I must have spaced out, but I’ve most definitely annihilated Jose. His face, fuck! I guess there was once a face. His arm is almost severed, as is his head if I look closely enough. His dark clothes are matted with blood. I don’t know precisely when he drew his last breath, but he already looks like a rotting corpse.
“Dad? That’s enough, he’s dead. We need to get back to the house and figured what to do next.”
“Red?” I turn to look at my men. Each one has just watched me butcher a man in cold blood. The older members know this is me. The younger ones had no clue I could be so damn cold. Now they do. “Pick some of the others to help you get rid of the body. I don’t care how you do it, just do it.” He nods and tells Ace, Roman, and Tank to help him.
“What about the car, Prez?”
“Burn it, crush it, I don’t care, CueBall. Just get rid of any evidence Lynette was there.”
“Prez,” CueBall is good at that shit. He’ll make it right.
“Come on, brother, let’s get you cleaned up. There’s nothing more we can do tonight.”
“I ain’t givin’ up, BlackJack. If I don’t keep looking through the night, it might be too late!”
Grabbing my shoulders, he forces me to look at him. “You need to get cleaned up. No one is giving up looking for Lynette, Shepard, but you can’t find her covered in her exes blood, guts, and brain matter! You also need to check on your kids. Taylor texted, Willow is home. She’s frightened, Shepard. She needs you.”
My eyes close for a second. Willow. What am I going to tell that girl? Not that I killed her birth father, that’s for sure.
“Go, Dad, I’ll keep looking for Mom. Any sign and I’ll call you.”
“I’ll be an hour.” That’s how long it will take me to shower and check on my kids. That’s all the time I’m affording myself before I get back out there and look for Lynette. I just hope and pray that I find her alive. We can get past the rest as long as she
Chapter Eighteen
Lynette
There have been a few defining moments in my life. A few times where things happened that I had no control over. Things that made me a stronger person. Strong in a way, I didn’t even realize until Jose stood there in front of me with a sneer on his face. A smirk that told me, he’d tear me apart if I let him get close enough.
A thick tree branch caught my attention right there in those woods. It was just sitting there amongst the leaves that had fallen to the ground. I noticed it because it seemed to have a sharp tip, and I mentally laughed at the fact it somehow looked like a stake that you’d drive into the heart of a vampire.
I grabbed it and waved it at him. He laughed, of course. Jose wasn’t scared of me. I wasn't afraid of him either, but the thought of not fighting, of giving up and never seeing my family again was not something I was willing to do.
Give up?
That’s not me.
Jose came at me with a knife in his hand. I struck out with the tree branch but missed. He grabbed my wrist, twisting it until I dropped my wooden weapon. I didn’t scream, I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Jose pulled me back against him, but I slammed my head back into his face. He yelled while holding his nose.
I got to my knees in search of the branch. I knew I had to kill Jose. It was the only way he’d leave my little girl alone. He’d destroy her should he get near her, and there was no way on earth I’d let that happen.
He grabbed my foot and pulled me towards him. I kicked out as hard as I could, and he yelled about me being a whore and what he was going to do to me. He was on top of me faster than I could get away from him.
He pinned my arms above my head and told me how he was going to finish what he started. He slammed his mouth against mine, all the time I was trying not to throw up. The second his tongue penetrated my mouth, I bit down on it so hard he screamed. He punched me in the face in anger, then tried to tear my clothes off. All the time, telling me what a feisty bitch I’d become, and how much of a turn on that was for him.
I stretched my arm to the right, the branch just within fingertips distance. I struggled and struggled. It’s incredible how far you can contort and stretch your body when you’re fighting for your life.
I don’t know how many seconds had past, how high he got my skirt up, how many times he pushed his fingers inside of me, but I got it. I grabbed that branch, and I found the strength within me to ram it hard into the side of his bloated body.
He leaned back on his knees, a shocked expression on his face. Like he couldn't believe I'd done that to him. ‘You fucking stabbed me!’
Yes, I had, and as I scrambled back, I pulled that branch from his side and slammed it into his stomach. I wanted him dead. I wanted to make sure he could never come near my daughter or me again. I was angry, and I just wanted him gone! I had to do whatever it took to protect Willow, just as I promised the day she was born.
‘You never should have come looking for me. You should never have made threats, and you should never have come here thinking you'd get near my daughter.’ I told him as I leaned into him, my hand on the branch in his stomach. ‘Men like you never learn, but you should’ve realized that I’m not a little girl anymore. There is nothing you can do to hurt me now. I am married to the president of the Snakes Henchmen! I am a goddamned Queen! You. Are. Nothing!’
I yanked the branch from his stomach, got to my feet and ran. I ran for miles. Ran and ran to get away from those woods. I didn’t want to run to Jose’s car, I was scared the cops would find me and know what I’d done.
Then thought hit me that my panties were around there somewhere. What if the police found them and checked them for DNA? Not that mine is in the database or anything, but they check hospital records, don’t they?
Why the hell would I worry about that when my DNA is all over his damn car?
Then I thought about the fact I could get someone to burn the damn thing out, there'd be no DNA then. There was also the fact once Shepard spoke to the Sheriff, he’d make any evidence disappear, and I’d be fine.
Aside from thinking about that, all I could concentrate on was the fact I’d killed a man. Or had I killed him? He was seriously hurt when I ran from him. He couldn’t survive that kind of injury in the woods, could he?
What if he did and he came looking for me? He’d kill me this time!
Then I shook my head and told myself that once I told Shepard what I’d done, he’d fix it all. He’d take the car, crush it, burn it. Shepard will get rid of Jose’s body or finish him off, one way or another; he will.
After running for I don’t even know how long, I made it back to my house. I didn’t have my keys with me, but I found the spare under the plant pot. After fumbling with the lock for five minutes because my hands were shaking so much, I managed to get inside the house, slamming the door behind me.
There was no one home, I figured my husband was out looking for me, and my kids were probably with Taylor. That gave me time to strip the hell out of my clothes and take a hot shower. Jose may not have raped me, but he violated my body with his fingers, and I needed to scrub the feel of him off of me.
I’ve been standing under the water for a while. I scrubbed every inch of my body, top to toe, about ten minutes ago, but I can’t seem to force myself out of the cubicle. Everything that’s happened today has come crashing down around me, and I can’t help but crumble to the floor, falling to my knees sobbing. I wrap my arms around myself in sympathy and let my mind wander to what if.
What if he’d killed me?
My poor babies.
My poor husband.
What the hell are they all going through right now?
Do they think I’m dead?
How long will they search for me?
I can’t stay here while they’re all out looking for me. Because I know Shepard will never give up until he finds me. I can’t wallow in what I’ve done, nor what might have been. So I killed a man, he would have done the same to me, if not worse. I’ve saved my d
aughter from the hell that man would have brought her.
I did a good thing. In my mind, at least. I’m not weak, and I won’t let what happened to make me vulnerable. If anything this has made me stronger.
Yeah, I’ve cried, I just killed someone, but I won’t let it define me. Shepard taught me for years not to let the things that don’t matter, eat away at me. He showed me even before Jose left me alone with a baby not to let him ruin the strength I had inside. Even when my father abused me as a child, it couldn’t tear away that strength. Whatever happens after today, I won’t let the shadow of Jose Martinez define me.
After combing my wet hair and slipping on clean panties, sans bra, because my breasts are bruised and painful from where Jose grabbed me so hard, I grab one of Shepard’s long t-shirts and slip it on. I bring the hem to my nose, breathing in the scent of my husband. For a moment there in the woods, I thought I’d never see him again.
I notice the gash across my stomach has stopped bleeding. Jose didn’t cut me deep, but it will scar, that I do know. I grab a medical pad from Shepard’s dresser. He keeps them there for these kinds of things. He’s been hurt more than once in the past, and I’ve often needed to change his bandages and such. I place it against the cut and tape it down.
I need to call Shepard and let him know that I’m home. I need him right now, so fucking badly I can hardly breathe. I’ll dress in something else in a moment; I just want to wear his shirt until I’ve called him.
I open the bedroom door, and I hear voices coming from the kitchen. Male voices, deep, husky voices, panicked and tired. My husband and BlackJack. They’re talking about where to go now, what to do to find me. Something about the kids being asleep – thank God – Willow being upset, Jett still out looking for me, and Shepard coming back here to get the keys to his truck. He needs to drive further into the city just in case.
My heart is pounding forcefully. My head feels a little tight. This whole day has been so long that it honestly feels like a year since I threw up this morning. I subconsciously rub my tender stomach wondering if I’ve lost the gift inside of me. How could I not after what happened today?
How do I even know that there’s a gift inside of me? I’ve already had three children, and I know my own body. I guess I just pushed it out of my mind because I didn’t think I was ready for this, not again. Plus, my best friend dropped the bomb on me that she’d lost her baby and can never have another. How would I be able to tell her that I’m pregnant yet again without it hurting her after what she’s been through?
“What’s that smell?”
“What smell? Shepard, what are you talkin’ about?”
“Flowers. It’s Lynette.” He can smell me even from this distance? He’s like a wolf with a sensitive nose where I’m concerned.
I smile with tears in my eyes as he comes rushing out of the kitchen like a bull in a China shop. My big, strong, muscle-clad Adonis of a husband. “Vincent!” I yell his name before he spots me. Once he does, he’s frozen to the spot, eyes wide and filled with tears, one hand on his mouth like he can’t believe I’m here.
I don’t wait for him to say anything before running down the stairs and jumping into his arms. His come around me so tightly, squeezing me against his massive body. I stroke the back of his head and crush my lips against his.
His hand comes to my face, stroking my cheek and looking at me in wonder. “Are you okay? How did you get here?”
“I’m fine. I ran. Vince, I killed him!”
“No, baby,” He kisses my head. “You hurt him pretty fuckin’ bad, but I killed him. He can never hurt you again.”
“You found him.” It isn’t a question. I should’ve known Shepard would find Jose. I guess deep inside I hoped it would be the MC that found him and not a passerby.
“I know what he did to you,” He swallows hard, and I’m a little confused, does he think...
“Oh, baby, he didn’t touch me like that. I mean, he tried, but I fought him off. You may have noticed, I stabbed the son-of-a-bitch for even thinking about it.” Shepard's eyes are darting from side to side across my face. His eyes tell me he doesn't quite believe me. “I swear to you; he did not rape me.” I cup his cheek, my eyes widening, refusing to let him look anywhere but at me. “I promise. No one in this world will ever touch me the way you do. I stabbed the bastard twice with a damn tree branch.”
Deep laughter reminds me that BlackJack is here with us. My eyes meet his. BlackJack such a fantastic friend, he’s going through something awful with Taylor, yet he went straight out to look for me. Taylor is in deep internal pain, yet she has all of our kids, apart from Jett, taking care of them, making them see that their mother will be home soon. I wish more than anything I could hold them all right now, but I need to be with my husband just a little longer before I get them. Just a couple of hours and it will be morning. Jack can tell Willow that I’m okay, that if she grabs a couple hours of sleep, I’ll go get her.
“I tell you what, Shepard,” My man turns his head in BlackJack’s direction. “I’ve never been prouder of any President of this club, and there have been a few over the years since this club started. I might not have known them all, might only have been under Apollo before you, but I don’t think any of ‘em ever had a First Lady as fuckin’ brave and strong as yours.”
I blush at his words. First Lady. Vincent’s mother used to go by that when Apollo was president. I know more than anything that I’m more than just proud to be the First Lady of the Snakes Henchmen It doesn’t afford me any real power with the club, but it gives me just as much respect as my husband. I love the club we belong to. They’re my family, the only real family I’ve ever had. Without them, I don’t know that I’d still be here right now. Without their love and guidance would I have been strong enough to fight the monster that tried to kill me? I honestly don’t think I would be.
“BlackJack? Go back to your wife, hold her as close as you can, and you tell her just what she means to you.”
“I intend to, Prez.”
“I’ll be right behind you to get the kids.”
“Naw,” Jack clasps Vince's shoulder and squeezes hard while leaning in and kissing my cheek. “The boys are asleep. I’ll let Willow and Jett know you're okay, and I’ll tell them both to stay away for the night. You two need some time alone.”
“Thanks, brother.” With a simple nod, BlackJack leaves the house. Now we’re alone, just my husband and me.
We sit in the den on the couch talking about everything that happened over the past few hours. I tell Shepard the truth about it all, every gory detail of what happened, what Jose both did and tried to do to me.
My husband listens intently, every now and again his chest heaves in anger, but I know he is in no way angry with me, just at what happened.
I place my hand on Shepard’s chest as soon as I’m done talking. He knows everything now, but I don’t want to dwell on it. I don’t even want to know how he killed Jose, knowing he did it and the man is gone is enough for me. My daughter is safe. Her daddy has made sure of that. Shepard tells me how he made sure no one will find the body or the car, so I have nothing to worry about.
This man whom I love with everything that I am has saved me without even knowing why. He may think he just took out a man that hurt me, but he took out the man, who apart from my father, has haunted me since I was a child. I’m finally free. There is no way to explain what that feels like.
I never thought I could be free with my father still breathing. Of course, I haven’t told Vincent about my hellish childhood. He’s my soulmate, and I still can’t bring myself to tell him the awful truth. It wasn’t until Max was born that Shepard finally snapped and told me to tell him what the hell my nightmares were about. I couldn’t. Not even after a particularly bad dream about my father, one that had me in a full panic attack the moment I woke up.
I know I have to tell him the truth about myself, but how do you tell the man you love something like that and him not see you in a diffe
rent light?
I’m scared that it will be too hard to tell him. Shepard will listen, I know that much, but I also know he’ll kill my father. He’ll find him and make him pay for everything he did to me. Things no man should ever do to his daughter. However, I know my father isn’t worth it. I haven’t seen him in years, and my weak mother is welcome to him for the rest of their days.
Do I honestly believe that my husband won’t go out and find my father and kill him anyway? I don’t know, but I do know that he listens to me. He might be hotheaded, a dangerous man when angry. The President, the man in charge, but I am his wife, and if anyone can get through to him, it’s me. Shepard loves me, and I will never doubt that. I know he’ll never doubt how much I love him. I’m safe in his arms. I’ve always been safe there.
“I love you, Vince.” I breathe against his neck as he holds me, my arm wrapped around his waist.
“I love you, too. You’re my whole world, Lynette. If I’d lost you...” His voice trails off with my finger against his lips.
“You didn’t lose me because I fought the monster who has haunted my thoughts for too long. He’s gone now, baby,” I lift one leg over his lap, straddling him, my hands locked behind his neck, and he looks into my eyes.
Shepard is so handsome, it should be criminal to be so goddamned beautiful. From his long hair that's now graying at the sides, to his big blue eyes, chiseled features, strong jawline, to his washboard abs, he is beautiful.
I stroke the stubble on his jaw and smile. “There’s something I have to tell you, handsome.”
“What is it, beautiful?” His fingers hold my waist tighter, and I have to suppress a groan. The ache in my pussy is growing for the man whose lap I'm sitting in. I want so badly to grind myself against him, but I can’t, not yet at least.
“Today, before all of that stuff happened, for the past few days actually, I’ve been throwing up in the mornings.” His eyes narrow slightly. I place his hand over my stomach, and his eyes widen in realization. “I'm pregnant, Vincent.”
The President's Wife: Prequel (Snakes Henchmen MC) Page 13
