her.”
Michael seethed as he continued to writhe on the floor.
“Anyway, the real tragedy is how many of these places end up burning down due to squatters cooking meth, using faulty space heaters, or even from hot plates.”
Michael stopped moving and his eyes widened.
“Of course, for there to be fire, a gas leak wouldn’t be enough. There would have to be an ignition source,” I said slowly, giving the tank time to fill the room.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Michael asked, finally breaking his silence.
“I’m not doing anything,” I replied. “You’ve damned yourself to hell, and I’m just giving you a little help getting there.”
I gave him one hard punch to the face and Michael was out. Once I was sure he wasn’t going anywhere, I uncuffed him, untied his legs, then pulled my zippo from my front pocket and lit it before tossing it a few feet from the tank and closing the door behind me.
I made my way down the driveway
just before a loud whooshing sound caused us all to jump. The few window panes that were still glass and not plywood blew, and flames shot out of the house.
* * *
Quinlan
“Why am I here?” a deep, southern voice asked.
Knox had wanted to take me to the hospital, but my stupid car wouldn’t start, so he and Alamo were trying to figure out why. However, their FBI friend had showed up, so Knox insisted I wait in the car while they talked to him. I’d rolled the window down to get some air and was now fascinated by the conversation happening around me.
“Because this piece of shit tried to kill my sister,” Alamo said.
“And the fire?”
“You know what these crack houses are like,” Knox said. “They’re filled with all manner of combustibles.”
“How is it I’m led to crack houses in the worst parts of Savannah because you’ve found one of our most wanted?”
“Instead of bitchin’, Dalton, how about you just say thank you and move on,” Alamo suggested.
As my brother walked the agent away from the car, I heard sirens, then Badger was opening my door and helping me out of the car. “Ambulance is here, baby. Let’s get you settled.”
The pain in my face was suddenly excruciating, so I let him carry me to the ambulance and didn’t remember anything after that.
* * *
I awoke to a dark room and quickly realized it was a hospital room. I shifted and felt pain in my cheek, not able to stop a moan from escaping.
“Quin?”
I followed the sound of Badger’s voice, but it hurt my head too much so I closed my eyes again.
“Baby?” I felt his hand cover mine. “You’re in the hospital. You had to have a few stitches, and your cheekbone’s fractured, but they don’t think you need surgery.”
I tried to speak, but everything hurt.
“You’ve got a pain pump,” Badger said, and pressed the button.
“Baby,” I rasped, the pain in my face suddenly gone.
“Our baby’s perfect, honey.”
I relaxed, letting the meds do their thing, and fell back to sleep.
* * *
Redeeming the Biker's Past (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 3) Page 14
