The UN Series Complete Box Set

by Shantel Tessier

  We’ve been driving for over thirty minutes and once again, we are somewhere I’ve never been. But we are no longer in town—we are out in the middle of nowhere.

  We pull off the paved road and onto a dirt road as Tate turns off his lights. Trees border either side of us, making it hard to see where we are going.

  I called Parker and told him to meet us here, alone. We have a plan but it has to be kept secret for it to go how we want. If word got out about this, the news would be all over it. We don’t want Angel to be involved more than she already is. Even her abduction has been kept under wraps. No media.

  Of course all my friends and family knows. Holly called Micah, but by the time he arrived at Larry’s, we were already long gone.

  He and Josh have been blowing up my phone wanting to know where in the hell I’m at and wanting to know what they can do to help find her. My father has been calling wanting to know who he needs to throw money at. I don’t want everyone involved. I will get my answers with fear, not fucking money.

  “There’s his truck.” Tate points over to Parker’s dark red truck hidden in the trees. I squint to try to see what he does.

  Tate parks his truck next to him, and we get out quietly. “How far is the house from here?” I ask.

  “About a quarter of a mile,” Parker informs us. “I walked it and saw lights on, so I know someone is there.”

  I nod my head. “Let’s go.”

  We all stay quiet and lay low as we make our way to the house. Once we get past all the trees I can see a small house in front of us. On the outside, it looks rundown and old. White wood hanging off the sides and shingles missing off of the top.

  I come to a halt and my arm shoots out hitting Tate in the chest. “What?” he harshly whispers.

  His eyes follow where mine are looking and he sees it; her car. Sitting to the side of the house. It looks muddy, like it went through a mud hole, but it’s here. That means she has to be here.

  I feel instant relief. I’ve found her. I also feel instant rage like I’ve never experienced.

  I take off in a mad dash as the guys holler after me. We had a plan, and I’m not sticking to it.

  I leap over the porch, kicking the front door in, and instantly spot Jax on the couch sipping on a beer. He throws it in my direction and jumps up off of the couch and runs. I leap over the couch and jump right on top of him. Pushing his face down into the nasty stained carpet. Breathing heavy and ready to snap, I lean up and flip him over.

  He smiles up at me. His brown eyes are dull, his skin ashen. “What are you gonna do?” he taunts. “Kill me?”

  I grab his shirt and yank him up so his face is right in front of mine. “You don’t deserve death, you deserve to suffer for the rest of your life,” I growl. “Where is she?” I demand.

  “She’s not here.” He gives a little laugh. “And nothing you do to me will save her. I know her fate.” He spits in my face.

  I will murder him if I have to in order for him to talk. He will tell me where she is. I push him back down to the ground and punch him in the face. I wrap my hand around his throat and squeeze. I smile, it feels so good to finally have my hands on this sorry bastard. “I’ll tell you what I am going to do though. I’m going to kick you around for a little bit like you’re a fucking play toy. Then I’m going to hand you over to Tate,” I say looking up at Tate and Parker now standing by us in the living room both breathing heavy. “He’s going to make you wish I’d just killed you.” I tighten my hand around his throat as he tries to wiggle out from underneath me. “Then Parker is going to arrest your sorry ass, and you will spend the rest of your life in jail.” I’m shouting, I’m so furious.

  I stand up off him, and I shake my hands down to my side. My entire body is vibrating.

  He turns onto his side and starts coughing and taking in ragged breaths. “It’ll never stick.” He chokes on the words. “I’ll be out before you know it. I know people in this town.”

  I smirk. “So do I, you motherfucker.” I look up at Parker as the corner of his lips start to lift.

  “I know people as well,” Tate states as he reaches his hand into his leather jacket pocket. He pulls out the plastic baggie that contains the pills he was pretending to buy from Dallas. He walks over to the coffee table and pours them out, not touching them and then pockets the now empty baggie. “You have a very nasty habit, Jax,” he says with a smirk. “If I don’t kill you.” He slowly starts to take off his leather jacket. “Those for sure will.” He throws his jacket over the back of the stain ridden couch and looks down at him.

  “Fuck all of you,” Jax spits out as he jumps to stand.

  Tate moves quickly; his right fist makes contact with Jax’s jaw, and it snaps back. He goes to fall but Tate catches him and slams his back into the wall. Tate steps back and punches him in the stomach. He doubles over in pain, and Tate lifts his knee; connecting with Jax’s face. This time Tate lets him fall to the ground.

  I look up to see how Parker is reacting, but he’s no longer in the room.

  “Where is she?” I demand again as I kick him. If she’s not here then where the fuck could she possibly be?

  “Fuck you,” he groans.

  I go to walk away, to let Tate finish the job; she has to be in this house somewhere. I don’t see him taking her and then leaving her side, but Jax gets my attention as he groans on the floor. “You’re all dead.” His high pitch voice makes me laugh. “Even her. The fucking bitch isn’t worth it.” He rolls over onto his stomach and slowly makes it to his knees.

  My laughter dies, and my jaw clenches.

  Tate reaches out and kicks him in the side with so much force it has him flying back into the wall. “If I go, you’re going with me,” he states walking over to him.

  “Slade?” Parker’s panicked voice comes from what sounds like below us.

  I look over at Tate. “I’m fine. Go.”

  I take off out of the living room and down a long hall. “Parker?” I yell.

  “Down here.”

  I turn left at the hallway and find an open door that leads down to a basement. I jump three or four stairs at a time. Once I hit the bottom I look around but see nothing but walls that look like dividers throughout the basement.

  “Where are you?” I shout.

  “Back.”

  I make my way past all the walls to the very back and see Parker leaning down over a sleeping Angel. She is lying on her stomach, and Parker is cutting a zip tie that restrains her wrists behind her back.

  I drop down beside her and turn her over in my arms. I faintly hear Tate yell ‘motherfucker’ from above us.

  My breath catches in my throat when I see the bruises on her face and neck. She has a big gash on her head that has blood running down the left side of her face. “Angel?” I choke.

  Parker cuts the zip tie around her ankles as I hold her limp body in my arms. I push her dirty and blood stained hair back from her face. I check for a pulse and sigh in relief that she has one.

  “What’s wrong with her?” I look to him, and he jumps up. He ignores my question. I look back down to her and see her shirt ripped, it hangs off of her shoulders, and I tighten my grip on her.

  He’s dead. Jax is dead. I will fucking rip his throat out.

  “Drugged.” Parker’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

  “What?” My voice shakes from anger as I turn my head to see what he’s talking about.

  He points to an empty syringe lying on the ground. His dark eyes meet mine, and they are full of sorrow. “He drugged her. That’s what’s wrong with her,” he says softly.

  “With what?” I demand.

  He shakes his head. “I don’t know. But whatever it was, he gave her all of it because it’s empty.” He starts looking around to see if he can find anything to determine what it is.

  “No,” I breathe as my head snaps back to face her. “It’s okay, Angel,” I say, my throat tightening. “It’s gonna be okay.” I place my other arm underneath h
er legs and lift her as I stand. “We have to leave.” The panic is evident in my voice. Fuck Jax needing to die. I need her to live.

  I rush up the stairs and down the hallway. I stop in the living room when I find Jax on his back, eyes shut, not moving. Looks like Tate did the job for me.

  Tate’s breathing heavily, sweating, his jaw tight and eyes hard. He has a slash across his chest cutting through his shirt—what’s left of his black t-shirt is soaked in blood. His usual chain hanging against his leg is gone as well.

  “What happened?” Parker asks breathless from running to catch up with me.

  Tate takes a few deep breaths trying to calm his anger. “The motherfucker had a knife in his back pocket.”

  Then his eyes land on his sister’s body lying in my arms. Her shirt, as well, ripped exposing her pink lace bra and stomach. His brows pinch together, and he shakes his head as if he’s trying to clear the vision that he’s seeing of his sister.

  “He drugged her,” Parker announces.

  Tate rolls his shoulders and looks down at Jax. His jaw tightens, and he swallows hard. He fists his hands down by his sides a few times before turning and walking over to the couch. He grabs his jacket and then lays it over her to cover her up.

  “We need to know,” I state trying to keep all my emotions in. I want to scream. I want to cry. I just want her to wake up and look at me—to know she’s okay.

  Tate nods and walks over to what I think is a dead Jax. He leans down and slaps him. “Wake up,” he demands.

  Jax doesn’t move. That’s when I notice the knife sticking out of Jax’s thigh. Tate grabs a hold of the hilt and twists it.

  Jax screams as his eyes spring open. “What the fuck did you give her?” He twists it again. “Tell me,” he shouts.

  Jax’s back arches, and he grabs his leg as he screams out.

  Tate yanks the blade out of Jax’s leg, and he rolls onto his side pulling his leg up to his chest, breathing heavy and crying out in agony.

  Tate stands over him. “If you don’t tell me right now, this knife is going to go into your chest,” Tate says holding the knife up ready to pounce on him again.

  Jax rolls over and holds his hands up. “Don’t,” he cries. “It was ketamine,” he squeals. “Gave her ketamine,” he repeats. “It just knocked her out. The bitch was screaming and fighting…” he rambles.

  Parker slaps my shoulder. “She’ll be okay. You guys go, take her to the hospital. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Tate declares as he continues to stand over Jax with the blade in his hand. “I did this. I knew what it was going to cost me.”

  Parker looks from Angel in my arms to her brother. “Looks like it’s going to cost you some stitches and a new shirt.” He nods to the door. “Now, get the fuck out of here.”

  I don’t stay to hear them bicker anymore. I run out the front door with her in my arms. By the time I get past the trees and to the trucks, Tate is opening the passenger door for me.

  The engine roars and tires squeal as I look down at the love of my life lying in my arms. Beside the bruises, blood, and the drugs, she looks so peaceful—but I know her stay with him was far from peaceful. It had to have been horrifying. And for that I feel my resolve break.

  I lift her face to mine. “I’m sorry, Angel,” I whisper before giving her a soft kiss. “I’m so sorry.” I rest my head on hers and let the tears fall.

  *****

  They admitted her for the night. Not because she is still unconscious. Not because she has injuries that need surgery or head trauma that needs to be further assessed. Her sexual assault test also came back negative. Other than the reminders on her body, she is perfect.

  They had to admit her because she’s pregnant.

  Pregnant!

  I tell myself again. It seems unreal but makes sense. Explains why she has been so tired and somewhat moody.

  They had run some blood work to verify that she was given ketamine. In running other tests with that, they discovered she was pregnant. They wanted to admit her overnight and run further tests regarding the baby in the morning.

  I’m going to be a father, and I can’t even hold my fiancée and tell her she’s going to be a mother. Jax took that from us.

  I sit next to her hospital bed as we wait for her to wake up. We’ve been here for over an hour, and she’s still out of it. They offered to give her another drug to reverse the ketamine and wake her up sooner. But as soon as they started talking about the possibilities of her having a seizure, I said absolutely not. No way would I risk her or our child more harm.

  I watch as Tate stands over by the window. Every time the nurse comes in she tries to check his cut, but he pushes her away, refusing treatment. He’s marked up pretty bad on his hands and arms, but his chest is the worse. I can see the cut from here. It looks deep, it even continues to still bleed some. He moves slowly and continues to place his hand on it. I know it’s hurting him, he just doesn’t want to leave her side, and I can’t blame him.

  He just seems out of it. He is probably wishing that he would have just stabbed him in the heart. I know I am.

  “She’s going to be okay,” I say running my hand over her matted hair. It’s still got dirt and blood in it. I can only imagine that’s from Jax dragging her around and fisting his hands in it.

  He shakes his head. “This should have never happened in the first place,” he growls. “I should have killed him the first time he put her in the hospital.”

  “He’s taken care of now.” I had gotten a phone call from Parker. Jax was arrested for drug possession, kidnapping, and parole violation. I finally got my answer to why he never called or didn’t know that I was with her. He has been in jail the last few months in Georgia. Turns out once he made bail, he came back.

  “Yeah, at Sam’s expense.” He points to her as she lies in the hospital bed.

  Just then a nurse walks in. She’s about Angel’s height and has light brown hair cut at her shoulders. She’s been our nurse since we’ve been here. Her pink scrubs make me think of bubblegum every time she comes around.

  She stops and looks over at Tate. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a look at that? At least put a bandage on it, if you don’t want stitches.”

  “I’m fine,” he says coldly while glaring at her.

  She nods and then looks over at me. “How is she doing?” she asks before she turns her attention to Angel.

  I sigh running a hand through my hair. “The same.” Can’t she fucking tell she’s still asleep? “She needs to wake up.” It’s been over six hours since she was taken.

  The nurse offers a small smile. “We can wait a little longer.” She looks over to the machines that Angel is connected to and the IV bag that is hanging by her bed. “Her vitals are good, and she’s getting fluids. We can allow her time to come off the ketamine on her own.”

  I nod my head and grab Angel’s hand. We sit in the silence, and I try to keep my eyes open. I’m past rage, I’m past terrified—I’m just plain exhausted.

  I lay my head down on the bed beside her arm. I take in a deep breath and try to relax.

  That’s when I feel it. I lift up and look down at her hand in mine. And I stare, my heart beating wildly. “Come on Angel,” I whisper getting Tate’s attention.

  He turns to face us and watches as I watch her hand. And then it happens again. She moves her hand in mine.

  “She’s waking up,” I say letting out a long breath. I stand and place my other hand on her head. “Angel? I’m right here, honey.” I smile as I feel a tear run down my cheek. Relief, I’ve never felt anything like it. “I’m right here, baby.”

  She tilts her head slowly and her face scrunches. She winces. “Slade?”

  Her words are slurred but she spoke. That’s all I want.

  I let out a soft sob. “Yes, baby. I’m here.”

  Her heavy eyes open slowly, and she looks up at the ceiling to her room. “What...? Where am I?” Her voice is h
oarse.

  They said there was no way to know what she would remember. Honestly, I hope she doesn’t remember any of it. It would be better that way.

  “The hospital,” I respond, trying not to lose my shit.

  The nurse walks back in and smiles. “You’re awake.” She comes to stand next to her bed. “How do you feel?”

  Angel blinks a few times and swallows hard. “I…okay,” she answers quietly. “Sore.” She licks her cracked lips. “Tired.”

  The nurse nods. “Can you tell me what you remember?”

  I scowl up at her, she is obviously still out of it.

  “I remember…” She pauses. “Black truck. Jax…Larry’s,” and then it’s as if she disappears back into the moment. Her eyes glaze over and fix on the ceiling tiles.

  Her eyes widen, and she jerks her hand out of mine. Her eyes lock down to her ring finger, and she frantically starts to feel it with her right hand. “He took my ring,” she says her voice rising. “I tried to stop him...” She starts to panic.

  “No Ange...”

  “Where is it?” She starts to get out of the bed.

  Tate runs over to the bed, and I reach over. “Whoa,” I say, trying to grab her without hurting her or ripping her IV out. “It’s okay, I have it,” I try to tell her but she’s not listening.

  She keeps pushing me off and throws off the blanket. I grab her gown and pull it yanking her back onto the bed.

  “I’ll get something to sedate her,” the nurse says running for the door.

  “No,” Angel screams and looks over at me with the biggest, most terrified look in her eyes I’ve ever seen. It breaks my heart. “Please don’t. Not again.” She grabs a hold of my shirt. Her fingers digging into my chest and pulling me over into her bed.

  “Okay. I won’t let them,” I tell her trying to calm her.