by E. C. Land
Sure, I love it when Badger and I did things involving him tying me to the bed though I know if I weren’t comfortable with something, he’d stop immediately. I have a feeling those who succumb to Kayne’s won't have that option when it comes down to being in these shackles. I know I wouldn’t.
“Come on, bréagán gnéis. It’s time for the fun to begin,” Kayne declares, snatching me up by my hair.
I can’t help the cry of pain as it feels like he’s ripping the strands from my scalp. Clawing at his hands, I do my best to get him to release me.
The only thing I succeed in doing is having him laugh at me as he throws me across the room. At least I don’t hit any of the furniture, though I’ll feel the rug burn for a while if I last through the day.
“I really am gonna enjoy breaking that spirit inside you,” Kayne laughs as he strides toward me.
Nervously I back away scooting myself across the floor in an effort of escaping him. Stupid as it may be, I merely just wanted to keep him from hurting me anymore.
“I won’t allow you to break me,” I muttered, finally as my back hits the wall.
Kayne’s booming laughter fills the room, “You really think I can’t break you?” he asks once he regains his composure.
“You can try, but I’ll die before I give into you or anyone else ever again,” I say, narrowing my eyes on him. I don’t know why I said that. I’ve never stood up to any of these men like this out of fear they’d hurt me worse than previous beatings.
Shaking his head, Kayne steps forward until he’s directly in front of me then kneels, so we’re face to face. “Trust me, my little bréagán gnéis, you will die. It’s only a matter of time. Whether it be now, or years after I’ve bred my children from you. Either way, your blood will be on my hands.”
“You’re a sick bastard that needs to be put down,” I say before spitting in his face.
Stupid move on my part but I refuse to be the meek little girl who takes a beating without fighting to defend herself anymore. I might not make it out of this alive. However, I’ll know I fought. Not just for myself but for my family.
Kayne grins at me as he wipes his face clean right before letting his fist fly, landing a blow to my cheek, sending me sideways.
“I see you’ve decided to begin the fun without me,” a man’s voice calls out from the other side of the room.
“Miguel, you’re finally here, and just in time at that,” Kayne says, standing to his full height.
“I see that; however, we may not have much time. My source has informed me of company heading our way. I’ve already warned your father. He’s instructed that we have our fun later,” Miguel states while running his gaze over me, causing me to inwardly shiver. This is the man who helped brutalized that one girl and who knows how many others in-between.
“The old man can go ahead, I want to have a little fun first. I’ve waited far too long for this. Come on, Miguel, we shared your first obsession, now, let’s share mine.” My stomach churls at Kayne’s statement.
The fates seriously have something against me. Why else would they allow this to happen?
“I suppose we can spare a few minutes. I do have a new belt I’d like to break in.” Chuckling Miguel unbuckles his belt as he steps forward. Kayne leans down, grabs hold of my arm, yanking me up.
Before Miguel can get the first hit in, a blaring alarm fills the room.
“Fuck,” Kayne mutters as he releases me. Moving across the room, he turns off the blaring noise and yells into an intercom telling whoever to kill them all.
My heart begins to pound in my chest as I realize who Miguel was speaking of. Badger’s coming for me. I should have known he’d come.
“My men will take care of the problem. This is all your fault, if you’d only abided by the contract your father signed, we wouldn’t be in this mess. We should be good to continue,” Kayne says as he makes his way back toward me. He grabs his knife off the nightstand as he moves, keeping his gaze on me as if I were a prey waiting for the exact moment to strike.
Stepping next to me, Kayne lifts the blade up to run the tip of it along my hip over my stomach to my other side. I do my best to contain the whimper of fear as he presses a little deeper when he gets to my side.
“Kayne, we can’t take her with us. No reason to allow the biker trash to catch up with us. I say leave the whore, I’ve set my eyes on a beauty that is sure to be exceptional,” Miguel suggests.
“Not happening Miguel,” Kayne grinds out, moving closer to me. “I’ve waited long enough no thanks to this bitch’s father. On top of that, those bikers ruined what was supposed to belong to me. I’m not waiting any longer. Besides, let the assholes find us. They can watch as I slit her throat for what they cost me.”
Before Miguel can respond to Kayne’s insane reasonings, the door to the room flies open to show Badger and Burner coming in. Guns aimed in our direction.
Maybe the Fates don’t hate me as much as I thought.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Badger
Time seems to be at a standstill as the SUV jerks to a stop. We’d decided to go with a not so subtle approach. Pulling my gun out of my bag, I make sure the clip is full and jump out of the back.
Thank God for Dean going with a Suburban. Not only was it big enough for all of us but it’s durable.
Ignoring the raised voices of men, I make a run for the door. My only thought process is making it to Jordan. I know she’s here, it’s only a matter of finding her.
Soon as I make it through the front entrance, I stop long enough to listen for any sound. Not hearing anything other than the commotion outside, I move through the foyer into what looks to be some sort of fancy living room.
Footsteps running down the stairs draws my attention back the way I came. “Kean, where the fuck are you?” the male voice yells. The voice draws closer as I make it to the bottom of the stairs.
Aiming my gun at the man, I growl, “I wouldn’t move if I were you.”
The man comes to a halt, almost falling on his ass. Narrowing his eyes, he sneers in my direction, “I know you, you’re the biker scum who couldn’t keep his paws off my daughter.”
So, this is Cormac. “Yeah, guess you could say I couldn’t keep my hands off my woman,” I say, grinning. I have no problem rubbing in the knowledge of him losing her to me. Best part is knowing that I’ll be making sure this cunt can never harm another hair on Jordan’s head.
“My daughter will never be your woman again, she’s where she belongs now. I suggest you gather your friends from outside and leave before you all end up dead,” Cormac demands as if he doesn’t have a gun aimed at his chest.
Yeah, now it’s time he feels a little fear. Lowering my gun, I point it at his leg and pull the trigger. His screams of pain are music to my ears as he falls on his ass to clench his bleeding leg. “Did Jordan scream when you were beating her? What about when you allowed your buddies? Tell me where the fuck my wife is before I put another bullet in the other leg,” I growl.
“Fuck you, asshole, you’ll never find her. Kayne will have her out of here before you even get close,” Cormac spits out through clenched teeth.
“Wrong answer, dirtbag,” I seethe, aiming my gun at his other leg and pulling the trigger before lifting to aim at one of his shoulders to do the same.
Screaming, Cormac falls backward, hitting his head on the marble stairs, knocking himself unconscious.
“Fuckin’ pussy,” Hades mutters from behind me.
Spinning around, I find all my brothers standing there.
“Couldn’t even take the pain of a bullet, bet he wouldn’t have lasted through one of the beatings he’d given Jordan,” Horse growls, stepping forward he kicks the fucker in the stomach as he lifts his gun. Pulling the trigger, he hits Cormac in the other shoulder. Each of my brothers follows suit pulling the trigger hitting him in each limb.
“Let’s end this bastard, find your girl, and get the hell out of here,” Burner mutters.
Nodding, I aim my gun one last time, “Jordan will never know the pain from your hands again.” Pulling the trigger, I send a bullet straight between the fucker’s closed eyes.
I wish I had more time to prolong his death. However, finding my woman is more important. Stepping around Cormac’s lifeless body, I dart up the stairs.
“You two go this way, and the three of us will go the other,” Horse orders, pointing at Burner and myself.
Giving him a quick chin lift, I quietly move down the hall. As we move further along, muted voices can be heard.
Approaching the last door in the hall, I know without a doubt we’ve found her from the whimper that comes through the door.
“Kayne, we can’t take her with us. No reason to allow the biker trash to catch up with us. I say leave the whore, I’ve set my eyes on a beauty that is sure to be exceptional.” A voice I can only assume belongs to Miguel.
“Not happening, Miguel,” Kayne growls, confirming my suspicions. “I’ve waited long enough now, thanks to this bitch’s father. On top of that, those bikers ruined what was supposed to belong to me. I’m not waiting any longer. Besides, let the assholes find us. They can watch as I slit her throat for what they cost me.”
I don’t fuckin’ think so, motherfucker.
Glancing at Burner, I give him a nod and lift my fingers, counting to three as he moves to stand on the other side of the door. When we get to three, we storm through the entrance to the room, aiming at the bastards who dare harm my woman.
“Ahh, see I knew they’d find the room,” Kayne laughs, pulling Jordan against his chest with one arm around her as he places the blade to her throat with the other. “Come any further, and I’ll end her now.”
At Jordan’s whimpers, I shoot Kayne a glare.
“You really shouldn’t have come after her, you know? I told you she was mine and you just had to intervene, I should end you for soiling something that was given to me a long time ago,” Kayne spits out over Jordan’s shoulder.
“Well, I never did like to play fair, so excuse me for stealing her away,” I grind out, my eyes focusing on the edge of the blade pressing into my woman’s neck.
“Then you should have learned some manners on not touching what doesn’t belong to you,” Kayne snaps.
Glancing up from Jordan’s neck, I meet her gaze. “Honey, you trust me, right?” I ask as I calculate in my head if I’ll be able to do as I’m planning.
At the brief nod of her head, which caused the blade to cut into her skin, I lift my gun, ready to aim. “Rot in hell, motherfucker,” I growl as I pull the trigger, hitting him directly centered between the eyes.
Dropping my gun, I lunge for Jordan, taking her in my arms as Kayne falls to the floor.
Holding her in my arms, I kiss the top of her head, “You okay?” I ask, not worrying about anything else right now.
“I am now, thank you,” she murmurs into my chest.
Gently leaning her away from me, I take in the bruises covering her face and along her body. I hadn’t taken them in earlier as I’d been focused on the blade against her neck. Lifting her chin up to see her neck, I exam the nick in her throat.
Thankfully, it’s not deep. Merely needs to be cleaned and bandaged. However, the sight of her being held with a knife to her throat will stick with me for years to come.
“Fucker cowardly piece of shit got away,” Burner roars out right before something crashes against the wall.
Damn, I should have paid attention to the rest of the shit going on.
“Sorry, brother,” I rasp. “I should have helped get him to.”
“Badger, not your fault, slimy bastard took the opportunity to get away when you put the bullet in Kayne’s head,” Burner grumbles.
Still, I feel like shit cause now, Miguel has slipped through our fingers and there’s no telling when we will find him again.
Shaking my head, I glance to my woman, “How about we get out of here?” I ask her before turning my gaze to Burner to find the rest of our brothers entering the room. “We’ll find Miguel, brother. I promise you, I’ll make sure you get to put the fucker in the ground.”
Nodding, we all silently walk out of the room. Only I stop long enough to lift Jordan into my arms. I need to have her as close to me as possible right now.
In fact, I don’t think I’ll be letting her get far from me anytime soon. She’s my other half— the part of me that I was missing for way to fuckin’ long.
I refuse to lose that part of me again.
I intend to show Jordan exactly what it means to be mine. I claimed her, now I’ll cherish her for the rest of my days.
Epilogue
Jordan
3 weeks later
“Hey, Honey, you ready for your surprise?” Badger yells from across the shop as I enter. We’d been home for three weeks now. After everything with Kayne and Miguel, the guys decided to stay and help Dean out with a situation. I was surprised when they filled me in on the fact he was helping his bride escape the world she grew up in— the one I technically grew up in as well.
Bridget seemed sweet but refused to give Dean the time of day, even after he told her he did not plan to marry her. When she didn’t believe him, he’d gone as far as to tell her she wasn’t his type. He preferred women who actually had tits and an ass.
I’d winced right along with her. Though she had everything he mentioned, they weren’t as pronounced as some of the women at Sinners Cove like Ember and Jewel.
I give them six months. By then, Bridget will have driven Dean nuts, what with the fact he’s already told her twice, one of those times I heard him through the phone when I spoke with her, she wasn’t going anywhere.
He claims it’s due to Kayne and Miguel still out there, but I’m betting it’s more than that.
“Babe, you hear me?” Badger’s brows furrow as he moves toward me. I hadn’t even realized I’d stopped just inside the doorway.
Inwardly shaking my head, I give him a smile. “Yeah, I’m okay, so what’s this surprise anyway?” I ask him.
“You trust me, right?” Grinning, he draws me into him as he guides us back to the room he uses.
“I think I trust you with my life,” I say, glancing up to meet his gaze.
“Good. I want to do something I’d planned to give you the day you were taken from me. However, this time, instead of showing you first, I want you to wait to see it until after I’m done. Take your shirt and bra off, Honey,” he tells me as he closes the door behind him.
Doing as he told me, I reach under my shirt, unclip my bra, and lift my shirt over my head, letting my bra follow.
“So fuckin’ beautiful,” Badger murmurs as I stand before him naked from the waist up.
Clearing his throat, he goes about telling me where he wants me, then proceeds to explain what he’s doing as he preps my skin for my very first tattoo. Before he starts the ink gun, he leans in and kisses me right above where he’s placing the ink.
As Badger takes his time outlining, I begin to drift off to sleep as the humming noise surrounds us.
I wake sometime later to Badger, gently nudging me. “Time to see your surprise, Honey,” he murmurs against my ear.
“Okay,” I say sleepily. Sitting up, he hands me a handheld mirror to use so I can see my back in the larger mirror.
A gasp escapes my lips as tears well in my eyes. There on my shoulder blade sits a flower shaded in grays emerging from a dark abyss of flames with a skull sitting next to the stem. The beautiful part is it’s the same skull with claw marks across the face that Badger allowed Ally to place on his chest.
“I love it,” I whisper, smiling, meeting his gaze. “Now, I have a surprise for you as well,” I say a little nervously. I hope he won’t be mad because I’d done it out of love for him.
“What surprise is that?” he asks.
“Okay, so you may or may not like mine, but what I did, I did because I love you. I had Gadget find your mom, which he did.” Badger tenses and
his eyes narrow on me. “I know, I know, but let me finish. After everything that happened in Ireland, I wanted to do something for you. Something I hoped would help the little boy that still lingers deep inside you. So, Gadget, Dragon, and I took a little visit to see her.”
“You talkin’ about the other day when you said you were spending the day with your brothers?” he asks, interrupting me.
“Yes. We went to see her. And well, I just said it like I remember you saying it. I told her to rot in hell, though I called her a bitch rather than a motherfucker, but you get the point. I don’t ever want you to have to worry about her coming near you or any child we have someday.” I barely get the last word out before Badger is slamming his mouth to mine, drawing me flush against him.
With my chest bare to him, he can easily feel what his kiss is doing to me as my nipples harden.
“I fuckin’ love you, woman,” he says breathlessly.
“I love you too, Brett,” I murmur against his lips.
“Good, now can I give you your other surprise before you give me a heart attack?” Badger asks.
“I’m not gonna give you a heart attack, but yes, go ahead,” I giggle.
“I know we’re already married, but I wanna do this the right way, Honey. I’m putting my ring on your finger and giving you a wedding,” he declares as he steps back enough to reach in his pocket to pull out a beautiful solitaire diamond ring. “Told you a badger needs its honey the way I need you in my life. I might not have said it when I first saw you, but you’ve been mine since day one. And I’ll claim you every day going forward if need be. You, Jordan, are mine.”
“Guess it’s a good thing I don’t mind being the honey for a badger,” I say, grinning, letting him place the ring on my finger before wrapping my arms around his neck. “Just so you know, I’ll claim you every day for the rest of my life. I love you, always and forever.”
Leaning in, I kiss him, wanting him to feel just how much I love him. I intend to do this every day like I said. We were fated to be together. She might be a mean bitch, but damn if being with him doesn’t make the past worth it.