“Of course I’m coming home, and so are you.”
“Oh, Adam,” she whispered. Then her lips were on his and they were kissing through the bars of the cage. Not a soft kiss, but that hungry kiss she often gave him that he loved. Like she was trying to swallow him whole and couldn’t get enough of him. She took over, and for once, he let her.
Someone coughed. “Think you two can do that later? We’re in a hurry here,” Sebastian groused from behind him.
“Who’s that?” Rachel muttered against his lips.
“It’s me, Sebastian.”
She pulled back and gasped. She placed a hand against Adam’s chest. “Adam, you found Sebastian? Wow, honey, you’re good at tracking people, aren’t you?”
He smiled. Yeah, he was.
“We’re all here, Rachel,” Trevor said. “We’ve all come to bring you back home.”
“All of you?” Rachel exclaimed. “Even Christian?”
“Yeah, I’m here too.” Christian answered, his words laden with emotion.
“Rachel,” Sebastian cut in with barely contained anguish. “Where are Phoebe and Josie? What have those assholes done with them? Why are you in this cage alone?”
Rachel sat up straight, her hands squeezing the bars of her cage. “Phoebe and Josie are in the main lodge,” she said, her voice vibrating with urgency. “You guys have got to go and save them.”
Adam stood up. “Let’s get you out of here first.” He rattled the locked door, testing it for strength.
“Don’t worry about me. I can’t get out of here without the key. Spike’s got the key. You can get it from him after you rescue Phoebe and Josie.”
“Spike?” Trevor questioned. “Who’s that?”
“The head asshole,” Sebastian answered.
“Trevor,” Rachel said. “He’s…he’s got a swastika tattooed on his neck.”
“Jesus H. Christ.” Trevor exhaled.
“What does that mean?” Christian asked.
“It’s not fucking good,” Trevor said. “We need to get to those females. Now.”
“Adam, I recognized Spike. He’s the one who shot that guy in the head in Oxnard. This is that same group.”
“Fuck.” Rage burst through his veins. This was getting worse by the minute. “Let me blow this door—”
“No!” Rachel cried. “It’ll take too long and might be too loud. They’ll hear it in the main lodge and maybe do something desperate. Hurry. All of you, go and get Phoebe and Josie. There are three men up there as far as I know. Spike has me in here because he’s trying to scare me into submission. He was saving me for himself. But he said the two other guys were going to share Phoebe. Tonight. And God knows what they’re going to do to Josie.”
Sebastian roared with pain and rage, the sound echoing in the night. He took off like a shot from a gun, sprinting along the twisty path in the general direction of the main lodge they’d avoided on their way in.
Trevor cursed. “We’d better go after him, make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.” He and Christian ran after Sebastian, leaving Adam alone with Rachel. He looked down at her dark shape huddled behind the bars.
Fuck.
Rachel grabbed his hand. “Go,” she whispered fiercely. “Go. I’ve been in here for hours. I can wait a little longer. I’ll be fine. They need you. Go save Phoebe and Josie. No one’s out here, I’ll be fine until you come back.”
He kneeled down and cupped her face with both hands, his heart squeezing in his chest. “You stay safe, Rach, because after this,” he brushed his lips against hers. “I’m never letting you go.”
He felt her lips curve. “I’m counting on it, honey. Now go.” She gently pushed him away. “Go.”
The sound of Adam’s feet beating on the path faded. She was alone again. She wiped the tears she’d hidden from him and leaned back against the bars, resuming her former position. Worry and anxiety filled her up. Would the men be on time? Was Phoebe hurt? Was Josie? She tried to get comfortable but found it impossible knowing that they were so close to salvation, and yet anything could happen. They weren’t safe yet.
The night seemed endless. She rubbed her arms. Was it close to dawn? How many hours had she been in here, unable to sleep?
She heard gunshots off in the distance and her stomach lurched.
Something snapped next to the cage. Her breath froze in her throat. What was that?
“Hey, girlie.” Spike suddenly materialized out of the dark, two bars framing either side of his face, which was illuminated by a flashlight he held pointed up underneath his chin. “I’m back,” he drawled, doing a terrific impression of Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
Rachel gasped, hand at her throat.
Oh, shit. This was not good.
* * * * *
Adam evaluated the scene in the main lodge, counting four dead men in total—two in the large front foyer and two more here, in a back bedroom. By the time he’d arrived Adam was surprised to find the party was almost over. Shots were being fired. He took out the last guy hand-to-hand in the hallway, snapping the man’s neck before the asshole could shoot Christian in the back.
“Thanks, man.” Christian grinned at him ruefully.
“Yeah, no prob,” Adam slapped him on the shoulder. “Everyone all right?”
“No,” Christian said quietly, his eyes darting to the doorway of the bedroom. “Phoebe was raped. Two of them were still at it in here, forcing themselves on her when we arrived.”
Adam cursed under his breath. He glanced inside the room to see a small woman with long, straight, black hair. A blanket was wrapped around what he presumed to be her naked body. She was crying, head pressed against Sebastian’s chest, his arms wrapped around her shaking shoulders. Sebastian’s features were set in stone.
“Where’s the little girl?” Adam asked.
“She’s here.” Trevor walked up behind them holding the hand of a small child with wide, frightened eyes. Christian shut the bedroom door and stood in front of it, blocking her view of Phoebe.
Smart move.
“I found Josie down the hall watching a movie,” Trevor said.
“Where’s Phoebe?” the girl asked, her lower lip trembling, her eyes watering. “I want Phoebe.” Her voice wavered.
The door opened behind Christian and Phoebe gently elbowed him aside. She finished tying her robe. “Josie?” Phoebe asked. Her eyes were red rimmed, and she had that scared, quavering look he’d seen so often from shell-shocked civilians. But still, she managed a brave smile. Fuck. If the assholes who’d hurt this woman weren’t already dead, he’d kill them himself.
“I’m here, sweetie. I’m right here,” Phoebe said to Josie.
The girl sobbed, darted to her and threw her arms around the woman’s waist, burying her head in her belly.
Phoebe looked up, her gaze flicking over the three of them. “Are you Rachel’s men?” She locked eyes with Adam. “Are you Adam?”
“Yes, I’m Adam. Phoebe, we need your help. We have to make sure the danger is eliminated. How many men were in the house?”
“Five,” she whispered, her hand resting on top of Josie’s head. “First there were three men who kidnapped us, and then two more showed up. Apparently, there’s a nest of them living in some mansion higher up in the mountains. They were planning on taking us up there tomorrow. This place was just a stop over.”
“Great,” Christian grumbled.
Five. Five men. That means…
Sebastian walked up behind Phoebe and put his hands on her shoulders. “Phoebe, there’s only four bodies in the house now,” he said. “Where’s Spike?”
Phoebe sucked in a breath. “He’s not here? Spike left a while ago to get Rachel. Where’s Rachel? Isn’t she with you?”
Fuck.
“No, she’s not, we left her behind.” Adam swiveled, poi
sed to run and get his woman.
“Adam.” Phoebe grabbed his arm with surprising strength. “Be careful. Spike was drunk. Very drunk.”
* * * * *
“Get your ass out here and meet your new man,” Spike roared outside of Rachel’s cage. “There’s no way your fucking rescue party is keeping me from you.” The sun was rising behind them, dusting the sky with brushes of pink and orange, allowing Rachel to see just how drunk off his ass Spike really was. Crap. A drunken Spike was a dangerous Spike. Sober, Spike might have had a no-raping rule, but she suspected drunken Spike didn’t give one fuck about that rule or any other. How long would it be before Adam or the others realized Spike was missing?
He unlocked the heavy steel door, banged it open and stumbled inside, evil laughter bubbling from his chest. Rachel shot to her feet, intent on escape.
“Ready for cock?” he asked, his voice full of menace.
“Not yours,” she hissed. “What the hell is wrong with you? No wonder you were in prison.”
“I’ve had you out here for hours, waiting for you to break. I ain’t waiting another fucking minute. I want you before they find you. On your knees. First, you’re taking me in your mouth.”
He grabbed her wrist and yanked her close, slamming her against his chest. One hand dug into her hip, the other fisted her hair, jerking her head back. He put his lips on her neck. “Shit,” he moaned. “You’re sweet.”
This was it. The only chance she’d have. She held on to his waist, pretending to melt in his arms, pressing against him…and immediately kneed him in the groin, using every bit of her newfound strength. Spike grunted and dropped to the ground. She spun around and darted out the open door of the cage, running away as fast as her feet would carry her.
“Get back here, you bitch,” he snarled behind her.
She ran faster. But she was wearing those damn high heels and she didn’t even have a moment to kick them off. Oh God, oh God. Her chest heaved. Adrenaline rushed through her body. She darted across a clearing to the side of the animal enclosures. Crap, she was barely gaining ground. He was right behind her, she could hear his feet hitting the pavement and then being muffled in the tall grass. She could practically feel his breath on the back of her neck.
She kept running, ready to turn and jump over—
He tackled her to the ground. Uhmph. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs. She took the brunt of the fall on her shoulder.
Shit, that hurt.
They twisted around in the damp grass. He was strong, so strong. She had to think of something fast or she was in for a world of shit. Adam and the others would be back, but until then, she was on her own. Spike pinned her arms underneath them and ground his lips and his groin against hers. His mouth on hers tasted of alcohol and smoke. Bile rose in her throat. She bit his lip. Hard.
He lifted his head. “Fuck,” he shouted. He let go of her, sat up and wiped a smear of blood across his handsome face. “You’re going to pay for that, bitch.”
She pulled clear of him and leapt to her feet. “Oh, really?” She smiled grimly as she lifted and aimed the Glock—her Glock—the one she’d just pulled out of his waistband as they’d tussled on the ground—and shot him in the shoulder.
Bam!
Chapter Thirty-Two
A shot rang out.
Adam twisted his head. He banged out of Rachel’s empty cage and sprinted toward the sound, gun in hand. He crashed through bushes and saw Rachel with a man moaning on the ground in front of her.
The asshole tried to sit up. “You bitch, I’m going to—”
She shot him in the leg. He screamed, high pitched like a little girl, fell back and rolled over, clutching his thigh.
“What?” she taunted. “What are you going to do? Bleed on me? Shut up or I’ll shoot you again.”
Adam stood where he was, a smile plastered on his face. He holstered his weapon. She’d taken the fucker out with the baby Glock, correct stance and hold, just like he’d taught her. Relief flooded his system. This was why he’d trained her, pushed her so hard to run, to exercise and learn how to shoot and protect herself. For this. This. He’d always known there’d come a time when he couldn’t be there and she’d have to save her own life. Today was that day. She’d gone through a crucible and come out the other side, her metamorphosis complete. The bird had flown out of the nest, free and strong. He’d never been so proud of anyone in his whole damn life.
Rachel began moving, and he stilled, because in that moment he saw her, really saw her in the predawn light.
Sweet Jesus.
His heart sped up and his nostrils flared. What was going on? She was dressed like he’d never seen before. In clothes he knew she didn’t own. Where did she get those skin-tight black leather pants and high heels? Christ, he loved a woman in leather pants.
Totally fuckable.
She twisted and bent over to pick something off the ground, and his gaze moved from the leather to her top. His dick went hard in his pants. Her silky red shirt was backless, held together by strings, exposing an expanse of creamy, soft skin he’d caressed so many times before. The pants were low, revealing the sweep of her hips and the top of her ass. Her gorgeous ass.
She took his breath away.
Rachel stood up and froze as her gaze collided with his.
Her hair was different too, sleek and shiny. Make-up darker than usual. Fuck. Who was this woman?
“Adam?” A slow, sexy smile spread across her face. She stared at him intently. She strutted across the grass, her high-heeled fuck-me shoes carefully picking over the carnage, leaving the asshole behind. Her hips swayed as she slid her gun into the hip of her pants and came straight for him.
Oh, fuck. It was too much. He didn’t know why she was in that get-up and he didn’t much care. This was his fantasy woman come to life. Everything he’d ever dreamed of. And she was his, just for the taking.
Adam fell to his knees before her.
She lowered her gaze to meet his. “What are you doing?” She laughed, her smile brilliant and genuine. “Get up, I could use some help here.”
He swallowed hard. He grabbed both her hips and squeezed tight. “You’re mine,” he growled.
Her eyes darkened. Her hair fell forward as she looked down at him and cupped his face tenderly. “Of course I am, baby. I’ve been yours since the moment we met.”
Something dropped in the pit of his stomach. He loved her. Loved this woman. Worshiped the ground she walked on. It had started during those first five days they’d spent together, he knew it now. And the moment she’d allowed him to take her virginity…well, that was it, he was gone. He’d spent the last two months acting like an asshole, not giving her everything because the last time he’d given a woman everything he’d had it thrown back in his face.
But this was different, and he knew it.
He stood. Rachel grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down for a crushing kiss. He felt the world around them slip away as he gave himself to the moment. Her lips on his, her tongue inside his mouth. His woman. Possessing him, leaving her mark, letting him know she was his and he was hers. It was fucking fantastic.
Rachel trembled under Adam’s touch, pent-up emotion welling inside.
His hands drifted down and caressed the sides of her breasts, slid along her hips and down behind to cup her ass and press her pelvis against his groin. Her nipples peaked to hard points as desire shot across her belly. His bulge felt large, big. And she’d discovered she definitely liked big.
“Adam,” she moaned.
He met her gaze with unwavering intensity. “I love you, Rachel.”
Her jaw dropped open. Loved her? Euphoria swept through her. Now he was telling her this? She’d just shot a man, spent the night in a smelly cat enclosure and who knew what had happened to Phoebe and Josie. This was when he was finally ready to open his heart?
Despite it all, she felt weightless, like a feather floating in the wind. “I love you too, Adam,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”
“Rachel, are you all right?” Trevor yelled as he and Christian ran into the clearing.
She blinked, stunned into silence at Adam’s words, by everything that had just happened. It all seemed like a dream. Had she really shot Spike? Did Adam just say he loved her?
“She’s fine,” Adam answered for her. He cocked his head toward Spike, who was still moaning in the grass. She realized she felt separate from the whole situation, as if it were happening to someone else. “Can you two figure out what to do with that asshole? And can you go back and get the others and get them to leave with you and meet us back at the farm? Rachel and I are leaving.”
“You are?” Trevor grinned.
“We are?” she asked, her head spinning. “Wait. Wait. What about Phoebe and Josie?” Her voice turned urgent. “What happened, are they okay?”
“Don’t worry,” Christian answered gently. “We killed all four of the men that were in the main lodge with them, and Phoebe and Josie are safe now.”
“Oh, thank God. I was so worried. But—”
Adam grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the SUV.
“See ya later.” Trevor laughed. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
“Wh-what are you doing?” Rachel stuttered as Adam’s long legs ate up the ground. Watching her feet, she concentrated on following without tripping in her high heels. Adam marched them to his new truck parked behind a work shed and partially hidden from view. He braked next to the door and whipped her around. He pressed her back against the warm metal and her heart beat like a hummingbird’s wings. Fear, need and excitement all crashed together within her.
She licked her lips and watched his eyes darken with passion. He stroked her face, her hair—rough fingertips against her cheek, next to her lips. “I almost lost you today, and it scared the ever livin’ crap outta me.”
Her throat tightened. “But—”
“No. Just listen. I was a lucky bastard the day I met you on the freeway. Lucky. I need you, Rachel, I need you right now. I need to know that you’re here with me. We’re both still alive. We’re still together even after the crap I said, after everything that happened. I need to feel you. Feel your warmth. I need to be inside of you. Now. I can’t wait. I’ll go crazy if I wait.” He swooped down and captured her lips again, leaving no room for dissent. She moaned into this mouth. Her breath came out in short gasps. He cupped her breast and brushed a nipple. Warmth gushed between her legs.
Die For You: Catastrophe Series, Book 1 Page 27