by E. C. Land
I have to get Hades’ brothers. They’re the only ones who can help at this point.
“When we catch you, you’ll experience what he does tenfold,” the man’s voice is closer this time. I glance behind me, though no one’s there.
“Emerson, don’t look back. Run, baby,” Hades’ pained voice screams out.
Jolting upright, my breathing is heavy and erratic as the nightmare still lingers. Hades’ voice filling my head along with the man whose voice, for some reason, feels more familiar. Maybe from the way it always seems to be in my dreams. Regaining control of my breathing, I shake my head while trying to figure out why I’m rattled more than usual.
“You can run, but you can’t hide, girl,” I mumble the man’s words to myself. It’s like he’s saying something from the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale.
“Fairytale,” I mutter, shaking my head as I get out of Hades’ bed. As I move toward the bathroom, it hits me. Shit . . . shit . . . shit . . . I know where they took Hades.
Without another thought, I run out of Hades’ room into the main room and come to a stop. “I know where he is,” I scream, gaining the attention of everyone in the room.
2
Emerson
What do you mean, you know where he is? How?” Twister asks while approaching me.
Nodding my head, “I . . . I was having a nightmare, and when I woke, I remembered something that was said, and it dawned on me,” I whisper.
“What exactly was it you remember?” Horse asks.
“It’s still fuzzy, but I remember Timothy talking about a place near Fincastle. Something about a national forest.” Shaking my head, I run both my hands through my hair before hugging myself.
“That’s good, Em. Do you remember anything else?” Steph encourages as she places an arm around my shoulders.
“There’s a lot I’m unsure of, like the names of the men, but I’m pretty sure about Fincastle,” I say, looking at my sister. Noticing the worry in her eyes, I feel like shit for being so self-absorbed in all that I’ve been going through when she’s been dealing with her own crap. Lately, it seems the only thing going right for her or myself is the fact she found the men of her dreams, and not just one but two— twins.
Me, on the other hand, I’ve failed the one I want to give my heart to. If the club gets him back, I’m sure he won’t even want to see me again. Not after everything I’ve let him endure on my behalf.
“That’s fine. I have something to go with now, which is better than nothing,” Gadget says, moving toward me. “I know this might seem like a random question, but would you know what happened to Hades’ wallet?”
Furrowing my brows, I think about his question. “I’m sorry, I don’t. When we were taken, I was knocked out and only came to when we were in the building you guys checked. I do remember Hades was still out of it when I woke up. They could have taken it during that time. Why?”
“It had a GPS tracking device in it, and we couldn’t find it at your shop or the building. In fact, I can’t get a location on it at all. I want to say he still has it on him, but they have a jammer blocking the signals on it,” Gadget says, nodding to himself as if he’s trying to figure something out in his head.
“Gadget, why don’t you go do your thing, and I want anything you can on this area near Fincastle. I’m gonna call Hammer, see what he may know. I’m calling for church in an hour. That should hopefully be enough time for you,” Twister speaks up.
“You got it, Prez. Em, we’re gonna find him,” Gadget says as he passes me, placing a kiss to my temple.
God, I hope he’s right.
“Gadget’s right, they’re gonna find him. Now, since you've finally come out of Hades’ room, how about we feed you. It’s Christmas Eve, after all, and you need to eat. Besides, I have a gift for you and Logan to open,” Steph says, moving me toward the kitchen door.
“I’m not hungry,” I mumble, following her lead, knowing my sister won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. I could care less about gifts or that it’s Christmas Eve. Selfish as it sounds, they can have their Christmas fun. I don’t want any part of it.
“Hey, Emerson, how are you doing?” Cleo asks as soon as she sees the two of us enter the kitchen.
Shrugging my shoulders, I answer her, “Okay, I guess.”
“I know that’s a lie, but I’ll take it for now,” Cleo calls me out but doesn’t push me to open up, which I’m grateful for.
Moving to the center island, I sit at the counter and focus on the cake Cleo is in the process of frosting. I don’t want to be in here, but if I attempt to go back to Hades’ room, Steph might slap me.
“So, you and Hades, huh?” Izzy asks while sitting down next to me, holding a new baby in her arms. I knew she and Kenny had their babies, but I’d yet to see them.
“There isn’t anything going on between us other than I feel horrible for leaving him behind,” I admit while keeping my eyes on the baby. “What’s her name?” I ask, watching as the little girl shifts her head.
“Leanna Mercy,” Izzy says.
“That’s beautiful,” I say, finally looking back up and seeing all the women watching me. “What?”
“You know that’s not on you for leaving him behind. I may not know Hades all that well, but I’m sure he let them take him to buy you time to get away and find help. He didn’t know you’d suppress your memory the way you have,” Lynsdey says quietly, yet her words seem to be a slap in the face.
“It’s a common thing to lose your memory temporarily after a trauma like the one you’ve been through.” The doctor in my sister comes to my defense.
“Still feel like crap for not being more help,” I mutter.
“As you should be.” All of us turn to the entrance at the snide remark from a barely dressed woman I’d seen around the clubhouse. Hell, I’d even seen this same bitch sucking Hades’ dick. At that thought, I want to rip all her extensions out of her head.
“Excuse me, but you can take your disease-carrying ass back out of my kitchen,” Cleo says sarcastically.
“Fuck you, bitch. You all seem to think just because you’re an ol’ lady that y’alls shit don’t stink. But I’ll let you in on a secret, your men all have dicks and love to get them wet. And they love doing just that anywhere they can. You all might think that’s what you’re for, well, bitches, you got it all wrong. See, that’s what we’re here for, and you uptight cunts aren’t going to stop me or any of those other women from giving it to them,” the whore states while looking at her fingernails. Bitch better be ready to get her ass kicked.
“You’re nothing but a clubwhore, and as for our men needing to get their dicks wet, they know where to get it, without worry about catching some disease,” Lynsdey huffs.
“Yeah, okay, Miss High and Mighty. As for this one, though, she can get the hell out of Hades’ room ‘cause soon as he gets back, I don’t want you in my way when he’s pounding me from behind,” she sneers in my direction.
“Bitch, please, like he wants anything you have. Your snatch is probably stretched out more than a fifty-year-old hooker,” I blurt out without even thinking twice.
“Oh honey, trust me, he does. See, I’m his favorite. Hades loves being able to sink his big dick inside my pussy.” The whore runs a hand over her body before stroking a finger along her crotch.
Fuckin’ gross.
“I think I’m gonna be sick. Someone get this nasty snatch away from me and my daughter,” Izzy orders.
“I’ll be more than happy to,” a fuming Twister says as he steps into the room. “Susie Cue, I’m telling you now, get to your fuckin’ room and I suggest you stay there for the remainder of the night and tomorrow,” he orders.
Susie Cue, as he called her, flips her hair over her shoulder. “Anything for you, Twister,” she says as she saunters out of the kitchen like she owns the fuckin’ place.
“Looks like someone is trying to become head of something,” Izzy mutters.
“Head of cleaning the
toilets,” Twister throws at his wife, grinning before leaning down to kiss her. “We’re heading into church. If you need me, let me know, okay,” he says, never once taking his eyes off his ol’ lady. The way he looks at Izzy is how I want someone to look at me. Hades in particular.
As he leaves, the women around me seem to change the subject from Susie Cue, not letting it affect them. Not understanding what I’m doing in here, I creep out of the room and make my way toward Hades’ room, the room I’ve hidden in for the past few weeks, and gather my things. I don’t know where I’ll go, but the clubwhore was right about one thing— Hades isn’t going to want me in his room. Plus, I need to get out of here. If I was right and they find him, I’m not going to be in his way. He doesn’t need that or to see the person who held the club up from finding him in the first place. Shit, if it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have been taken.
Grabbing some paper, I quickly write a letter to Hades apologizing to him along with one addressed to Steph, letting her know I’ll be okay, that I need time right now, and to have a great Christmas.
Leaving them on the dresser, I quietly move toward the back of the clubhouse and out the door. Spotting my car in the parking lot, I sigh and make my way toward it as I remember the day everything happened or at least the first part of it, how Hades dragged me to his bike and ordered me to get on. There was no point in me driving my car when we were heading to the same damn place.
Getting in my car, I’m thankful it started right up after sitting a while without movement. Putting her in drive, I pull out and leave, wondering what I’ll do now.
3
Hades
Pain consumes my body as if I’m being torn in half. Which I thought they would have accomplished with the latest round of torture they threw my way. Those fuckers of course kept me chained to the wall, but they’ve changed it up and released one hand only to chain my leg to my wrist. They then proceeded to do the same with my other hand pulling the chains as tight as they could, lifting me clear off the floor, at which point they repeatedly hit my back with the barbed whip.
Normally, my captors have taken their fists to me, all except for the one I believe to be the leader. He loves to use the whip as he laughs. This last time was the only time I’ve ever let them hear me scream out in agony when he taunted me with the fact he couldn’t wait to snag Emerson. Make her his new play toy. Claiming she’s one of the Chosen. Then when he’d finished having his fun, he’d left me hanging there.
That’s why I’m confused at feeling the cold floor against my back and the wet cloth being pressed against my face.
“Shhh, try not to move, Hayden,” a woman’s voice says soothingly, using my real name, a name I haven’t allowed anyone to call me since the night my life went to hell.
Groaning, I try to open my eyes to see who this woman is.
“It’s gonna be okay. As long as you stay quiet, they will leave you alone,” she says. I don’t know who she is, but the way she’s so gentle, I’m sure she’s not a threat to me.
“Who are you?” I rasp, my throat dry from the lack of water I’ve been allowed to drink.
“Don’t worry about who I am,” she whispers. “I’m not really supposed to be here, but when they couldn’t get you to wake up, they allowed me down here. So please keep quiet, don’t move, and I can make sure they don’t hurt you. At least for the rest of the day.”
“Can you at least tell me what day it is or where the fuck I am?” I grumble, attempting to open my eyes, yet they refuse to open. They’re swollen completely shut.
“It’s Christmas Eve, and if I tell you where we are, they will surely kill me,” she mumbles as she runs a wet cloth along my face. “Fuck! I’ve been here for a month.”
“Yeah, you’ve been here since before Thanksgiving.” At the sound of her voice, I realize I spoke out.
I don’t say another word as she continues to clean my face and moves down to my chest. They’d removed my shirt when I first got here and I’m sure it’s filled with marks from the whip they love to take to my skin.
“They’ve done quite a job on you for being here a month,” the woman whispers. “I’ll do what I can to keep them away from you for the next day or so.” Her voice trembles at her words.
“No, this is nothing,” I grind out as I try to force my eyes open. For some reason, I need to see who this woman is. Something about her feels familiar, but I’m not sure why.
“You don’t have the strength to take any more without resting some,” she argues.
“I don’t give a damn. I’m sure this is nothing compared to what they’d have planned for you,” I groan out as I shift my body some.
“I’m used to what they do to me. Now shut up and rest, Hayden. Especially if you want to get the hell out of here and to Emerson,” she mutters.
I stiffen at the mention of the green-eyed beauty who has consumed my thoughts since being trapped here. I can’t help but wonder if she’s okay. Did she make it to the clubhouse? Are my brothers coming after me? Has something happened to her?
These same questions have racked my brain since the night I held these fuckers off to give her time to get away.
Thoughts of her are interrupted as I think of this woman’s words. “What do you mean if I want to get the hell out of here and to Emerson?” I ask.
“Shhh, don’t worry about it right now. Just rest, and it will all work out in the long run,” she says quietly.
“Stop fuckin’ shushing me and tell me,” I demand.
“God, you’re as stubborn as you were as a kid. I swear, Hayden, shut up.” I’m stunned at her words. It couldn’t be. She died. There’s no way this woman is my sister.
“Ally?” I whisper her name.
“Yes, Hayden, it’s me, now shut up and rest. I’ll make sure they leave you alone,” my sister says, cupping my cheek.
“No, don’t do anything to get yourself in trouble,” I tell her as I take in her touch. I can’t believe she’s here. All this time, I thought she’d died, and I feel like shit for abandoning my search for her.
“They can’t do anything to me they haven’t already.” The way she says it so nonchalantly as she tries to cover the fear in her voice guts me.
“I’m sorry, Ally,” I mumble.
“Don’t be. I know all that you’ve done over the years, because each time you’ve gotten close, they’ve moved me to another area,” she whispers. “Now rest, Hayden. I’ll get you out of here.”
“How are you gonna do that?” I question, but before she can answer me, the clanging of a door stops her.
“Times up, Ally. Get the fuck up here now.” I grind my teeth to keep from saying anything. I don’t want to make it worse for my sister.
“He needs to rest, Charles. Please?” Ally says as she moves away from me and toward the man who I’m finally finding out the name of— Charles. Each time they’ve been in here, they never once said their names. Only I was chosen to be their plaything until their next bride showed up.
“Are you willing to pay the price of what you’re asking for?” Charles’s voice sounds more like a sneer as he asks my sister. I can feel the bile rising at the thought of what the price is.
“Yes, I will do anything for him,” she responds without hesitation.
“Then he can have the night and tomorrow as long as you do as you’re supposed to. Now go strip and prepare. If you’re going to pay the price, payment will start now. We have guests to serve.” Charles laughs as he slams the door behind the two of them.
Fuck, my sister’s alive and I’m too fuckin’ weak to do anything to help her. I want nothing more than to get her out of here. I’ll have to bide my time and hope either Emerson was able to help my brothers or I can figure a way out of here and bring my sister home with me.
4
Hades
It feels like days have passed without anyone coming near me other than to bring me something to drink or eat. No one has spoken to me. As much as I want to enjoy this reprieve f
rom the ongoing torture, I can’t, not knowing it’s at the cost of whatever it is my sister had to do to gain me time to rest.
The clanging of the door causes me to tense as I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. However, they don’t sound heavy like Charles or the others. No, they must belong to one of the others who brings food down here. But that shouldn’t be happening, at least not now. They only just brought something down. I think. Hell, I could be wrong. It's not like there’s a clock in here.
“Time to go, Hayden,” Ally whispers.
“What the fuck do you mean?” I ask as I see her coming toward me. For the first time, I can see my sister and how beautiful she is. Her eyes are cold, yet still hold a piece of her old self.
“They’re all knocked out right now, but we don’t have long before they wake up. Let’s get out of here,” she says, unchaining my wrists.
Rubbing my wrist, I move to stand only to stumble into Ally.
“I’ve got you. Let’s get you home,” she murmurs.
“Just get me somewhere with a phone, and I can call my brothers,” I tell her as we head toward the stairs.
“You mean Uncle Hammer?” she asks quietly.
“No, I’m in a different charter than his club,” I tell her.
“Oh, okay,” Ally says before going completely quiet as she moves up the stairs. With quick yet silent movements, Ally shows me the way out of here.
Even though I stumble a few times and become weak with exhaustion as she moves us closer to freedom, I don’t let up. I need to be able to help her as much as she’s helping me. The moment we’re out, I have to cover my eyes to keep the sun’s light from hurting them.
“I was able to snag the keys to Charles’s truck, but you’ll have to drive. Are you able to?” Ally asks, uncertainty filling her voice.
“Yeah, I can drive, at least enough to get us away from this shithole,” I say, climbing into the driver's seat.
