by T. L Hodel
And everything to me.
“Where’s your phone, son?” my father asked. “If Ryker did take your girl, he’d want you to know.”
I was up on my feet searching the room before my father finished speaking. Time slowed down as I tossed the couch cushions and flipped over furniture. I eventually found my phone on the floor under the couch. My muscles tensed when I saw the red light blinking with a missed message.
There was a text. It’s time to pay the piper, boy, along with a picture from an unknown number. That single image was enough to make my entire world collapse. The photo was of Mase and Riley laying on a cement floor in a dark room.
This was all my fault. I should’ve stopped her last night. If I wasn’t such a fucking coward.
“Fuck!” I yelled, throwing my fist in the wall over and over again.
Logan and my father remained silent, letting me vent my anger until the skin on my knuckles tore and blood dripped down my hand.
I tossed my phone to Logan. “He’s got them both.”
Pain flashed across my father’s face when he gazed down at the image. He may be a hard man, but he loved his children. Knowing Mase was in the hands of a sick fuck like Ryker was killing him.
“We’ll find them, son.”
“How? He’s had eight years to plan this shit.” My father was trying to reassure me, but he had to face the hard facts. “They could be anywhere.”
“No, he’s still here,” Logan said, “he’d want to stay close so he could watch you suffer.”
“That he would,” my father agreed. “I’ll call Derek. The sheriff’s department can help us search. We’ll have to spread out in small groups. If Ryker sees us coming, he’s likely to kill them. That man does not like to lose.”
I knew something else he didn’t like.
“Come on, Logan,” I walked to the door and waved for him to follow. “We’re going to talk to Chase Mathers.”
My father’s unsure eyes rolled my way. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, son?”
“The only thing Ryker values more than winning, is his own life.” I explained. “If there’s a bunch of bikers riding around town looking for Riley, he’s not going to get rid of his only leverage.”
“Clever,” my father said, cocking a brow at me. “One problem though . . . Mathers’ boys think he’s dead.”
“Won’t be a problem.” I said, walking out of the room with Logan in tow.
Chase Mathers would want to find Riley as much as I did, and I was willing to bet he’d come back from the grave to do it.
Preston met us outside Mather’s tattoo parlor. I called him just in case that crazy motherfucker tried to shoot us again. Riley thought he was overreacting, but I’d seen that look before. Tanner would’ve pulled that trigger. The only reason he didn’t was because she was there.
“What’s your plan?” Preston leaned back against my Jeep and lit a smoke. “I don’t think Mathers will be too inclined to talk to you. You are fucking his niece.”
I eyed the doors to Mathers Tattooing. “Tell him the truth.”
Logan and I filled Preston in when he got here. Considering what Ryker did to his brother and sister, he was more than willing to help – all my boys were. Silas and Parker were out looking right now.
“So, you’re just going to walk in there and tell him this asshole’s dad,” he nodded at Logan, “kidnapped Mase and Riley, and is doing God knows what to them?”
“Yup.”
“Huh?” Preston grunted, and flicked his cigarette on the ground. “Well, let’s go. I can’t wait to see this shit.”
My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“There’s a reason your old man’s never bothered this guy. Mathers has a higher body count than Bundy, and you’re bringing the son of the man who has his niece right to him.”
Well shit, I didn’t think about that. While this would help Mase and Riley, it could put Logan in serious danger. I sighed and shook my head. We didn’t have a choice.
“You don’t have to come,” I said to Logan.
“Yeah I do. Wouldn’t be in this situation if I killed him right the first time.” He blew out a breath, puffing his cheeks out. “Let’s get this shit over with before Tanner shoots us in the parking lot.”
We all pushed off my Jeep and sauntered through the door to the parlor. The little bell rang over our heads like a death chime.
Chase was sitting behind the front counter doing paperwork with Tanner standing behind him.
“I was wondering how long it would take you come in,” Chase said, not even bothering to look up.
Tanner tipped his chin at us. “You boys back for round two?”
We could bullshit, give them some small talk, but there wasn’t time for that.
“We need your help.”
Chase was a big motherfucker. The chair he sat in squeaked when he leaned back and crossed his arms. “And why would I help you?”
“You wouldn’t,” I said, tossing my phone with the image of Riley and Mase displayed on the counter, “but you’d help her.”
I don’t know what scared me more, the lack of emotion on Chase’s face when he saw the picture or the look he and Tanner exchanged.
“Who has her?”
“My piece of shit father,” Logan answered Chase. “We thought he was dead. I shot him years ago.”
“Something tells me that one wouldn’t have made the same mistake.” Tanner’s eyes landed on Preston, who’d been watching him from the second we walked in. “You want a shot at the title, big boy?”
I had a sudden understanding of what a gazelle felt like trapped between two hungry lions. Luckily, the tension was cut when the little bell above the door rang, and a small brunette walked in.
“Hey Chase, have you seen Riley?” she said, sparing us a glance. “We were supposed to meet at Mays and she’s not answering her phone. Thought maybe she was working?”
“Sorry, Marnie,” Chase said, rolling his eyes my way, silently telling me to keep my mouth shut. A bit insulting. I wasn’t a fucking child. “Haven’t seen her.”
Marnie pushed her glasses up her nose and clinched her brows together. “Are you sure? Cause I’m a little worried about her.”
None of us missed the look she gave us when she spoke.
Especially Preston, who narrowed his eyes on her. “He said he hasn’t seen her. Now fuck off.”
The girl may look frumpy – no makeup, glasses and shapeless clothes – but the expression set in her face was hard.
“I know who you are, Preston Whitley.” she growled. “I know who all of you are, and if I find out you did something to her, I’ll make you pay. And there’ll be nothing your Order can do to stop me.”
All our brows arched.
Who the fuck is this chick?
Chase snickered. “If I see her, I’ll tell her to call you.”
“Thank you,” Marnie said, and walked out, pausing long enough to shoot us a dirty look.
Once she was gone, I turned my attention back to Chase. I’d deal with the girl’s knowledge on The Order later. “So, will you help?”
“You know what you’re asking me to do, right?”
I nodded. “I do.”
“I don’t think you do. My boys don’t play well with others, and you’re inviting them into your playground. Not to mention the danger it puts Riley in. If I come back, it paints a bullseye on her back. Families are only sacred to the club, to everyone else they’re an opportunity.”
“I’ll protect her.”
And I would. Once I got Riley back, I wasn’t letting go.
“You better.” Chase gave me a stern look. “Tanner, call the boys. I’ve just been resurrected.”
I released the breath I was holding, and silently thanked God, or fate, or whatever was up there. We may not know where Mase and Riley were, but at least they’d be alive when we found them. I scooped up my phone and stared down at my mouse’s beautiful face.
“
Keep her safe, Mase, we’re coming.”
“Hang on.” Preston grabbed my arm and stared down at the image. “I think I know where they are.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Riley
After what felt like the hundredth swipe of Ryker’s whip, I passed out. Mason apparently wasn’t rough enough with me, so Ryker decided I needed some extra pain. And pain is what I got. My back was on fire, and it hurt to breathe. I groaned and rolled over, both wincing and sighing in relief, when my back met the cold hard floor.
“Riley,” Mason’s voice cracked as if he’d been crying, “are you okay?”
Was I okay? Not by a long shot. Honestly, I was surprised I was still alive, but I couldn’t let Mason know that. He did what he had to do and it broke him. I watched the light go out of his eyes.
“I’ve been better.” I said while looking around.
We were still in the same room, except instead of being strapped down to a stone slab, I was on the floor with my ankle chained to the wall. I looked over at Mason, who was across the room in the same predicament.
“Is he gone?”
He swallowed and looked away with a grimace of disgust. “How can even you look at me? I- I–”
I didn’t just hear his pain, I felt it and it broke my heart.
“You did what you had to.”
“I raped you, Riley!” He yelled, smashing his fist against the floor.
“You saved my life, Mason,” I could say it a hundred times and he’d probably never see it that way. He was taking it all on himself, instead of realizing that I wasn’t the one raped. We both were.
I thought Micha was a monster – and in a way he was – but Ryker was a whole new level of evil. With one single act, he destroyed both Mason and Micha. Mason would never be able to look at himself, and Micha would never be able to look at me. A hot tear dripped from the corner of my eye onto the floor. He destroyed all three of us.
“I’m sorry,” Mason whispered while his hand clawed at the floor. “Maybe if I was rougher, he wouldn’t have–”
“He would’ve done it anyway, Mason.” I licked my lips, hoping to pull some moisture down my parched throat.
I stared up at the roof and let my gaze follow the lines of stone. All the torches were lit in the room now, probably so we could watch each other. Ryker wanted us to see the pain he caused. He made Mason watch me get whipped, and every time he looked away, a punch was added to my torment.
“Did I hurt you?”
Ryker didn’t need to torture him. Mason was doing that all on his own.
“No.” I rolled my head Mason’s way and forced myself to smile. “You didn’t hurt me.”
“I’m glad to see you two are bonding.” Ryker snickered and strutted through the open gate.
There was no need to lock it now. We weren’t going anywhere. Even if I wasn’t chained to this wall, I could barely move.
“Stay the fuck away from her.” Mason growled loudly, yanking on his chain and making it clatter.
Ryker tsk-ed. “Now, now, Mason, calm down. I come baring gifts.”
Dread filled my gut at the way Ryker’s lips curled.
Venom dripped from every word, as Mason said, “I don’t want shit from you.”
“Oh, I think you’ll want this,” Ryker sang and pulled a cloth off the tray in his hand.
My eyes widened at the needle, spoon, and other ingredients.
No.
He set it down on the floor, and Mason’s eyes locked on the drugs. I knew addiction well, lived with it for years, and Mason was lost to it.
“Don’t.” I pleaded when Mason licked his lips and lifted the spoon. “You don’t know what he did to it.”
“I’ll have you know,” Ryker said, “that is grade-A, premium cut heroine and nothing else.”
I tried to stop Mason. Called out, begged, and plead. My body screamed in pain when I fought my binds to crawl closer. Mason ignored it all.
“Just a taste.” He said simply and cooked the drugs like I wasn’t even there.
Tears welled up in my eyes, clouding my vision. I couldn’t watch someone else destroy themselves. Not again.
“Mason, please. Think about your dad and Micha. They love you.”
“Yes, Mason, think about the people who lied to you your entire life.” Ryker cocked his head down at him. “Doesn’t sound like love to me.”
The muscles in Mason’s jaw clenched, as he filled the needle with what I was sure was a lot more than he should.
“Don’t listen to him. You know your brother loves you. Would Micha want you to do this?” My voice cracked as memories of Mom, and that horrible night came flooding back to me. “This won’t just hurt you, it’ll destroy him.”
Mason held the needle up and pressed the sharp point to his arm, but he paused. I could see him fighting with himself. His brows furrowed and his face twisted.
“Don’t,” I whispered seeing hope on the horizon, “don’t let him win.”
Ryker’s green eyes narrowed in on me. “Tell me, boy, what do you plan on telling your brother about what you did to sweet little Riley?”
Mason’s arm started to shake. He wanted to push that needle in and I couldn’t let Ryker win. Not like that.
“Are you going to tell him how you held her down and forced your cock inside her?” Ryker looked at me, a slow smirk spreading across his face. “Or are you going to lie and say you didn’t like it?”
“Shut up you, sick fuck!” I screamed.
“You’ve never come so hard in your life, isn’t that right, boy? A part of you wants to do it again.”
“Don’t listen to him, Mason. Put that down. It could kill you.”
Mason’s eyes rolled up, locking with mine. “Let’s hope so,” he said and plunged the needle in his arm.
“No!” I cried out, “don’t leave me alone.”
It was too late.
Just like with Mom, all I could do was watch Mason’s eyes roll in the back of his head.
I can’t save anyone.
“Good boy,” Ryker said, petting his head.
Tears roll down my face, warming my cheek with their hot streaks. I welcomed the pain radiating through my body. I wanted it to rip me apart, because it was better than laying here, watching Mason die.
“Just kill me,” I whispered.
“Now, what fun would that be?”
I closed my eyes, shutting the monster in the corner out. He could do what he wanted. Beat me, rape me, torment me, I wouldn’t give him a reaction. I didn’t care enough to.
“Micha’s had you for years and couldn’t break you.” I stayed still and listened to his footsteps fall closer. “I expected more. I’ve only had you for seventeen hours. Where’s this spark of stubbornness I’ve heard so much about?”
It was gone. Just like my hopes and dreams. What was the point in fighting? Mom left me. My dad gave me away. Micha didn’t want me. Even Mason checked out.
Ryker hummed. He was next to me now. I could felt those evil eyes and heard his breaths fill the air. I just didn’t care.
I listened to him shuffle around, and heard a phone ring, but it was the voice that barked out on the other line that made my heart flip and eyes fly open.
“Ryker, you sick fuck.”
Micha!
Ryker looked down at me and grinned. “I must admit, Micha, calling in the bikers . . . that was a clever tactic.”
Bikers? Did Micha go to Chase? That’s when I heard it. The loud rumbles rolling over the street above me. They were faint, but they were there.
While Micha may be done with me, he could still make it in time to save his brother. I looked over at Mason, who was seizing on the ground. If he made it out alive, then nothing else mattered. I could do one good thing with my life.
“Mason called it the base–” I called out, and was cut off when Ryker slapped me, sending my face twisting to the side and causing blood to fill my mouth.
“Don’t fucking touch her!” Micha grow
led so loudly I could feel his anger. “We’re already here, asshole.”
I heard pops for gunfire ring in the background.
“Your girlfriend has such pretty eyes,” Ryker said, running his finger down my face.
Though I didn’t have much strength left, I managed to slap him and twist my head out of the way. That only seemed to amuse him. Ryker’s lips curled in a sinister smile, as he crawled over me, and straddled my prone form.
“Did you know it takes four minutes to strangle someone?”
My blood ran cold. I struggled to get out from under his heavy weight, but my body was so weak.
Micha grunted and swore as another round of gunfire went off. “If you kill her, you’ll never get of there in one piece.”
“Neither will you,” Ryker said, “Oh, and Micha, I’d hurry. Poor Mason is frothing at the mouth.”
He tossed the phone and wrapped his hands around my neck. I fought, swinging my arms, slapping his face. The pressure mounted, weighing down on me, pounding in my ears, and drowning out the loud pops growing closer. I gasped, fighting to suck in air, and clawed desperately at the hands constricting my airway. Blackness seeped in the edge of my vision, darkening the world around me.
The last thing I heard was Micha’s voice.
“I’ll fucking kill you!”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Micha
It was a good thing Preston tackled Ryker because I would’ve killed him, and my father wanted him alive. Tanner and Chase agreed to it, as long as they got to pay him a of couple visits. I saw what Chase and his boys did to Ryker’s men. They were ruthless sons of bitches. Whatever was left of Ryker’s miserable life wouldn’t be pleasant.
“Has she woken up yet?” Shelby asked, walking into Riley’s hospital room.
I gazed down at my mouse and grazed my fingers along her jaw. “No.”
It’d been two days now, and she hadn’t woken up. At least she was breathing on her own. No more tube down her throat. But why wouldn’t she wake up?
Mase did. One shot of epinephrine and he was alert as a motherfucker. A minute later and he wouldn’t have woken up at all. I almost lost them both.