Wild Heart (The Wild Heart Series)

by Culbreth, Jennifer

  “The Kings are trash. They take what belongs to others.” Ani bucked her body as his fingers found the button of her pants, fighting him off at first until he grabbed her and held her still. “I don’t like when things are taken from me,” his voice was now a growl as he ripped his shirt off over his head.

  “I didn’t do anything to you,” Ani choked out as the tears streamed down her face.

  “No; but he did.” Chief grabbed her throat once more and shoved her down into the bed as he ripped the thin fabric of her bra. “I get back what should have been mine.”

  She closed her eyes, imagining Knox’s face as Chief continued his assault. This man wasn’t Knox and he held no claim over her body; but with every attempt she made to fight the strange sensation of his touch, it didn’t stop. She wanted to scream, scream out to the heavens and ask God to make it stop, but she couldn’t find the breath to do it.

  Her eyes fluttered open as he pulled her pants down, leaving her exposed on the bed. He grunted as he fondled with his belt, she looked up at the ceiling, finding a small dark water spot. She locked her eyes onto that spot as she heard his pants fall to the ground. That spot was her life now, dark and dirty. Stained. She could feel the burning of her eyes as they became blurry with her tears.

  She heaved out against the pillow as the nausea rose from her stomach, spitting out the bile as he continued. Her voice was a mere whisper as she spoke out toward the dark spot on the ceiling, “I’m sorry, Knox.” She cried out, heaving again as the room spun violently around her from the drugs. “I’m so sorry,” she choked out once more as she closed her eyes.

  Chapter Seventeen

  blood

  Knox pulled off from the hard road and made his way down the winding dirt road. He’d found this place a few years ago and it was the only place he could go to think. He parked his motorcycle, kicking the stand out and made his way down to the fallen tree that lay next to the ridge. It over looked the valley below, a sea of green trees that floated out in waves in every direction you looked. His heart was torn, shredded into pieces. She was right, what had happened in the club was because of him. He could see the hurt ripping through her when he looked down into her hazel eyes.

  She would have to make the decision now, it wasn’t in his control and that ate away at him. He didn’t know if she’d want the life he could give her. It wasn’t ideal for most people, most people were weak and timid. She wasn’t though, even when she couldn’t see it, he could see her strength, her bravery. He wasn’t sure how long he’d sat staring out at the sea of evergreens, praying for their future. He knew she’d been brought into his life for a reason, what that reason was he wasn’t sure; but he knew it wasn’t her time to leave. If she came back to him tonight, he would do whatever it took to protect her, to do whatever was in his power to keep her in his life. Because without her, nothing felt right and nothing would until she returned.

  The pack tore down Highway seventy-three toward the unmarked cut-off. Cash now led the way with his lights and sirens on, he knew where to go as soon as he pulled the address up. Knox gripped onto the fear that flowed through him. He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew something was wrong. He’s could sense it and it only caused him to drive that much faster. His mind was already made up that he’d have blood on his hands tonight. He’d kill every last one of them if that’s what it took to get to her.

  They pulled off at the unmarked road and Knox propped up his bike, making his way to Cash’s window along with Charon and Rage. “When you go in your gonna see a cut-off. It leads you all the way around the property. You might want to have your guys park their bikes just off this trailhead so they are out of view. They’re gonna walk about thirty feet into the tree line and that will be the building. There’s a garage and a main building. Small, one story farm house. I go up first, I’ll feel it out and then give you two blasts on the siren when you need to come in.”

  “Aye, you’re sure she’s here?” Knox asked.

  “This was the only address in this area that came up under that name. She should be here. My guess, they have her in one of the bedrooms.” Cash pointed to the diagram of the house that he held in his hand, “First one here, second, and third. Make sure you check each room. I will be outside in case anyone else comes up. Once you get inside the house, I will signal for the rest of the guys to cover me in case there’s anyone out in the garage.”

  Knox took off toward the pack, relaying the plan before mounting his bike and slowly following behind Cash’s Bronco. The group drove slowly, as quiet as they could behind him in an effort to not be seen. He reached the cut-off and signaled for the group to go down it. Rage, Charon, Repo, and himself pulled their bikes into the cut-off and took off toward the house. They had a handful of other members with them as they crept behind Cash’s truck up toward the house. They stood just inside the tree line as his Bronco pulled up to the house. He made his way to the door as three Renegades came out, questioning what he was doing there. He saw them make a small exchange before he smiled and turned back to his truck. Knox caught his eyes as he reached into his truck and hit his siren twice.

  Knox and the guys ran to the door, kicking it open just as the Renegade on the other side attempted to close it. The hinges burst and the door flew into the house on top of the man. Knox put two bullets in the first man he saw sitting at the table before making his way toward the back of the house. A man rushed from the bathroom and Knox put a bullet in his head without thought. His heart was pounding as he made it into the first bedroom Cash had pointed out. He turned the handle, swinging the door open and barging into the room. Nothing. Empty. He heard the chaos at the front of the house as the Renegades were beginning to realize what was happening.

  He rushed to the next bedroom, slamming into the door and knocking it in. His heart dropped as he saw the lifeless body in the corner. Her dark black hair was draped over her blood splattered face as she slumped against the wall. He froze, waiting to see if she was breathing. Minutes passed as he stood there in front of her lifeless body. His knees gave out, coming down onto the floor in a crash as Rage ran into the room behind him and rushed immediately over to the lifeless body. Knox let out a deep guttural growl, filled with hatred toward the people who had hurt her. He looked up as Rage gently brushed the hair from her face. His breath ceased and the thumping of his heart stopped as he looked into her eyes.

  It wasn’t Ani.

  Ani

  She heaved again as Chief slumped down onto her. She was disgusted. Disgusted with herself. She was tainted, stained, and there would be no way Knox would want her now. She felt sick as he leaned up and planted a sloppy kiss onto her lips. She snatched her head to the side, this man was foreign and she didn’t want him to touch her any longer.

  “Oh come on now. I thought what we had was beautiful.” He grabbed her face tightly making her look at him as he leaned down and kissed her forcefully. “Gonna go get cleaned up. Don’t you go anywhere,” he let out a sinister chuckle as he made his way to the small bathroom.

  She felt as if she were in her darkest hour in life and prayed that God would take her. Take her from this pain and suffering. Her body had betrayed her, it had given in even though she had fought so hard against it. She closed her eyes and wallowed in her self-loathing, the hate for herself that now flowed in her veins. She heard the toilet flush as Chief came back into the room, propping in the door frame and staring down at her. She wanted to cover herself, but she couldn’t. Her body still felt heavy and useless, now exhausted from his assault.

  “You need to get cleaned up.” He reached over and grabbed a pistol from the top of the dresser, cocking it as he looked back to her, “I’m gonna untie you and if you so much as look at that door handle, I will shoot you in the head.”

  He made his way over to her and untied her hands as they fell lifelessly to the bed; then her legs, pulling her pants the remainder of the way off. He grabbed her waist and carried her to the bathroom, sitting her into the t
ub and turning on the shower. She slumped to the bottom of the tub as the cold water showered down onto her. He stood watching her, a cigarette in one hand and his pistol in the other. She tried to stand but her legs were too shaky and she fell back down onto the bottom of the tub. Her feet and hands burned, prickling as the circulation flowed back into them. After a few minutes, Chief grabbed her from the bottom of the tub and wrapped her in a towel, picking her up and carrying her back into the room. He set her down onto the chair as he pulled the dirty sheet from the bed.

  She felt a sigh of relief as she watched him pull his pants back on. A flash of silver caught her eye and she took in the scissors that were still sitting on the table next to the bed. She fought her body, pushing with everything she could to get up from the chair, but her legs failed her. Her heart raced as he returned to her and picked her up, tossing her down onto the bed. She attempted to fight him, only able to move her arms until he grabbed her and bound her back down. She caught him with her elbow and he knocked into the side table before bringing his hand down hard onto her face.

  “Sit the fuck still!” He brought his pistol up to her temple, causing her to still. She could feel the cold steel pressed against her forehead and she briefly prayed that he would pull the trigger. She closed her eyes, inviting it in. She knew her life was over anyway. “Now, I’m gonna go get a sandwich. Make sure you get some more water, I know it’s your favorite.” He brushed the hair from her face and she took a deep breath, letting out an ear piercing scream before falling back down onto the bed breathless. The side of her jaw burned when his fist slammed down onto it and then her mouth was being forced open as he tied a bandana around it. He took off his belt and slapped it down against her. She tried to scream out, but the bandana muffled any attempt she made. Again the belt came down upon her, this time across her stomach, biting into her flesh.

  Her eyes blurred as the pain rang out through her body, she could feel the welts forming as a last blow came down against her. She tried to move, tried to dodge the blows but she couldn’t. She screamed out through the fabric, burning her swollen jaw. “I told you to sit the fuck still!” Chief screamed down at her. She sobbed, her body shaking uncontrollably as he put his belt back on and went toward the door. “I’ll skip the water and let you feel every second of it this time,” his words were angry as he slammed the door behind him.

  She could feel her strength coming back in her limbs and she tried to fight against her restraints. She looked down at her body, the edge of the towel had fallen back and she could see her skin swollen and bruised from his beating. She tried to reach for the scissors that were now a few inches closer, as the door opened once more and a large man came walking in. She tossed around on the bed, trying with fail to rip the restraints from her hands. She felt sickened in his vile stare. She struggled as he made his way to her, placing his hand down hard against her throat. “Sit still.”

  She gurgled, sucking in breath from her nose as he pushed her down into the bed. She could feel her throat closing off, as he brought her to the point of blacking out before letting go. His large body lumbered on top of her as she kicked her legs. His hand came down hard against her, slapping her before grasping her throat once more. The room darkened, fading out around her. She pushed her neck toward his hand, attempting to force her blackout more quickly. She succeeded as the room faded into a black curtain and images of Knox floated into her head.

  “So, a little bird told me that you’ve never been to the top of a mountain,” she smiled up at him as they lay on the bed. She flipped through the pages of a Tennessee travel guide as he looked through one of his old Harley magazines.

  “You’re crazy. I’m the king of the mountain,” he said sarcastically down at her.

  “You’re jokes aren’t funny.” She glanced up at him as he set his magazine down and pulled her up into his lap.

  “I’m very funny.” His hands found her sides. She let out a loud laugh as he began tickling her. “See, you think it’s funny. Admit it.”

  “Never!” she choked out.

  “You’re out for blood aren’t you?” he stilled, wrapping his arms around her and holding her in his lap.

  “You still didn’t answer my question,” she eyed up at him playfully.

  “I’ve never been to the top of a mountain,” he smiled down at her. “But, I’d like to go if you’re takin’ me.”

  “Ok, we are going this weekend. We can take my dad too, he loves Buck Bald. You can drive to the top and look out onto all three states; Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.”

  “I love when you talk about things you’re passionate about. Your eyes light up differently than they normally do. Almost as if they’re sparkling. I can always tell when you truly love something because of these beautiful eyes.” He rolled laying her down onto the bed and kissing her gently.

  His hands traveled to the hem of her shirt, lifting it over her breasts and kissed his way down. She felt the warmth of his touch washing over her, leaving her skin on fire from his trail of kisses. His lips wrapped around her taut nipple as he caressed it with his tongue. He stilled, looking up into her eyes, “I wonder if you have that look when you talk about me?”

  Her hands made their way to his face, gently brushing her fingers across his beard. She propped herself up on her elbow as she stared into his eyes. “You see, I have this man. He completes me, makes me feel whole again. I never imagined that I’d be where I am right now, but we were fated. Brought together by destiny and for the first time in my life, I have found someone that I never want to leave.” She smiled as his lips came down against hers, “You taught me to care for someone so much it hurts, Knox. I can never let that go. You breathed life back into me and if you ever leave, I will be soulless.”

  His lips met hers with fervor as his hand traveled down, pulling her panties down. His words were desperate and loving as they whispered in her ear. “Aye, it’s there.”

  “Knox?”

  “Aye, baby?”

  “Love me.”

  “I always will.”

  Cash

  They scoured the house, but she wasn’t there; she was nowhere to be found and now they were back at square one. Cash took in the look on Knox’s face as he emerged from the back of the house. This shit was getting deeper than they had originally thought and it was time to start calling in some reinforcements. Cash made his way out to his Bronco grabbing his radio and calling into the station. He was able to get Carla Williams, he knew he could trust her since she worked with the Kings on the side. She called his cell and he answered it quickly, hoping she could help shed some light on the situation.

  “Hey, Carla, I need some help.” He explained what had happened up until this point, asking her for any other information on the situation.

  “Give me just a second to pull something up. We got a call a day or so ago, bunch of bikers heading up past Mrs. Alma Jean’s farm. Said they kept scaring the cows.” He could hear her typing feverishly on her laptop. “We went up there, but most of them had cleared out. I am pretty sure that Cooper had mentioned it wasn’t the local club.”

  “What’s that address?” Cash asked as his heart skipped. Maybe by a stroke of luck they would find her.

  “Twenty seven, Green Dairy Road. You are gonna go all the way to the end and it’ll be the driveway to your left. I will meet you up there.”

  “Ten-four. Thank you, Carla.” Cash hung up the phone and sprinted back toward the door of the house. As he got closer he could hear shouting coming from inside the door. He walked in to find Knox, Charon, and Jameson surrounding one of the Renegades who’d made it through the raid alive.

  “Where is she?” Knox shouted toward the man, his gun aimed at the side of his head. “Or so help me, I will send you to whatever God you worship.”

  “Fuck you, King.” The man spit into Knox’s face. Cash watched as the hatred on Knox’s face flamed and the stock of his pistol slammed hard across the man’s face. Blood splattering out agains
t the floor from his busted mouth.

  “If you don’t tell me where she is, I’m gonna cut you open. Startin’ with your balls.” Knox tucked his pistol into the back of his pants as he withdrew a switchblade knife from his pocket and ripped the man’s pants open. The man squirmed as Knox pressed the blade of the knife against his bare flesh.

  “You wanna know where she is? She’s throat deep in Renegade cock right now. Wanted information on your club and she wouldn’t talk so we tried to fuck it out of her. But the dirty whore liked it, begged for more.” He grinned his bloody face up at Knox. His words tearing into the very fiber of Cash’s soul. “When the fucking didn’t work, we tied her ass down and beat it out of her. She’s probably dead now.” He let out a deep laugh as he stared up at Knox. “Probably got a bullet in her fucking head because of…”

  His voice cut off as Cash sent a bullet straight through his temple, splattering blood and other matter across the small kitchen. His lifeless head twitched as he took his last breath. Cash let out a deep growl as he slammed his fist down onto the counter next to him. He hadn’t been able to take any more of the repulsive words that had come from the man’s mouth. He wouldn’t, couldn’t believe that Ani was dead. It wasn’t possible.

  “Easy, man,” Jameson said reaching for his shoulder, but he snatched away from his grasp and left out the door; needing a moment for everything that had just happened to sink in.

  He prayed that the man had just been ranting and that Ani wasn’t hurt. His stomach dropped as he fell to his knees in the driveway in front of his Bronco. He heaved, spilling the bile from his stomach onto the ground as the realization that he’d just ended a life grew in his head. He heard the footsteps coming up behind him and tried to pull himself together. “I know where they had her. I don’t know if she’s still there,” he said looking back at Knox.