Amara (Reapers MC Book 12)

by Elizabeth Knox

  The wooden door creaks and I look up from my position, nestled in the corner of my prison, to see Lucien entering. He doesn’t speak which is unusual. He’s the type of man who believes his words are entirely more important than anyone else’s. Sometimes I think the man only wants to hear himself talk.

  He flips the switch for the floodlamp he put up on the wall. It’s so bright my entire cage lights up. Within a moment, bugs buzz over to it. The sounds of their wings flapping make me want to shiver. Even now after being here for so long, I still can’t stand it.

  I glance back over to Lucien and see his nailbeds are stained crimson red. Not only that, the same color is going down his fingers, leading up to his forearms. I pray this is his blood and not someone else’s, even if it means I die here, slowly starving to death. This monster’s life coming to an end would be worth it.

  His eyes catch mine and he grimaces while pacing, “I had a small scuffle today. It seems we have trouble brewing, mi mascota. You were lucky I made it back to you in one piece.” I about gag as he calls me his pet in my first language.

  “Yeah, so lucky.” I mutter under my breath, loud enough I hope he can hear me. I don’t even give a shit if he can sense my sarcasm.

  “Oh, feeling sarcastic I see?” Lucien chuckles, heading to the door. He inserts the key, turns it and comes inside. “When was the last time I let you bathe, mi mascota?”

  “Yesterday,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

  “Ah, yes. Thank you for the reminder.” He stalks toward me, his eyes going up and down my body slowly and I know what’s about to come. “How are you feeling?” Lucien asks, and I know what he’s insinuating.

  Nervousness settles in my stomach as it sinks even further. Before, I was able to fight against him . . . but not anymore. He barely feeds me enough to stand up without feeling dizzy. “I’m fine,” I reply, trying not to give him any clues on what’s going on with my body right now.

  “Tsk, I don’t like that. It should be any day now. You know what they say does the trick.” Lucien unzips his pants and yanks his cock out. He wraps his hand around his shaft, getting it hard as he prepares himself for his new favorite form of punishment.

  He rapes me.

  It’s nothing new, but he barely did it before. It didn’t happen for a while, but then something changed within him. He could’ve gotten crazier. I don’t truly know. All I know is the way he uses me like I’m his personal whore, and now he’s made me become something I knew I wasn’t ready for.

  Lucien releases his cock, grabs me by the back of my hair and shoves me down further on the ground. Nestling himself behind me, he spreads my legs by pinching my clit and shoves himself inside me.

  It’s almost like my body has gotten used to the way he enters me without any preparation. Sometimes I don’t even feel the stinging pain. He rocks himself back and forth, in and out of me with no regard for how it makes me feel. He prefers the hard fuck, to slam himself inside me with such intensity that I try to crawl forward for some relief. The sound of his balls slapping against me and his awful grunting are the only things I hear. “We’re going to get this baby out of you soon, mi mascota. Do you know what will happen to you then?”

  I don’t answer him because I don’t want to.

  He digs his nails into my clit until I scream from the overload of pain. But, just as I reply he releases the intense pinch and grazes his thumb over my clit over and over again until I feel the warmth pooling in my center. “No, what?”

  I always believed a common misconception about women who were raped, how they couldn’t cum. Being with Lucien for this long has shown me how the body will react in ways, betraying our minds. I’ve never wanted to give him the satisfaction of making him believe he’s brought me to release. One thing about Lucien is how he’ll take what he wants.

  “I’ll keep you here, locked in this prison for the rest of your days. I’ll marry a prestigious woman who will take care of the bastard children you provide me with. After all, if you didn’t want to give me children you wouldn’t have gotten pregnant in the first place.” He snickers, truly believing what he’s thinking. God, what a delusional man.

  The thoughts of his insanity pour through my mind as he brings my body to the brink. I know he’s doing this because he wants this baby to be born as soon as possible. “Hopefully what happened the first time won’t happen with our next child. Hmm, mi mascota?”

  I stare at the wall in front of me, focusing in on the small details of the plaster. My eyes fill with water as I remember the pain that took over my body the first time I became pregnant with Lucien’s child. I didn’t know until the miscarriage happened. All the blood and the cramping.

  Until the day I die, I will always believe this has happened because of the choices I’ve made. I’m not a good person and I know everything was bound to catch up with me at some point.

  Lucien is the penance I pay.

  Chapter Four

  “And like the moon she had a side of her so dark, that even the stars couldn’t shine on it; she had a side of her so cold, that even the sun couldn’t burn on it.”

  ~ Abigail J

  Dante

  I arrived in La Pesca, Tamaulipas early this morning. I told my father my action plan would be hitting the coastal communities first and then slowly working our way inland. This man sells flags and is American, so that’s two clues which point me in this direction.

  Americans typically live in the coastal communities, and with our Halcones on the ground, we should locate this man relatively fast. My father even had our cousin Eduardo put feelers out there that when we find the girl, as long as she’s alive, we’ll pay those who aided us in her rescue handsomely.

  Eduardo is sitting across from me on the beach. We’re in a small tiki bar, with a few of our hired hands surrounding us. The men we’ve brought with us today are only here for one thing— to kill. It is their only job. After all, they’re Sicarios.

  “I don’t typically take direction from you, dear cousin.” Eduardo explains.

  I nod, picking up my cigar. “Yes, well, this is a sensitive matter.”

  “A matter in which you didn’t want to pursue according to your father.” Eduardo states, staring at me for some sort of reaction. I don’t know what he expects. I won’t blow my lid.

  “No, at first I didn’t . . . however my thoughts on the matter have changed. Plus, don’t you believe your brother’s death shouldn’t have been in vain? We must find this girl, even if it’s the last thing we do.”

  Eduardo nods, “Ah, I knew you would think the way we were sooner or later.”

  “What’re we doing here sitting on our asses smoking cigars? We should be out there searching for our brother’s killer.” Daniel says to Eduardo. I may not be the one who will snap into a rage, but Daniel is.

  “Relax, brother. Don’t get things confused. We’re being the smarter players right now while our Halcones run on the streets and find out what they can. They are our eyes and ears. Alas, like always they will tell us what we desire.” Eduardo is the smooth talker of the Diaz brothers. He always has been and he always will be. In the back of my mind I believe this is how he was able to secure a position so high on the ladder.

  Daniel shakes his head in frustration. “I don’t think we should be here, sitting on our asses while this culo runs free. It isn’t right. He should suffer just as we have, no?”

  “And he will.” I interject, speaking straight from emotion. “When you fuck with our familia, you are fucking with all of us. This idiot has no idea what he’s done but I can guarantee we will bring wrath upon him like he’s never experienced in his lifetime.”

  “This is why you are my favorite of your brothers, Dante.” Daniel chuckles while he smacks the back of my shoulder.

  “Javi is too stupid for you to like, getting caught all the time. Too hard-headed too.” I mention.

  Daniel nods, “Yes, well he takes after your madre. God rest her soul.”

  “Angel
is too quiet. You never know what he’s thinking. It’s annoying.” Eduardo murmurs, smoking his cigar again.

  “You just don’t like him because you can’t read him. His poker face makes you nervous.” I suggest, getting a curt nod from both my cousins.

  “It is good, though. It means he is great at his job. Your father needed a man like him, a son like him. I believe one day Angel will be in charge of the Sicarios.”

  “Me too. It seems fitting.” I comment.

  “He does have a knack for getting bloody,” Eduardo chuckles lowly.

  “Yes, so we sit here and wait for a bit longer?” I question, getting a bit antsy. We’ve been here for almost two hours smoking cigars, soaking in the sun.

  “Mhm, that we do. Until my cell phone starts to buzz, we keep our asses planted to these chairs. I won’t have us running around in circles when we don’t have definitive proof of where the woman is. Amara deserves to be rescued.” As he finishes speaking, I realize Eduardo’s tone drops a bit lower. Almost as if he knows this woman personally.

  I furrow my brows and ask. “You know her?”

  He nods, “I do. You know Sakura, yes?” His goddaughter. She’s the daughter of the Emperor of Japan and leader of the Yakuza if I’m not mistaken.

  “I’m familiar with her. I don’t believe we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, though.”

  “Sakura is dating one of the Reapers members in Nevada. While I was dealing with some issues, they’d given her a safe haven, ensuring her safety. Amara was one of the members who’d taken Sakura under her wing. I crossed paths with the woman a few times . . . I—” Eduardo stops speaking all of a sudden.

  “What is it?” I ask, seeing the emotion flushing through his expression.

  “I only wonder if things would’ve been different if I had acted in another way. The girl flirted with me a bit before she was taken. I didn’t act on it. Almost did, but I didn’t.” Eduardo states, picking up the glass of tequila on the table. He takes the remaining bit of it back.

  It’s now I see he’s stricken with guilt. “Things happen for a reason.” It’s a shitty comment to make, but my mother always instilled this thought into me. Things come full circle in a sense. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad one, something positive will come your way.

  “You sound like your madre,” Daniel laughs.

  “She made sure we always understood it.” I mutter, taking a sip of my own tequila.

  “We will find her and reunite her with her familia. Her brother hasn’t been the same since her disappearance from what Sakura has told me. Damon snaps, has a short fuse. It’s a shame considering he has a six-month-old little girl. Her name is Luna, I think? Cutest little thing. Saw her on the last visit I made to see Sakura.”

  “He’s the President?” I question, getting a nod from Eduardo.

  “Yes. I think he feels guilty about his sister’s disappearance. I hope that—” He stops abruptly to answer the buzzing phone on the table. I hear him go ‘hmm’, ‘mhm’ and ‘okay’ numerous times during the call. Within five minutes he hangs up and looks to Daniel and I. “We’ve found him. He’s here in La Pesca. It’s time we go. Our men heard he was heading back to the house he rents a few miles away. Let’s pray he has Amara there,” Eduardo states as he rises. He heads to the SUVs that’re parked on the pavement. We follow him, ready for whatever is coming our way. I could care less about the girl but I do care about the vengeance I seek.

  Chapter Five

  She’s dangerous when she’s hurt. She can easily destroy everything around her, but she doesn’t. Instead, she destroys herself.

  ~ Unknown

  Dante

  Sitting behind Eduardo in the back of this SUV and all I can think about is wrapping my hands around this fucker’s neck. I don’t know who he is, what he wants, or why . . . but all I do know is how he’s responsible for Juan’s death.

  I’m only left wondering a few things. One of them being why this man would travel to a suburb of Chihuahua. Gerardo and Juan were within a half-an-hour of me when they came staggering through my doorway . . . which only means this man was as well. The fact we have no information on this person doesn’t settle well with me.

  “What do we know, Eduardo?” I ask him.

  He’s silent for a moment, then clears his throat. “His name is Lucien and he was at war with the Reapers. It’s why he took Amara.”

  The fuck? “Are you seriously telling me that the reason Juan is dead is because . . . there was a war between the Reapers and this man, and he merely got caught in the crossfire?” I spit out in fury.

  This has nothing to do with us and yet my family was determined to get involved. I don’t have any problem aiding our allies when the time comes, but what is the point of endangering our lives like this? “No, he died obtaining information on her whereabouts. He died while on a mission to get this girl from the hell she’s endured. That is, if she’s even alive! How dare you act like a spoiled rich brat. We only have one goal, and that’s to get Amara back in one piece. We have reason to believe she’s still alive, so we will do what we must to bring her back to safety.”

  I didn’t realize how I sounded at first. I don’t mind helping someone who needs it, but I believe there’s a certain level of risk we have to levy in every decision. “We’re almost here, boss.” Eduardo’s driver tells him.

  “Perfect. Pull over. We’re going in slow and steady, alright? We have no idea if this man has traps set up, so keep your eyes out. Rico, stay in the car. I’ll call you when it’s clear to come up to the house. Now, who has the information on the property?” Eduardo asks.

  A man sitting behind me hands his phone to me. It looks like it’s a state blueprint of the property and structures. “It appears to be a small two-bedroom house with a shed in the back, about forty meters from the house.” I state, handing the phone up to my cousin. While I had glanced at the blueprint, I noted the three entrances on the house and one entrance into the shed.

  Deciding I won’t sit around here and wait much longer, I exit the vehicle and start approaching the property. We parked on the west side, coming in from the side of the house. Eduardo and his men come up behind me. He motions for me to head into the house and I nod back to him, motioning with my own hands for two of his men to split off with me while the rest go with him.

  The tension is thick, as is the importance of capturing this man alive. I won’t let him go easily. I won’t shoot him and ease his suffering. No. This Lucien will be made to feel more pain than Juan ever felt.

  We make our way slowly up to the house. “Go around to the other entrances. There’s one in the front, and another on the opposite side.” I whisper to the two men who are quick to act and head off to where I order them.

  Placing my hand on the knob, I turn it slowly and push. Surprisingly, it’s unlocked and it doesn’t make a sound. My steps are precise and quiet, looking around the house for this man.

  Not one thing looks unordinary in this house. It looks just like any home in the state would. You can tell the home is well lived in. I continue on my path and turn out of this small kitchen mudroom combination and the second I turn down the hallway I spot a man in a rocking chair.

  “I should’ve figured someone would find me.” He snickers, rising from his seat. “Silly me for assuming I outsmarted you.”

  “Get on the ground,” I state, pointing my gun straight at him.

  “Tsk, I don’t think so.” He waves his finger in the air like I’m a naughty child. Lucien moves quickly and fires a shot behind me. I quickly take cover behind the opposite wall and find one of Eduardo’s men on the ground, bleeding from a head wound. “Fuck!” I curse under my breath.

  Eduardo’s other man runs past me, heads down the hallway and three shots are fired. Shit, this isn’t good.

  I aim my gun in Lucien’s direction and step back into the hallway. Eduardo’s man is down on the ground, bleeding from his stomach. Meanwhile, Lucien is on the ground bleeding as well. He pops
his chamber open and slams it shut.

  “One more bullet,” He laughs manically.

  Slowly, he pulls his gun up and aims at me. He starts to pull back the trigger when he swiftly flips it back and pulls the trigger. It all happens so fast I can’t even run to pull the gun from his hands in enough time.

  I stare down at a man with a hole where his eye once was. Shocked at what just transpired. Steps rush into the house and I aim my gun, just in case he has some sort of friend here with him. Thankfully, it’s only Esteban, one of Eduardo’s men. “He shot himself,” I explain when his eyes land on Lucien.

  “Sick bastard. Fuck, we need to get him to the hospital.” Esteban says in regard to his other man on the floor, who’s barely holding onto life.

  I shake my head, “No. Even one of our docs can’t fix him up, look at the blood. It’s nicked his intestines, and if the bullet doesn’t kill him . . . the infection will.” I’ve seen far too many of our men take gunshot wounds to the stomach. The same thing happens every time. They sever through the intestines, causing many holes. Feces seep into their body cavity and an infection develops that slowly kills them over the course of many days.

  “I will handle this. You go to your cousin. We found the woman.” Esteban states.

  “Is she alive?” I question.

  “Yes. She’s . . .”

  “She’s what? Spit it out.”

  “Pregnant. The girl is pregnant.”

  “Dios Mio.” I state, shaking my head. I have no doubt in my mind this baby wasn’t conceived through pure love. This coward motherfucker raped her.