Have a Little Faith

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “What?” Both Voight and Worin asked at the same time but Kane waved his hand for them to be quiet. “You did? Do you know where you smelled it?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “The eyes, too, there was something familiar about them,” she said and then tried to remember the things they said. “They’re coming back for me. They promised to come back. I think the other guy, a big guy, he saw the text on my phone and then it ringing and ringing. There was something familiar about them,” she said and then opened her eyes.

  “Okay, you did so good, sweetie. Now let me ask you about Keith. How did you know he was away this weekend, did he tell you?” he asked her. She stared at him as she wiped away tears and Hunt felt his throat dry up and he was so upset that his woman was nearly raped.

  “I don’t know.”

  Kane squinted. “You do. Either he told you or someone said something about him not being home and you overheard it. Maybe at Harper’s. Maybe somewhere else?” Kane asked.

  Hunt saw it. The moment her eyes went wide and then she clenched her teeth. “Son of a bitch. Those bastards. It’s those guys from Harper’s. Voight, Louis, that guy Benny and Lance, the ones who Candice made me go meet at Harold’s in Benter. Oh my God, the men who tried to rape me were Benny and their friend Turk. Yeah, that’s his name. A big guy who smokes cigars. He smelled like that and he was saying things to me that day and Benny was so cocky and he wanted me. Thought I would just…oh God, Candice. She told them.”

  “Candice is involved with this?” Louis asked, sounding so upset.

  “Wait. Wait,” she said and held her temples and closed her eyes.

  “Let me get Alex and Jeb in here,” Kane said and a few minutes later they came in and as they all explained what Faith remembered she was shaking, fingers against her head. She spoke about Harold’s and what went down. She hadn’t even told Hunt and them the whole story.

  Hunt was angry. “You never said they hit on you, that you sat down and heard all this. You said you left,” Hunt said to her.

  “I did leave because I realized that Candice wouldn’t listen to me and not trust these men. Lance was touching her under the table. Benny was right there and I was so disgusted. I said I was leaving and I got up and that guy Turk tried to talk to me, too. I didn’t like how they looked at me, as if I would belong to them. Shit, I remember something. Wait, Candice asked if Lance was going to use the photographer for his sister or cousin’s wedding. The one she mentioned and she told him about his schedule, that Keith usually leaves every weekend this time of year for photo shoots or something. He said he wasn’t sure he would use him and liked two other photographers and named the towns they lived in.”

  “Holy shit. Those two are bikers. They could easily blend in to a bar crowd and get information they want. Hell, if the guy made moves on Candice, he could be asking her all about these locals and she wouldn’t even know she was giving them enough information to hit these places. Holy shit,” Jeb said and they took down the guys’ names and more information from Faith.

  “Candice could be helping them,” Kane said to them all.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think she would do that,” Faith said.

  “How can you say that, Faith? You don’t even know her anymore. She placed you in danger several times. She blurted out things about you that you wanted to keep secret. Hell, she probably fucking told them you were inexperienced,” Voight snapped at her.

  She swallowed hard. She got emotional. “They made reference to my purity, and taking it,” she said and closed her eyes.

  “Someone needs to pick up Candice now. Go to her place, bring her to the department,” Alex said to Kane. Kane pulled out the radio and asked one of the deputies to bring in Candice immediately.

  “You said she was acting differently and that she put you at risk. Did she say anything about money, about leaving town?” Titus asked her.

  “Tonight at the bar she said that Lance and Benny got a new job in Vegas and were leaving and Lance asked her to come with him. She was all snotty like and she—”

  “She what?” Hunt asked as Faith paused.

  “She was wearing a very expensive bracelet. Diamonds with red ruby letter C’s placed here and there. Like a custom piece and she said it was real.”

  “It does sound custom and you know what, if it’s listed on items of stolen property from other jobs and Lance gave it to Candice then we have some evidence right there and a connection to the crimes. Holy crap Faith, everything you’ve told us is amazing. Amazing that you remembered this stuff,” Jeb said to her.

  “I didn’t even know what I remembered and if it is even important. I don’t,” she said and Voight caressed her shoulder.

  “They’ll arrest them, do their thing and all this will be over soon enough. You can press charges and it will work out,” Kane said to her.

  “I don’t know if Candice realizes what she got involved in. I don’t. I truly feel like Lance manipulated her and she was desperate for attention, to have what other women around her have and she may be seeing only what she wants to. Please, Kane, help her.”

  “As long as she isn’t guilty of doing anything then I will. If she chose to go along and give information knowing what these men were after, then my hands are tied,” he said to her and then they talked a little more and then headed out to arrest Lance, Benny, Candice, and Turk.

  “You are amazing,” Louis said and pressed his lips to hers.

  * * * *

  Lance awoke to heavy knocking on the bedroom door. He slid his palm along Candice’s bare ass and stroked the crack. “Yo!” he called out and she didn’t even stir. She was out cold, after working all night and then partying with him and his friends. They did some drugs, drank too much and screwed.

  Benny opened the door and walked inside. “We got a fucking problem. Cops are looking for her,” Benny said and Lance squinted his eyes and stopped stroking her ass. Benny was looking her body over and stood there with his arms crossed.

  “Well, good thing we didn’t go back to that place we were renting, now isn’t it,” he said and climbed up out of bed.

  “What are we going to do next then?”

  “We’re going to pack our shit and head out with the others. The cops aren’t going to stop a large group of bikers heading down the highway, and definitely not any of the travel trailers.”

  “I want to grab my woman and meet up with you somewhere along the way. I’ll need twenty-four hours tops,” Benny said to him.

  “You’re not doing shit. You need to get that woman out of your head. She isn’t yours and wasn’t meant to be. You had your fucking chance and should have fucked her out of your head or grabbed her, brought her back here and banged her with Turk and the others.”

  “Fuck that. You got your bitch to fuck and I want mine,” Benny yelled.

  “That isn’t part of the plan. I’m the boss, remember?”

  “Yeah, well, Turk and I are the fucking ones risking our necks and taking the lesser cut. I want Faith and I will have her.”

  “No! You take a direct order and you listen to me. You want a piece of ass, fuck her. Get that desire out of your body,” Lance said and gave Candice’s ass a smack. She gasped and he looked down at her.

  “I’m going to get Faith. Guaranteed when I bring her back here, you’ll want her, too.”

  “What?” Candice asked.

  “You need to get up and get dressed. We’re leaving shortly,” Lance told her.

  “Leaving to go where?” she asked, pulling up the sheet to cover her body.

  “Hitting the road and heading to Nevada.”

  “I didn’t give notice at work. And what did you mean about taking Faith? She isn’t interested in you,” Candice said to Benny.

  “That was before she felt my hands all over her last night and my body. I promised her I would come back for her and finish what we started. I’ll meet up with you, Lance.”

  “How are you going to get her out of that hospital and with
cops everywhere?” Lance asked, stepping into his jeans and pulling on a T-shirt.

  Benny glanced at Candice then back at Lance. “You got your woman under control. Order her to help make it happen.”

  Lance chuckled. He glanced at his cell phone. “Twenty minutes then the call will go through.”

  “What’s going on, Lance? What did he do to Faith?”

  “Him and Turk paid her a visit after they did a job,” he said and knelt on the bed and clenched her chin. The sheet fell from her body and he licked his lips. “You see, when Benny sets his sights on something he really wants, nothing stands in the way of getting it and certainly not some local country cops. He came so close to fucking her last night. Claiming that ass of hers, but someone showed up and they had to take off, but not before they roughed her up good.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Why would he do that? She doesn’t deserve that. She’s a good person and he doesn’t need her.”

  “You willing to spread your thighs for him, too, and Turk?” She shook her head. “Well, if he comes back empty-handed, you’re all of ours. Anyone I allow.” She went to shake her head and he gripped it tight. “You like your jewelry, money to buy clothes, and whatever you want without working? Well, there are rules, and the main one is our bed will be open to anyone I say.”

  “No. No, I don’t want that. That isn’t what you promised me.”

  He released her chin and struck her. “You don’t talk back. You do as I say,” he said and shoved her down. “Now get dressed. You’re going to make a call in ten minutes and then we’re going to head out shortly after that. Say good-bye to your old life, Candice, and hello to this one.”

  * * * *

  It was late when Faith heard her cell phone ringing. It was plugged into the charger on the high table by the hospital bed. She almost couldn’t reach it, but wondered who it could be. She didn’t even know the time. It felt like her men just left. When she saw that it was Candice she gasped and answered it. “Candice?”

  “I need help. Help me, Faith. Please.”

  “Where are you? Everyone is looking for you.”

  “I got away from Lance and them. They’re crazy, Faith, and they’re trying to make me go to New York with them. I made a mistake. Please, I’ll give you an address where I’m at. I got it off the street sign. I’m staying in the dark. No sirens or lights or Lance and his friend will get to me first.”

  “Okay, send it to me and I’ll call the Sheriff and my men.”

  “What?”

  “My men, Louis, Voight, Worin, and Hunt.”

  “Send them then.”

  “I will.”

  Faith ended the call and immediately called Louis. He answered on the second ring. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a panic.

  “It’s Candice. She called me and she needs help, Louis. I have an address. She got away from Lance and Benny. Can you guys go there please and make sure she’s safe. I know it’s late, but please, call the Sheriff, too, and let me know when you have her?”

  “Jesus, okay, okay, I’ll get the others,” he said.

  “I love you and be careful.”

  “Love you, too,” he said and she ended the call and saw the time. Four forty-five a.m. How the hell would she fall asleep now? As she leaned back and closed her eyes she hoped that they got to Candice in time. There was no way she was involved in this. No way. She would be safe soon enough and the police could maybe catch Lance and Benny.

  * * * *

  “Come on. Let’s move.” Lance grabbed Candice by her arm and brought her out to the parking lot.

  “I need to use the bathroom really quick,” she said and he ignored her. Then she noticed the travel trailers lining up in front of the bikers.

  “We’re traveling in that one. Get your ass in there and wait for me,” he ordered and gave her ass a slap.

  She started to head toward it. She didn’t want to go. She couldn’t believe that Benny and Turk attacked Faith and that she wound up in the hospital. Now they were going to abduct her from there. She had to do something.

  She got inside of the travel trailer. She walked to the bathroom and passed a few older men who looked at her and licked their lips. One slid his palm along her leg as she passed. “Lance said you were hot. Can’t wait. It’s going to be a long ride to Nevada. We’ll all keep you nice and warm.”

  “I don’t think so, buddy,” she said.

  “Mind your manners. Remember what I said,” Lance stated and then was giving orders.

  She walked into the bathroom, closed the door and locked it. She dialed the Sheriff’s department. “It’s Candice Flemming, please let the Sheriff know that it’s a trap. Men are going to abduct Faith from the hospital. He made me call her and say I was at a location and I’m not there. I need to go. Lance will kill me if he catches me.”

  “No, where are you? Tell us and we will find you,” the deputy said.

  “I’ll leave my phone on. Find its location,” she said and then she looked around the bathroom and saw the small closet. She put her phone on the floor in the back and covered it with stuff. She then turned on the water. The door pulled open. She could feel the trailer moving. “I’m washing my hands,” she said to him.

  “Bull fucking shit.” Lance yanked her out of the bathroom and shoved her to the seat. He grabbed her purse and was looking for something. “Where’s your phone?” he asked and she just stared at him. “Where’s the fucking phone?” he raged.

  “I don’t know. I think I lost it.”

  He smacked her across the face and she fell over. He grabbed her by her hair. “Where’s the phone? Who did you call?” he demanded to know.

  “I don’t know,” she said as tears spilled from her eyes and he smacked her again.

  “Everyone look for the fucking phone,” he yelled. She sat back and cried, and hoped that the deputy could track her location. She hoped they got to Faith’s men in time and could rescue her before Benny and Turk took her. As the men rummaged through the place and then Lance went back into the bathroom pulling everything open, he found her phone.

  “You stupid fucking bitch!” He came at her and struck her with it. As she fell to the rug she could hear the sirens, and felt the travel trailer come to a stop. A few seconds later police swarmed in. “Arms in the air where we can see them!” She closed her eyes and prayed that Faith’s men got to her in time.

  * * * *

  She felt like she just dozed off as cold air collided against her thighs and then strong arms lifted her up. She blinked her eyes open, feeling the pain in her ribs as someone pressed tape over her mouth, and the bruising. “Let’s go.”

  She resisted immediately, locked gazes with Benny and started kicking and screaming against the tape. He was having difficulty holding her as she kept moving around even though it caused pain in her side, and her ribs.

  “Stop fighting us. You’re mine. You’re coming away with me. I came back for you.” He pressed his mouth over hers and she banged her forehead against his lip. He cursed and she shoved her elbow down. He dropped her to the floor and she scrambled backward only for him to backhand her across the mouth.

  “We need to move, now,” Turk said.

  Benny’s shirt lifted up. She saw the gun on Benny’s waist and she pulled the tape off her mouth and went to scream when he punched her again and then in her ribs, knowing she was hurt there. He threw her over his shoulder and started heading out of the room. She moaned and wanted to scream but couldn’t catch her breath. As they exited the side emergency door she heard the sirens but the police were heading to the front. They must know Benny and Turk were there. “Let go of me.”

  He threw her onto the floor of the inside of a van, as Turk got into the driver’s seat of the van and started it up. She needed to find the strength to fight now, before he tied her up. Her gown was to her hips and he licked his lips and grabbed her throat. He was holding her by her neck. And when he lowered down she made her move.

  “This time I’m going
to finish what we started,” he said and licked his lower lip.

  She panted for breath. “Never going to happen, just like last time.”

  He squeezed her throat a little tighter, and slid his palm up under her gown, pushing it up to her bare breast. He squeezed her already bruised bosom.

  “I didn’t have this the last time.” She pulled his gun from his waist under his shirt and instead of lowering down he rose up. She pulled it out, pointed and shot him. At the same time the van stopped short. Benny rolled off of her and then came back at her, She turned to shoot again, hitting him in the shoulder this time, but then Turk stepped on the gas and she heard the glass shatter and then the van hit something. She tumbled to her belly, still holding the gun when the door yanked open and her men were there, guns drawn and a cavalry of men. The only one she didn’t see was Worin. Then he was there, as they pulled her from the van, took the gun from her hands and the Sheriff ordered men to arrest Benny. He was bleeding from his stomach and shoulder, and Turk was dead. Worin shot him. She knew he did because she saw him put his gun in the holster on his waist and then pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.

  “Son of a bitch. We almost lost you again,” he said. “Look at your lip, and cheek, and Jesus, your neck, too,” he said and stroked them gently with his thumb. Tears spilled from her eyes. She was in so much pain.

  “Not this time. I got the gun, and you guys rescued me. How did you know?” she asked as Louis and Voight caressed her hair and someone placed a blanket over her body.

  “Candice called the Sheriff’s department and said it was a setup. Apparently Lance was forcing her to call you and when she got a chance, she snuck into a bathroom in an RV and told the deputy what was really happening, then hid her phone for the police to track,” Louis told her.

  “They picked up Lance, and a bunch of his buddies, plus a whole bunch of stolen property he had locked in a box truck following them. You just helped to demolish a group of serial robbers,” Voight said.