“Ok, but one question.” Both girls look at me. “How do you deal with the aftermath of hurting someone? Earlier was the second time I’ve ever hit someone like that.”
Poison gives me a tentative smile. “That’s something you have to figure out. For me? I have Kayne to pull me back from the darkness. He grounds me and I do the same for him.”
“Same here. But I have Blayde. He knows what it’s like to have his hands stained and he keeps me centered. But I still rely on Poison to help too.” Siren answers.
“You’ll find your own way to deal with it. And lean on Stryker. He knows what you’re doing out here and he’ll be waiting for you when you return. Open up to him and let him in. And you have the two of us, too.” Poison says. “Now let’s go and take care of the little bitch.”
“Ok. I’m ready.” I’m ready to take back my life. I’m ready to seek revenge.
Poison steps up to the door and unlocks it with a key. She turns the knob and opens it. The smell inside makes my stomach curl. Piss and shit waft out. Poison steps into the doorway and flips a switch, lighting up the whole garage in a harsh glow. In the center of the garage is the woman who’s been tormenting me. Candy’s head is bowed down, her hands are above her, wrapped around a chain tied around a metal beam. Her bare feet are barely touching the ground. She raises her head and sneers when her eyes land on me. Candy’s make up is smeared all over her face, making her look like the nasty bitch she is. The bruising from me earlier is dark purple on her cheek. Dried blood stuck on her chin from one of my hits.
“What? Can’t do this on your own you vile pig?” Candy spits on the ground and cackles. “You think getting rid of me will make Stryker want you more? He will always want me, you nasty whore.”
My hands tremble and my body burns with rage. “Who in the fuck do you think you are?” I step closer, holding back the bile climbing its way up my throat from the rancid smell coming off her. “Looks to me like you’re the nasty whore. Sitting in your own shit and piss. Stryker will always be mine. You were just a quick fuck he hasn’t touched in over a year.” Candy’s eyes grow wide. Catching her in her lie is the best feeling ever. My fist clenches at my side.
“What are you going to do? You won’t do anything. You’re weak and pathetic.” Candy sneers.
My hand comes up in a fist and I hit her in the face. Feeling the crunch of her bones under my knuckles. “Why are you working with Sledge?”
“You think this is going to make me talk? I’m dead either way. Finish me now,” Candy begs. I deliver another harsh blow to her stomach making the air whoosh out of her lungs. “Just finish me.” Candy wheezes.
“No. You think poisoning me and tormenting me, then begging me to end you will make this quick, but you’re sadly mistaken. You don’t know what the three of us are capable of.” I hit Candy one last time so hard in the stomach, the chains tighten around her wrists while she struggles to find her footing again. I step back and motion to Poison. “She’s all yours.” Candy’s eyes grow wide with fear.
“It’ll be my pleasure.” Poison cracks her neck from side to side and steps forward. There’s a glint in her hazel eyes I’ve never seen before. “Now you can either tell me why you’re working with the Serpents MC and why you’ve betrayed us and I end this quickly or keep your filthy mouth shut and I’ll take my time.”
Candy shakes her head, “I can’t talk. They’ll kill me.”
“Honey, I’m going to kill you anyway.” Poison turns away and walks over to her phone. She hits play and heavy metal filters through the garage low enough I can still hear Candy’s whimpers. She turns and heads back to Candy. “This is the fun part.” There’s a wildness in Poison’s eyes I’ve never seen before. Siren is circling Candy, running a blade up and down her skin, not piercing it.
Poison and Siren work together. One goes in one direction, the other goes the opposite, circling Candy. She can’t keep her eyes on both. Siren still has her knife and Poison has a metal pipe. They’re teasing and taunting her.
Siren yanks on Candy’s hair and exposes her neck, holding her blade to it. The metal gleams off the lights. “Why did you betray us?” Candy doesn’t answer. Siren pierces her skin and blood trickles from the knife.
“I had no choice,” Candy swallows hard. “I swear, I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.” Poison says running the metal pipe up Candy’s leg. She swings and it hits the top of Candy’s thigh. She screams in pain. “Answer me or I can go on all night long.”
Poison hit a button and the chains release Candy. She falls to the ground with a hard thud. Siren steps up and grabs her hand. “I will take each one of these fingers and cut them off until you answer us.” She holds her blade against Candy’s finger.
“Wait, wait. I’ll tell you.” Candy begs them to stop.
“Speak or say goodbye to this little digit.” Siren’s voice is low and detached.
I don’t know what to say or do. These women are tough and I’m just standing here not moving. Watching the scene play out like it’s a movie I shouldn’t be watching but can’t tear my eyes away.
“He found me and made me do it. I swear.” Candy is sobbing now.
“Not good enough.” Siren slices a pinky finger off. Candy screams in pain and I hold back the vomit in my throat. I can’t stay here. I can’t do this.
“Poison,” my voice trembles over the music. She stops circling Candy and walks over to me.
“Holly, you don’t have to stay. We can handle this.” Her voice is smooth and gentle. She leads me outside into the crisp night air. I take a deep breath and tears fall down my cheeks.
“I don’t think I can do this. I’m not strong like you.”
“Honey, you are strong. If you don’t want to do this, then this isn’t your time. Some people can do these things with no problems, others can’t. You will find what you’re capable of when the time comes.” Poison runs a soothing hand down my back.
“You won’t think less of me if I don’t stay?” I ask through a lump in my throat.
“Not at all. I’m proud of you for doing what you’ve done already. You faced her and showed her you are not to be fucked with. That’s what counts. When the time comes to tap into whatever you have in here,” she pats my chest, “I have no doubt you will. It’s not your time. Go back inside and we can finish this.”
“Will you tell me what she says?”
“Yes. You’ll be the first to know. Go, find Stryker and we’ll be in soon.” She gives me a smile and a small shove towards the Clubhouse.
I walk back the way we came and Poison goes back into the garage. I’m tired of being weak, but I just can’t bring myself to harm Candy. Yes, she did terrible things to me, but not enough to where I want to end her. There’s only one person I want to kill. One person who I’d tap into the rage and fear building behind my heart, to seek revenge.
I step up onto the porch when I hear heavy footsteps behind me. Before I can turn around to see who it is, I feel a pinch in my neck.
“Ouch, what the hell?” I ask, grabbing the spot where I felt it. My limbs grow heavy and I collapse onto the porch. A pair of boots come into my line of sight and my heart pounds against my chest.
“We meet again my little bitch.” His voice is sluggish in my ears. I can’t fight the numbness taking over my body. Darkness surrounds me when I give in.
Chapter 17
Stryker
My head is pounding hard against my skull. My whole body feels like I went on a week-long binge. I try to open my eyes but I’m greeted with darkness.
What the hell happened? Where am I? The gunshot wound is burning my left shoulder and my body is sluggish. Footsteps shuffle into the room followed by a hard smack. A whimper I’d recognize anywhere vibrates in my skull. Dread pools in my stomach. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not when I’m weak.
I attempt to move my arms but they’re tied behind my back. My legs are also tied down. I struggle to free myself making the ro
pes tighten against my wrists. Blood trickles down my fingers and drips on the floor.
“Good I want you awake for this.” A deep, raspy voice echoes in the room.
“Fuck you,” I growl. Heavy steps saunter my way. Blinded and bound, I can’t see what’s happening but I can hear and I can smell.
“I’ll be doing the fucking.” The man leans down next to my ear, his rancid breath fanning across my face. He stinks to holy hell and I stifle a gag.
The cloth around my eyes gives way. I blink a few times adjusting to the sudden change. Once my vision focuses, a figure huddled in the corner of the bare room catches my attention. Her curly brown hair is all over the place and she has her head buried in her knees. Holly picks her head up. Tears flow down her cheeks and her body is shaking uncontrollably. My body trembles with rage.
“Untie me, now,” I demand, not taking my eyes off my angel.
Maniacal laughter fills the small space. “What do you think I am, stupid or something?”
“You’re something alright. Untie me and fight me like a man, not the chicken shit who preys on vulnerable women.” A fist connects with the side of my face and blood fills my mouth. I spit it out on the ground at his feet. “Fucking pussy.”
“I’ll show you a fucking pussy.” The man growls.
He does exactly what I wanted. He unties my hands and I quickly undo my feet. Pain laces my left arm but I grit my teeth and stand up. Dizziness overcomes me, but I shake my head to clear it. I glance behind Sledge to Holly. Her eyes widen and she releases a silent scream. Sledge stabs me before I can react. The blade of his knife sinks into my side. I cover it with my hands and shuffle over to Holly. Once I reach her, I collapse onto my knees. She scrambles up to reach me. Her gentle hands run over my face, down my neck and latch onto the knife sticking out of my side.
“Don’t,” I warn her. “If you pull this knife out, I’ll bleed to death.”
Holly yanks her hands away, tears falling from her eyes in rivers. “I’m so sorry, Stryker. So sorry.” Her bottom lip trembles.
“I’ll be a nice fucking asshole and give you two a minute. Then, Holly, you’re mine.” The man sneers in our direction.
“I’ll never be yours, Sledge.” The venom in her voice is unmistakable. “I’d rather kill myself than to be subjected to you ever again.”
“There’s the knife,” Sledge answers, pointing to my death lodged in my side. “Make it slow so I can fuck you as the life drains from your body.”
His heavy boots stomp towards the door and swing it open. I peek over my shoulder, still on my knees and look. He has us in a room somewhere that leads out to a hallway. I don’t see anyone else hanging around the door. Sledge slams the door shut with a hard bang.
I drop to the ground. My body turning cold. Shivers wrack through me.
“Stay with me, please,” Holly begs.
I meet her eyes. The soft brown peering back at me giving me the strength I need to keep fighting. “I’m trying, Holly. How’d he get you?” I’m doing everything I can to not think about the knife lodged in my side, stemming the blood trying to seep out and kill me.
“I was with Poison and Siren. They were taking care of Candy. I couldn’t stay in there any longer so I left. He caught me on the back porch. Drugged me and I passed out. That’s all I remember until I woke up in here.”
I run a bloody finger down Holly’s cheek. “He caught me in my bedroom. Did the same thing. I still don’t know how he got me out of the Clubhouse with no one knowing.” That part fucking flips me out. Unless Sledge had more inside help.
“What are we going to do?” Holly asks.
“I’m not sure yet. But if I know Kayne, he’s going to know something is wrong when I don’t make an appearance.”
A muffled bang pierces through the small room. Holly jumps and scoots closer to me. I’m fighting with everything I can to stay awake. She wraps her warm body around mine, trying to stop me from shivering.
“Holly,” I grit my teeth. “I need to tell you something. If we don’t make it out alive, there’s something you need to know.” I look into her warm, soulful eyes. I grit my teeth when my shoulder throbs with pain. I rest my forehead against hers. “No matter what happens, know that I’m proud to be your man. I’m proud to have you as mine. And know that I love you.”
The words I’ve longed to say but been to chicken shit to voice them aloud comes flowing out of my mouth. I press my lips shut and close my eyes. Our foreheads are pressed together. Holly sucks in a deep breath and releases it. Her soft breath fans across my face and I soak it up.
“I love you too, Stryker.” She responds with a catch in her throat. Emotions clogging her voice. “I’ve loved you for a long time. It just took my head a little while to catch up with my heart.”
“Thank fuck it finally did.” I press my lips against hers, asking for permission to enter the warmth of her mouth. Holly opens, her tongue darting out to meet mine. Our teeth clash together, tongues dueling back and forth. It’s messy, it’s love, it’s all us.
Another loud bang followed by several pops filter through the other side of the door, making Holly jump and scoot closer towards me. Smoke billows under the door.
“What the hell?” I grumble.
I hoist my beaten and bloodied body up off the floor and shuffle towards the door. Holly’s right beside me, steadying me with her hand around my waist. We reach the door together. The smoke flowing through thick and heavy, making us both cough. I reach for the handle and it’s hot under my touch. Yanking my hand back, I look around the room. There’s nothing in here but the chair Sledge tied me to and the ropes laying on the floor. A small window teases me, filtering in the moonlight above our heads.
“Give me your shirt.” I cough through the smoke. My side burns from the knife and my shoulder aches. Holly yanks her shirt off, handing it to me. She helps me remove mine and I tie hers around her head, so she stops breathing in the smoke pouring into the room.
I wrap my shirt around my fist and grab the doorknob again. It jiggles but doesn’t budge. “Fuck. It’s locked.” I try kicking it, but my body is shutting down with every blow.
“Stryker, stop. Please.” Holly begs. I can’t stop though I need to get her out of here. I keep kicking the door. Every bang grows weaker and weaker. My eyes are heavy and my body’s giving up. I collapse in a heap on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Lil’ Bit. I tried and failed. I promised to keep you safe and I couldn’t.” A shiver wracks through my body and I close my eyes. “My mother was right I’ll never be good enough. I’m a worthless monster. Just like my father.” Warm hands press to the side of my face. I revel in Holly’s touch. It’s the last thing I feel before my body gives up and I succumb to the darkness surrounding me.
Chapter 18
Holly
I watch helplessly as Stryker closes his eyes. His breathing becomes shallow. The smoke in the room grows thicker with each passing minute. A cough wracks my body, even with my shirt tied around my head. There must be something I can do. I can’t just sit here and let the man who’s given me life again die. I can’t let Sledge win again. I check Stryker’s neck for a pulse. It’s slow but steady under my fingertips.
I look around the room and think. There’s only the chair and ropes Sledge had Stryker tied to. I spot a window above my head. The moon’s rays are filtering in, teasing me. If I can get out that window, then I can go for help. But I can’t leave Stryker either or the fire on the other side of the door will come in and kill him. I’d never forgive myself if he died down here and I lived. But he’s dying right now from the knife lodged into his side.
Heavy footsteps approach outside the door fast. The doorknob wiggles. I get up quickly and grab the wooden chair Stryker was tied too. I hurry to the side of the door and raise the chair above my head. Whoever’s coming inside will have a surprise with a chair to the side of the face. The knob wiggles again and then a heavy foot hits it hard.
I wait. My arms are tremb
ling from holding this chair above my head. I swear, if we get out of this alive, I’m going to start working out. Another loud hit and the door moves a little. Another and the wood splinters. One more and whoever’s on the other side will be in here.
“Holly? Step back.” That sounds like Kayne, but that’s impossible. Kayne can’t be here. He wouldn’t know where to go. I don’t even know where we are.
One more hard boot to the door and it flies off the hinges. Smoke comes rolling in and I swing the chair as hard as I can at the figure standing in the doorway. He steps back as the chair comes crashing down around the door frame. Shit. It didn’t work. Panic sets in and I fight with everything I have so they can’t take me again. Strong arms wrap around my waist, pinning me to their front. I push my head back hard to connect with their face, but I’m too short and hit their chest. I stomp on their foot, but they have steel toes on. I struggle and fight against the arms holding me tight. He’s not going to take me alive again.
“Holly! Stop!” A familiar voice rings in my ears and I stop struggling. I look around the room and Blayde, Butch, Duke and Rooster are leaning over Stryker.
“Kayne? What the hell? How’d you know where to find us?” My voice trembles with relief.
“I’ll explain later. We need to get out of here right now before this whole place goes up in smoke. Butch, can we move him?”
“Yes, Prez. But we have to be careful of the knife in his side. It’s stemming the blood flow right now. If it moves even a little bit, he’ll bleed out.” Butch answers.
“Get him out of here. Holly and I will be right behind you.” Kayne demands.
Butch, Blayde, Duke and Rooster lift Stryker up carefully and disappear out the door. Kayne and I follow staying close but out of their way. We rush down the hallway. The smoke is thick and I cough hard. Kayne puts my head in his chest, trying to cover my face more and he guides us up a set of stairs. The smoke thins out the further up we go.
Stryker's Salvation (A Savage Saints MC Book 3) Page 15
