by J. M. Walker
“Brogan,” Greyson called from behind me. “Wait up.”
“No.” I hopped on my bike. God, it had been so long since I had ridden her, I almost forgot how she felt between my legs. Greyson had one of his guys go get her for me which I had been thankful for. I hated waiting around for the cleanup. I wanted to go in. Kill. And move on to the next compound until I found Coby.
“Brogan,” Grey snapped.
I whipped my head around.
“Lucas found him.” He handed me his cell.
I held it up to my ear, waiting with bated breath.
“Brogan,” Lucas answered from the other end.
“Tell me.”
“I was finally able to hack into one of the compounds security systems and saw a van pull up just over twenty-four hours ago. They dragged a body from the vehicle. I couldn’t tell who it was but I know it was a man. Their camera system sucks balls.”
“Lucas,” I barked. “Focus.”
“You and Coby are perfect for each other,” he grumbled.
I rolled my eyes. “Please tell me something.”
“I can’t be sure but I think it’s Coby.”
The world spun around me, all the air leaving my lungs on a whoosh. “Where?”
“I already gave Greyson the address. Listen, Brogan …”
“Yeah?”
“Avenge him. Kill every mother fucker you have to but bring our boy home.”
“I will,” I breathed. “I will.”
My body was lifted into the air and chained back against the wall. A sharp pain stabbed me in the shoulder and I knew without a doubt that it had been dislocated. The injuries from the accident only became worse as Tina and Zane tortured me. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t stand. I could no longer fight them off me. When I didn’t move, Zane pushed me, forcing me to do things I never would have done even in my darkest of days.
A hard slap to my cheek rang through my ears. “Wake up,” Tina demanded. “I don’t need you dying on me.” She lifted a glass to my mouth, pouring a cold liquid between my lips.
The water slid down my parched throat until I gagged and choked.
“Good thing you’re not gay,” she shook her head. “You would suck at deep throating.”
“He can learn,” Zane grabbed my jaw. “I could teach him to take it all in. Couldn’t I?”
“Fuck you,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry,” he turned his head, leaning his ear toward me. “I didn’t hear you.”
“Fuck you,” I said a little louder that time.
“I’ve tried but my sister isn’t done with you yet,” he slapped his hand against my cheek. “Just wait until I’m ready for you. You think she’s mean?” A cold laugh escaped his lips. Releasing me, he turned to his sister. “Don’t kill him before I have a chance to taste his flesh.”
Tina giggled before glancing back at me. “He’s so funny.” And with that, she spun on her heel and followed him out the door.
I was alone. Finally.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself up, wincing and breathing through the new onslaught of pain. Although my one eye was swollen shut, I was still able to take in my surroundings. I had been right. I was locked away in a dungeon. The only items were the cross I was attached to and the dresser near the far wall.
But I didn’t see anything I could use as leverage to break myself free from these chains. For the first time in my life, I needed help and there was no one around to ask.
Please, God, save me from this hell.
I prayed, pleaded, begged for my life but my words left my lips and disappeared into the silence of the room. All the shit I had been forced to endure was unforgivable. And I knew without a doubt that even though it wasn’t my fault, Brogan could possibly leave me. That revelation alone was worse than the torture I had experienced. I would throw myself at the mercy of Tina and Zane if it meant Brogan would stay with me.
***
(Brogan)
It had been two days since I saw Coby last. Since I felt him in my arms and his hot breath on my lips. I prayed with everything in me that he was still alive.
Once Lucas gave us the information on where Coby could possibly be, I hightailed it out of there and drove as fast as my bike would allow. The drive seemed to go on forever, the closer I got to the location, the further I fell into myself. I had killed several men already in the past couple of days. It wasn’t something I was proud of, taking another life and all, but these men were monsters. Vile human beings who worked for an organization that stripped the innocence from anyone they could get their hands on.
Greyson and his club followed behind me, their headlights shining in my side mirrors. The other club he had called on, drove in front of me, leading the pack to keep me safe. If anyone would be hit unexpectedly, it would be them.
I wasn’t sure why these men were doing this for me. I didn’t even know how to ask. But I appreciated it more than they would ever realize.
Glancing at the GPS on my bike, the red dot flashed, indicating that the building was a mile ahead. This was it. It was time to save Coby and get the fuck out of dodge. He just better be there or I wasn’t sure what I would do.
We slowed down, turning onto a long narrow driveway before stopping a couple yards from the building. This one wasn’t like the rest. It was a mansion, not a rundown building like the others.
“Brogan—” Greyson came up beside me “—be smart about this.”
“He has to be in there.” I shut my bike off and slid off of it before pushing the kick stand down with my foot. “I can feel him, Grey.” I didn’t know how but something nudged at my heart. I knew once I found him, it would never be the same. I could only imagine what Tina and Zane had done to him during these past two days.
Taking a breath, I pulled what little strength I had left from deep within and took a couple steps toward the large house.
Greyson barked demands from behind me but all I could focus on was with each step, I was getting closer to finding Coby.
Gunshots sounded around me as security finally caught us sneaking around in the yard. My knife and pistol stayed at my back until I was ready. The next lives I would take would belong to Zane and Tina. Especially her.
“This fucking place is loaded with security,” one of Greyson’s men grumbled, shoving the end of his rifle into a security guard’s mouth. He pulled the trigger, the man’s head exploding into pieces of brain matter around him.
“That means he has to be here,” I said. “It only makes sense.”
“Go on ahead,” Grey told me. “We got your back.”
I nodded, took a deep cleansing breath and made my way up the large set of stairs leading into the front of the house.
Pushing open the double set of doors, I let out a sigh of relief at finding the hallway empty.
“Look for Zane,” Greyson demanded. “The rest of you, come with me.”
Grey’s orders gave me piece of mind so I took them as my cue and made my way down the hall. Peering into room after room, I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. It was like any other house. But I bet if the walls could talk, they would tell a tale about the souls who died here.
Once I reached the end of the hallway, I came across another door. This one led into a cold damp basement.
Looking back over my shoulder, I saw Greyson and some of his club members coming my way. I indicated for them to follow me and made my way down the stairs. When I stepped foot onto the last step, a wave of nausea took over. A putrid scent wafted into my nose forcing the tiny hairs on my body to stand on end.
Breathing past it, I walked up to the only door I saw and pushed it open.
Nothing could ever prepare me for what I saw next when I walked into that room. Coby was chained to a wall, his arms and legs spread apart like the shape of an X.
He was naked. Bloody. Beaten.
Forcing myself forward on shaky legs, I ran to him while the others continued getting rid of the security.
Gr
eyson stood guard at the door, shutting it slightly to give us some privacy.
“Coby,” I sobbed, touching him gently. But no matter where my hands grazed, his skin was purple and bruised. Bloody. Sliced up. What the hell did Tina do to him? “Coby, wake up, baby.” I kissed him on the mouth, the metallic taste of blood coating my lips.
And then I smelled her. Tina. Her scent was all over him. Her floral perfume. Her pleasure. My stomach churned, bile rising to my throat but it only drove that rage deeper inside of me.
He stirred, his one good eye fluttering open while the other remained swollen shut. “Brogan,” he groaned out. “You’re alive.”
“Shhh … don’t talk.” I tried getting the chains off him but they were wrapped around his wrists so damn tight, they dug into his skin. “I can’t get these off you.”
He struggled against them, trying to no doubt escape what was done to him.
“Coby, please stop. You’re going to hurt yourself more.” I shouted for Greyson. “I need your help.”
He came into the room, his gaze darkening when they landed on Coby’s broken form but he didn’t say anything.
Thankful for the crowbar Greyson liked to use, I watched as he tore it into the wall.
As soon as the chains broke free from the wall, Coby collapsed against me.
We fell to the ground.
“We need to get him to a hospital,” I pleaded with Grey. “And tell your guys to get out of here.”
He nodded.
“Thank you,” I whispered, holding Coby against me.
“Anything for you, Brogan.” Greyson turned on his heel, barking orders at his men to clean up as best they could and get the hell out of there.
I would take the fall first for my stepbrother before I saw him go to jail. It was the least I could do when he helped me.
Coby stirred against me.
“Shh … you’re safe. We’ll get you to a hospital.” I was strong but I wouldn’t be able to carry him on my own.
He lifted his head, his brows narrowing in the center. “You’re bloody.”
I smiled. “Yeah. It was a little harder to get to you than I would have liked.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his big body shaking.
“Don’t,” I said, my voice firm. “You’re safe. That’s all I care about. We can deal with the other shit later.”
“I love you,” he leaned his forehead against mine. “Everything I did was so I could get back to you.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, my chest aching with each breath. I couldn’t form any words at his confession. All I could do was kiss him. I cared what happened. Of course I did. I was human. Yes, I was beyond infuriated over what Tina did. She would get hers and I would be the one to watch the life leave her eyes.
Greyson stepped into the room, followed by the rest of his club. “The place is cleaned up.”
“What are they still doing here then?” I frowned. “You need to leave,” I said, looking at each of the men.
“Not going to happen,” Greyson clapped a hand on the newest member’s shoulder. “Give her your hoodie.”
The prospect who I had come to know as Twitch, did as he was told and handed me the warm fabric. It was bloody but I knew that Coby wouldn’t care.
I tied it around his waist. “You guys can’t stay. The cops will be here in no time.” They all had records and time they never did because they ran or didn’t get caught.
“We don’t care,” Greyson knelt beside us, wrapping his hand around Coby’s bicep. “This is going to hurt but we need to move him. Who knows how long it will take for the cops to show up.”
“Where is she?” I asked, helping him with lifting Coby to his feet.
“Don’t worry about her.” Greyson hooked an arm around Coby’s middle, careful not to hurt him further.
“I asked you a question.”
Coby grunted, leaning his weight on me.
I let out a heavy sigh. “Greyson, tell me where she is.”
“She’s gone all right?” Greyson snapped. “I have no idea where the fuck she is.”
He was lying. Tina couldn’t have just disappeared.
“Go find Zane,” I demanded. I needed some sort of reprieve when it came to these two. If I couldn’t get rid of Tina, I’d go after her damn brother.
“We’re looking for him,” Grey mumbled, helping me walk Coby up the stairs before heading back down into the basement to assist his men in cleaning up the mess.
As soon as Coby and I stepped onto the main floor, my eyes widened.
Tina stood a couple feet away, her gaze roaming over the bodies cluttering the floor. She looked our way, a small smile splaying on her face. “I see you found him.”
Much to my surprise, Coby pulled me closer to his side and grabbed my pistol from the back of my pants. Lifting his arm, he aimed it at her.
Tina frowned. “You going to shoot me after what I did for you?”
“You didn’t do shit for me,” Coby growled, cocking the gun.
“Aww,” Tina pouted. “But I did. I made you feel good. Better than this little whore could ever do.”
Coby shouted and pulled the trigger.
The shot rang in my ears, forcing me to stumble against him.
Tina clasped her side, blood pooling between her fingers. Her eyes were wide, bright and shining with fear. Instead of cursing him out, she headed down another hallway, disappearing from our sight.
“Fuck,” Coby lifted himself off me, his broken body wavering on his feet.
Getting him as quickly to the van as possible, I helped him into the back of the vehicle.
I cupped Coby’s cheek, kissing him gently on his split lips. “I love you, Coby. More than I can ever tell you. I will avenge you.”
His eyes fluttered open, darkening with sorrow and understanding. “Finish her, little one. Rip out her fucking soul.”
The fact that he understood where I was coming from and my need for vengeance, made me fall in love with him even more.
Coby was all alpha male but he also knew when he had to take a step back. We were equals in this relationship. Neither of us more dominant than the other. We took turns and switched roles when necessary.
I kissed him one last time before walking away. I felt Tina’s presence in the building. She may have had control of these men, but she hadn’t met me yet. And I would praise the look on her face when I held her beating heart in my hands.
Broken and defeated.
I never thought I would end up this way. Maybe I deserved it for all the shit I had done. Although it had been my job, the lives I had taken would surely haunt me for the rest of my life. Even if they were evil incarnate. But no one was like Tina. Her touch would forever be seared in my soul. Her viciousness would be burned on my skin. I hated her. Everything she was. She couldn’t be human. No person in the right mind would even consider doing what she had done. To these girls. To me.
I could still feel her claws digging into my skin. Her teeth sinking into a part of me that belonged to Brogan. I thought of my little one the whole time, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. I would spend the rest of my life, apologizing for what I had done. I had no choice if I wanted to survive.
“Coby.”
Opening my good eye, I found Greyson standing in the open doors of the van.
“Whatever happened wasn’t your fault,” he told me.
I grunted. “I should have fought harder.” I should have done something.
“These people are evil. You had to do what you could to live.”
Tears burned my eyes. Fuck. I wasn’t an emotional man but knowing what I did to get back to Brogan tore at me. “She made me do things.”
“I know,” Greyson’s voice softened. “Listen, I love Brogan. I always will. But she loves you. She doesn’t blame you.”
“How do you know that?” I tried sitting up on the blanket I was laying on but my broken body wouldn’t allow it.
“Trust me,” he ru
bbed the back of his neck. “I know when she’s pissed. She trusts you. She knows you didn’t want to do anything you did.”
“I can still feel her on me,” I muttered, my voice cracking. “I can feel her claws in my skin. Her mouth … her body.” I shook my head, gripping my hair. “I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to … let go.”
“Shit, man.” Greyson crawled into the back of the van, ordering his men to stand watch and if they saw Brogan, to let him know. He closed the doors behind him before sitting beside me. “I need to know. Did you fuck her?”
I searched his face. “I … had no choice.”
Greyson raised an eyebrow.
“I know what it sounds like. Tina told me she wouldn’t let any man fuck her except for one person. I don’t know who that is. I can only assume it’s her brother she’s talking about. But I had no fucking choice when I was strapped to that board and lying on the fucking floor for her to do whatever the hell she wanted.”
“That’s some sick shit right there.”
I nodded. “But she …” I swallowed hard, feeling vulnerable and small like a little boy.
“Did she fuck you?”
When I didn’t say anything, Greyson let out a string of curses.
But no matter how hard she tried, I never gave her my orgasm. After years of practice, I had learned to control my releases so I could focus on pleasing the women I had been with. Brogan was the only female to make me come fast and hard. All my pleasure belonged to her and her only.
I chuckled, remembering the look on Tina’s face when I told her that.
“What’s so funny?” Grey frowned.
“I told Tina she would have to kill me first before I would ever shoot my load for her. Her expression was fucking priceless.” And it earned me a knife in the side and her teeth in my dick. I let out a heavy sigh. Once I was fully healed, I needed to give Brogan all of me. Every inch. I needed her to erase this torture from my mind and replace it with her sweetness.