by Sam Crescent
Mandy had heard some awful things through Jamie’s surveillance device. Elijah wanted her back, and he was willing to do whatever it took to take her or silence her.
Either way, if he got his hands on her, there was no doubt in her mind. She wouldn’t live to tell about it again. Her life would be forfeit.
The Billionaire Bikers MC usually went in for this kind of retrieval. They had the experience, the training, and the equipment. Since the traffickers had realized their identity and tried to lure them into a trap several months ago, they had to be careful.
Their life was never meant to be public.
The club was meant to be just a rumor.
She knew it cost each of the men dearly not to do anything. They were not men born into money. Each of them had come from nothing and worked his way up in the world. It was during their time that they had seen the danger inflicted on the most vulnerable, and they worked to protect them.
Closing the file, she stared straight ahead as Lewis navigated the traffic.
“I fear our time of being a club could be coming to an end,” Lewis said.
“Why?” She gave him her full attention now. “You can’t possibly mean to break up the club.”
“We’re known by those two men, possibly more. I can’t risk it, and neither can the rest of the guys. They don’t want to put anyone else’s lives at risk.”
“This is not about you,” Mandy said.
“This is a trap.”
“For me.” Mandy couldn’t allow him to think for a second that this was his fault or that of the club.
“No. I’m not going to allow you to blame yourself. Those monsters don’t have a right to you, Mandy. They took you once and believed you were nothing but property, and you never fucking were!” He glared at her.
“They’re doing this because of me, Lewis. How can you not see that?”
“I do see that, and I know what you’re thinking. Lure them into a trap, and then we can get them or some shit like that. It’s not happening. I lost you once, and I’m not willing to put you at risk again.” He took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “You can hate me all you want. It’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”
She allowed for a few seconds of silence. “He’s not going to stop, Lewis. You know that. I know that. He’s going to keep on coming and try to find a weakness.”
“He won’t. The club is strong, Mandy. He’s not going to get to you.”
Mandy knew that Elijah’s reach was far. If he wanted to get to her, he would. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d do whatever it took to take her.
All she had to do was wait. Only this time, she wasn’t a defenseless ten-year-old girl. She was a woman, and ready to take her revenge.
They often said that revenge was a dish best served cold. Hers had been simmering for years. Long before she was freed, long before he even realized that she’d been plotting it. Mandy wanted him to come for her. She wanted him to come on her turf.
Being with Lewis, her husband, this was her place, her domain. There was no way she was going to go hunting for Elijah.
This time, he had to come to her, and when he did, he better be ready because she was going to hurt him. Once it started, she knew in her heart it was never going to stop.
Chapter Thirteen
The women and girls had been rescued. Robert had also been detained. Lewis didn’t know what he expected, but to feel … empty wasn’t it. According to Jamie, Robert hadn’t put up a fight, but he had been surprised by the fact his own force had charged into the warehouse rather than the Billionaire Bikers MC.
Lewis grabbed his stress ball and began to squeeze it. They were on a chessboard. Elijah had made the first move, and they’d made theirs. The thing was, did Elijah expect the club to have been there that night? What was his overall endgame?
Grabbing a notepad, he wrote down Elijah’s name followed by Robert. The connecting person was Mandy, so he wrote her name down in the middle.
Elijah had been the guy who had taken her.
One of the problems Lewis had faced back when he was eighteen was that he’d never gotten a good look at Elijah’s face.
No one had been able to identify him in the past, but now Mandy had been able to. Elijah hadn’t gotten to be at the top of his game by being stupid. He was a man used to dodging security and getting through. The bastard was an expert at not being detected.
There was no mistaking that he wanted Mandy.
How was he going to get her?
His apartment was always heavily protected.
The college campus was a dangerous place.
The club?
He tapped his finger, waiting for whatever clarity he could find, but there wasn’t any.
“Hello, sir,” Cameron said.
Lewis looked up to see his PA standing in the entrance.
“Cameron, what is it?” he asked.
“The babysitter just called. My son is really sick. I need to go and get him.”
“Yes. Of course. There’s nothing left for today, is there?” he asked, standing up.
“No. Everything is done. Thank you, Lewis.”
He watched as Cameron left, and then moved back toward his desk, finishing the day’s work. He hated working late, as most of his nights were spent with Mandy. She would be at home, waiting for some concoction or another. Considering she couldn’t cook a thing, each evening was more interesting than the last. He advised her to use a book once, and she had told him that she only ever used cookbooks. She clearly couldn’t follow them all that well. He’d never known mashed potatoes could be so damn lumpy or hard.
She was trying, though.
After he finished, he made his way down toward his car, taking the elevator. For some reason, his mind returned to the three names he’d written down in the notebook.
Elijah wanted Mandy.
Robert had been a test.
The only person keeping Elijah away from Mandy was … him.
The elevator doors pinged open.
He stared into Elijah’s eyes, knowing that he’d fucked up. No one was around as it was so late. He was by himself, and while they had been focused on getting Robert off the women they’d taken, Elijah had found a way to get to him.
The gun was pointed at him.
“I always win, Lewis. Don’t worry, I intend to keep her alive for some time.” The gunshot rang out. Pain was instant as it rushed over Lewis. He slammed back against the wall of the elevator. Another gunshot rang out, and his abdomen was covered in blood. Elijah stepped into the elevator and pressed his hands against each of the wounds. “I’ll give her something to send your regards.” His hands were smeared with blood.
The pain had made him a little dizzy, especially since Elijah had pressed his hands against the wounds. Burning fire erupted inside him, making him sick.
Lewis dropped to the floor and tried to grab his case. Elijah’s boot pressed against his neck, cutting off his air. “You know, I thought this was going to be harder, and then it dawned on me. The thing about rich boys is they really believe they’re untouchable. You got sloppy, Lewis. Kind of disappointing. I was hoping to use you, you know. To show her that you had no power. Also, to show her that no matter what you won’t be coming after her.” Elijah pulled out his apartment key. Lewis tried to stop him, but he couldn’t. He was weak, and the pain consumed him.
Finally, Elijah released his boot from around his neck. Lewis tried to crawl out of the elevator as he watched the man leave. Already Elijah was in the car, and he knew where the bastard was heading.
Lewis grabbed his cell phone, hands shaking. Mandy needed him. The pain along with the blood loss was making him feel lightheaded.
Finding Jamie’s number, he dialed.
“So what do—”
“Get to Mandy now … he’s on his way. Been shot!”
“Lewis?”
He didn’t wait to say anything else. Lewis didn’t know how much time he had, so he pressed the nu
mber to call home.
“Hello,” Mandy said.
Tears sprang to his eyes. She sounded so cheerful.
“He’s coming.”
There wasn’t time for him to say anything else. Spots appeared before his eyes, and Lewis tried to fight it, but it was too late. He slumped forward.
His last thought was of Mandy and her beautiful smile.
****
Taking Lewis by surprise made Elijah smile. What he also liked was knowing no one was going to stop him. Robert had been taken, and that had screwed with his plans. He’d been watching each of the men suspected of being part of the Billionaire Bikers MC for months. He thought he knew how they’d react, and yet they hadn’t stormed the building. The girl was the perfect touch. She’d reminded him a little of Mandy, only this girl had cried a lot more.
Parking in the underground parking of the luxury building, anticipation filled him. He was finally going to get his little toy back.
He missed Mandy. Part of him just wanted to kill her and be done with it. The biggest problem would be that he’d no longer have anyone to play with, to break, and he liked breaking things, if only to smash them down once again and rebuild them.
The last time, he’d gone lightly on Mandy. He should have listened to his trainer who warned him that Mandy wasn’t what he thought she was. That trainer had followed many people who had outlived their usefulness. In his world, Elijah was king, and no one was getting in his way or telling him what he could and couldn’t do.
He’d do whatever the hell he wanted, and anyone who dared question him would find out exactly what happened to those that went against him. Just like Mandy in time would find out. She would only be useful for so long.
Climbing out of his parked car, he headed inside the main building.
“Sir, can I see some identification?” the guard at the main desk asked.
“Sure.” He pulled out his identification and waited for the security camera to move out of his line of sight. Pulling his gun, he shot three bullets into the man’s face. The man fell and Elijah moved past the camera, staying out of sight as he headed toward the elevator, and pressed the button for the floor he’d need. The key in his hand would get him what he wanted.
Staring at his reflection, he made sure his hair was neat, and rubbed out any crease in his jacket that he might find. Once he had Mandy, he’d have her out of the country and wouldn’t have to deal with any more of this shit. It was a lot easier to hide in a foreign country than it was here. It was one of the reasons he’d stayed away from the States so much.
The elevator doors opened and he walked to the end of the hall. Mandy didn’t deserve this. She would serve him, and if she was lucky, he’d even let her eat. The bitch had put on way too much weight for his liking.
Pushing the key into the slot, he twisted, and the door opened.
As he entered the apartment, it was incredibly silent. Even the television wasn’t playing. This wasn’t what he was expecting, and he tensed. Entering the room, he moved a little further, and as he stepped around a corner, pain exploded through his shoulder.
He cried out and turned as Mandy took the blade out of his back.
“Wasn’t expecting that?”
She drove the blade of a kitchen knife back down, slicing his arm.
Elijah cried out and shoved her back. The blade was still embedded in his arm, and he pulled it out, knowing he was going to need a shitload of stitches.
Mandy didn’t stay on the ground like he expected her to. She was on her feet. A glass bowl was broken on the floor, and she held a shard of glass.
Blood oozed from her fist, and she glared at him.
The fire inside her shocked him.
She had always taken everything he had given her. There had been howls of pain as he delivered one beating after another.
“What’s the matter, Elijah, too shocked to see a woman fight for her life?” she asked. “Does it hurt?”
He held the knife out, and she didn’t even flinch. She was breathing heavily.
“I shot your man,” he said.
There wasn’t even a flicker. He needed to distract her to reach for his gun. The glass she held would do a shitload of damage, and he didn’t have time to get his gun before she’d react.
“You’re going to die tonight,” she said. “I always knew that if we met again, one of us would die. It’s not going to be me.”
He didn’t like her confidence.
Elijah intended to break her once more.
“You know, I’ve been doing a lot of reading of late. A lot of soul-searching. I thought you were this big monster. That you had all the power, and that wasn’t the truth. You have no power. Not over me, not over anyone. You prey on women because you’re a coward. There is no power with you. The only power you have is what I give you. You’re weak. You’re pathetic. You mean nothing!”
Elijah had heard enough.
Rushing toward her, he expected her to cower. Mandy did not, and he did not stop. He reached in his jacket for the gun. The moment he got to her, she plunged the shard of glass into his neck.
****
Mandy released the glass, and Elijah fell to the floor. She stared at his dead body. Her heart was racing, and she didn’t have time to freak out. After Lewis had warned her, Jamie had told her what happened. Several of the club were on their way. All she had to do was hide and she’d be safe. She was tired of hiding from a monster that wouldn’t leave her alone. Grabbing the knife, she had stood and waited.
Lewis wasn’t coming home, so she had known it would be Elijah. Everyone else in the Billionaire Bikers MC would have called her name, or at least put out a warning.
Seeing Elijah’s back, she hadn’t even hesitated. All she had thought about was killing the bastard.
Plunging the knife into him had filled her with relief. She wasn’t going to let him hurt her, not again.
Elijah slumped to the ground, dead, lifeless.
The door to the apartment burst open, and she looked up to see Blake.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“Jamie just called. They’ve got him to the hospital. He’s in surgery, Mandy, but it’s bad.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she rushed over Elijah’s body without another glance. Lewis had always told her that the club could clean up anything, and she had no doubt they would deal with this man’s body.
It was over. At least it was over for her, but there were so many women they had yet to save. Lewis couldn’t die. They had a life they had planned together.
No one said a word on the way to the hospital. Entering the main reception, she saw Jamie standing there, waiting.
Rushing toward him, she wiped the tears away, hoping that she could handle whatever was about to be said.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“He’s in surgery right now. He’s lost a lot of blood. Right now, he’s in the best possible hands he can be.”
She nodded and looked around at the hospital.
“Take a seat, Mandy.”
She followed his instruction, having the club around her as they waited to see what happened to one of their own. Mandy was so scared.
The weight of the wedding band rested on her finger. She didn’t know what she’d do if Lewis died. What point would there be for her to live?
No one spoke, and after what felt like hours ticked by, the doctor came out.
“We have removed the bullets and sealed up the wounds. He’s lost a lot of blood and we’ve given him a blood transfusion. All we can do now is wait.”
“Can I see him?” she asked.
His words went on, and they made no sense.
“This is his wife,” Jamie said.
“Then only two people can go. He’s not awake at the moment. All you can do is watch him.”
“That’s all I want. It’s what he’d do for me.”
Jamie followed behind her as they walked past the doors, entering the ICU. She ignored the sounds of b
eeping as they went to the furthest room in the hospital, or so it felt.
The doctor opened the door, and Mandy entered. Lewis was hooked up to several tubes, and she held in her sobs. It wouldn’t do to break down. Not now. He needed her to be strong. Grabbing a chair, she moved it up to the side of the bed and sat down, taking his hand. All she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms, but she held back, waiting.
Her heart pounded as she stared at him.
Even when he must have been in agony and dying, he’d called her to warn her.
“You really do love him, don’t you?” Jamie asked.
She glanced back to see he was still there. “Always. It has always been Lewis. I would gladly die for him, and I know he would do the same for me. I hope he wakes up and knows that our threat is gone.”
“There will always be monsters to chase.”
“Yes, but now he can be free in knowing that we’re all safe. Elijah’s gone. Robert’s gone. Lewis is my hero. He’s going to wake up, and he’s going to get through this. We’re going to buy that house he always wanted, and we’re going to fill it with children. That was his wish. His dream, and he told me about it. At first, I thought I didn’t deserve to be so happy, but I do, and so does Lewis. I just want to give him the world.”
Jamie moved up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder as she cried. They were silent tears so she didn’t wake up Lewis. She had to let him rest, even if it killed her.
She released another breath, trying to get herself under control.
“He’ll live,” Jamie said. “He has to make sure you survived.”
Mandy squeezed Lewis’s hand, praying to anyone that would listen that Lewis deserved to live. He had to live.
He was a hero, and they had to outlive the villain and see the difference they had made.
She wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he.
They were a team.
Even when the doctor tried to tell her visiting hours were over, Jamie offered a donation that kept her there. She stayed out of the nurses’ way as they checked over her husband.