Bound (Soldiers of Darkness MC Book 3)

by Michelle Betham

  “How the fuck did you get in here?” My voice belies how terrified I really am, but the best I can do here is to try and let him see he hasn’t rattled me, even if he has.

  “I knew you’d go wash yourself after that man done put his hands all over you, so, I gave it a few seconds after his leaving, and I came in through the back.”

  “Everything was locked. I check it regularly…”

  “You think something being locked stops men like me?” He laughs, and my stomach turns as that sick feeling continues to grow. I thought this house was being watched, I thought they were supposed to keep me safe, and yet, this man is here. Cole Rockwell, is here. And he knows what I am. “That don’t stop me, darlin’.”

  “What do you want?”

  He starts to move a little closer to me but I don’t back away. Backing away would be pointless. Where am I going to go? I could try running, but I don’t know if this prick has a gun, whether he’s alone or whether he’s come mob handed, I don’t know.

  “Y’see, I been having a few doubts about you, Skye.”

  I stay exactly where I am, I can’t move. I can’t, even if I wanted to. And as he continues to walk toward me I try to stay calm but it’s hard, it’s so hard. Gabriel said he had people watching me, they were supposed to be watching me. Where the hell were they? Was nobody watching the back of the house? Did he think that because he’d just left I’d be OK? I’d be safe? I’m not safe, and I am so fucking scared.

  “Somethin’ just didn’t feel right about you. I mean, you appeared on the scene so suddenly. You showed a real interest in Theo the second you got here, and the way you interact with Mack… Oh, they were never gonna see through your lies ‘cause you were good. Damn it, girl, you were really good. I mean, I can usually spot an informant when I see one, and I spotted more than a couple, believe me, but you – it took me a few days to be sure. And then when I saw your FBI “friend” come in here… Special Agent Gabriel Franks…”

  “You know who he is?”

  “I know now. The second I had my suspicions about you I started calling in a few favors, and I found out a whole mess of shit been happening behind my back. And I don’t like none of it.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want you, darlin’. ‘Cause you need dealing with, I don’t tolerate your kind ‘round here. I mean, ain’t no denying you are one pretty, pretty woman, and ain’t no man I know gonna turn down a chance to play inside your pussy. But that don’t change what you done.”

  “I had no choice.”

  He laughs again, and again my stomach turns. “That’s what your kind all say, darlin’.”

  My heart is beating really loudly now, so loud my ears are hurting, and my chest constricts even tighter as he moves closer. And when he’s right up in my space I feel his breath on my face and that sick feeling in my gut is almost too much to take.

  “Ain’t no one I know take too kindly to people grassing them up, no matter how pretty they are.”

  “You think they won’t still come for me? They’ll know, when they don’t hear anything, it’ll raise alarm bells…”

  “Ain’t no van outside, darlin’. They ain’t sitting there on your doorstep, no matter what they told you. And that man of yours, he got outta here pretty quickly, I gotta tell you.” He lets out another lower, more sinister laugh, and it’s a sound that makes my skin crawl. “You think I’m doing this shit alone? I got eyes everywhere.”

  I want to fight him; I want to kick out and scream because he could be lying, about Gabriel having gone now. He might still be outside, he might hear me, if I scream loud enough. But it’s almost like this bastard can read my mind, and he pulls a knife from the back of his jeans and he slams me up against the wall and presses it to my throat.

  “I’ve handled pricks like you before.” Once more my voice belies how scared I really am, but I have to try and stay as calm as I can. My weakness will only fuel his strength.

  “That right?” he sneers, pressing the knife a little harder against my throat. And then he suddenly pulls it away and steps back, narrowing his eyes as he stares at me.

  “You’re gonna make a call to your law enforcement friends.”

  A cold shiver runs up my spine, I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m confused. “Why…?”

  “You’re gonna call them, and you’re gonna tell them you accidently stepped on that tiny little bug they gave you.”

  “I don’t…”

  “You’re really trying me here, darlin’. You tell them you need a replacement. You tell them you’re sorry, you were clumsy. You tell them you need another one.”

  I look at him, because I’m still confused, I don’t understand what he wants here.

  “Just make the fucking call, Skye, before I lose what little patience I have left. Tell them you need a new one and then you hang up.”

  I back off toward the nightstand and I pick up the cell Gabriel gave me, find the number and immediately call it. It takes just a couple of seconds before I hear Phil’s voice on the other end of the line, and I take a deep breath before I say anything. I can’t let him know I’m in trouble here. I can’t do that, no matter how much I want to.

  “Skye? Everything OK there?”

  I take another quick, deep breath and I try to keep my voice steady. “Sorry, Phil, I just… I… I took the necklace off while I showered and… and I accidently knocked the thumb drive off the dressing table and… and it’s damaged…”

  “Just the thumb drive?”

  “Yes, I…”

  “You took it out of the pendant?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t even know why I did that, I guess my head’s all over the place tonight… I need a replacement. Before I go to the clubhouse. Is that OK? Can someone get one to me?”

  “I’m on my way… You sure you’re all right? You sound a bit on edge.”

  “I’m fine. It’s just… well, you know what might go down later. And I really need to be wearing that wire.”

  He leaves a beat before he speaks again. “Yeah. Yeah, I know. Sit tight. I’ll be there in five.”

  I throw down the phone and look up at Cole. He’s leaning back against the wall, his eyes fixed on me.

  “Someone’s going to be here in a few minutes. You want them to find you?”

  “I’m outta here, darlin’, don’t you worry ‘bout that.” He walks toward me, and he reaches out and runs his nicotine-stained fingers down over the side of my neck. “We just need to get a few things straight first. So you listen to me, OK? You’re gonna go get dressed, you’re gonna make yourself beautiful, and we’re gonna carry on with everything like this never happened, you got that?”

  I swallow hard but I keep my eyes locked on his.

  “Mack and Theo, they ain’t gonna know we ever had this conversation. And if I find out they somehow get to know; if I find out they had even the slightest clue then they find out about you, too, darlin’. And your FBI boyfriend. I’ll expose him and his – unorthodox, shall we say – methods, ‘cause I’m almost certain he shouldn’ta been doing those things to you. That just ain’t appropriate.”

  “You think anyone’s gonna believe a word you say?”

  “Oh, I ain’t telling no one.” He fishes his phone from his pocket and shows me the screen. “But this – I can make this baby go viral in a heartbeat.”

  I feel my blood turn to ice as I watch the slightly grainy image play out in front of me. And even though the video isn’t the best quality, there’s no mistaking the two people having sex – me, and Gabriel. There’s no mistaking it’s us.

  “People I trust already got copies.”

  “What the fuck do you want, Cole?”

  “Apart from you? I want Mack Slayer brought to his knees.”

  “Why? I thought your clubs were allies, I thought you…”

  “Hey, sweetheart, you don’t get to tell me what you think and you don’t get to ask the fucking questions, you got that? All you are, darlin’, is a low-d
own piece of shit grass who’s gonna get what’s coming to her, I’ll make sure of that, ‘cause I’m gonna deal with you myself. But not yet. You’re still useful, but you’re playing by my rules now. I don’t give a crap what your law enforcement friends tell you, you just nod and accept their orders and then you do what I tell you to do. You understand me? The Soldiers of Darkness had no right coming to this town and taking over territory that was mine, and you think I’ve only just realized that? I been planning to bring them down ever since they arrived here full of shit and arrogance. Mack Slayer, he ain’t strong enough to run that club, he’s lost too much respect too many times, and it ain’t gonna take much to strip him of everything he don’t deserve. And I would’ve got him, eventually, without your help, but no man looks a gift horse in the mouth now, do they?” He chuckles low and deep, it’s almost a growl, and the shiver that wracks my body is colder than ever. “So, tonight you’re gonna go to that clubhouse, and you’re gonna come to me just like they’re expecting you to. And I’m gonna take what’s mine and we’re gonna play this out just like we all planned.”

  “They’re gonna hear you, you realize that, don’t you? They’re gonna fix me up with a new wire, and whatever you do to me they’re gonna hear you…”

  “I ain’t gonna tell you shit when you’re with me. You think I’m that stupid? I said, we play this out like we all planned. You just need to keep your mouth shut, you say nothing to no one and when the time comes…” He grins, it’s verging on a leer, it’s almost maniacal and I am so close to throwing up now. “I’ll see your pretty ass in a little while, darlin’.”

  He throws me a salute and heads out the way he came, through the back, and I lean against the wall and take a long, deep breath before I run into the bathroom, just making it to the sink in time before I vomit. I can’t stop, the spasms keep on coming until eventually I’m left with nothing but dry heaves.

  “Skye?”

  It’s Gabriel. What’s Gabriel doing here? I thought he’d gone, Cole said he’d gone, but just hearing his voice… I need that. I need him. But then the reality of this fucked up situation engulfs me and I close my eyes and breathe in deep to stop myself from falling apart; from telling him what’s just happened. It’s all such a mess, and I can’t get my head around any of it now. All I know is I’m confused and I’m terrified.

  “Skye?”

  “I’m in the bathroom.”

  I quickly rinse my mouth and wash the vomit away before he finds me.

  “The back door… it’s unlocked. You been outside?”

  “I… I just went out for some air. I needed some air. That’s OK, isn’t it?”

  “Jesus, Skye, you need to make sure the doors and windows are locked, sweetheart.”

  “Theo’s next door.”

  “No, he isn’t, I told you, remember? He’s already at the clubhouse. And that’s where you need to be, too. Come here.”

  I walk over to him, and he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the leather choker, and I close my eyes as he fastens it around my neck. But even the feel of his fingers lightly brushing my skin can’t lessen the fear that’s growing inside me now.

  “There. That’s all set and ready to go now.”

  He steps back from me slightly, and when I open my eyes his are looking right into mine.

  “You sure everything’s OK? Phil said you sounded a little on edge.”

  “Is that why you’re here, and not him?”

  He throws me a look, and I get it. We can’t say or do anything that’s going to give “us” away, this is all business now. That new wire I’m wearing, it’s live. It’s recording. They’re listening.

  “I’m your handler, Skye. It’s my job to make sure everything’s OK.”

  “I’m fine. I just had a stupid accident.”

  “I know you’re nervous…”

  “Nervous?” I can’t help laughing. Nervous doesn’t even come close. “You think I’m nervous? I’m fucking terrified. When I set foot inside that clubhouse tonight… Have you any idea what that monster could do to me?”

  “Skye, I know this is wrong, and it shouldn’t be happening, but if we pull you out of this, and Cole pulls his contacts from this job then we…”

  “Can’t you just storm the clubhouse? Go in mob handed…?”

  “It doesn’t work like that. We need to catch them in the process… Look, Skye, I really am sorry.”

  I shake my head and turn away from him, walking back into the bedroom.

  I know I have to do this.

  I just don’t know what my future holds now.

  I don’t even know if I have one…

  Gabriel

  She drops the towel and I know she’s done that on purpose. She knows I can’t react, can’t touch her or hold her or kiss her, and I want to, Jesus, do I want to. My heart is fucking breaking here, knowing what we’re sending her out to do. Knowing how I feel about her now. Everything I shouldn’t… And there’s a part of me that still wants to pull her from this, but I do that, and I risk exposing what I did to her. What I did to her? Christ, what a fucking mess this is turning out to be. The only saving grace is that in a couple of days all this crap will be over.

  In a couple of days Skye will have a new life, away from here.

  In a couple of days I’m going to re-evaluate everything in my own fucked up world.

  In a couple of days she’ll be out of my life, for good.

  And that’s the one thing I’m finding hard to accept.

  Chapter Ten

  Skye

  I can’t have him. I want him, and I can’t have him. There isn’t a thing in this world that can change that, and I’m so angry – at him for making me feel this way; at myself for fucking everything up; at Cole Rockwell for turning me into a terrified wreck with no control over what happens to me.

  I can’t have Gabriel Franks. And I should never have let myself get that close to him, I didn’t even realize I wanted to be that close to him, until he touched me that way. Until he kissed me. Until I felt him inside me.

  I look up as I hear someone approach, and Theo leans back against the wall beside me and hands me a beer, smiling faintly as I take it from him.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey back.” I take a swig of beer and I keep my eyes fixed on him. “Don’t ask if I’m OK, all right? Because it’ll be the most ridiculous question ever.”

  “I don’t want you to do this.”

  “And I don’t think I’ve got much of a choice.”

  I really don’t have a choice now. I don’t even know what I’m playing for anymore, whether that new life Gabriel promised me will ever happen, or whether Cole Rockwell will get to me first. I know the kind of man he is. I know how men like him work. And he isn’t fucking about, he’s serious. And all I can do is play my part and watch as everything turns to shit around me.

  “Look, Skye, when all this is over…”

  “This?”

  He briefly drops his gaze before raising it, and he looks straight at me. “What happens here, tonight, with Cole.”

  “Oh, you think one time is all he’s gonna want, huh?”

  “I… Dom’s transfer is the day after tomorrow, so, there won’t be time for…”

  “You might not have been part of this world for long, Theo, but even you know that Cole can have me for as long as he wants me. He can do whatever the hell he likes with me because he has shit hanging over yours and Mack’s heads. If he wants to keep me locked up, tied up, whatever the fuck his perverted fantasies are… He can do anything he wants, you know that. Don’t pretend you don’t.”

  He averts his gaze and runs a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Jesus… Skye, I am so sorry…”

  “If one more person tells me they’re fucking sorry…” I can’t stop that flash of anger, my need to lash out is all consuming, but I pull it back. I rein it in, and I take a breath and lean back against the wall, closing my eyes. “Everything’s such a mess, Theo.”

  I
feel him reach for my hand and I let him take it, and when his fingers curl around mine I actually feel a brief but welcome feeling of safety wash over me, just for a second. And I try to cling onto that, but it’s too fragile. It knows it can’t stay. It would only be giving me false hope that any of this could turn out OK. It can’t. There’s no way out now. For any of us.

  “I didn’t want to get involved.”

  I open my eyes and I turn my head to look at him, but when he speaks he’s staring straight out ahead, he’s not looking at me.

  “With anyone. I didn’t want to get involved, with anyone. It was too dangerous. Mack said keeping my distance was the only way.”

  And then he turns to face me, and I feel so many emotions engulf me it’s almost unbearable.

  “But I couldn’t do it, Skye. I couldn’t keep my distance, I don’t want to.”

  I shake my head and I try to stop myself from crying, because what the fuck is that gonna solve? “Don’t do this, Theo. Please. Not tonight.” Not ever. Don’t ever say what I think you’re going to say because it isn’t going to help. Anything.

  “If things were different, Skye…”

  He trails off, and I feel another wave of pain shoot through me, and he squeezes my fingers and I let him keep hold of my hand because I need to feel him there, I need that brief moment of safety.

  If things were different… In my ideal world there’d be a way for me and Gabriel to be together, but I need to forget him now. And maybe everything I’m suddenly feeling for him is all an illusion anyway. Maybe those feelings are only there because he’s the one who brought me here, promised to keep me safe; told me everything would be OK. He’s my protector. But I can’t have him. And the sooner I accept that the better.

  “We can’t be together, Theo. You know we can’t.”

  “You could come with me. And Dom.”

  His words stun me, because I just wasn’t expecting him to say that. I didn’t know he felt that way, had no idea he was even thinking this. But given what’s happened today, with Cole… No. Jesus! Am I seriously even considering this?