Good lord, she knew his mother, and now he was dead, because of her. She blinked back tears and tried her best to carry on breathing, as the guy whose shoulder she was slung over like a sack of potatoes jogged down the stairs.
They narrowly avoided the uniformed police officers coming up the stairs, and slipped out of the building via a side entrance in the laundry room. She hadn’t even known there was an exit there, but a quick fumble of the lock later by man-mountain’s brother—which sure explained how they got past the locks to her front door so easily—and she was glinting in the bright sun, reflected off the police cars parked at all angles.
She ought to scream, do something to alert the two officers, who had their backs turned to them, she knew that, but the soulless eyes of her neighbor’s son haunted her. She had no doubt that these guys would kill the cops as easily as they had killed everyone else so far, and she really didn’t want that on her conscience.
Besides, even if, by some miracle, she managed to get away from them, where would she go? She would never be able to go back to her flat, because she was as good as dead now. Jeanette might not be all up to date on the latest crime gang etiquette, but it didn’t take Einstein to figure out that they would be looking for revenge. And that revenge would be aimed at her for bringing the Cleaners to their estate and causing all those deaths.
So, instead of screaming her head off, Jeanette bunched her hands into the shirt of the man carrying her to steady herself, and bit her lip so hard she tasted her own blood. The guy holding her turned and twisted in so many different reactions she started to feel dizzy and lost all sense of direction as they ran down the alleyways that made up the estate.
They encountered no one else, and for that she was grateful, at least, while fervently wishing she was the sort of woman who could faint. It sure would make things easier, especially when Ren joined them, one of her hold-alls flung over his shoulder.
She swallowed hard at the thought of this killer rummaging through her things.
“This way, boys. They’re waiting round the corner for us. The place is swarming with fucking coppers, and I sure as fuck hope those cameras aren’t working.”
“Doubt they will be, boss. That scum wouldn’t wanna be caught on them any more than we would,” the guy carrying her said.
“Let’s hope you’re right, James. I don’t wanna go down for this bird.”
James gave a dry laugh and shifted her to her feet. Before her head had even stopped spinning at the sudden move, his brother grabbed her wrists in crushing grip again, while Ren regarded her through hooded lids.
“Ty’s girl or not, you’ll be spending some time in the cellar, girl, and we’ll talk.”
The ice cold hand of fear squeezed the air out of her lungs, making it impossible to talk. Not that the arrogant asshole expected an answer out of her right now, and Jeanette tried her best to glare at him.
“Go easy on her, boss. Ty must like this one to put himself out there like that.”
Ren’s attention shifted to the man behind her, and Jeanette pulled a much needed breath into her lungs.
“So it would seem, Alex, but we’ll see how much he likes her when he finds out she’s Myrtle’s sister.”
Ren smirked at her involuntary gasp, and his two compatriots both swore.
“Ain’t that a fucking turn up for the books,” Alex said, and tightened his hold on her. His brother swung round and glared at her. He brought up his fist, and for one awful second she thought he was going to hit her. Instead he punched the nearby tree instead, flexed his fingers with an ugly grimace and reaching in the back pocket of his black jeans pulled out a couple of cable ties.
“Best put those on her, bro. Can’t trust the bitch in that case.”
Jeanette opened her mouth to protest, but all she achieved was to have a foul smelling gag shoved into her mouth. A hood of some sort followed and her world went black, as the cable ties drug cruelly into her wrists and ankles. For the second time that day, the ground lifted away, and through the misery and sheer terror filling her lungs, she heard the screech of brakes, the metallic crunch of a sliding door. When she hit something hard, it knocked the wind out of her. Cruel male laughter reached her ears, even as rough hands pulled her into an upright position until she leaned against what she assumed must be the wall of the van.
Sure enough the vehicle started to move, and something warm collided with her foot. A pain filled grunt reached her through the hood, and then a voice she recognized as Ace, the guy who had been at door duty at the club earlier.
“Take it easy, up front, Josh. I don’t want him to bleed out, and with your crazy ass driving, he’ll do that before I get him to the house to stitch him up.”
He had to be talking about Ty, and shifting sideways, she blindly groped until she encountered a naked male chest, sprinkled with hair. She swallowed hard at the sticky mess she found, and unseen fingers yanked her bound wrists away and up. The sudden move hurt her shoulders, and she whimpered around the gag in her mouth.
“Move her away from him. She’s done enough damage for one day.” Ace’s voice didn’t hold an ounce of compassion, and the world shifted again until she, presumably was on the other side of the van. A heavy hand clamped around her thigh, holding her in place, and this time Jeanette didn’t even try to hold in her tears. They wouldn’t be able to see them, hidden as she was under this godawful sack they’d put over her head, and it was that or scream. As she couldn’t do that crying as silently as she could would have to do.
“You can fix him though, right?” Ren asked, and Jeanette flinched when she realized it must be his hand on her thigh. He didn’t try anything remotely sexual, and for that, she was grateful. From what she’d seen of him and his woman in the club, she knew she was at least safe in that regard. He seemed smitten with the redhead, the tenderness she’d witnessed him exhibit toward her a direct contrast to the way he was treating Jeanette now. To what he’d done to Myrtle.
The horrific images that police detective had shoved under her nose would forever haunt her. She had sworn there and then, that she would get revenge for her little sister somehow, but, instead she had become another victim and had caused God only knew how many deaths today.
It was too much to wrap her head around, and she shrank in on herself as much she could. The hand on her thigh lifted when she pulled her knees up to her chest, no doubt giving the men in the back of the van the perfect view up her skirt, but she couldn’t bring herself to care about that now.
“I’ll do my best, boss.” Ace’s curt reply shook her out of her morose thoughts, and she held her breath. Why was she this worried about Ty anyway? He was one of them. So what if he’d fought those guys for her? Didn’t mean a thing. No doubt he had his own agenda, and besides, they would kill her now anyway.
“Why’s she trussed up like that, anyway?” Ace asked. “Ty won’t be happy when he comes ‘round. He went through a lot of trouble for that bird.”
“She’s Myrtle’s sister,” Ren said.
A collective chorus of male swearing rang in her ears, and Jeanette stopped breathing, when Josh, at least it sounded like him, seemed to speak from somewhere right behind her. She must be sitting against the partition to the driver’s cab.
“If that’s the case why is she still alive?”
“Reckon Huntly will want some answers from her,” Ren said to the other side of her, and Jeanette frantically shook her head. She couldn’t breathe, dammit. That blasted gag seemed lodged in her throat. Spots danced in front of her eyes, and her heart beat far too fast making her feel faint. She didn’t want to hear any of that, and besides she didn’t know anything, other than what Detective Wonsan had told her, off the record.
She could still see his face, the smile that was supposed to be sympathetic, yet seemed to be anything but, and the frown on his partner’s face as he told her Reynold Ellis was to blame for the death of her sister.
“But don’t you worry. We’ll bring those bastards in s
ooner or later. He got off on a technicality. Eventually he’ll slip up. Now, if we had a person on the inside, an informant, if you will, that would bring justice for your sister so much sooner.” He’d glanced at her certificates on the wall and smiled. “Huntly will be looking for a new star dancer…”
His partner had rallied at him, and Wonsan had thrown his hands up in a conciliatory gesture.
“Just saying. That would help the case immensely.”
With sudden clarity of insight, Jeanette realized one thing, before the stress of the day got on top of her and she slipped into the blissful oblivion of unconsciousness.
She had been played.
Chapter Five
Ty willed his way out of the heavy quagmire his mind and body seemed to be caught up in and groaned. Ace must have pumped him full of drugs to help him stave off infection from the myriad of injuries he’d sustained. His left hand and especially his side hurt like a fucking bitch, and there was a dull ache in his lower back. All things considered, however, he didn’t seem to be in too bad shape. He was alive for starters, which was something of a miracle, considering the shit that had gone down. Fucking Priestlys.
Swallowing a groan, he forced his heavy eyes open, and Susie jumped to attention. He forced a smile on his cracked lips for her benefit, because the curvy redhead looked worried sick.
“Hey, sweet thing, smile. I’m all right. Takes a lot more than that kerfuffle to knock me out, you know.”
“I know, but, here … goodness, take it easy.” Her sweet flowery scent teased his nostrils as Ren’s girl leaned in and helped him to sit up more. Ordinarily, he would have protested that he didn’t need any help, but Susie, here, would see right through any bullshit. Besides, all the Cleaners had a huge soft spot for her, and if she was here it would be at Ren’s orders, and Ty had no wish to get the lovely woman into trouble. Ren was volatile at the best of times, and his friend and boss would be pissed as fuck at the latest developments. Susie handed him a glass with a straw, and he gratefully accepted the proffered drink. The cool liquid got rid of the god-awful taste in his mouth, and he took several sips. With a smile he handed it back to her.
“Thanks, I needed that. I also need a shower, I must stink.”
Susie’s frown changed into a giggle, and she wrinkled her nose.
“Well, I’ve smelled worse…” She winked and continued. “In a pigsty anyway.”
Ty shook his head at her.
“I take it Ren isn’t around, or you wouldn’t be that sassy, girl.”
Ty regretted those words almost immediately, as Susie’s amusement dissipated instantly.
“He’s had his hands full. What were you thinking, going into that estate by yourself, Ty? You almost got yourself killed, and from what I can gather, she’s Myrtle’s sister. That can’t be good.”
This news made him sit up straighter, and his various injuries protested loudly. Ty glared at the bandage on his hand and the one covering his side.
“She’s what?” he asked, and Susie blinked.
“You didn’t know then. I reckoned you couldn’t or you would have left her to it…” She bit her lip and didn’t quite look at him. Ty cupped her chin with his uninjured hand to make her look at him.
Her blue eyes swam with unshed tears, and Ty frowned.
“You’re worried about Ren?” It was a statement more than a question and Susie sighed.
“Well, yes. She’s her sister, and she lives on Priestly territory and she tried to get a job at the club. Why would she do that, if not to cause trouble? I saw the way she looked at Sir at the audition, and I know Huntly gave her to you to check her out, but I don’t like it.” Susie crossed her arms under her impressive chest, and Ty’s gaze wandered to her rack. He couldn’t help it. She might be Ren’s and thus completely off limits, but he could still look.
A slight blush stained her cheekbones when she noticed, and she hastily uncrossed her arms, and stuck her hands on her hips instead. Everyone in the Cleaner house knew that gesture. Little Susie meant business, and Ty forced his gaze back to her face.
“I swear, if she causes any more trouble, then I’ll … well, I’ll think of something. It grates enough that she’s here, and I have to cook for her. And then she doesn’t eat it. What the hell is that about? I tried talking to her, too, but she completely blanks me. I’d say she’s scared. God knows I was when Sir brought me here, but no one has freaking touched her. Jesus. Ignore me, it’s just … why is she here?”
Ty smiled at Susie in an effort to reassure her, while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief that Jeanette was not only alive, but safe here at the house. He would wonder about why this was so important to him later.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“In the cellar, of course. Hardly punishment. That place is better equipped than a hotel, and while she’s down there, none of us can use the equipment.” Susie stuck her bottom lip out, and Ty laughed. The action hurt his ribs and jarred his side, and Susie glared at him.
“This isn’t funny, Ty. Sir says she’s yours to punish, and I know she’s chained, but she can still move around, and … oh just ignore me. I’m worried, that’s all. What if the police come looking for her here? You’ve been out two days as it is, and to all intents and purposes she has just disappeared. That blasted police officer was at the club again last night. That man gives me the creeps. I don’t like it, and if she’s a threat to what we have here, then, well I’m gonna kill her myself.”
Ty’s eyebrows rose at that vehement statement, and Susie stared him down, as though daring him to disagree with him.
“Sweet thing, you couldn’t kill a fly, and besides,” he put his hand up to stop her from talking, when she looked all set to interrupt him. “Ren would never let you do such a thing. You don’t need blood on your hands, Susie. Jeanette is my problem, and I’ll deal with her.”
“Will you though?” Susie asked. “I mean, you’ve risked so much already and for what? For all we know she’s a spy sent to infiltrate us and … what?” She glared some more. “I have ears, and the men talk. Having her in this house is making everyone uneasy, so I wish you would deal with her one way or the other.”
Ty smiled.
“I will, but for that I need to get out of bed, and as I’m naked under here, perhaps you’d like to leave? No skin off my nose, if you stay, but Ren might have a thing to say about that.” He swung his legs off the side of the bed, and despite the resulting ache in his back, he laughed when Susie blanched and backed away.
“I’m gone. Come and find me in the kitchen when you’re decent. I’ve made some of that chicken soup you like, and I’ll heat it up for you. You must be starving, and best to deal with contrary females on a full stomach, right?”
Ty nodded his approval, and Susie scarpered from his room. In truth he was glad she wasn’t here to witness his shit ass struggles to simply get to his damn feet. He was as weak as a fucking kitten, and utterly confused.
What Susie had imparted about Jeanette did not come as a complete shock to him. He’d known there was something she was hiding, and at least that explained why she’d seemed so familiar to him. She looked very different from Myrtle. She was a whole skin tone lighter, for starters, but certain mannerisms were the same, and Jeanette exhibited the same fluidity and inherent sensuality that had made Myrtle’s dancing such a success.
As he hobbled to the adjacent bathroom to relieve himself, he could only hope that’s where the similarities ended. If she turned out to be conniving bitch liked her sister had been, it would fall to Ty to end her, and for some reason that made his gut twist.
Like it or not, his titch had gotten under his skin. Time would tell what that meant in the long run, and no doubt, once he had actually fucked her, those conflicting emotions would crystallize for him.
They had better, one way or the other.
The hot spray of the power shower did a lot to revive him, even if the water stung like crazy on his various abrasions. Staring at the bruisi
ng on his face in the mirror, Ty sighed. He would have to postpone his visit to the nursing home. There was nothing at all wrong with his mother’s eyesight, despite her advanced age and fragile overall health, and she’d read him the riot act for sure, if she saw he’d been hurt.
Thought of his mum made him smile. She was an excellent judge of character, and once he didn’t look as though he’d had been involved in a boxing match and lost, her reaction to Jeanette would tell him a lot.
Was he actually considering bringing a girl to see his mother? Ty shook his head and grimaced anew at his reflection. The drugs must have addled his brain. Mum would jump to the obvious conclusion that he was serious about this girl. Then again, would it hurt to let her think so? His mother did not have long, and if she thought he’d found someone to settle down with, it would be a lot off her mind.
Ty had planned to borrow Susie for the task, when the time came, something Ren had reluctantly agreed to, if need be. After all, he’d spent many happy days at Ty’s parents’ place when they’d both been on leave from the Army, and Dad had still been alive.
Running a hand through his still damp hair, Ty forced his thoughts to the here and now. It did no good to dwell on the past. Ren and he had both chosen this path, after all. Ty, being younger than Ren, had stayed in longer, but once he’d left civilian life had held no appeal. He’d seen too much shit to ever just be able to slide into civvie street, so when Ren offered him the job as second in command to the Cleaners, he’d jumped at the chance. It kept the demons at bay and meant he could make a difference. Cleaning the world of scum like the Priestly brothers and the misery they inflicted on those in their territories made him feel good—most days.
It certainly brought him considerable satisfaction when they rescued some hapless girls who’d been caught in their human trafficking scheme.
His to Punish (The Cleaners Book 2) Page 5