by Linzi Basset
“No!”
“Yes. Her death wasn’t suicide. You put a hit out on Daphne Walker, furious that she failed you and left The Sixth Order looking like incompetent players in a big pond. It took your assassin a year and a half to find her.” Jack cast a dark look at Jaden.
“He wouldn’t have—”
“How was he supposed to know? He’s an assassin. Paid to do a job. Did he ever meet her?”
“It can’t be … you’re fucking lying!” Jaden was shaken to the core, remembering how adamant Reece had been to put the hit out on Daphne Walker. The thought that he had known her true identity scratched at the back of his mind.
“It’s easy enough to verify. He still works for you, doesn’t he? Except now he’s not a lowly assassin anymore. He’s your highly paid right-hand man, Dan Scott.” Jack barked out a harsh laugh. “How does it feel, Jaden? Knowing you hated the wrong man for years? Did you ever wonder how Dan, out of the blue, got a lead on Maureen? Where it came from … or rather who gave him the tip where to look? Tell me, Jaden, just how much do you trust your dear friend, Reece?”
“Fuck you, Jack. I trust Reece with my life!” Jack had just voiced his own suspicion. Jaden’s secure world threatened to crumble around him.
“Yeah, so much so that you and he were solely responsible for Maureen’s death … and that of your child.”
The fist came out of nowhere and caught Jack unaware. His head hit the wall behind him. With a soft grunt, he slumped in the chains, unconscious.
“Let me go! No! This time I’ll kill you with my own hands, so help me god!”
Jordan’s screams and furious cries penetrated Jack’s hazy mind. His eyes fluttered as he willed the dark fog holding him captive to dissolve.
Fuck! Wake up, Jack. The voice in his head shouted at him as Jordan’s screams escalated, now filled with fear and despair. How long have I been out?
He shook his head, wincing at the sharp pain that shot to his brain from the back of his head where it had connected with the wall.
“Noooo! Jack! Oh god, no. Please help me. JACK!”
He finally managed to shake off the fog that clouded his mind and opened his eyes. What he saw chilled him to the bone. His roar would’ve rattled the windows if the room had any. Jaden’s head swung around. His face was a canvas of such visual hatred, swirling with a torturous sorrow, that for a second Jack was stumped.
“Yes Jack, it’s time for you to feel what I did for years. Watching the same fucking movie reel over and over in my mind … of you fucking Maureen.” He barked out a laugh as he forced Jordan’s legs wide open and settled between her furiously bucking body. His eyes remained on Jack whose gaze had turned glacial as he watched the horror unfold in front of him. Jordan was naked, with her hands tied to the bed and one leg still chained on the other side. The sound of Jaden’s zipper sounded like a gunshot through the room. Jordan twisted and bucked in desperation, her eyes wild as she watched him stroke his cock to arousal.
Jack’s voice held the promise of violence as it floated across the room.
“You have one chance of survival, Jaden. I suggest you take it and get off her because if you continue, you won’t leave this room alive.”
Jaden’s evil laughter coincided with him turning to Jordan. “This time I won’t make the same mistake, little slut. Let me feel how hot you are,” he sneered as he plunged three fingers cruelly inside her spread open and very dry vagina.
Her screams of pain echoed in the room and married with the raging growl of the beast that erupted from within Jack as he watched Jaden gleefully pump his fingers inside her. His body tensed, the muscles in his arms bulged and the veins in his neck swelled with effort as he strained to dislodge the chain from the wall.
“Get the fuck … OFF her,” Jack roared as he yanked with herculean strength on the chain with his right arm. The days of working on the link paid off. It snapped loose just as Jaden prepared to slam his cock inside Jordan. Jack didn't hesitate, he followed through with the force of the chain releasing and it swung through the air with deadly intent.
Jaden was too caught up in the moment of revenge to take notice of the clinking sound rippling through the air. The end of the chain connected with his cheek with such force, his cheekbone snapped in two, his skin tore open with blood spurting in an arch through the air as the strength of the hit catapulted him from the bed. His head cracked sickeningly on the hard floor. He didn’t move.
Jordan’s screams had turned hysterical, her eyes pressed tightly shut as she waited for his cruel penetration. When his body weight suddenly disappeared, she opened her eyes in time to watch Jack step away from the wall and yank forcefully on the chain with his left arm. He stumbled back as it too came away from the wall. This time bringing the entire steel loop with it. He stumbled to the bed, ignoring the twitching body of Jaden. With a quick snap of his strong fingers, he untied her hands.
Jordan flung herself against him, causing his legs to crumble. He grunted, irritated at his weakness as he sat down on the bed and wrapped his arms around her shaking body. He could feel his own hands tremble as he stroked her back.
“I’ve got you, baby. Shh, my love. It’s over. He won’t touch you again.”
“Jaden! We’ve got to go. The fucker Rhone and his bastard friends are―Jaden!” Reece stumbled to a halt at the sight of his profusely bleeding friend. He lifted a cautious gaze to the couple on the bed. When Jack surged upright, he spun around and ran out the door. It swished shut silently behind him.
“Fucking coward!” Jack snarled as his fist landed seconds later against the steel door.
“Jack … please,” Jordan stuttered, watching him with pleading eyes, tears still flooding her eyes. She kept glancing at Jaden, whose body had gone still where he was lying in a pool of his own blood.
“I’m here, my love,” he said. He fetched the key to the lock of the shackle around her ankle from the hook on the wall, left there to taunt them. Within seconds, she was loose. She scrambled up and with shaking movements picked up her clothes that Jaden had flung to the floor. She was trembling so much that Jack gently took it from her.
“Easy, baby. Let me help you.”
Jack forced his legs to hold his weight as he tenderly covered her body with the tattered pieces of clothing. Jaden obviously had been in too much of a rush and had torn most of it from her. He could feel his strength waning. Days of beatings, whippings, and electrocution with little food and water, was taking its toll. The only thing that kept him going was the knowledge that his friends had arrived. He had to stay alert until they found their cell. He sat down on the bed with his back against the wall.
Jordan picked up the key he had flung down and tried to unlock the shackles around his wrists. “God, I can’t. I’m shaking too much.”
Jack leaned back his head. “Leave it. Come here, my love. I need to hold you.” Jordan scrambled next to him on the bed. “No. On my lap. I need to feel you everywhere.”
She complied and sighed as his strong arms wrapped around her, holding her so tight, she battled to draw proper breaths. She didn’t complain though. It was the first time in a week that she felt safe and secure.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” she whispered against his throat.
“Me either, my love,” Jack admitted with a gruff voice. The vision of Jaden between her legs flashed in front of his eyes and his arms tightened. “It’s over, honey.”
She shook her head. “Not until Reece is caught.”
Jack didn’t respond, his eyes strayed to the prone body of a man who used to be one of his best friends. She was right. For as long as Reece was out there, none of them would be safe. He would do everything in his power to stay alive and knowing that his true identity had been uncovered, the only way to do that, would be if they were all dead.
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take, Jack. Some days I feel like I’m swallowed up by fear and the darkness that it brings.”
“I know th
e feeling, my love.” He tipped back her chin with his finger. He searched her eyes, offering her assurance with his loving gaze. “When the darkness overpowers you, hold onto me, baby. I’ll always be your light. Even when the darkness falls, just hold on and know that together we will survive, always.” He gently wiped away the last tears from her cheeks. “You are the strongest woman I know. You’ve lost so much, and still, you rose above the heartache and pain. You stood up when others would’ve stayed down.” He cupped her cheeks. “Do you know how much I love you, Jordan, love of my life, heart of my soul?”
“Yes, Jack, I do because it’s a reflection of my love for you.”
His head lowered to cover her quivering lips. The kiss was sweet, loving and drenched with assurance, a promise of their future.
“I should’ve known. Nothing can keep this fucker down. Just look at that. Already smooching and seducing the damsel in distress.”
Max’s teasing voice broke them apart. Jack’s lips twitched in a relieved smile, like the sun had finally managed to break through a cloud of mist.
“Took you long enough to get here, mate.”
Max and Bruce walked closer, their smiles a mirror image of the two people on the bed. Relieved, overjoyed and filled with mutual love.
Bruce studied Jordan, his sharp gaze taking in her shaking body, the tattered clothes. His brain froze. A quick glance at Jack set his mind at ease when he shook his head. She hadn’t been raped. He went onto his haunches and brushed his hand over her hair.
“All good, Jordan?”
She leaned her cheek into his touch, a pure submissive reaction to his presence. “I will be. As soon as we get out of this fucking place.” She smiled tremulously as he helped her up from the bed. She hugged him fiercely. “Thanks for saving us.”
“All credit lies with this crazy man,” Max said as he unlocked the shackles around Jack’s wrists. With a heave, he pulled Jack to his feet and embraced him in a hard man hug. “I’m so fucking angry at you, Jack, for not telling me what you were up to but I’m happier that you’re still alive.”
Jack didn’t respond, just returned the fierce hug of his best friend. He loved him like a brother and for that reason, he would never have involved him.
“Thank God,” Ethan’s voice from the doorway drew their attention and they broke apart. The rest of the team filtered in behind him. Suddenly the large room became overcrowded by large muscled bodies.
“Is he still alive?” Rhone asked with a brief glance at the body on the floor.
“I hope not,” Jordan said in a breathy voice as she returned to Jack’s embrace. He staggered, his body starting to give way to exhaustion. All eyes returned to them.
“Let’s get out of here. Jack needs serious medical attention. At a glance, he’s obviously malnourished and dehydrated.” Ethan’s eyes moved critically over his torso. “And I suspect he has internal injuries too,” he said as he removed a water bottle from his backpack and handed it to Jack who gulped it down thirstily.
“Reece. Did you get him?” Jack stared at Jaden, feeling no remorse or even a twinge of sadness inside him.
“No, we noticed a chopper taking off in the distance as we breached the entrance,” Keon said.
“From interrogating the operational team, it seems he escaped along with his two bodyguards and a man named Dan Scott,” Lance interjected.
“Fuck! I had hoped …” Jack felt Jordan stiffen against him. He dragged in a deep breath. “We can discuss this back home. We need to get Jordan out of here.”
Jack took a step. His hand clamped around Max’s arm as he finally gave in to the black cloud that had been hovering around his consciousness. With a grunt, his legs crumbled. Max caught him as he slumped against him.
“Jack!” Jordan cried and frantically shook his shoulder.
“Easy, little one,” Bruce said as he pulled her away. “The human body can only endure so much. His obviously has reached its limit.”
Jordan covered her mouth as she watched Max and Keon taking hold of Jack. “He’s been so strong all this time … for my sake. I didn’t … I thought there was a time he was going to die. The electrocutions. Oh, god, just thinking―”
“No more thinking. It’s over. Come, let’s get you out of here.” Bruce promptly picked her up and headed for the door. Jordan didn’t complain, just relaxed in his strong arms as fatigue took its toll on her too. Her eyes fluttered closed as she fell asleep before they even exited the shelter, secure in the knowledge that they were safe.
“Ethan, better go back and check Jaden’s vitals. I’m not taking a chance that he’s alive and leave him here for dead without checking,” Rhone said as they reached the operational hub, belatedly realizing that in their relief to find Jack and Jordan alive, they had neglected to do so.
“I’ll go with you,” Alex followed Ethan back through the myriad of hallways toward the holding cell.
“Goddammit!” Ethan exclaimed as he entered the room. Alex stormed in behind him. They both stared at the pool of sticky red blood on the floor … with no Jaden Bower.
“How the devil is it possible? Half of his face was shattered and cut open,” Alex said as he glanced around. “There, drops of blood.” He pointed to the floor. “He couldn’t have gotten far in such a short time.”
They followed the receding trail of red dots until it stopped where the hallway split in two.
“I’ll take the left,” Alex said. They split up and continued the search. Ten minutes later they met up in the operation’s room. Rhone and Keon came striding in from the outside.
“What’s taking so long?” Rhone asked.
“He’s gone,” Ethan slammed his fist on a desk. “I should’ve checked the motherfucker before we left the cell.”
“Don’t chastise yourself, mate. We were all too happy to find Jack and Jordan alive,” Keon said gruffly as he looked around.
“We followed a blood trail but at a point it dribbled to nothing. We’ve checked every room in this place. He disappeared like a phantom in the night,” Alex said with frustration in his voice.
“There must be a secret passage somewhere. Probably the same one Reece used to escape,” Rhone said with a sigh. “Let’s get to the chopper. Jack needs attention. I’ll get Richard to dispatch Jim with a team to scour this area.”
“He’s going to need medical attention. Tell Richard to put out an APB to every hospital or clinic in this vicinity,” Ethan said as they got into the chopper.
“Who?” Bruce asked. He frowned as he noticed their closed expressions. Rhone briefed them on Jaden’s disappearance.
“Fucking great,” Max grunted. “Just when I thought we were making headway.”
“Oh, we made headway, all right,” Bruce said. “They’re on the defensive now. This was their recovery team. They’ve got no one to fall back on. Reece and Jaden are split up. Reece probably believes Jaden is dead.”
“And Jaden that Reece left him behind. Let’s hope the two fuckers kill each other and save us the trouble,” Keon muttered.
“Make no mistake, mates, Reece is now more dangerous than ever,” Rhone said as he started the engine. “His only chance of survival is if we’re all dead.”
“Yeah, and don’t forget there’s already a contract out on all of us. He’s not going to continue with a cat and mouse game. He can’t afford to, seeing as we know exactly who and what they are. Reece will probably up the bounty to get us killed quickly,” Bruce clipped in a dark voice, his thoughts on Morgan. It was time to tighten the noose around her throat. She knew more than she’d led on. It was time to find out what.
Chapter Nine
Morgan cast a surreptitious look at Bruce. She couldn’t shake the feeling of doom that had encroached on her the moment he’d arrived home. He seemed reserved, closed off even. Not like the man who had adroitly rocked her world that morning to such an extent that she’d been walking on cloud nine ever since.
“Did something go wrong on your mission?”
> Bruce glanced at her, caught immediately by the soft quiver in her voice and the insecurity in her eyes. She was a portrait of contradiction in more ways than one. At times, she was sassy as hell, forward and demanding, but other times, like now, flayed with insecurities that broke through to leave her meek and wrought with fear.
It was the fear Bruce needed to unlock, to get to the key of what had driven her to his house, that kept surfacing with such alarming clarity, he wondered if she was even aware of it.
Morgan Adler was terrified of something or someone and tonight he aimed to find out who or what it was.
“To the contrary, it was very successful.”
“Does it have to do with The Sixth Order?”
Bruce parked the car under one of the white oak trees surrounding Club Devil’s Cove. He turned sideways in the seat and stared at her. She kept her gaze locked on his but he detected a quiver in her lips she couldn’t hide. All the women who had been rescued with her knew the dour tale of how The Sixth Order supplied sex slaves to the Eastern countries. It wasn’t surprising that she was still caught in the web of anxiety. His brows drew together in thought. Was that it? Did she still live with the fear that they would find her and return her to pacify the human traffickers who bought her?
“You can relax, Morgan. You’re under my protection now. There’s no way I’ll allow anyone to harm you.” He tenderly brushed back her hair. She pressed her cheek into his palm. His breath hitched at the naturally submissive gesture.
“You can’t promise that, Bruce. From what Joanne told me, they are ruthless and have managed to evade the law and being captured for years.”
He saw a sadness flicker in her eyes. She looked away quickly and stared at the brightly lit building. Her gaze followed the couples disappearing through the wide entrance.
“Do you ever wish you can turn back time?”
“More than I care to admit,” he said in a quiet voice, watching her intently. She seemed lost in thought.