I soon realize there is another woman down here. She joins me with a look of disgust on her beautiful face. And she truly is beautiful despite the scars I can see all over her skin, likely from fighting back until he broke her.
"I see he has brought in a new woman," she says in a strong accent. Even though she doesn’t seem friendly, I am somehow glad not to be alone. My eyes land on the small bump on her stomach, and I wonder if she is pregnant, and it gives me chills to think that these men force these women to have sex, to have their babies, to be their domestic slaves…
"He bought the wrong woman," I say boldly, testing her out. She whips her long, dark hair over her shoulder before crouching down to me.
"And what makes you so special? I used to think I was strong as fuck, and he broke me."
"You don’t seem broke to me," I tell her, sizing her up. I small smile graces her face for just a moment. "I am not special, but I am FBI. I got involved with an MC and pissed them off. They sent me here, but not before I alerted them to everything. And when I get out, I will make sure you get out too. Just...get me through this," I beg her in a moment of vulnerability.
"Shit, you aren’t kidding, are you? Look, I can't save you from anything, but I guess we are in this together until they come," she says, holding out her hand to shake, and I take it.
Chapter Sixteen
Jade
I glare up at Snake as he comes into the room. I am dangling from the ceiling of this basement, and I am surprised at how well it holds my weight. I wonder how many times they have done this. I wasn’t part of the inner circle per say, until now, so I had never witnessed such things. All I know is this is my execution and likely the end of Paisley, the woman I am certain I love, and she will never know how I feel. Not unless I find a way to weasel my way out of this. I know she trusts the FBI to get her out of whatever she is in just like she trusts that they will find every single girl I have traded and get them out, but I know to be more skeptical. Not only are they not going to be that reliable, but the thing is, there are places that even the American government can’t reach. This is going to take some outlaw shit, and if I play my cards right, I might be able to take Snake down for good and get Paisley back in one piece.
I ignore the ripping feeling in my muscles, knowing I need to push down the pain as much as possible because more will come. Even if they end up letting me talk, it won’t be until they have had their fill of torture. I know these men well enough to know that.
Snake reaches out his hand behind him, and one of the men comes up to him and hands him something, then I see it; it’s a fucking whip. Seriously, a whip. Fear shoots through me. I am no pussy, but I know the kind of damage those things can do if wielded right, and something tells me that Snake knows what he is doing.
“How many should I start with for the traitor?” he asks the crowd. It’s like we are at some kind of sick circus, and I am the lion being tamed. Only, if I don’t play my cards right, I could end up dead. I would have welcomed that not so long ago, but I need to stay alive to save Paisley. This is about her, not me anymore.
Different numbers are yelled out, and I drown it out. I don’t need to know how many. I don’t need to count. I just need to keep myself from passing out until he decides to pause and talk. Then, I can get a word in. So, I think on it. I think on it and bite my lip until I can taste my own coppery blood running into my mouth. The only fucking way out of this mess is to temporarily throw Paisley under the bus. The thing is, she will never be an agent again. She won’t be safe as one. But I hope that her life is worth more than that damn job right now because this could save the both of us if I come through right now.
I take another round, and I am dangerously close to passing out. I hold the image of Paisley in my mind, her beautiful eyes piercing through me and the way her body felt against mine like it belonged there. I hold on damn tight and don’t let fucking go until I hear Snake running his mouth again. He is asking me something. I tune into it.
“What, are you giving out on me already? That’s just not any fucking fun,” he says to a chorus of laughter behind him. “I said, how the hell do you get off thinking you can steal a girl from me like some damn traitor?” he asks, and I breathe an inward sigh of relief. This means he doesn’t already know about what she is, so I can use it.
“Despite what you think,” I manage to get out, gritting my teeth as my muscles quiver, “it wasn’t what it looked like. I was hanging around her for information. For the Crows,” I tell him, and it isn’t easy. Talking like this is near impossible.
“What kind of fucking pathetic excuse at saving your life is this? Because I ain’t buyin’,” he tells me, getting real fucking close, his veins in his face threatening to pop. Snake really needs some anger management classes.
“I am no playing here. That night when we ran into each other, I caught a glimpse of a badge. I think she’s a cop or some shit, Snake. What if that’s why she was hanging out at the club? But I didn’t wanna make a big deal with you til I knew.” As soon as I am done talking this time, I hurl, and he jumps back like his life depends on not getting hit by my projectiles.
“Seriously, a fucking cop?” he asks incredulously, and I silently pray to whatever is up there that he believes me. It helps that I am actually telling the truth about that part, even though I am twisting it for my benefit.
I nod.
“Well, fuck.” He gives some kind of signal, and then I am let down, crumpling to the ground. It hurts like a motherfucker, but I am alive, and I will heal. “I guess we did the right fucking thing with her then, sending her off to the cartel,” he says, holding out his hand to help me up.
I only hesitate in taking it for a second as a sickness comes over me. I know I am being tested for a reaction to this, to see if she means anything to me. She is alive, but likely not well at all. I play along the rest of the night and let the doc look at me and then let them pump me full of alcohol so I can’t feel it. When I finally make it home that night, I pull at my cell, wasting no time in making a call.
Stone, Snake’s brother, had left me with a couple of numbers a long time ago, numbers I could use to get in contact with him through others if I needed to. If it was an emergency or if I was ready to get the fuck out.
I think tonight fits both situations.
I don’t recognize the voice on the other line, but I give my name and tell them to have Stone call me, then, I lie in bed and wait for the call to come through. I can’t sleep while worrying about Paisley anyway, and each moment is crucial. I can’t miss that damn call.
Finally, at nearly four a.m. it comes from a private number, and I know it’s him when he picks up.
“Man, I tell him in a serious tone, “I need a huge favor.”
Chapter Seventeen
Paisley
Both of us have been shoved into the back of a vehicle, and I have no idea what is happening. I know my Germanic languages but not enough Spanish to get even an idea of what all the men are saying. Our owner and other men who I guess are his employees or something have been arguing and speaking in a panic all day, and now, at dusk, we have been taken from the house, both Angelina and I. I know this can’t be a good sign, but there’s nothing I can do but go along for the ride.
We hit dirt roads, and I feel the jerking and instability of the vehicle. I look to Angelina, and her face is stoic, but I can’t imagine this being comfortable while pregnant. And if she has any idea what is happening, she doesn’t let on, even though I know for a fact she does speak Spanish.
I lay back and dare to try and count the minutes and hours we are on the road as the sun goes dark. I also notice when the car speeds up as well as the one in front of us that holds the other men. I have no idea why, but I suddenly am in fear for my life as we are going well over any reasonable speed, especially for these uncared for roads. We swerve off to another road and then another, and I hang on for dear life, my eyes wide with fear. But I don’t scream; I can’t seem to make a sound as
we are whipped around again and again before suddenly coming to a very unsettling stop.
We are yanked from the car, and we both scream and fight as we are thrown down into a field. Nothing and no one is around except for our owner, his men, and the two of us.
Our owner goes up to Angelina as a gun is pressed to my head. I can barely understand the words, “don’t move”, from one of the men’s mouths, and I obey. I hope I can make it out of this with my life, but I worry about Angelina as she is being held by the neck and spit on.
I don’t know whose benefit it is for, but our sleezy owner begins talking in English. "Someone is after us, and I think it is because of this bitch. And since we can’t fucking lose them for long enough to ensure our safety and secrets, we leave you here. But they will not get my child." He points to her belly and pulls out his gun, smacking it against her abdomen. I gasp, and I am hit softly with the butt of the gun at my head as warning. I am not to move or make a sound even as I watch her in danger. I wish I am strong enough to take this guy on and take his gun, but not only is he two times my size, but I have been given a steady dose of drugs, just enough to keep me a little out of it. I am sure they meant to have their way with me today before whoever is after them got in their way.
Her screams are awful, and I close my eyes, unable to handle it as tears sting them. I know what he is doing, and I can’t even begin to fathom why or how he is able to do such a thing to another human being. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised considering they don’t seem to treat women like we are human.
Her screams turn into cries, and I can hear the gun at me skull cocked. "Now, what to do with you," our owner says, and I can feel him looming over me. But that’s when I hear it; the sound of motorcycles. Can it be?
There isn’t much room for thought as shots ring out, and I find myself laying down in the grass, trying to make myself as little a target as I can. The men are running and screaming, some piling into a car and others end up taking a sickening thud onto the ground. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I am lifted up. Finally daring to look, I see that it's Jade. I don’t know how he got out safely or how he found me, but I find myself clinging to him for dear life. I am placed in the back of one of the vehicles left behind as one of the men is forced out. Angelina is laid down beside me, clearly bleeding and in a lot of pain.
My eyes go to the man driving the vehicle, and I almost scream when I see long, dark hair, same as Snake's, but then I hear his voice and know it isn’t him.
"This is Stone," Jade tells me, pointing to the driver. "We are going to get back, get our stuff that we can manage, and get the fuck out."
I don’t even take the time to speak or think. I ask for Jade's phone and begin sending a text to my old handler. We will need identities and a safe place to go. This will be the last favor she does for me, I know that. I will be on my own after that, but that’s okay. I won’t be foolish enough to repeat my mistakes. "She will need a hospital," I tell them, nodding to Angelina, and Jade nods with sympathy.
"We will get her to one over the border."
I nod and look down at her, surprised to find her still conscious. She reaches a hand out and grabs my arm. "Get out," she says. "Get out of all of it. This life is not for you."
"I plan on it, but maybe you should take your advice as well," I replay.
She scoffs. "I have a duty to pay back the bastards that put me in there, but I'll be fine, someday."
Chapter Eighteen
Jade
Only about an hour or so til dawn. That’s not a lot of time to pack up and go, and no way am I letting Paisley out of my sight right now. Or ever, for that matter. None of us are safe, and we need to get as many weapons as possible and get out. The cartel, the FBI, and Snake are all our enemies right now.
I take us into my trailer, and Paisley has forfeited going back to her place. She says that she has moved so many times she is attached to nothing, and the theatre will be run by the other employees until she figures that part out. It sounds good to me. Only, part of me feels like she is giving up too much for me. I don’t dare ask her right now, but if the time comes when I need to set her free, then I will.
Just as I am ready to head out, I hear it, the first gunshot of many. We all look at each other and know shit has hit the fan. From the sounds of things and the way bullets are pinging against and through some of the trailers, I can only guess the cartel and their allies have to come to exact revenge on Snake and his men. Half of this park, maybe even more, is occupied by the MC and their families.
It had been the plan all along, which was why Stone made sure he looked like Snake. But neither of us thought they would have people on us so quickly.
I make sure everyone has a gun, and we shoot blindly as we get on our bikes and get the fuck out. We are not going to look back.
We drive for hours, afraid to speak or look behind us. We pass Alberquerque before I even dare to stop for gas and food.
We all go for updates, and I am glad to hear there is a meeting point and time for new identities thanks to Paisley, but I know this is my time to ask her before it is too late. "Are you sure you want to run with me?" I ask her.
Paisley tilts her head to the side in confusion. "Of course, I am sure. I have never wanted anything more." Then, she pulls me into a kiss just as my phone begins to buzz. I know I should have gotten rid of it, that it can be used to track me, but part of me is hoping for some info before I destroy it. And sure enough, I find Texas on the line.
"Jade, I don’t know where you are, but you should know that Snake is gone. He ran and left the club in my care." My heart almost stops at that. If anyone could turn the MC around, it is Texas. The thing is, I doubt that Snake will be so easy to get rid of for good.
"Be careful, Tex. I have a feeling he will show his face again. It’s not over."
"Will do, Jade. Keep in touch, and be safe."
Be sure to check out the rest of the Red Crows MC’s story in early 2019!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Iris Sweetwater grew up in the south and has been writing since she could hold a pen. Starting with the love of poetry and short stories, her talent grew to lead to being published for the first time at the age of 13. She soon became part of many poetry anthologies. Now, she is a multi-genre author offering paranormal romance, fantasy, and contemporary romance stories to avid readers who like magic and love stories.
Iris has many passions, and if she wasn’t writing you might find her playing with her daughter, looking at memes with her husband, or helping to educate children of all ages through unique curriculum. She is also a bit of a fashionista that goes against the grain, and she loves karaoke.
One Way Out (Red Crows MC Book 1) Page 6
