by Nicole James
That got a smile from her, but she didn’t respond, just slid her hands in her back pockets and looked off into the distance.
“Boys, huh?”
She nodded, still not looking at him.
His phone went off. Her eyes came to his as he pulled it from his pocket and put it to his ear. “Yeah?” His eyes flicked to the horizon as he listened and then replied, “Right.”
When he disconnected, she was still watching him. Waiting. Expecting.
Shit.
“I have to go. But I want to finish this conversation. Okay?”
She nodded. “Sure.”
He moved to her and took her in his arm. Dipping his head he locked eyes with her. “I’m not saying no. I just…I just need time to figure some shit out.”
She nodded. “Sure.” There it was, that word again. She sounded agreeable, but he could feel her pulling away on the inside.
“Babe—”
“Go. It’s fine. I’ve got things to do, and so do you obviously. It’s not a big deal.” She pushed out of his arms but he pulled her back.
“It is a big deal. I meant what I said. I want to finish this conversation.”
She looked up in his eyes, and he saw maybe a hint of belief in hers. “Okay.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
He kissed her. Just a soft press of his lips to hers, and then he moved off the porch and strode to his bike. He had a lot to think about and right now blasting down the road with the wind in his face would help clear the bullshit out of his mind. It always helped him think clearly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Crystal walked out the backdoor with the trash bag and headed across the dark alley to the dumpster. It was closing time, and this was the last chore she had left. She’d just tossed the bag inside when she was grabbed from behind, a cloth slammed over her lower face. She breathed in a sickening chemical smell from whatever the cloth was drenched in, and she wanted to gag. Struggling, she fought against her attacker, but it was no use. He was too big and too strong.
The last thing she saw as everything began to get foggy was that he was moving her toward a dark panel van, its side door already slid back, open and waiting.
****
Wolf rode up to the front of Brothers Ink. The lights were still on, but he knew they were closing soon. He’d texted Crystal earlier that he would be coming by to finish that conversation they’d started. Climbing off his bike, he stepped up on the boardwalk and entered the shop. A little bell jingled above the door, and four heads turned his way. None of them were Crystal’s.
“We’re closed,” Jameson called out to him.
Wolf’s eyes searched out the man, finding him standing by the back station.
“I just came by to see Crystal.”
Jameson eyed him up and down. It had been clear when they’d been in the shop yesterday, that the man hadn’t wanted them in the place. And Wolf had no illusions that it was because they were bikers, hell the town was full of them. Nor was it the colors on his back that gave the man pause. This was personal. His dislike was all about Wolf’s interest in his employee. In Crystal.
Jameson came to stand in front of him, his arms folded, blocking his path.
“You the one she met up with in Vegas?” he asked, throwing Wolf for a loop. How the hell did he know about that? Did she tell him? Had she told him everything?
“Yeah. I am.”
“Didn’t you already do enough damage?”
Wolf straightened, his jaw clenching. “She here or not?”
“She’s out back, taking out the trash.” Wolf’s eyes moved to the brother that had spoken up. It was the one called, Max. Wolf nodded once, his eyes returning to Jameson. They glared at each other for another moment before Jameson finally stepped aside.
Wolf strode through the shop to the back and flung open the back door. Stepping out, he slammed the damn thing. Motherfucker. No man was going to keep him from seeing Crystal. He glanced around the alley, saw the dumpster to the left, across the alley, but no Crystal. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, that strange warning feeling he had tingling down his spine. He was about to look down the alley to the right, his hand already reaching for his weapon, when his head exploded in pain, and everything went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Wolf came slowly to consciousness and found himself strung up to a tree, his arms stretched over his head and his boots a foot off the ground. His cut and shirt had been stripped off him and sweat ran down his chest. It was dark outside but there was a campfire burning a few feet away, its heat radiating over him and casting him in its golden light. It was quiet except for the crackling of the fire and the creaking of the thick rope he hung from. And then he heard the rustling and struggling, and his eyes focused into the darkness and shadows on the other side of the fire.
A man on top of a woman. He strained to focus, his mind still fuzzy, and his head aching from the blow he’d taken to the head. And then he saw the DK cut and Crystal’s long dark hair. She was struggling.
“Get off me,” she pleaded.
“You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you?” a man’s deep voice growled. “That’s okay. I like a little fight in my women. It’s so much more fun when I break ‘em.”
Taz. Motherfucking Taz.
Wolf recognized his voice. The sick bastard. Taz was a member of the Devil Kings MC. One of the nastiest Wolf had ever run up against. He was a sick son-of-a-bitch with a mean streak, especially where women were concerned. And he had Crystal pinned on the ground.
Fuck.
A sick feeling rolled in his stomach, and all Wolf could think about was getting Taz’s attention off Crystal, and the only way to do that was to get it on him.
“Taz! You motherfucker. Why don’t you come over here and show me what a tough guy you are? Come over here so I can spit on that fucking DK cut of yours!”
That got the man’s attention. He lifted off Crystal.
“Well, look who woke up.”
Taz staggered to his feet, grabbing up a bottle of whiskey and taking a slug. He moved toward Wolf, and the flames illuminated his face. Wolf saw his milky eye, the drooping eyelid and left side of his face where it looked like his cheekbone had been caved in, which made the left side of his mouth droop as well. Taz had previously been a very good looking guy. At least, he had been before Cole beat him half to death one night. None of them had seen Taz since that night, but obviously the beating had caused permanent damage.
“You’re one ugly motherfucker now, Taz. Bet the girls puke when they get a look at your face.”
Taz let out a sick laugh. “Well when I get done with you, pretty boy, no woman’s gonna look twice at you. I’m gonna cut you up so bad, they’ll run screaming from the room.”
Wolf watched as Taz pulled a knife from the sheath at his hip and moved closer. Wolf’s eyes lifted over his head to meet Crystal’s terrified gaze. He tried to will her to run with a look, dying inside because he wanted to shout it to her, but couldn’t without tipping off Taz. Then he heard a chain rattle and saw the glint of metal and realized her ankle was chained to another tree.
Jesus Christ, no.
Wolf’s eyes searched the site, trying to come up with a way out of this as he hung there, swinging slightly with every twitch of his body. His arms and shoulders burned like they were on fire from supporting his weight. His only thought was that if he could get his legs around Taz’s head and get him in a headlock, maybe he could choke him out. But first he’d have to kick that knife free and hope Taz didn’t have another weapon on him. Even if Wolf did manage to choke him out until the asshole passed out on the ground that would only leave them a few moments before he probably came around again. And Wolf was strung up, and Crystal was chained to a tree. Where would that leave them?
The knife flashed out, slashing across Wolf’s abs, and a searing pain exploded through him. He hissed in a breath, determined not to scream. He mustered all his strength and kicked out trying to knoc
k the knife from Taz’s hand, but hanging there like a pendulum, he just didn’t have the force he needed. He only ended up pushing himself back to swing from the rope.
Taz laughed his maniacal laugh and slashed again and again. Wolf tried to defend himself with his legs, but soon they were slashed over and over as well. He could hear Crystal’s screams over Taz’s laughter. Finally, Wolf realized Taz had stopped slashing, and Wolf now hung there, swinging, blood pouring down his chest and legs.
Then the knife came flickering into his line of sight a moment before a searing slash cut across his jaw. And this time Wolf couldn’t hold back the scream of pain.
Taz chuckled. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
Crystal screamed, begging him to stop. Taz ignored her.
“Bet you’re wondering what this is about. Wondering why I got you strung up. Now I’ll admit there ain’t no love lost between our clubs. But this isn’t club retaliation. This is personal.”
“Personal? What I’d do to you?”
Taz nodded his head from side to side as if mulling that over. “Not exactly what you did, more like your VP. But I know you were there the night he did this to my face.”
Wolf watched him point to the left side with the tip of his knife.
“I think I owe him a little payback for this.”
“Is that what this is? Payback?”
“Your VP’s a hard man to get close to. He’s always surrounded. Always got guys on him.” Taz grinned. “But I have my ways of hitting back. Like burning that fucking whorehouse to the ground.”
“That was you?” Wolf bit out against the pain.
“Yeah. Didn’t see that coming did he? Your VP thinks he’s so fucking smart. He ain’t so smart.”
Wolf tried to laugh, but fuck if it didn’t hurt like hell. “And yet, you haven’t been able to get near him.”
“Well…if I can’t get near your fucking VP, I’ll just have to take my revenge out on you, won’t I?” He shrugged. “I figure one Evil Dead member is as good as the next. Right?” When Wolf stayed quiet, Taz continued taunting him. “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue? Maybe I should cut it out for you.”
He laughed his maniacal laughter again, and Wolf gritted his teeth, his body shuddering with pain.
“Not such a tough guy now, are you? I’ll let you in on a little secret, when I’m done with you, I’ll send your brothers a message letting them know where to find your body. Maybe I’ll tack a note to you. Tell Cole that this is what I plan to do to his wife.”
Taz began his slashing again.
Wolf didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to last without breaking. And then, as if heaven sent, Taz’s cell phone went off. Wolf watched as he pulled it from his pocket, snickering, “Don’t go anywhere.” Then he put the phone to his ear. “Yeah?”
Wolf’s eyes lifted to Crystal’s, wishing he could hold her one last time. He didn’t want to give up, but fuck, he didn’t see a way out of this. Then miraculously, Taz stepped away, crossing the campsite to the other side and stepping around the side of the panel van that was parked twenty yards away.
Crystal was already as close as the stretched chain would allow. Wolf looked at her. There were tears streaming down her cheeks, reflected in the golden firelight.
“Wolf,” she whispered brokenly.
“Crystal.” Wolf grimaced against the pain and tried to smile for her. “We never got to finish that conversation, baby.”
“We don’t need to, Wolf.”
He nodded and tried to take the emotion out of his voice, knowing the only help he could give her now was to talk her through this and give her whatever strength he could that way. He continued in as calm a voice as he could muster, “You’ve got to talk him into taking that chain off you.”
“He won’t.” she shook her head.
“Baby, it’s your only shot at getting out of here. Come on to him.”
She looked toward the van.
“Look at me, Crystal.” When she turned her tear streaked face back to him, he continued, “You do whatever you have to do. Do you understand me?”
She nodded.
“And when you get free, you run.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to. You run, and you don’t look back. Promise me, baby. Promise me,” he pleaded with her.
She shook her head. “I…I can’t. Don’t ask me to leave you. He’ll kill you.”
“He’ll kill us both. And it’s my fucking fault you got dragged into this MC bullshit. He’s gonna kill me. But don’t ask me to watch him kill you, too. That’s his plan—to make me watch him hurt you, and then kill you. He’s just playing with me now, baby. Making sure these cuts aren’t deep enough. He doesn’t want me to bleed out too quick. That’d ruin his fun.”
“Wolf, I love you. I can’t leave you.”
“I love you, too, baby. Always have. And I’m so sorry. Christ, there’s so much shit I’m sorry for. But you gotta listen to me now, Crystal. Promise me. You get free, you run. Promise me.”
She just started crying harder.
Wolf could see Taz coming back.
“Don’t let him see you cry, baby. He feeds off that shit. And that piece of shit is not worth the satisfaction.”
She looked up at him through her tears, and it broke his heart.
“Baby, you can do this. But you’ve got to stop crying. Pull yourself together, sweetheart. I need you to be strong for me. Can you do that?”
She sniffled and wiped her face. And then she took a deep calming breath, and Wolf watched her try to get herself under control. It was almost as if a mask came over her face, hardening her resolve, and Wolf saw her strength return.
Taz walked back over. He took another hit off his bottle of whiskey.
“Can I have some of that?” Crystal whispered, drawing his attention.
Taz moved to stand over her. “Maybe, you ask nicely.”
She was sitting on her knees, her feet tucked under her, looking up at him. Sliding her palm up his thigh, she asked, “Please.”
Wolf watched as Taz grinned down at her, then he took her chin in a hard grip and yanked it up. He brought the bottle to her mouth and tilted it, pouring some into her mouth. She gulped, trying to keep up with the stream he was pouring down her throat. Finally, he loosened his grip on her jaw, and she coughed and sputtered, pulling back.
Taz let out a chuckle, but Crystal surprised him by tightening her hand on his thigh, squeezing. Wolf could see Taz’s eyes flicker with heat and his grin fade. Crystal stared up at him, completely submissive, her other hand reaching up to stroke up his other thigh, moving slowly toward Taz’s belt buckle. He stood there, unmoving, allowing her touch.
Wolf watched intently, hating to see this, his stomach turning at the thought of Crystal having to suffer that man’s touch, but knowing in his heart, it was the only chance she had, her sexuality was the only weapon she had left. And if he was being honest, it was a longshot that Taz would let her free, no matter what she did.
Taz took a half step closer to Crystal, and hope soared in Wolf. Maybe, just maybe.
Taz took another slug of the whiskey bottle he still held in his hand. And Wolf said a silent prayer that Taz was just drunk enough to let his guard down.
Wolf hung there, swinging slightly, the rope creaking. He tried to hold himself completely still, wanting to give Crystal what might be her only shot. Not wanting to draw attention to himself for fear the spell Crystal was casting over Taz would be broken. His skin was on fire, searing pain from a half a dozen slashes burning through him, making his muscles tighten and clench. He wanted to close his eyes against the pain, but he couldn’t look away from Crystal, not for a second.
Wolf heard the clink of the buckle opening under her nimble fingers. He watched as Taz lifted his free hand and threaded his fingers through her hair, his fist closing tightly. She fumbled with his zipper, pulling his cock out.
And then Wolf silently swore as Ta
z pulled the knife from the sheath at his hip where he’d jammed it when his cell had gone off, and he tossed it well out of Crystal’s reach. Goddamn, there went possibly her only chance. Wolf didn’t think for a minute she’d be able to overpower him. Taz outweighed her by eighty pounds at least. Eighty pounds of solid muscle.
Crystal took him into her mouth, and began to give him a blowjob. Wolf gritted his teeth at what she was forced to do. As minutes passed, she began working him at an ever increasing pace. It wasn’t long before the whiskey bottle was slipping from his hand, so that he could bury his fingers in her hair, controlling her movements with two fists pulled tight in her tresses. He fucked her mouth, his pace increasing. Finally, he came with a bellowing grunt, staggering a step as the strength drained out of him.
In a flash, Crystal had both hands curled around his waistband, fists wrapped tight around his belt, pulling him off balance and down to the ground at her side. Her right hand grabbed up the discarded liquor bottle, and in an arcing swing, she brought the bottle smashing down on Taz’s head with a loud crack. He went limp instantly, and she began frantically digging through his hip pocket. She came up with the key and undid the padlock to the chain around her ankle. When the chain fell away she was scurrying across the ground in a flash, scrambling for the knife. Then she was staggering to her feet and moving toward Wolf. She reached for the rope strung diagonally and tied off at the tree trunk. She began sawing quickly through its thickness.
Wolf swung slowly as she sawed.
“You did good, baby. But you should run. You’re wasting precious time on me.”
“I’m not leaving you. We’re getting out of this together.”
They heard a groan from across the campsite. Taz stirred.
“Baby, he’s coming around. Please, just save yourself.”
Crystal sawed harder. She was only half way through the rope that was as thick around as her wrist. But it was enough, because a moment later the rope snapped, and Wolf crashed to the ground. He groaned with the pain that shot through him at the impact. Crystal was on him a second later, trying to gather him in her arms, but he could see beyond her that Taz was staggering to his feet.
