Unraveled (Bound and Bared Book 2)

by Christine Monroe

  “It’s bad Case. We have narrowed down the list to a few, and all of them aren’t people you would ever want to encounter let alone fuck with. Compared to the men on this list Marcus seemed like a saint.” Selena’s cheek twitched, her scar moving like a snake through her skin.

  Law’s hand grasped Selena’s, his fingers twisting through them without thought. The touch lasting mere seconds before Selena jerked her hand away stepping closer to me.

  “You intend to test every bit my patience don’t you Ma Poupèe?” Law sighed softly.

  Selena ignored him as she looked at me, “Are sure Case? This mission is most likely going to be suicide. The fight is going to be to the death, and it might be yours and Thorns.”

  My lips pressed into a thin line, my fists clenching at my sides. Death would be a better than spending my days without Thorn.

  “The day Thorn took me he found me on the floor of the bathroom. I had swallowed a bottle of pills. I was so tired of the fear, of the panic of the nightmares that would strike every time I closed my eyes. You’re not stupid Selena I was sure you saw through me, but I knew you would never ask. After all, secrets are sacred at Bound and Bared, but the truth was my secrets were killing me, a slow and steady poison I didn’t think I could ever purge. Some secrets do more harm than good. They steal more than they protect. They destroy from the inside out. Thorn never demanded I tell him anything he just loved me. His love became more important than keeping my secrets. I no longer want to die. I don’t have a death wish. I want to live but not without the man who refused to let me give up when I believed I would never find a way back home.”

  My confession rushing out like a flood, drowning doubts and silencing fears. I had made my choice.

  Selena’s chocolate eyes watered ever so slightly, tears blurring the hazel before she caught herself. I had never seen her cry. Not even when Val and Thorn had brought her back from hell.

  I wondered if Law had seen it too. His eyes softened as they gazed at Selena an unreadable expression on his face.

  Deciding my fate had set me free but I now knew Selena was still at war. Taking her hand in mine I squeezed, admiring the woman before more than ever.

  “I always knew Thorn would end up on death’s doorstep. I thought no one would be able to save him and then he saw you. We all have weak moments, ones we wish we could erase. Death is easy; it’s living that is the hard part. He may have brought you home, but you are the only thing he has been willing to live for. Let’s go get your dumbass before I change my mind.”

  I opened my mouth to tell her how much I loved her, but the shrill sound of a telephone ringing interrupted me. Selena glanced at the screen quickly whoever was calling caused her scar to twitch.

  Selena answered on the third ring, sickly sweetness dripping from her voice, “Hello Val.”

  I couldn’t hear what Val was saying, and Selena gave nothing away except the repeated subtle twitch of her scar. I guessed that wasn’t a good sign.

  “Maybe you should keep better track of your people V. It seems they tend to go missing when you aren’t paying attention.” Selena’s words were like razor blades. She had her claws out, ready to tear him apart.

  “Don’t you fucking start with me Val. I don’t owe you shit. Did you ever think that maybe I should have a say in my fucking life or did you just assume I should bow down and take whatever the king of Bound and Bared decrees? News flash asshole I don’t bow down to anyone or anything, and this little plan you cooked up with Law won’t work. The both of you have your heads so far up your asses you can’t see it. I love you despite the all the shit on your face. Pull your head out of your ass and call me when you are ready to admit you were a fucking asshole. And to answer your question. I don’t have a fucking clue where Case is.”

  Selena’s finger hit the end call button. I had never been more impressed. She had just hung up on Val Knight. Selena was beyond epic.

  “Ma Pou..” Law’s words were cut off before he could finish.

  “Not now. My mood is far from pleasant, and I know where you sleep. Thorn needs his ass saved and standing here isn’t getting the job done. Are you in?” Selena pinned Law with a look of don’t fuck with me and all he did was nod in agreement.

  “To quote the man, you love. Let’s go kill shit.”

  I didn’t need to be asked twice. Hold on Thorn. Just a little bit longer. We are coming for you. Don’t already be gone.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  “You got a plan?” Rune whispered. She stood so close I could smell her. If death and madness have a scent, it was the one that covered every inch of Rune’s body. I wondered if she had courted death like I had chased after it like someone possessed. She had to be crazy to agree to help me. I was bat shit crazy to think we stood any chance. Well, there was no sense in changing things now.

  “Step one is getting me free from these fucking chains. Any ideas?” My words came out funny. My fat lip making me sound like I was gargling dick.

  “I do.” Slipping her fingers into her tangled mess of hair she pulled out a small brown bobby pin.

  She smirked, “In case of emergencies.”

  “They don’t check me anymore. Being here the longest has granted me some privileges. They don’t think I’m a threat just a well-trained pet. Some part of me never could quite accept that.” Her hair fell over her face hiding it from view as she went to work picking the locks on my handcuffs.

  “Why didn’t you try to escape?”

  Her head stayed down, refusing to look at me as she stayed focused on getting me free. Minutes went by, and I thought she wasn’t going to answer.

  “I wouldn’t have survived the attempt. You see me. You know the damage they have done. I should have let my mind break like my body but I couldn’t no matter how hard they tried. I look vacant. Play their game. Don’t struggle or fight. A pretty doll they would never believe would dare try leaving her cage.”

  The locks clicked open as my knees collapsed under me like bone thin tinder. I sucked in a breath trying to silence the screaming pain roaring through my body. Torture was a bitch, and currently, she had me on my knees. My broken wrist dangled like a useless puppet on a string.

  “Are you sure you can do this?” Rune’s face met mine. Her features blurring like snow as tears danced in my eyes. I blinked them back looking at my new hero.

  “Step one is accomplished, but that was all you. You truly are my hero.”

  “Are you always like this?” Can you be serious?”

  “Only when I’m killing shit. I take sending those monsters back to hell very seriously. And to answer your question, I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be darling.”

  Rune offered her hand. I raised my eyebrows taking in the thin little girl in front of me.

  “Out of the two of us, I think I’m faring a little better than you at the moment.” Her voice betrayed a hint of amusement.

  I shrugged before taking her hand, bracing her back against the cement wall she tugged as hard as she could, managing to help pull me to my feet. I had been careful not to lean too heavily on her fearing my weight would cause her harm.

  “I need a gun and henchmen number 3 stationed outside the door should have one we can borrow. Hopefully, he’s alone and easy to take down. One gun is better than none. Care to play the damsel in distress?”

  All Rune did was wink. I was starting to like this girl.

  *

  Staring at the mansion before me I wondered where Thorn could be inside the massive monstrously. I trusted Law to get things right and I didn’t doubt Thorn was inside there somewhere.

  I was ready to tear the fucking thing apart brick by brick. My patience wearing thin and I was trying to keep myself together. Thank god Law had managed to find backup at the last minute. It was no longer a complete suicide mission, but the odds were still stacked against us. I hadn’t asked where the men had come from and I didn’t fucking care. All I cared about was getting Thorn back alive. If these men could do
that they were my new best friends.

  “You like to do things the hard way, don’t you?” One of the men asked turning towards Law.

  Law said nothing simply shrugged his shoulders letting a ruthless grin take over his face.

  “I know for a fact he likes things the hard way.” Selena answering the question for him.

  “So, do you Ma Poupèe.”

  “I told you to leave the women at home.” Another man’s voice sounded. It was the one who had argued with Law about letting us come. It’s not like Law wanted us here but Selena and I weren’t going to hide at home like weak children.

  Selena had also threatened to have Law’s dick if he refused to let us go. Law was worried she would do it too. She wasn’t the same Selena he had fallen in love with. I didn’t envy him getting through to Selena wasn’t going to be easy, but he would keep trying. If Thorn and I manage to get our happily ever after then maybe Law and Selena could too.

  Law opened his mouth to reply, but a harsh gasp stopped him,

  Selena’s blade now saw resting against the man’s throat pressing in hard enough to draw a tiny bit of blood.

  “Say that again. I dare you sweet cheeks.” Selena taunted.

  The man’s mouth clamping shut as he shook his head.

  Selena leaned over placing a kiss on the man’s cheek causing Law to growl low as his eyes flashed.

  Selena let the man go and gave a little push breaking off contact tucking the knife back into her belt. Offering a sweet smile in Law’s direction batting her eyes with mock innocence.

  “Smile all you want Selena, but you won’t be once we get home and I show you how I feel about your little display,” Law warned glaring in Selena’s direction.

  “Bring it Dominare.” Selena sang.

  Gunshots rang out causing everything to stop, sounding so close to us I prayed we hadn’t been spotted. I heard a yell, the voice hitting my ears and freezing my pounding heart within my chest.

  Selena turned towards me. “It looks like your boy started the party without us. Time to provide his crazy ass some backup.”

  I drew my gun silently thanking the fates that my father had taught me to shoot when I was younger. I prayed that my aim would be true and so I could put the bastards that had hurt Thorn in the fucking ground.

  Following behind Law and Selena, I kept my feet moving slow and steady ignoring the urge to run. The shooting continued, getting louder as we reached a set of locked gates. My fingers grabbing the iron hell bent on climbing the damn thing to get inside if I had too.

  Law’s arm stopped me in my tracks.

  “I love your dedication, but I’ve got an easier way.”

  One of the men pulled something from his bag and hooked it up to the gate’s control box. I watched in amazement as he punched a set of buttons and the gate’s lock popped open.

  “Get your guns, ready ladies and gentlemen. It’s playtime.” Selena winking before all trace of humor fled her face leaving behind nothing but a mask of deadly determination.

  “Don’t shoot the tall, dark haired guy most likely aiming for other guy’s dicks. He’s the one we are here to save.” My voice didn’t waver. No trace of fear within my words.

  Created from ash and bone, my armour nothing more than nightmares and whispering demons hiding in the black. My heart, the very breath in my lungs burning for only one thing. Thorn Emery. The broken and weary boy who always wore a smile no matter the nightmares he had seen. I would be a new nightmare, his nightmare, and I wouldn’t stop until I had the heads of those who had stolen him.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “Take that motherfucker! Try using your dick now!”

  I heard a groan behind me.

  I shrugged, “What they deserve it.”

  “I know, but we don’t have time or bullets to waste on shooting their dicks off. We are almost out of here. Get it together.” Rune dropping the gun from her hand, reaching down to pick up the now dickless man’s gun. Ejecting the clip, she checked the remaining ammo. The sight of an almost full clip making her smile. I only wished my master of dickless persuasion impressed her half as much. My reputation was on the line.

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re no fun.”

  “I’m sorry that five years in this hellhole destroyed my sense of humor.”

  “I’ll get it together. You won’t be here much longer I promise you Rune.”

  For just a second hope flittered across her face and then it was gone. She couldn’t dare to hope. Hope could be a cruel mistress and once you thought she cared she would tear your heart out without any remorse.

  Suddenly I caught the sound of footsteps.

  “We have company. Get ready.” Moving around her making I put my body in between hers and whatever was coming our way. Nobody could claim I wasn’t a gentleman.

  Aiming the gun with my good arm getting ready to fire but a splash of blonde hair stopped me dead in my tracks. The sound of blood rushing past my ears the only thing I could hear as my mouth went slack blinking rapidly.

  It couldn’t be her my brain reasoned, but a set of blue eyes proved me wrong. The gun falling from my fingers as I reached out dragging her to me.

  “Case..” Her name coming out low, torn from the depths of my soul as I inhaled, breathing her in like oxygen. Her smell, the heat of her body, drowning out everything else. A brief second of euphoria amidst this fucking nightmare.

  *

  Thorn clung to me like an anchor, but I refused to let us go under, wrapping my arm around him with determination. A lighthouse burning brightly within the storm. It didn’t matter laid ahead. I knew the bad guys still hid in the shadows waiting to destroy us, but the man I loved was back in my arms.

  “You didn’t think I would just let you get away from me that easy, did you?” The words came from my lips in gasps I was finding it hard to breathe let alone speak within the tight hold we had on each other.

  “You look like hell.” I choked on the words, tears blinding me but I held them back.

  “You look like heaven sweetness.” His working fingers brushing over me trying to find a small patch of skin. I didn’t know if he knew I was real.

  “Save the mushy shit for later like for when we get the fuck out of this place. Don’t forget you promised.”

  A naked redhead stepped into view. I had been focusing on Thorn and hadn’t noticed her before. My cheeks flushing as my body tensed.

  “Don’t worry about her sweetness. I’m all yours.” Thorn offering a lopsided grin and I resisted the urge to slap him. That damn man could feel jealousy rolling through me seeming to find it amusing.

  Staring at the redhead, a closer inspection revealed she had been a prisoner in this den of horrors. Bones peeking through her skin, freckles standing out like obsidian against her dull and sallow skin. Her mess of red hair tangled around her face. Shame washed over causing my cheeks to heat.

  Stepping closer to the redhead I ended up taking Thorn with me, his body moving with mine like we were one.

  “What is your name?” I asked.

  “Rune.”

  “Well, Rune thank you for taking care of him for me.”

  A fracture of a smile edged along the corners of her lips.

  “Rune’s right, mushy shit later since I’m pretty sure we still have a major asshat to kill correct?” Selena took up the spot next to me and returned Rune’s slight smile.

  Rune’s eyes flashing as he muscles tensed. Her jaw clenching before allowing the name to pass through her tightly drawn lips.

  “Francis. I’ve been his personal pet for five years.” Rune raised her chin staring directly into Selena’s hazel eyes.

  “I want to be the one who sends him to hell.” Rune’s voice was hardened like gravel.

  Selena got closer to pale redhead, the light catching her scar, reflecting the jagged pieces of brilliant glass.

  “Trust me Rune I would never deny anyone’s need for revenge. You are owed payback, and I can’t wait to watch.
” Selena’s voice low and cold, her eyes glittering with anticipation.

  “Can I at least kick him in the balls?” Thorn glanced at me, and I shrugged.

  “He tortured the man I love. His balls deserve it. Thorn, you aim for his dick sending it off to hell to greet him when Rune sends the rest of him on his way to joining it.”

  “I love you.” Thorn’s voice carried a note of awe as he planted a kiss on my cheek.

  Moving as one down the hall an ominous silence descended, the only sound was our footsteps tapping against the marble floors. The polished white marble was dotted with smears of red causing a twisted candy cane effect on the floor.

  The master of the house was in hiding. Crawling into the shadows like a coward. Stepping over the sticky dark spots on the floor I made peace with all those things I had been running from. Every trace of panic and fear washing away, cleansing me as I stood among a sea of dirty things.

  *

  We stood outside the last door in the hall ready to face the nightmare waiting for us on the other side. Staring at Law, Selena, Rune and Case I knew I would have been grateful to have just one of them by my side but seeing all of them standing together caused pride to well up inside my chest. A satisfied smile on my lips as I raised my chin.

  “Let’s finish this. Everyone ready?”

  Everyone nodded.

  Law grinned before asking, “Should I knock first?”

  “This isn’t a fucking tea party Dominare.” Selena quipped rolling her eyes.

  “I fucking love when you talk dirty Ma Poupee. Shall I check the door handle?”

  “Like Evil McGee is just going to leave the door unlock…” Selena cut off as Law turned the handle and the door popped open causing Selena’s jaw to drop.

  I wondered what fucking game Francis was playing at.

  “Trap?” Rune asked.

  “Trap,” I replied.