by Kris Norris
“As fine as I can be for getting us all in here.” He nodded at Wolfe. “And they only picked on you, bro. Guess they figured you were the biggest and ugliest of all.”
“Probably just didn’t want to mar that pretty-boy face of yours. I think Beau has the hots for you.”
Ham smiled. “You go right on telling yourself that.” He leaned in, helping Wolfe sit up until he could recline against the wall. “How’s the head now?”
“Remember that bar in London?”
The man winced. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse. And I didn’t even get to kiss the girl first this time.” He motioned to the door. “How secure are we?”
Gunner laughed. “Ham’s been itching to bust us out since they dumped us in here.”
Wolfe raised a brow, cursing when the small motion arced a stab of pain across his temple. Fuck, he’d give those two bastards twice the beating when he saw them again. “Any reason we’re still in here then?” He winked at Hamilton. “You losing your touch, buddy?”
“Not fucking likely. Gunner wants to observe the men for a while. See if they reveal anything useful while they think we’re helpless.” He looked at the door. “The door, itself, is pretty damn strong. Given a bit of time, I can probably jimmy the hinges. But it won’t be quiet.”
“So we’re stuck here.”
Gunner swatted his leg. “Call it research. Or motivation if you prefer. Every minute we sit here watching those assholes transport women in and out is another reason we won’t feel guilty when we thump them over the head and steal their truck.”
Wolfe frowned, remembering the pained look on the woman’s face behind the bars. “Are they all broken like that one we saw?”
“Seems like it. We’ve tried getting them to talk, but other than one of them telling us to shut the fuck up she was trying to sleep, it’s been silent.”
Wolfe raised a brow. “That your girl with the potty mouth, Ham?”
“She’s not my girl.”
“You sure seemed upset about having to hand her over.”
“They were going to rape her. I’d be upset for any woman under those circumstances.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. This arrangement doesn’t sit well with any of us, but it wasn’t just disgust on your face when you confronted Beau.” He chuckled. “Shit, I thought you were going to take them all on even with the snipers on the roof. And don’t think I didn’t see the way you looked at her.” He smiled. “Haven’t seen you look at a girl that way in a long time. Hell, none of us have.”
Ham sighed. “She’s not like the others here.”
“How’s that?”
“First, she fought the entire way. Downed both men before I had a chance to even think about stepping in. Reminded me a bit of Emersyn, only different somehow. If it hadn’t been for the damn zombies, she might have gotten away.”
Wolfe scowled. “Somehow I don’t think she would have gotten far. That attack was staged. I checked out those back fences myself the other night. No way infected were getting over the barbed wire at the top—not the way it overhung. I’m betting Beau opened a section to see how we’d react. Man’s been suspicious of us since the start.”
Ham huffed. “If you both suspected the bastard was going to set us up, you could have let me in on it.”
Gunner chuckled. “It was more realistic this way. Though neither of us considered there might be innocent people at risk. We figured he’d try something with just his men around. Never counted on the girl.”
“She would have been long gone if she hadn’t put up a struggle.” Ham laughed. “And I’m betting it started long before they got her outside.”
Wolfe nudged him. “Think she might be willing to come back to the compound with us? We could use another spitfire.”
“After the kind of reception she’s had here?” Hamilton sighed. “I’m thinking none of the women in here will trust men for a long-ass time. If we help her escape, she might give us a chance, though I think even that could be wishful thinking.”
Wolfe nodded as he watched Hamilton twist the end of the blanket around in his hands. There was obviously something about this girl that had gotten to the man, and more than just idle concern. Hamilton seemed distracted. Edgy. And not because they were locked in a cell. Hell, they’d faced far worse than this and never blinked an eye. Yet Hamilton’s unease was palpable. And that usually only happened when it was someone else’s ass on the line.
He gave the man a light tap with his foot. “You okay?”
Ham scowled. “Of course I am. What makes you think otherwise?”
Wolfe shrugged. “Maybe the fact you’re about to strangle that blanket.” He leaned forward, thankful when the room only dipped once. “There something more you want to tell us?”
“There’s nothing else to tell.”
“Other than you’ve got it bad for this girl.”
Ham’s head jerked around. “Why the hell would you say that? Because I didn’t want her to get raped? I don’t even know her.”
“No, because you only get this uptight when someone you care about is in trouble. And seeing as Gunner and I are sitting right here, it’s got to be someone else.” He relaxed back again. “Wouldn’t blame you, buddy. It’s been a long time since we gave a damn about someone other than each other. And this girl obviously grabbed you by the balls with nothing more than a smile.”
Hamilton swatted at Wolfe’s shoulder before pushing to his feet and pacing away. “It’s not that, it’s just… Fuck. The way she looked at me when I let Beau take her. Damn, it’s like I’d let her down. Betrayed her.” He palmed the door. “I should have kicked the bastard’s ass then and there.”
“And risked having her get hit in the crossfire? That wasn’t the time or the place for us to make a stand. We all knew it. I think she did, too.”
“Well, she sure as shit didn’t look like she understood.” He turned, leaning against the wall as if he was suddenly about to fall down. “All I know is that she made my chest get all tight and achy. Like being underwater with all the increased pressure—it’s hard to breathe.”
Wolfe groaned. “Damn. It’s worse than I thought.”
Hamilton flipped him off.
Wolfe chuckled. “Fine. So we find a way to save the girl and convince her we aren’t like Beau and the guys here. Sounds simple enough.”
“Yeah, until Beau decides it’s her turn again.” Hamilton spun and looked out through the bars. “Those bastards have taken two other women out so far. Neither has come back.”
Gunner moved in beside him. “Maybe they decided to give up resisting? Play along until an opportunity opens up for them to run. Like your little spitfire did last night.”
Ham grinned. “Oh, she wasn’t waiting for an opportunity. She was making her own.”
“Even better.” Gunner huffed. “Fuck this shit. I really don’t give a damn what other secrets Beau might be hiding. We’ve got our answer. No chance in hell he or any of his men would ever make it past the council. Not that I’d ever be willing to let this group get within a hundred miles of the place. God, can you imagine what Emersyn alone would do to the guy? Never mind Hunter or Colby if any of them thought they could ‘share’ their girl.”
Ham nudged Gunner. “Emersyn isn’t Hunter’s girl, yet.”
“The hell she isn’t. One way or another, they’ll find a way to make it work, trust me.” He smiled, nodding at Ham. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I’ll keep watch while you work your magic. Just try to be as quiet as you can be. We need to be out of this cell before we confront anyone.”
Wolfe cleared his throat. “And what am I supposed to do?”
“Try not to pass out.”
Wolfe glared at Gunner, hating the fact the man had a point. Though Wolfe had no doubt he could hold his own if he needed, the constant blurring of his vision wasn’t helping. But damn if he was just going to sit there feeling sorry for himself.
He pushed off the bed
, bracing his weight against the wall just as the main doors to the barn creaked open. Wolfe stumbled forward, catching his balance against Gunner as he watched a man walk down the center of the room, carrying a brown paper bag. The guy glanced over at them, flashing them a smug grin before moving to the last stall on the opposite side—one down from theirs.
He tossed the bag through the bars, nodding at whoever was inside. “Time to go make nice with your man. And he wants you to wear that.”
Wolfe glanced at the other men, an eyebrow arched in question when the woman inside the cell threw the bag back at the guy.
“If Beau likes that dress so much, Bobby, tell the bastard he can wear it, himself.”
Hamilton sucked in an audible breath. “That’s the girl who told us to shut up this morning. And I’ll bet my ass it’s her.”
Wolfe grinned. “Sounds like you picked one hell of a lady to fall for.”
“I haven’t fallen for her. I just want to keep my promise.”
“Oh, so you talked to her? Told her you’d keep her safe?”
Ham glared at him. “Jackass.”
“That’s what I thought. Though it sounds as if Beau isn’t going to take no this time around. And we’re still stuck in here.”
Hamilton’s mouth pinched tight. “Not for fucking long.”
The man went to work, doing something to the hinges while Bobby cursed.
“Fuck, Morgan! You know this won’t end nice if you keep jerking Beau around. Hell, it’s not as if you don’t know each other. And he’s been more than patient where you’re concerned. Anyone else would have been passed around by now.”
“Yeah, and I wouldn’t date the guy before the world ended. So go back and tell Beau zombies aren’t enough to change my mind where he’s concerned…unless he wants to go a few more rounds?”
Bobby shook his head, pulling out a long rod from his jacket. “No pissing around tonight. I don’t want to use this, but I will if that’s what it takes.”
“If you plan on using that stun baton on me, you’d better be damn sure you take me down because I’ll kick your ass if you don’t.”
“Like I said. I’d rather not.” He tossed in a set of handcuffs. “Put them on.”
“I thought you wanted me to put on the dress?”
“Fuck the dress. Just put on the cuffs and walk to the door.”
The eerie sound of the cuffs clicking shut sounded in the air a moment before her face appeared beyond the bars. Wolfe’s breath hitched and he had to palm the wall to stay on his feet. Fuck, she was beautiful. Long, light-brown hair tousled about her head, disappearing down behind her back. She had delicate, even features set in an oval face, her pale skin highlighting the stunning green of her eyes. Even twenty feet away he could see the green tinge and the way they darkened in anger as she sneered at the guy. Her pink, full lips pursed into a pout as she met the guy’s stare head on.
“There’s no way I’ll ever give myself to Beau. You know that.”
“And there’s no way he’ll ever let you go. Not now that he’s finally captured you.” Bobby opened the door. “He’s not that bad, and if you just stop fighting, he’ll show you a good time. All the other ladies seem to like him the best.”
Morgan’s expression firmed. “They can have him.”
Her muscles twitched, and Wolfe knew she’d made a huge mistake. Even Bobby noticed her drop her shoulder, striking her with the baton before she could launch her attack. A gut-wrenching cry lit the air as her body convulsed, the crackle of electricity finally drowning out the sound. She fell onto her hands and knees, head bent low, body still spasming.
Bobby knelt beside her. “I told you there wasn’t any way to get out of it this time. You’re Beau’s girl. End of story.”
“Fuc…ou…”
There was no mistaking the pain in her voice, or the way she staggered to her feet when Bobby physically lifted her up. A large, red welt marred her side where her shirt rode high, the blatant injury burning hot in Wolfe’s gut. He’d kill the bastard. With his bare hands if necessary.
Hamilton cursed beside him, his fists clenched around the bars. God, if Wolfe felt this angry, he could only imagine how his buddy felt. He’d seen the anguish in Ham’s eyes when he’d had to turn the girl over to Beau. Seeing her abused… Wolfe knew it was eating the man alive inside.
Gunner banged on the door, gaining Bobby’s attention as they went to pass by. “Hey. Jackass. Tell Beau I need to see him. I’ve got a proposition for the man.”
Bobby stopped, giving them all the once-over. “Beau doesn’t want to talk to you until he thinks you’ve had enough time to come to your senses.” The man laughed. “Though I kind of hope you don’t. Nothing I’d like more than to put you arrogant assholes in your place.”
Gunner chuckled. “Is that so? Then why not open the door and we can settle this right now.”
“Fuck you.”
Bobby turned when Hamilton yelled out this time.
“Fine. Ignore us. But I can’t imagine Beau will be that pleased when he realizes you kept him from an entire camp full of available women. The kind that would offer their services without all the fuss.”
Morgan glanced over at them for the first time, her face twisted with disgust until her gaze landed on Hamilton’s. Surprise shaped her features before she visibly pushed it aside, glancing at Bobby out of the corner of her eye. Wolfe saw Hamilton give her a subtle nod as he grinned at Bobby.
“That’s right, jackass. An entire camp of beautiful, willing women. Well, there’re some men there, too, but it wouldn’t take much to make the girls yours. That’s if Beau isn’t afraid to get his hands a bit dirty.”
Bobby took a step closer. “You’re lying.”
“Am I? And is that really something you want to decide for yourself? ‘Cause it sounds like Beau doesn’t take well to people screwing him over. And denying him what he treasures most…” Hamilton laughed this time. “Yeah. I wouldn’t want to be you.”
Bobby hesitated, glancing from Morgan back to Hamilton. “I’ll mention it to Beau after I drop off his girl. Let him decide if you’re worth his time or not.”
Hamilton cleared his throat as if he thought Bobby was nuts. “Suit yourself. But I’ll make sure Beau knows exactly who kept the information from him.”
“I’m not keeping anything from him. I’m on my way there now.” He tugged at Morgan. “Guess you won’t be stopping his fun tonight, will ya?”
Hamilton shrugged. “Won’t have to. She’ll do it all by herself.”
Bobby frowned, turning to Morgan just as the woman slammed her foot down, hitting him on the inside of the ankle. He loosened his grip, giving her enough room to swing her elbow into his chest, hitting him solidly in the ribs.
He staggered a step away, regaining his balance far quicker than Wolfe bet Morgan had planned on. “Fuck! You’ll pay for that, bitch.”
He swung at her, but she dodged the punch, landing another kick to his groin. Bobby fell forward, this time striking her with the baton as he stumbled toward her. Morgan’s body arched into an odd angle then collapsed, shaking on the ground as the rod continued to arc against her side. The man cackled, finally removing it as he loomed over her.
He gave her a kick in the same ribs, disgust shaping his face. “I don’t know what the hell Beau sees in you. Why he keeps giving you more chances, especially when you’ll just end up back in here, bruised to shit. Better off dead if you ask me.”
Hamilton growled. “You touch her again and I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” He snorted. “That’s what I thought.”
He turned back to her just as she levered up her feet and struck him hard in the chest. The force threw him backwards, and his head snapped against one of the posts before his body fell to the ground. Morgan pushed to her feet, limbs shaking, pain pursing her mouth into a tight line. She seemed on the edge of control as she stood, stumbling her way over to him. She stared down at his limp form, kicking him once in the head
before going to her knees and rummaging through the man’s pocket.
Hamilton huffed beside Wolfe, clinging to the bars as if they were a lifeline. “God damn, girl. You could have gotten yourself killed.”
She barely spared him a quick glance. “Like you’d care either way.”
“Of course we care. Why the hell do you think we tried to distract the creep? We’re not like them.”
“Right. Because everyone offers up a camp full of women.”
“That was bullshit, and you know it.”
She actually laughed this time. “Fine. You’re all upstanding gentlemen who wouldn’t dare take advantage of a lady.” She snorted out her breath. “Save it. I’m not naïve, and I’m sure as hell not stupid.”
“Then you know the truth when you hear it…Morgan, right?”
She yanked something out of Bobby’s pocket, looking over at them as she fumbled with the set of keys, trying to open the small lock on her cuffs. “Names don’t mean anything these days.”
“I’m Hamilton. This is Gunner and Wolfe. And they mean something to us.”
“Sure. Which explains why you interfered last night.”
“I didn’t interfere. I was trying to help you.”
She paused, sweat beading her brow as she locked gazes with them. “Didn’t exactly turn out great, now did it?”
Wolfe chuckled. “Damn, sweetheart. You sure don’t give an inch, do you?”
“Which one are you? Gunner or Wolfe?”
“Wolfe. And I’m impressed you remembered our names, since they don’t mean anything anymore.”
“Like I said. I’m not stupid. Fuck!” She stopped fiddling with the keys, bowing her head as her mouth clenched shut.
Wolfe sighed. “Your muscles haven’t recuperated enough to do that kind of fine-motor control. You’ll never get it open before another one of Beau’s men show up.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She took a few deep breaths, levering up until she could lean against the post. “Doesn’t matter. I can undo them once my dexterity returns.”
Wolfe scoffed at her. “So you’re going to try and escape handcuffed?”
Anger flared in her eyes as she stared at him. “I’d rather die trying than stay and be shuffled off to give that bastard what he wants. What he thinks he deserves just because he’s bigger and stronger than most. Not that I’d mind the beating I’d give him first.”
