by Blood,Joy
"I have no doubt about that baby. I have no doubt you could beat him to a bloody pulp but I won't let you kill him. You won't survive that. Your heart is too soft." I scoff at him.
"My heart is too soft? Really? Was it soft when he held me down and forced himself inside me for the first time as a punishment? Was it soft when he chained me to a bed in the house he bought for me and used me night after night to get off? Was it fucking soft when he pulled out a gun and blew a hole in my best friend's fucking skull? Tell me, Vin, how the fuck could my heart be soft because that shit is only the tip of the iceberg. Just a little fraction of what happened while he held me captive!" I yell out causing my throat to burn. He only looks at me stunned backing away as if I slapped him. We stand there in silence. The tension in the room thick. Neither of us wanting to speak. "Look I know he did something to you but he did something to me too," I say speaking first in a quieter tone this time.
"Not fucking going to be okay with it Ellie." He tells me and before I can retort he turns and walks out the door slamming it behind him.
Walking out of the common room I start down a hall I haven't been down yet. I have been looking all over for Vin after our fight earlier. Maybe he will be there. This place really is amazing with its twists and turns on all the floors. Compound is truly the right name for it. I get to a spot where there is a wall dedicated to mugshots. All of the guys are up there some even twice. Some of them from years ago. I giggle a little when I see Gin's shot from when he was probably twenty or so. The porn star mustache really doesn't look good on his face.
"I'm going in tonight. Prick won't be expecting it." I hear Vin speak through a door opposite where I stand. He still sounds pissed. It's left open a crack, so I go over to it, remembering the last time I made the mistake of looking through a cracked door. I shudder. Maybe, this time, I will just listen.
"What about Ellie?" Fuzz asks. I hear a shuffle then Vin speak.
"You don't get to concern yourself with her no more. You got that? Tuck." Vin growls out. Putting emphasis on the name he told me I could use.
"I got it, man." Fuzz tries to speak sounding garbled. Vin must be choking him.
"Put him down Vin. Don't go killing my men over pussy." Gin says. I hear a grunt then he continues. "Besides you are going to need the manpower to get the fucker." Avil, they are talking about Avil. Without even thinking, I push through the door.
"I'm ready. I want to go." I state to the room with three of the most intimidating men I have ever seen. They all stand to their full height when I burst through the door but I stand my ground. I have come too far to cower. "I want to go. This is my fight too and you fucking know it." I look directly at Vin when I say this.
"Little girl you don't go busting into people's fucking rooms and start demanding things." Gin says and starts stalking toward me. When he gets close enough to touch me he takes a swing at my face. Reflex kicks in and I dodge the hit grabbing onto his big arm and pulling it behind his back twisting it as I do so. Out of the corner of my eye I see Vin come after Gin but Fuzz holds him back saying something I can't hear.
"Fucking hell bitch." He curses in pain. "I give, I give." I let his arm go and he faces me once again with a smile on his face. "You bring that shit with you tonight and you can go." These guys and their tests.
"The fuck she is!" Vin shouts.
"This isn't up to you V. She is one of ours now and if she has a score to settle she will be settling it. With our help. That cool with you?" he directs his question to me. I nod in response then look at Vin. His jaw is clenched obviously mad.
"I can do this Vin. He needs to pay and I want to be there when that happens. I'm not going to stand by anymore. I'm going to fight." I tell him as calmly as I can. He doesn't say a word just punches the door on his way out earning a yell from Gin.
"We leave in one hour babe. Be ready. Now get the fuck out my office and don't ever burst into here again like that or I will fucking hit you. Won't be a fucking test next time." He says slamming the door behind me.
I don't see Vin when I get back to my room. Maybe he just needs time to cool off. I get ready, wearing all black clothes, something I can move in and is tight on my body. Something that won't get caught on things. Checking my gun and filling my magazines I put on the vest Fuzz gave me days ago. Filling it up with full clips and putting my gun in the holster on my hip. I look like I'm going to war. Maybe I am. Knowing Avil he will have an army at the gate.
Going out front to meet the guys on their bikes I still don't see Vin. It's making me uneasy. Did he go already?
"You can ride with me, babe." Gin says when he sees I'm looking for Vin. I start to walk over to him.
"She will fucking not asshole." Vin barks out coming from the shadows. "My bike Ellie." He says not even looking at me walking over to a bike at the very end of the row. It's completely black but has red stitching on the seat. He throws his leg over the side than without a word I slide on behind him. I can feel the tension rolling off of him in waves. He is pissed. He doest want me going. I don't know if it is because he thinks I can't handle myself or if he doesn't want me in harm's way. But really it isn't his decision. I might not be a member of this club but they have opened their doors to me. Family. Fuzz said we were family and they back up their own. That is what I am now and they are backing me up.
We take off after Gin speaks a few choice words about being safe and where we are to meet up when shit goes down or if the plan happens to go south.
Vin's back is stiff when I wrap my arms around him but I push away the pang of hurt it gives me. Instead, I focus on what is going to happen. Tonight is Avil's last night. He takes his last breath and I fight.
Eighteen
We pull up to the randevu spot and dismount. More guns are being pulled out of others saddlebags but I only have one. Mine. The one I will kill Avil with. We are taking to foot. It's a quarter of a mile up the road. The home we shared together. I know this place like the back of my hand. I may not have lived here for very long but it was once my home. I try to take point but Gin holds me back getting a nod of approval from Vin who in turn takes point leading us all to the large house.
There are guards in multiple areas spread out along the property. Our men fan out and dispose of them one by one until we have all reached our destination. "All clear." Comes across the ear buds placed in all of our ears. Being ex-military these men are something else all moving as one unit. Our entrance is a window on the east side of the house. The window right below the room I was kept in for so long. I'm with Vin and Gin. Fuzz has another team on the opposite side of the building.
"I'm going in first this time. I know where everything in this house is." I make my argument. Reluctantly Gin agrees, Vin is still quiet not saying a word to me since our argument earlier. I don't pay it any mind right now there are more pressing matters at stake.
They hoist me up to the window so I can try to open it. It's unlocked and slides opens easily. To easily. It unnerves me. It's not like Avil to be so careless. "He knows we are coming," I whisper to myself. Too late. Too fucking late. An explosion on the west side of the house makes me lose my balance and I fall through the open window smacking my head on the table. Graceful. I get back up and look out the window. "Go and check on them," I say not listening to the curses coming from outside the window. I walk through the room I'm in. It's the den. A room where I came and curled up with a book and a blanket before things went to shit. Vin and Gin keep scolding me in my ear-piece so I take it out stuffing it in my pocket.
I get to the arched walk through and stop to calm myself for a moment. I need to get my head on straight before facing Avil. Taking a deep breath I walk to the stairs drawing my gun in case I encounter anyone of his men along the way.
He has to know we were coming because the further I get into the house the more this feels like a trap. I don't come across anyone on my way to the room that I once shared with the devil himself. Opening it up a crack I keep my gun trained in front of
me and shoulder my way through the door. Then, there he is, standing in front of a window opposite myself. Just standing there like this is any other night and he isn't about to die. I raise my gun up a little higher, aiming it straight at the back of his head.
"Turn around Avil," I tell him trying to hide my shaky voice. He lets out a small chuckle, one I know all too well.
"You have grown a backbone I see baby girl." The name as it always does sends a cold shiver throughout my body. I push it away. He no longer has control. He no longer has control. I repeat over and over. He still doesn't turn around and face me so I tell him again.
"Turn around, I want to see your face when you die." He laughs even harder turning so I can see the face I once thought I loved. A face that turned into pure evil in the blink of an eye.
"You know better than to use that tone voice with me, Ellie." He scowls at me now as he starts to take slow steps toward me. "Been spending time with big bad bikers." Step. Step. I'm faltering now. I can't seem to pull the trigger and end this. I'm frozen and I start to I realize why Vin didn't want me to come tonight. He knew I would choke. "Little bitch is fucking dirty bikers." I can feel him getting closer with each step. The air is thick and it's getting harder to breathe. "Or maybe it's a certain someone. A scarred someone." This completely throws me off. "That mangled face of his turn you on baby girl?"
"Who is he to you?" I ask trying to hold my stance.
"Oh he hasn't told you about her has he." It's not a question. "Never told you about his wife?" wife. "She was mine but he took her away. Sound familiar? My Makayla. She was meant to be mine. My wife not his." His voice is darkening and he keeps getting closer and closer. "Put the fucking gun down baby girl. You aren't going to kill me." He says cockily. I pull my hammer back and shoot the floor in front of him. Missing his feet by inches. He stops and gives me a grin. "Shouldn't have done that baby girl." He tisks then lunges at me effectively knocking my gun from my hands tackling me to the ground. I twist and elbow him in the face, making him yell out a curse, slamming his fist into my stomach. I gasp from getting the wind knocked out of me trying to suck in air once again.
"You can't beat me, Ellie." He sneers pinning me to the ground. His legs pressing their weight down onto mine and his hands grab my wrists holding them above my head. "Did he fuck you, Ellie? Did he make you come like I can?" he spits in my face with menace. I buck and squirm as hard as I can to get him off of me but I don't get anywhere. I need to calm and wait for my chance. "It would be so easy. So easy to slip between your thighs once again wouldn't it?" I spit in his face.
"Fuck you Avil. You will never have me again. Never. I'm not that meek girl I used to be. I'm stronger now. You can't fucking hurt me." He takes one of his fists and punches my temple hard. Dizziness surrounds me but I cling to reality. "You can't take any more from me," I say in the strongest voice I can muster. He just laughs.
"You don't think so, do you? What did those doctors and nurses tell you? What did they say about our baby boy?" cold so cold. My head instantly clears and my eyes widen. "Got your attention now, don't I? You will never know I guess baby girl. He is mine and because you had to go and be a little whore you will never see our baby boy. Not even once. He will grow up knowing his mother was a whore and died a whore who didn't want him." I roar with anger and out of nowhere I take my arms from under his weight bringing my elbow to slam on the side of his cheek. He rolls to the side and I advance on him. Spotting my gun only inches away I pick it up and aim it right at his head.
"Tell me where he is Avil you piece of shit. Fucking tell me!" I yell out. More laughter comes from him, booming laughter like he is actually enjoying the exchange. He moves quickly charging toward me grabbing my wrist that holds my gun. Gritting my teeth I pull the hammer back and put the barrel under his chin fighting against his strength to keep it there. "Fucking tell me before I put a bullet in your head. You owe me Avil." I say between clenched teeth.
"No." He says then brings his head forward slamming it into mine sending my body backward then the gun goes off. Pain radiates through my head and my ears are ringing. I fall to the ground my limbs now weighing a ton. My vision gets darker and darker. Avil is the last person I see before my world goes black.
Nineteen
Vin
She wouldn't fucking listen. Stubborn girl. She has gotten braver but deep down I know when she comes face to face with the man she will freeze. "You shouldn't have let her come," I growl at Gin as we round the front of the fricken mansion the bastard calls home. She once called home. Fucking hell.
"Too late now. She can hold her own. Have some faith." Faith. That isn't a word in my vocabulary. Neither is hope. A gunshot sounding from inside goes off, dread crawling up my spine.
"You go check on the men. I'm going in after her." I tell him and go through the front door before he can disagree. I hear another shot ring out. Fuck. This makes me quicken my pace even more up the stairs. Rich pricks and their grand staircases.
I find a door open a crack and slowly push it open my body freezing when I find what is on the floor. Blood. Blood everywhere and an empty room. The window is open and I can only conclude that he has taken her once again. Running to the window I think I see a glimpse of someone in the shadows retreating before the very room I'm in starts to up in flames. I jump out the window landing hard on my bad leg. But I pay it no mind. I need to get to her.
I start running in the direction I saw the shadows going but I'm stopped by gunfire coming from that very direction. Fuck! Three men start advancing on me right before I'm joined by Gin and Fuzz. Together we have a shootout. It's fucking dark and the sparks from the guns firing look like some kind of firework show. Fuzz takes out the one on the far left and I go for the one in the middle leaving the last for Gin. He takes his time like it is some kind of sick pleasure to torture the man with bullet holes. I'm surprised when he hits the guy's hand effectively knocking the gun away. In the pitch black of night, I was barely able to take out the fucker I shot at. Gin must have night vision. With the man's gun taken out, Gin walks forward taking a shot at a time until he is empty then reaches into his back pocket and puts in another clip. Hitting they guy one more time before his is standing right above him. "Take out my men motherfucker!" he shoots him again. I shocked to see the asshole is still breathing, I don't miss the yells of agony that come from his mouth.
Gin reaches up once more to fire another shot but I stop him. "Wait," I tell him. "Where the fuck would he have taken her you prick?" I yell and step down on one of the many gunshot wounds littering his body. He screams like a little bitch but must still have his balls because he spits at my boot.
"You won't get the bitch back. He took her home." No. Fuck no. There is only one place that could be and there is no way I will be able to get passed the shit storm that is the Cantrell's. Pissed I take my gun aiming it at his head and pull the trigger sending the asshole to hell.
"Where's home?" Gin asks me.
"Fucking Chicago," I tell him turning to walk back to our bikes. "She's gone." I fucking failed her.
"The fuck asshole!" I hear Fuzz yell before he shoves me forward. "That is your fucking girl. She ain't fucking gone! You don't want her, I'm going after her!" he yells as I turn and face him. I'm really getting sick of him trying to claim my fucking woman. I swing connecting with his face.
"You don't fuck understand. They own Chicago! It's going to take more than just the three of us to get through that shit storm." He staggers back and forth but stabilizes enough to give me a good jab to my gut then coming back to slam his opposite fist into my face.
"Fucking quit this shit the both of you!" I hear Gin yell. "Like I said before, she is one of us now. We are going to get her back. Quit acting like a couple of bitches. Pull your panties up and let's get back to the clubhouse. We have dead brothers to bury." He yells then stocks back toward the house pulling out his phone and talking to someone about a clean up crew.
"He is going to kill her if he hasn
't already," I tell Fuzz when we both catch our breath and are standing straight.
"We have to try V and you fucking know it." I do know it.
Twenty
My head is pounding and I can't quite find the strength to open my eyes. When I finally do I realize I'm in a strange room, one I have never seen before. I'm in a bed with the softest sheets and probably the most fluffy pillows known to mankind. The room is only lit by one dim bedside lamp.
"You're awake, that's a good sign." A dark haired petite woman says while walking into the room carrying a tray. "You have been out for days. One lucky girl, you are." She tells me setting down the tray containing a bowl of oatmeal and juice. Looking at it reminds me of something I can't quite put my finger on.
"Where am I?" I ask.
"You are home now. Safe at home." Home?
"I don't..." I start to say but she stops me.
"You were kidnapped, dear. Held ransom by some horrible bikers. We just got you back days ago but you were badly injured in efforts to get you back."
"I have no memory of any of this. I was kidnapped?" I try to get up but she stops me.
"No don't move. You were shot in the head. The doctor said no sudden movements." In the head? Out of instinct I reach up and feel my head. There is a bandage wrapped around my head and I wince at the pain.
"Oh don't touch it dear." The woman scolds me. "The Doctor did say you could move around, though. Would you like a shower maybe? You have been in this bed for days. Nice hot shower could do you some good. Just remember what I said no sudden movements." She reminds me getting up to grab something out of a dresser drawer.
"I can't remember a thing about what you are saying happened."
"The doctor said your memory will be a bit hazy and it might not even come back at all. What is the last thing you remember?" she questions. I try hard to think of that but it just hurts too damned bad.