Jasmine struggled with the rope that bound her hands. It felt like she was only making them tighter. She threw back her throbbing head in frustration. With her shoulder, she attempted to wipe some of the blood away from her face and onto her shirt.
Holden left the living room and headed down the hallway toward the bedroom. She scanned the room with her hazy vision. She needed something sharp.
She tried lifting up and moving the chair but it teetered and flipped over. Holden came running back to the living room. He lifted her chair up and back-handed her across the face.
Her lips split and blood filled her mouth.
“Sit still!” he yelled at her.
“Fuck you!” she shouted, her words muffled by the now bloody towel. Jasmine fought back the dread that was overtaking her body and mind. She looked over at Nuke again and bit back the agony that filled her.
Holden started his search again. From room to room, he trashed their home. It was twenty minutes before he came back into the living room.
“You’re a smart woman, Jasmine. Be logical and tell me where he hides the money,” he ordered as he took the towel from her mouth.
She forced herself to look away from Nuke. Her tear-filled brown eyes stared up at Holden. He was weak, desperate, and her gut told her that he was going to kill them both, either by choice or accident. Holden had made a mess of his life and he was an impulsive man on the run.
“You’re wrong about me,” Jasmine said in between sobs as she gathered her wits about her.
“What, you’re not smart?” he snickered.
She looked over at Nuke, then back to Holden. “Yeah, I’m not smart. I was stupid enough to marry your brother. That was bad decision on my part.”
Holden looked at her curiously. “What do you mean by that?”
Jasmine looked down at the floor. The music from Nuke’s phone was still playing. It seemed like a lifetime ago that they were dancing and joking around. “I’m not his bitch and I stopped loving him shortly after I saw him for who he really is.”
Holden laughed. “Don’t even try and play me. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”
Jasmine shook her head as she looked up at him again. “I…” She glanced over at Nuke. He was still unconscious. “He just uses me for his own sexual pleasure. I don’t belong with him and his kind. You noticed that when you first met me.”
“You think I’m going to believe this bullshit?”
Jasmine looked away again and shook her head. “No,” she said quietly. “No, I don’t expect you to believe me. Why should you?” She began to cry even harder.
Holden walked away and searched through the kitchen cabinets. He returned a few minutes later. “Do you know where the money is, Jasmine?”
Slowly, she raised her head. She looked over at Nuke, then once again at Holden. “I don’t know.”
“Stop! Tell me where the money is!”
“I don’t know!” Jasmine cried.
“Tell me.”
She shook her head. “I’m too afraid to.” She shifted her eyes over at Nuke.
Holden said nothing for a moment. “Afraid of what?” He picked up the towel from the floor and wiped some of the blood from her face. Part of him was wondering if she was telling the truth. She hadn’t screamed, even with the towel removed.
Jasmine shifted nervously in her chair. She shook her head. “No...no, never mind. Just do what you have to do and leave, please. I can give you my wedding ring. It’s worth some money. The keys to my car. I wouldn’t advise you to take his bike or anything that belongs to Nuke.”
She wasn’t behaving like he thought she was going to. “Where’s the money, Jasmine?” Holden repeated.
She shook her head, her long, dark tangled locks swinging back and forth. “I can’t, Holden, I…I just…I don’t know. Please go away.”
Holden lifted her head by her hair. “Are you afraid of him?”
Jasmine slowly nodded as she let the tears flow freely.
Holden squinted his brown eyes as if he was trying to read whether or not she was lying. “Why did you marry him if you’re afraid of him?”
“I…I wasn’t at first. He was fun, exciting. My life, I hated it. Then…I met Nuke. He was so different from any man I’d ever known.”
“The bad boy thing, huh?” Holden laughed and released her. “You women never think things through.”
“It was exhilarating at first,” Jasmine blubbered as she looked over at Nuke. “He promised me the world.”
“Let me guess, he changed?” Holden laughed.
Shamefully, Jasmine nodded. “He just used me like my friend Cindy said he would.”
Holden shook his head with a smile. “You know where the money is, don’t you?”
Jasmine didn’t say anything. Nuke let out a groan and they both looked his way.
Holden walked over and stood a few feet from Nuke. When he didn’t make another sound, he turned his attention back to Jasmine. “I saw him come in this morning. He was with Pipe and Kevin. He was out all night. Fucking a Snake Swallower, no doubt.”
Jasmine didn’t say anything. She only sobbed.
“Those three, oh the things they used to do to women.”
“I can only imagine what they put them through,” Jasmine said softly.
Holden laughed, then he continued looking around – for what, he didn’t know. Nuke used to keep his stash in a lock box somewhere. He looked over at the sobbing Jasmine and then to Nuke. He headed back to the bedroom. He’d been so busy looking for the money he didn’t give a second thought to all of the BDSM gear. Floggers, ropes, chains, a thick heavy black strap hanging on the wall. Attached to the bed were thick leather cuffs for her hands and ankles. He picked up the nipple clamps from the bedside table. He strolled back into the living room. He would use Jasmine for his own needs. He would play to her obvious fears. He threw them at her and they landed by her feet. “Does Nuke beat you, too, along with doing nasty kinky sex?”
Jasmine shot a look over at Holden.
“It’s alright. I know how violent Nuke is, especially when it comes to sex. Does he beat you, Jasmine? Tell me.”
Bowing her head, she nodded.
Holden let out a breath. “I thought as much when I first met you. I saw the bruises on your neck.”
Jasmine cried hard for several minutes before speaking. “He changed,” she finally said, her voice quivering.
“No, Jasmine, he didn’t change. He just let you see the real Nuke.”
She nodded in agreement. “He makes me do things I don’t like and if I don’t, he hurts me.”
“Where is the money, Jasmine?”
She fearfully looked over at him and shook her head.
“Jasmine, I can help you.”
Jasmine sobbed even harder. “I shouldn’t be here. This isn’t my fault! I don’t have anything to do with the hatred you and him have for one another.”
“Where’s the money, Jasmine?”
“I was just bored with my life. I didn’t want any of this. I just wanted to have some fun. I can’t do this, I just can’t. The blood, the violence. You don’t know how he treats me, the dirty horrible things he does to me. He doesn’t even come home most nights. Not that I want him here. I hate it when he touches me.”
“I can imagine, believe me. I know Nuke. I know how twisted my brother can be.”
Jasmine nodded. “If…if I help you,” she sniffed, “will you help me get away from him?”
Holden scrunched his face. “Yes, yes I will help you.”
She shot a look at Nuke and so did Holden. “I want to leave, go far away from him and the club. I know that if he finds me, he’ll kill me. I need some of the money. Not a lot, just enough to get far, far away from him and the Hells Vipers.”
Holden breathed a sigh of relief. He had started to believe that there might not be any money after all.
“I can’t believe you’re betraying me like this,” Nuke said, his voice groggy but strong
er than expected.
The look of terror that covered Jasmine’s face was enough to put any doubts Holden had to rest. When it came to Nuke, Jasmine was in fear for her life.
Jasmine didn’t respond to Nuke. Her focus was on Holden. “Please, please you have to get me away from him. Now that he knows how I really feel, he’ll kill us both!”
“I will kill you, bitch! Then I’m going to kill you, Holden!” Nuke growled as he turned his fuzzy head toward his brother.
His face was pale, and blood was still pumping from his gunshot wound but the look in his eyes was enough for Holden to pull his gun from his waist.
“Where’s the money?” Holden grew a pair of balls. He stomped over to Nuke and hit him with the butt of the gun.
“They won’t find your body. That I swear,” was Nuke’s response as he spit blood onto the carpet.
Holden hit Nuke again with the gun.
“HOLDEN! Will you help me escape from him?” Jasmine screamed.
“You fucking whore!” Nuke called out to Jasmine. “You won’t make it out of this trailer alive!”
“Please.” Jasmine looked at Nuke but she pleaded with Holden.
“You stupid fucking cunt. You’re nothing to me. I’m going to gut the both of you! You’re nothing but a piece of meat that I’m sick of fucking.”
“Jesus, Nuke!” Holden said.
“Shut up, Holden. This is between me and that stupid whore I married, but don’t worry. You’re next. Both of you have betrayed me.”
“I just want out, Nuke. Please, please just give him the money. Let us both go!”
“Don’t speak without permission, bitch!” Nuke yelled at Jasmine.
She immediately shut up and lowered her eyes.
“Fucking bitch! That’s why I don’t come home. All those fucking toys in the bedroom aren’t enough to make me enjoy sticking my dick in you. You’re nothing but a worthless piece of shit!”
Jasmine sobbed uncontrollably. “Please, please, Holden, help me.”
“Your betrayal is worse than his. I’m going to beat the fuck out of you before I slit your throat, you stupid whore!” Nuke yelled at Jasmine.
Holden stormed over to Jasmine as she slumped over sobbing. “Where is the money?” he asked as he knelt down in front of her.
She just continued to cry.
“Don’t you fucking dare tell him a damn thing,” Nuke yelled at Jasmine.
“Look at him, Jasmine,” Holden said. His voice was much calmer than Nuke’s. “He’s shot, bleeding and pale as a fucking ghost, but look at him.” He forced Jasmine to turn her head and look at Nuke.
“Nuke is nothing but a piece of white trash who is talking shit. He’s a scared little boy trying to be tough. He preys on the weak. He attacks women. That’s why he’s threatening us. He’s trying to intimidate you, scare you into backing down. Tell me where the money is and I will give you enough to get away from him.”
“You better keep your mouth shut!” Nuke said between gritted teeth. “You know what I’ll do to you!”
“Please, undo my hands and feet. You won’t find it without me. He has it hidden in a secret compartment,” Jasmine said as she looked deeply into Holden’s eyes.
Holden paused, weighing his options. Jasmine was obviously afraid. He cut Jasmine free from the chair.
She stood up, rubbing her wrist. “He likes to build things. It’s down in the bedroom.” She moved and Holden stopped her.
“I checked the bedroom. Don’t lie to me, Jasmine!” Holden warned her
“Bitch, you better sit the fuck back down!” Nuke forced his voice to have more strength than he felt.
Jasmine shot a quick look at him, then she focused back on Holden. “I’m not lying. There really is a hidden compartment in the bedroom.”
“We’ll go together,” Holden said.
Jasmine nodded and started to move toward the hallway as Nuke gathered up all of his strength and forced the chair over, knocking into Holden. Jasmine stopped.
“Dammit!” Holden screamed as he kicked Nuke in the head. “Go get the money,” he called over to Jasmine. “This asshole doesn’t know when he’s defeated.”
“Okay!” Jasmine ran down the hallway to the bedroom. She stumbled over the mess that Holden had made. Reaching underneath the footboard of the bed, she hit the hidden compartment with her fist. It popped open. Inside was a fully loaded nine millimeter. She attached the silencer. Tucking it behind her back, she grabbed an empty black duffle bag from the floor and tossed in several items to give it the appearance of being full. She zipped up the bag. Only then did she take a breath.
She closed her eyes for a moment before heading back to the living room.
Her eyes went to Nuke. Holden had his chair back in an upright position and they were giving each other the death stare.
“I got it,” Jasmine called out. She placed the bag on the floor and turned away from Holden.
Nuke looked up at her as Holden moved toward the bag. Jasmine took the gun from behind her back and fired off three shots. Two bullets hit Holden; one went into the bag.
Holden fell backwards, the shots crippling him. She’d shot him in the knees. She immediately retrieved the gun he’d dropped. Holden lay groaning on the floor, grabbing at his knees, which were now shattered from the bullets.
Jasmine picked up the knife that Holden had used to cut her free and she did the same for Nuke. She wrapped her arms around him and helped him to stand.
“Babe!” Nuke kissed her soundly on the lips. “I don’t know how, but I’m buying you a fucking Oscar!” he said with short breaths when he took his lips from hers. “I’m so glad that I can look in your eyes and know when it’s bullshit!” Nuke tried to laugh but it came out as a cough.
Jasmine hugged him tight, then inspected his gunshot wound. “Oh thank God, it went clean through.” She kissed him as she handed him the nine millimeter. She tucked the other gun back behind her. “I’m glad I know when it’s bullshit with you, too, or else those words would have ripped my heart out.”
“I’d never say those things to you…unless we’re fucking!” Nuke attempted again to laugh and this time he succeeded.
“Where’s Tori!” Jasmine asked Holden. “I know she can’t be far away.”
“Fuck you!” Holden groaned in agony. “The only thing I’m telling you is that if I don’t return, she’s going to the cops.”
“You’re so full of it!” Jasmine said.
Nuke aimed the gun at Holden. Jasmine reached out and touched his hand. “The reward, we could turn him in.”
They held each other’s gaze. Nuke leaned in and kissed her passionately on the mouth. “Close your eyes, baby,” he said as he emptied the clip into Holden.
Chapter Nineteen
By your side
Jasmine held onto Nuke as he leaned up against one wall of the clubhouse. They watched their trailer get towed through the gate. Holden’s dead body was still inside. Everything else had been cleared out.
“Fincher is on his way for the body. I’m going to miss that trailer,” Kevin said as he walked over to Jasmine and Nuke.
“Me, too!” Jasmine said as she held on tight to her husband. “I’m glad you guys are always here for us. I appreciate you and the club,” she said to Kevin in an attempt to make peace.
Kevin stared at her for a moment, then cracked a smile. “You keep it up, Jasmine, and we’re going have to patch you in,” Kevin laughed.
Jasmine shook her head. “No thanks. I like being an old lady.”
“You sure you want to destroy the trailer?” Kevin asked Nuke.
He nodded. “He ruined it. He spoiled our inner sanctum,” Nuke replied as he watched Rocket attempt to help with the trailer.
“Inner sanctum?” Kevin shot a look at Jasmine. “What…what are you talking about?” He began to laugh.
“You know Nuke. Holden soiled his personal space,” Jasmine said.
“Our personal space,” Nuke said.
Jasmine nodded. “Baby, I want you to go inside and lay down.” Jasmine attempted to scoot him in the direction of the door. However, even after being shot, Nuke wasn’t moving until he was ready to move.
“I’m alright. You and Medic did a good job on me. I’m fine, really.”
“You should take something for pain.”
“I don’t fuck with narcotics anymore; you know that, baby. I can handle it. Not the first time I’ve been shot.”
Jasmine shook her head with frustration. “You are the most stubborn man I’ve ever met!”
“And that’s why you love me!” Nuke smiled at her. “We only have to be here for a few days. I’ll have you out of here by the end of the week, tops.”
“Nuke, its fine. I won’t beat up any more women while we stay at the clubhouse. Though the cats are going to go stir-crazy in that room,” she chuckled.
“Yeah, but with the dogs, too dangerous to let them roam free.”
Jasmine nodded. “Jason, please go lay down. I’ll lay with you.”
“Can’t, I have stuff to do. I need to find out where that bitch Tori is.”
“Here comes trouble!” Kevin said as Zoe walked toward them.
Zoe hesitantly approached them. “Sorry to interrupt, but” she looked around. She motioned for Rocket, who was several yards away. “Like I said, sorry to interrupt but Rocket was trying to get in contact with you yesterday.”
“I know. What do you want?” Nuke directed his question to Rocket.
“Sorry, but um…” Rocket hesitated. Nuke terrified him. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew that Nuke had been shot. “I’m sorry that you got shot!”
Nuke made a low groan. “Why were you calling me?”
“Thanks!” Jasmine quickly added with a smile.
“Zoe, I was with Zoe…” Rocket looked over to the trailer. “I’m sorry about your home, too. Um…what’s wrong with it?”
“His inner sanctum has been stained,” Kevin replied as he let his eyes roam up and down Zoe. “Kind of like your girl,” he chuckled.
Behind Blue Eyes Page 21
