The Hunt for Summer (NSC Industries)

by Sidebottom, D H

  Mason nodded in reply and I proceeded to tell him about my hunch concerning Andrew “I don’t think it’s a coincidence he was in that airport. If anything I think he was staking us out, watching what we did when Red went.”

  Mason nodded then picked up his phone and phoned William and before long we had an address of the sly bastard and we we’re on our way to obtain Red’s location, and I knew with Mason present, we would acquire the information from Andrew.

  Whether he would be breathing when we left was unknown as yet, but to be honest, as long as he gave us Red’s whereabouts, I didn’t give a shit what happened to him.

  Chapter 15

  Layla

  I sat silent on the bed already naked and full of shame.

  The area he had brought me to was unfamiliar but I knew we were still in London. We hadn’t travelled long enough to be anywhere else.

  I sighed deeply as I shivered, remembering his silent fury as he led me into the room that was now my holding cell.

  His reticence had frightened me more than his rage and I knew he had something nasty in mind for my punishment.

  I cast another glance over the suite I was situated in. It was plush, comfortable and modern and was complete with a walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom and I timidly took a look in the wardrobe.

  My heart sank when I realised he had filled it with clothes ready for me.

  He had obviously been planning my suppression for a while and had prepared things beforehand.

  I used the toilet and washed my face before settling back on the bed and just waited, waited for my punishment, waited for my Master’s calm wrath and waited for the pain that I knew would come.

  As soon as I heard the door open, I slid off the bed and took position on my knees as I rested my forehead on the floor and placed my hands beside my head, palms down flat to the carpet.

  He silently circled me and I physically felt the rage he emitted.

  I groaned faintly as I felt the whip slash my back, its sear slicing through my delicate skin; skin that hadn’t been torn for six years and now unused to the harsh thrash.

  “Why do you continue to plague me, Kayla?”

  I didn’t answer him, I wasn’t expected to.

  I closed my eyes as the crop hit again; knowing any outburst of sound would encourage further, harder beats.

  “Do you even begin to comprehend what I have done to locate you?”

  Another slash and this time I whimpered against the pain as he positioned it over the exact same position of the previous one.

  He sighed heavily before he gripped my hair and pulled my head up. He crouched before me, his face close to mine as he stared straight into my soul.

  “Who is he? You may speak” he merely asked and I felt the pull in my stomach when I knew what would happen when I refused to answer his question.

  I didn’t speak, just looked at him and gulped. “Do not fucking challenge me, Kayla. I am so near to losing my self-restraint with you.”

  “Just someone who goes into the club where I work, Master” I tried, praying with everything I had that he would take it as an honest answer.

  I sighed in relief as he nodded and released his grip on my hair.

  His heavy booted foot stamped on my head, forcing it flat on the floor as he kept its position atop my head, my face pushed into the pile of the plush carpet.

  The room titled as my vision blurred at the force he had trampled me with and I closed my eyes as he ground his foot deeper against me.

  “You have one more chance to pacify me before I really decide to hurt you” he hissed out as he pushed his foot further into me.

  I was struggling to breathe in the deep pile and I frantically tried to turn my face to the side.

  “I advise you to be truthful this time Kayla and I may even be lenient when I take you, because currently I have the urge to rip you in fucking two and make you bleed. Does this knowledge slacken your evasiveness?”

  “I only know him as Hunter, Master. He is a Dom at the club.”

  I prayed that the half-truth would appease him and I gulped in large frantic breaths when he lifted his foot.

  He stepped back and I remained flat to the ground awaiting his next command as I fought against the bile that was desperately threatening to choke me.

  “Belly” he demanded and I instantly lay flat on my front with my hands draped the length of my body and my legs spread wide as I prepared for his intrusion.

  I could hear his heavy breathing and I knew he was hard for me and my stomach rolled when I knew what was coming before he commanded it.

  I closed my eyes as I heard him lower his zip and I prayed to God he would be merciful with me but I knew before I finished my prayer that he would make this as painful as possible.

  ***

  When I woke it was dark and I groaned when every inch of my body screamed in agony. I tried to move my legs but everything was so sore, it was too painful.

  I needed the toilet and grit my teeth as I pushed myself off the bed.

  My head hurt where he had yanked forcefully at my hair and I squinted at the dim light that came from the small lamp in the corner of the room.

  I stumbled as my knees gave way and I grabbed onto the en-suite doorframe before I ended up in heap on the floor.

  I managed to relieve myself, wincing at the sting, and filled the heavy tub with water and some posh bubbly shit Diablo always had me bathe in.

  He had once told me the smell of it reminded him of his mother so it was the only stuff I was allowed to use.

  I groaned as I sank into it, the soap in the crème stung my back and between my legs, but I forced myself further down and closed my eyes, pressing my body to relax.

  Lucas’s face swam in my head and I bit my lip as my heart ached. I had been as evasive as I could be when Diablo had demanded his name, and I had paid the price for my vagueness but I would never give up his real name or any other information about him. I knew that as soon as it left my lips, Lucas would be dead, just for touching me.

  I hissed as I sunk further down into the water to wash the blood out of my hair, the thick scabs turned the water red and a tear slipped free as the colour reminded me of Lucas’s nickname for me.

  My whole body stiffened when I heard the room door open and close and I hastily climbed out of the bath, knowing if I wasn’t ready for him, I would pay the price.

  I frowned when Carl, one of Diablo’s minions, stood in the doorway with a malevolent smirk on his face as his eyes scanned my already broken body.

  “Get on the bed bitch!” he ordered and I stared in confusion at him.

  “Where’s Diablo?”

  He took a step closer to me and grabbed a handful of my hair.

  Fuck me, why the hair all the time?

  “He’s had to go see to some business, so it’s just you and me sweetheart” he told me as he dragged me across the bedroom and flung me on the bed.

  “He’ll kill you when he finds out what you’re doing!” I told him, hoping the warning would halt what he was about to do.

  “But he won’t find out will he” he forewarned me and I glared and pushed at him as he clambered over the top of me, “Get off me Carl.”

  He grabbed a handful of my breast as he unzipped himself with his other hand and I desperately tried to shove him away. “Please don’t Carl, I’m too sore” I begged but he released my hair and grabbed one of my thighs and pulled my leg up.

  His face was epic, as was mine, when the door flew open and Mason and Sam burst in.

  The roar that erupted from Mason when he caught sight of me made my bones crack and Carl urgently tried to scramble away but Mason grabbed hold of him, cast me a quick glance and then dragged him into the bathroom, closely followed by Sam and now Greg, who had just entered with Lucas.

  Carl’s screams filtered through the room as Lucas just stood and gazed at me, his eyes examining every piece of my bruised and battered skin as his chest heaved with each of his extreme br
eaths.

  I couldn’t breathe as relief coursed through every single inch of my body. My lungs screamed at me and I clutched at my chest in desperation.

  Lucas swiftly took the gap between us with his long legs before he crouched in front of me and instructed me to breathe. “Come on Red, you can do it. In… out…” he coached gently as I followed his lead. The sob that was choking me burst free and I inhaled a huge lungful of much needed oxygen.

  “Good girl.”

  He scanned around the room and went into the wardrobe and exited with a white silk robe and wrapped it around me, wincing when he caught sight of my back.

  His jaw clenched so tight I heard his teeth crack but he gently fastened the belt and scooped me gently into his arms and carried me through the house.

  I noticed at least three big guy’s stood on guard as Lucas transported me through the large house and out to his car. He never uttered a word, just placed a tender kiss on my forehead as he gently settled me into the passenger seat and I fought the tears at his affectionate display, knowing that if I let them fall, they wouldn’t stop.

  Chapter 16

  Lucas

  I knew if I spoke to her I wouldn’t be able to hold the emotion back that was threatening to consume me, so I just silently drove us back to my place.

  I flicked on the Bluetooth on the dash and dialled Mason’s number. “I have Red with me and I’m taking her back to mine” I informed him when he answered.

  “Yeah, we’re gonna see what we can find here before we come back. I’ll inform Ava and Sara to meet at yours” he replied and I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me.

  “It’s fine, I’ll take care of her.”

  “Lucas. After what she’s been through, she’ll need a female friend not an emotional bastard” Mason growled out and I bit back the retort.

  “Fine!” I relented as I ended the call.

  I stole a quick glance at Red but she was staring out of the window, her whole body stiff and vibrating with the tension.

  “Why did you go with him?” I asked her quietly.

  She was silent for so long I didn’t think she was going to answer me but eventually she turned to me, her eyes bright with unshed tears and I grimaced at the bruise on her cheekbone and the split in her bottom lip.

  “He’s my Master and he ordered me” she said simply and I growled out a curse, but she didn’t display any emotion as she stared back.

  “Do you even know what he’ll do to you for doing this Lucas?” she said soullessly and I knew her soul was still somewhere on the floor of Diablo’s house.

  “It doesn’t matter what he does to me Red, it’s what he’s done to you for running that makes me fucking…”

  She barked out a bitter laugh and I cast her a puzzled look. “He didn’t do this to me for running. He did this because I wouldn’t tell him who you were” she divulged.

  My eyebrows lifted and I slammed on the brakes so I could look at her “What the fuck?”

  She gazed at me, the pain and despair displayed vividly in her eyes as a single, solitary tear tracked her pale face “He hadn’t even begun to punish me for leaving.”

  Jesus Christ. If this had been her punishment for being secretive I dread to think what he would have done to her for escaping.

  “He did this because of me? Why the hell didn’t you just tell him, Red?”

  She didn’t answer my question, just continued to stare at me unresponsively and I frowned at her cold manner. Surely she should be crying, screaming? Hell, she should be having a fucking break down but she just remained impassive and docile as I pulled away again.

  The thought of what he had put her through because of me made my stomach ache and my heart burst in equal measures.

  I was falling in love with her.

  Effortlessly.

  ***

  As I lay Red on the bed, a knock came at the door and I placed a kiss on her forehead as I brushed away a stray strand of hair “I’ll just go answer the door.”

  Her hand shot out and her fingers wrapped around my wrist, “Just… be careful” she warned and I gave her a soft smile and nodded before I quietly closed the door behind me.

  I took her advice and peeked through the peephole in the door before I opened it to Ava and Sara. “Where is she?” Ava asked and I gestured to the bedroom.

  She nodded and Sara followed her into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.

  I swallowed the bile in my throat as I heard Red’s screams and cries as her friends took care of her. “Fuck!” I hissed as I blinked back the tears at the sound of her despair.

  What the hell, Lucas?

  I poured myself a large measure of whisky and downed it in one before proceeding to pour another.

  I closed my eyes to the visions of Red’s broken and bruised body as I had entered that room.

  The bastard that had been at her was hopefully dead by now, he deserved a slow and painful fucking death and I knew Mason would deliver it, and deliver it with relish.

  I frowned at the friendship between Red and Mason. Knowing they’d had a relationship didn’t help but they genuinely seemed to be just friends now, and I was actually glad that Mason seemed to care for her deeply.

  His determination to get to her had honoured me and I knew I’d never be able to thank him enough.

  I was aware he’d had some problems with some dude’s that had stalked Ava, and Ava had returned the favour by just loving him; their relationship was one to be humble of, and any person would be content to experience just a portion of that love.

  I thought I’d had it once but…

  Another knock came on the door and I sighed wearily when I knew I wouldn’t get a minute alone with Red as I let Mason, Greg and Sam into my apartment.

  “Where is she?” Mason demanded bluntly and I pointed to the bedroom as I walked slowly back into the living area.

  I just wanted her to myself; I wanted to be the one to comfort and care for her. I wanted to be the one she blinked at before her tears fell. I wanted to be the person that wiped them away and held her until she mended.

  I lifted the whisky bottle at Greg and Sam as they plonked onto my sofa and they both nodded.

  I drizzled them each a measure and handed the glasses to them both “The guy who was at her?” I asked.

  Greg gave me a sinister smile and I nodded in reply to his silent answer.

  That was one less thing to worry about.

  I noticed Ava walk along the hallway towards me and she tilted her chin towards the liquor bottle and I poured her a dreg before she downed it in one and held it out again. “She’s a mess, not just emotionally and Mason has called his mother to come over.”

  I frowned at her, not quite understanding how Mason’s mother was going to help.

  “She’s a doctor” Ava explained as if she read my thoughts.

  My stomach dropped at the thought of Red being so physically hurt that she needed medical help. My fist clenched so much that the glass I was holding shattered under my grip. “Shit” I cursed as the blood flowed freely and Ava grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the sink, turning on the tap as she held my hand under the flow.

  “She said he…” she couldn’t finish her sentence, just shook her head and shuddered.

  I gulped and bit my bottom lip severely at the pain on Ava’s face as Mason approached us, his hands raking through his hair in despair as he helped himself to the alcohol.

  I was glad I’d had the foresight to purchase another bottle only yesterday, knowing I would need the whole bottle before the night was out.

  “Don’t leave her in the dark Lucas, she doesn’t like the dark. She spent six fucking days in nothing but blackness” Mason grumbled and I gazed in bewilderment at him.

  “You answered the door to Ava and Sara and left her in the dark.”

  I shook my head in confusion and Ava sighed at me. “That’s why she was screaming. She couldn’t breathe until me and Sare opened the door” she divulged
and my eyes widened.

  “I thought she was letting loose because of what she’s been through.”

  Ava shook her head “No, that’ll take her a while but be warned, when it comes be prepared” she disclosed and I nodded in acknowledgement.

  “I mean it Lucas. She will beat the shit out of you, bite you, scream at you, and then the tears will come.”

  I swallowed roughly at the first-hand knowledge that Ava was explaining and Mason wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her head tenderly.

  “You need to be there for her, Lucas. I wasn’t there for Ava and it still kills me every time I accept how I let her down” Mason divulged honestly. Ava leant up and kissed his cheek before she went to answer my door, obviously knowing it was Mason’s mother.

  “Is Ava okay?” I asked Mason quietly as I watched Ava lead a tall woman into the bedroom.

  He regarded me for a while then sighed heavily “She went through some deep shit. Worse than Lay has and… well, I was so hung up on fucking heroin at the time I let her down. Don’t be that guy for Layla; otherwise you’ll have me to deal with.”

  I exhaled deeply but nodded at him as Ava came back into the kitchen area. “You’re mum will fix her.” She said to Mason as she picked up my kettle and started to fill it before she turned back to me “She’ll take a look at your hand when she’s seen to Lay.”