by Marla Monroe
Chapter Twelve
Merrick rocked her in his arms, his heart breaking for her. She blamed herself for the kid’s death. He knew she did. None of it was her fault though. Telling her right then wasn’t going to do any good. Cassius shook his head and met his gaze with an equally worried one. She would make herself sick if she continued to believe that she was at fault. They’d have to make sure she didn’t do that, but for now, they had to get the rest of the story and head to Roswell.
“Shh, kitten. Stop crying now,” he crooned to her.
“I–I’m sorry,” she said for the hundredth time.
“Stop saying that. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Cassius said, handing her a Diet Coke he’d gotten someone to bring from the kitchen.
“I n–need to finish. We’ve got to get to Roswell and get the evidence so we can stop him,” she said with a hiccup.
“Drink it all and take some deep breaths to calm down,” Merrick told her.
She took another sip then slowly regained her composure. He hated seeing her like this. She’d been through so much.
“They dragged me away from him, laughing at how upset I was. They tore my clothes off of me and poked and prodded, fighting over what to do with me. Evidently there were two buyers when it came to the sex trade. One paid better than the other but would only take specific types. I didn’t quite fit that type, but some of them wanted to take me anyway and see if he’d take me. They argued that even if he didn’t pay top dollar, it would be better than what they’d get from the other buyer. I finally figured out that if they saved me for the elite buyer, they couldn’t rape me or give me any bruises. The elite buyer’s guys won and I was put in a separate hut where there were four very young women who all had fair skin and lighter hair. The others in the main hut were much darker than these girls. These women were also virgins.”
Merrick wasn’t surprised. Virgins were usually sent overseas to the Arab nations, but with them being darker skinned, it was more likely they would be sold in Mexico or maybe even The United States.
“The next morning, the Mexican slavers showed up and two of the men went with that group leaving five with the rest of us. About two hours later, three of the five men rounded up the ones to be sold to the first slaver and headed out. That left two men guarding me and the four other women. I managed to sneak out of the hut when they were taking turns catching naps that afternoon. I grabbed my camera and a pack. I stuffed everything in it that I could find that we might need and started planning a way to get us out of there.” She paused and took another drink of the Diet Coke.
Merrick looked at Cassius, but his brother shook his head. He was right. It was best not to interrupt her. She needed to tell it her way. They could ask more questions later.
“When they changed out and the other one went to take a nap, I figured it would have to be soon. Once the other one woke up, there would be two of them to deal with and I knew I couldn’t take out two of them. About an hour later, the one guarding us had to pee and walked off a little ways closer to the edge of the clearing. While his back was turned, I snuck out of the hut and picked up a rock I’d been looking at on the ground near where he’d been sitting and snuck up on him from behind. I almost lost my nerve but remembered how he’d laughed as his friend killed Erik and brought the rock down on the back of his head as hard as I could. He never made a sound, just dropped to the ground right there.”
River drew in a deep breath, staring straight ahead as if seeing it all again as she talked. She told them how she’d quickly gone through his pockets and taken a knife strapped to his leg and the gun he’d been carrying. Then she hurried back to the hut and herded the women out and into the jungle. The young women had known where to go and what to do. They led her to a village several hours away. Several of the men from the village escorted her back to Manaus where she had to cut her hair to retrieve the evidence and even it out to look decent enough to get on a plane.
Merrick still couldn’t believe that she’d managed to get away. They’d very nearly lost her before they’d even found her. He and Cassius exchanged looks once again. His brother was thinking the same thing he was sure.
Not long after she’d made it to Manaus, men showed up looking for her. She’d had to hitch a ride on a cargo plane headed out then changed planes again to get to Albuquerque. She had several close calls there, actually getting caught by a couple of Americans who held her at gunpoint while they escorted her out of the airport to a waiting car. She managed to get away from them again when a taxi cut them off in traffic. She jumped out of the car and ran, still carrying he backpack. Now, though, she was afraid to try the airport again.
River told them that she’d bought bus tickets and zigzagged across the state, trying to lose them so she could go home, but they always turned up. Finally she got to Roswell without seeing them anywhere. She rented a safe deposit box and stashed her evidence there and then hid the key at a park there. She felt as if she’d lost them for good and risked trying to rent a car to head home. When she left the cheap hotel room she’d rented to take a taxi to the car rental place, they grabbed her again and weren’t taking any chances. This time they knocked her out and she woke up in hell.
Merrick wanted to curse and beat the hell out of someone, but didn’t have that option. He would have to save it all up for when they found the asshole who was after her now. They still didn’t know how her uncle figured back into the mess, but he was sure the bastard did. She wouldn’t have shared all of it if he didn’t.
“River, are the card and drive still at the bank there in Roswell?” Cassius asked.
“Yes. I didn’t tell them anything. It’s still there and we’ve got to go get it so we can stop him,” she said.
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. It’s late. We need to get on the road and then get a hotel room when we get there. We’ll hit the park early so we can get to the bank right as they open,” Merrick said. “Cassius, find out when the bank opens and get the directions for the park,” Merrick said.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, kitten. We’ve got a long ride ahead of us.” Merrick helped her off the bed and escorted her to the bathroom.
He heard Cassius talking to someone before he closed the door and peeled River’s clothes off of her. By the time he had her clean and dried off, Cassius had brought clothes for her to put on.
“I’ll pack a bag for us all and check the bikes while you get her ready. I talked to Dom. He’s sending Butch and Walker with us to watch our back,” Cassius told him.
“Good. I have a feeling this is going to go way over our heads, man.”
“Turk is all over it. Dom said he’s digging and will have names for us to use if we need help.”
Merrick nodded and Cassius closed the door after slipping out. He knew his brother would make sure they had everything they needed, including weapons in case things got out of hand.
“How are you feeling, kitten?” he asked.
“Better. I’m s—” she started.
“What did I tell you? Don’t say it again. You have nothing to be sorry about. Now sit down so I can get these socks on your feet.” Merrick hated that he sounded gruff with her, but she sounded so defeated and that wasn’t her. Their River was a force to be wary of.
She closed her mouth and sat down. As soon as he had her socks and the boots on, he pulled her to her feet and kissed her hard on the mouth. She looked confused, but didn’t say anything. Neither did he. They had too much to do right now to get into the personal shit. That would have to wait.
“Ready?” he asked when Cassius walked out of the bedroom carrying three packs.
“Ready. Got rooms reserved already and directions to Pioneer Bank, the Spring River Park and Zoo, and a couple of food joints close to the hotel. Reece notified our brothers in the area that we might need some backup. They’re all circling the area and hunkering down in case we call.”
Merrick nodded and led the way down the hall. When they entered the ki
tchen, Raven and Jessie walked over to pull River into their arms. He stepped over to where Dom, Reece, and Walker were standing. He couldn’t hear what the women were telling River, but was glad they were there.
“Watch your asses, Merrick. You need help, call for it. That’s why we have charters and that’s what The Ghost Riders is all about, watching out for each other,” Dom said.
“And when you get back, you need to decide where you want to build your house so we can get started on it,” Reece chuckled.
“We’re going to buy the property from the club,” Merrick told them. He held up his hand when Dom started to argue. “We can well afford to, and the money will go in the pot for the ones who will need it to build. We can write the deed out so that it can never be sold outside of the club.”
Dom nodded his head in agreement. “Sounds good.”
“We need to get going, man,” Walker said. “Isn’t good to be on the road after dark with unknowns on your ass.”
Merrick and Cassius walked over and extracted River from the two women. She looked much better than she had. He nodded at Raven and mouthed thanks over River’s head. Raven just smiled.
“We packed some food in case you get hungry on the way and need to stop. Drinks are already in Walker’s saddlebag,” Jessie told them.
“Thanks ladies. See you soon,” Merrick said, and the four of them walked toward the door. Butch was already outside waiting with the bikes.
They had a long ride ahead of them and River wasn’t fully healed and hadn’t been on a bike in years. She was going to be stiff and sore when they finally got to the hotel later that night. Cassius nodded at him.
“I packed the liniment and bath salts. We’ll let her soak a while then rub her down good. If that doesn’t work, I’ll let my tongue do the walking and relax her so that she falls asleep. Then we can make plans on how it’s all going to go down.”
Merrick nodded as River walked over to get her helmet. Once she’d finished telling them the rest of the story, they’d know what they were up against and could make plans to end the bounty on her head once and for all. They’d make their plans once she’d gone to sleep. She didn’t need to know just how ruthless they could be when necessary. And it was necessary.
Chapter Thirteen
The ride to Roswell didn’t take quite as long as River had feared it would. Then again, the guys were driving not her. She was sure they’d broken a few speed limits on the ride there. As soon as they were settled in the room, they ordered pizzas and Walker and Cassius went for beer and sodas.
“After we eat you can soak in the tub for a while. Then Cassius and I will rub you down with some liniment that works really well on sore muscles. You’ll feel better in the morning,” Merrick told her.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. He hadn’t stopped touching her since she’d finished telling them over the radio on the helmet. She’d just ignored the fact that Butch and Walker could hear her. They’d kept silent the entire time, giving her the courage to get it all out. Now that it was all out in the open, River felt better, less guilty even though she knew in her heart she still was.
“That sounds heavenly. Thanks.”
“Come on, off with the boots. Get comfortable, kitten.” Merrick knelt on the floor at the foot of the bed to unlace and pull off her riding boots. She sighed and before he could stand up again, she pulled him to her for a kiss.
“Mmmm, what was that for?” he asked with a smile.
“Just because,” she said, not meeting his gaze.
He tilted her chin up. “Because what?”
“Because you’ve been so good to me despite everything I’ve dumped on you and Cassius and the gang.
“You don’t owe any of us anything, River. Remember that,” he said in a harsh voice.
“I know, but I wanted to make sure you knew how much I appreciate that you care. No one ever has before. My parents were always so self-absorbed with their jobs. Always worried about getting tenure then keeping it. I think that another reason I never said anything to them about my uncle was because I was afraid they either wouldn’t believe me or wouldn’t care,” she admitted.
“Aw, honey. Cassius and I care more than you will ever be able to understand. The gang all cares about you. You’re family here with us. Do you understand?”
She could see that he was trying to tell her something, but wasn’t ready to go there yet. She licked her lips and stood up.
“I know. Thanks. I’m starved. Hope the pizza gets here soon.” She slipped from between him and the bed to wash her hands, relieved when Merrick let it go.
Ten minutes later, Butch and Cassius returned with the drinks. They were divided between the two rooms. Then a few minutes later the pizza arrived and they all settled down in their room to eat. The men talked about normal bike and shop stuff while she turned over what all she’d told them in her head, making sure she hadn’t left out anything that might be important.
She’d figured out once she’d woken up that they’d put a tracker on her backpack when they’d first caught her at the airport. The only reason she’d had some relief from them while she’d been in Roswell so that she was able to hide the card and memory stick was because they’d ended up caught in traffic after a massive pileup on the interstate. When she’d woken up in a cage, River had been confused. Then she remembered what all had happened and realized that she’d ended up exactly where she’d been headed before she’d escaped the first time. At least the four other women had escaped her fate.
She hadn’t thought her day could get any worse until two men came and dragged her out of the cage to be interviewed by their boss. She’d been stripped once more and stood with her hands tied behind her back, totally naked, while they waited for the head honcho to make an appearance. The men who’d grabbed her threw her backpack on the floor at her feet.
The sound of a door scraping on concrete sent chills down her spine even as she began to tremble. She refused to look up when the man entered the room. But the moment she heard his voice as he talked to the men who’d brought her there, River had known her worst nightmares had become real. She jerked her head up to stare into the eyes of her uncle. His surprise had been priceless. For a brief moment, he’d paled with the knowledge that his brother’s daughter was standing naked in front of him. How would he get out of it this time? Then he just smiled and her death showed in his eyes.
He bent down and picked up her backpack and emptied it on the ground at her feet. Her camera had fallen out among the mess. He’d frozen then bent and picked it up, checking it for the memory card. Of course it wasn’t there. He threw it across the room, demanding to know where she’d hidden the card and what was on it. And that had started her hours and endless days of beatings to find out where it was.
She realized she’d dropped her pizza back on the paper plate and looked up to make sure no one had noticed. She quickly picked it up and finished it off. She couldn’t eat the other one. Her stomach was in too much of an uproar right then.
“If one of you wants this, have at it. I’m full. I think I’ll go soak for a while. My ass and thighs are still vibrating,” she joked.
“I’ll run the water for you, sweetness,” Cassius said and followed her to the bathroom.
She smiled when he closed the door and pulled her into his arms. When he started to kiss her, she scrunched her head away to one side and laughed.
“Oh, no, you don’t. We both need to brush our teeth, lover boy.”
“Then I get a compensation prize instead,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes. “And what would that be?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll start your water while you get undressed. Then I get a taste of those delicious nipples of yours to tide me over.”
She burst out laughing. He was definitely a breast man. He never seemed to pass up the opportunity to lick or touch her there. She didn’t mind at all though. She pretended to think about it then finally nodded.
“Tha
t’s acceptable.” She started pulling off her top while he turned on the water in the tub. She watched as he added something to the water.
“What’s that?”
“Bath salts. Not the sweet-smelling stuff we got you back home, but some stuff that will help you feel better after soaking in it,” he assured her.
River finished undressing, letting him take her socks off since bending that far still hurt a little.
“Mmm, my turn, sweetness,” he said with a wide smile.
She moaned when his mouth closed over a nipple. He licked it several times before sucking on it like an all-day sucker. He moved to the other one and treated it to the same attention before reluctantly leaving them to help her get into the tub.
“Just relax and soak until we come back and get you out. If you need anything, just holler. We’ll hear you,” he said.
River sank down in the warm water and inhaled the slightly minty scent that rose off the water. It was soothing as well as stimulating to her muscles. She could take a nap if she lay here too long. She smiled. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.
* * * *
“She’s in the tub. We can talk now while she’s out of earshot,” Cassius said.
“What are we going to do?” Walker asked?
“I want to go take that fucker down and rip his balls off,” Merrick said softly.