The Pride

by Patricia Morse

“Or, is it a trap?”

  “What do you mean, Eveliene, I mean, Evie.”

  “Did he know I was in Nashville?”

  “Of course. That’s how I found you.”

  “So he could have come here at any time and killed me right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yet he didn’t”

  “Nope.”

  “Doesn’t that seem a tad odd to you?”

  “Why would he want to kill you, Evie. He’s having more fun with you while you’re alive.”

  “He’s counting on the fact that I will eventually start looking. I knew him better than anyone Thane, and he knows me too. He knew I’d start combing his properties soon enough, and I’d start with Bowling Green because it’s the closest. Had I moved back to DC, he would have put them at our house in Alexandria. It’s got to be a trap.”

  We stood in the parking garage staring at each other. He was absorbing what I was saying. He crossed his arms in front of his chest then placed his hand to his chin as he stared at the cement ceiling of the parking garage. He opened his mouth as if he were going to say something then abruptly stopped only taking in a deep breath.

  “I’m right aren’t I?”

  He nodded his head pensively. “Yeah….Umhmmm….I think you are. It totally makes no sense at all, which is why it makes perfect sense.”

  “So what do we do?” I stared at him for a long time waiting for him to speak. The perfect plan he had worked out in his head had just unraveled. I could tell by the look on his face that he truly did not know.

  “Thane, you said Jacks, er Link is keeping my fellas to control Lexie. How is he doing that if she’s in Tahoe and they are in Kentucky?”

  “Webcam and torture. If Lexie obeys him they are left alone, if she disobeys they are tortured while she watches, then she is tortured. It’s vicious.”

  I shuttered at the thought of Lexie and the fellas being tortured. I wanted to ask what kind of torture, but decided it was probably better that I didn’t know. I needed to remain calm and rational if we were going to formulate some sort of a plan to get them out. “What will Link do to her if we get them out?”

  As he began to speak one of my neighbors walked from the door to the parking garage. She smiled at me and gave me thumbs up obviously thinking that I had scored. I smiled and nodded politely at her. I motioned to Thane to get into the car. We needed to speak about this in a place more private than my parking garage.

  “Nice car by the way.” He was running his hand along the dash as I slid into the driver’s seat.

  “Thanks. Now what were you about to say?”

  I roared out of the parking garage and hit I-65 going north. Traffic was sparse so I drove that much faster.

  “You’d asked what he would do to Lexie if we freed your friends right?”

  I nodded while keeping my eyes on the road.

  “He probably wouldn’t do anything to her. He covets her.”

  “How can he covet what he already has?” I was smug

  “What the hell do you mean by that?”

  “What? You weren’t invited to the wedding?”

  I could see he was instantly panic stricken. He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and dialed frantically. “Claire. Why was I not informed about the upcoming nuptials?” He was silent for a long while as the recipient of his phone call explained everything about the wedding. “Thank you Claire, please use discretion when discussing my call.”

  He hung up and looked morosely towards me. “I had no idea. Evie, we have to stop this.”

  “What did your friend say?”

  “Link is planning to wed Lexie on Halloween at his estate in Scotland.”

  “Dunrobin?”

  “Yes, Dunrobin Castle. You know it?”

  “I’ve spent some time there. It’s a beautiful castle.”

  “Claire tells me that Link has completely converted Lexie. She still won’t dine with the rest of them, but she is overly compliant to Link’s demands.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t even want to imagine.”

  “OK, so Halloween. We have less than a month to pull this off. Thane, can you trust Claire not to clue Link in?”

  “She hates him possibly more than I do. She was his mate before he saw Lexie. He completely turned his back on her.”

  We had reached the Tennessee-Kentucky boarder a lot sooner than I had expected. I decided to slow down. We needed more time to talk.

  “Does Link know you’ve abandoned his cause?”

  “Not yet, but according to Claire he may have his suspicions. I was supposed to report back to Domus Aurea yesterday, but I took an obvious detour.”

  “Thane, I have an idea.” I pulled my car off to the side of the expressway so I could face him. I needed to see his face to measure his reaction to my plan. He stared at me intently.

  “Report back to him as if nothing happened. Tell him you tried to find me or something. You know, make something…anything up.”

  “Why would I do that Evie?”

  “Just listen for a minute before you protest. I want you to take my car back for me. I’m going to the horse farm to be captured.”

  He put his hands up in protest. Before he could speak I put my hands over his lips. “You need to make him take us to Scotland. He invited me to the wedding, so he obviously wants me there to torture me further. You’ll free us when we arrive. He has an army, but the five of us can take them down.”

  “That’s an awfully brave plan Eveliene, but you’re wrong on one thing. It will be the six of us taking them down.”

  I pulled back on the expressway and drove the speed limit as we hashed out the plan to take down Link and end Lexie’s nightmare. I stopped the car again about ten miles west of the horse farm, on an abandoned dirt road. We said our goodbyes.

  “Be careful Evie. There are about two hundred hungry half-breeds on staff at the farm. Don’t get yourself killed.”

  “Oh ye of little faith. Don’t worry about me. Just do your part and make sure we are transported to Scotland. I’ll do the rest.”

  We shook hands as I slid from the driver’s seat.

  “Take care of my baby.”

  Thane cracked his knuckles and gave me a devious smile as he walked around the hood of the car. “I can’t wait to see what this baby can do.”

  I stood at the edge of the road as he swung my Camaro around with a roar. In a flash, the car was out of sight. Only the dust trail left by the new tires was visible. I turned and ran into the woods. As I neared the farm I slowed my pace, anticipating electric fences or booby traps, but there were none. I walked onto the property without a hitch. It was going too easily. He was expecting me. I boldly stepped from the shadows of the woods and walked through the freshly mowed lawn up to the house. I could smell the other half-breeds. I knew they were there, waiting in the shadows for me. I walked past the farm house and out onto the horse pasture. I could hear them moving beside me, but they were keeping their distance, watching me from the shadows cast by the surrounding forest. The cave was only a few hundred yards away. I’d explored this cave many times during our engagement. I could feel the rush of cool air from its entrance as I approached. Still being watched, I entered into the bowels of the cave. I stayed close to the edge knowing there was a lake thirty feet below me. I could see the glow of a light ahead of me. I could smell their scent now. My fellas were close. Link’s minions were close behind me as well. I emerged from the darkness into the well lit stone room. The fellas were lined up next to each other, held against the stone wall with heavy chains. They looked with panicked eyes at me as I nonchalantly walked through the opening to their cell. I winked at them and stopped. It was only a second later that I was engulfed by several pairs of muscled arms. I pretended to put up a fight, but I didn’t want them to convey to Link that I had any strength. I was tied and shackled to a boulder, near the edge of a nasty drop off, facing my fellas. They had a look of defeat in their eyes. Cam struggled
against his chains only to be jolted backwards with a current of electricity. I winced.

  “Stop fighting Cam!” I screamed at him. “Don’t give him the satisfaction!”

  One of the henchmen walked to the stone wall and picked up the receiver on a small red phone.

  “Our guest has finally arrived sir,” he growled devilishly into the phone.

  I wished that we could read each other’s minds. I wanted so badly to tell them that this was step one to our escape.

  “Evie, how did he get you?” Cam said warily, defeat in his voice, still struggling against his chains.

  “We’re being carefully watched my friend. Just be still, and we’ll talk later,” I whispered as low as I could manage.

  I looked in the direction of a small camera mounted in the corner of the dimly lit cave room. I could see the look of understanding in their tired eyes. At least I hoped they understood. The Bronx Brothers both grinned. Lenny had a look of hope on his face. Cam finally stopped fighting the chains that imprisoned him. I had done my part. Now all that was left to do was to pray that Thane could do his.

  Chapter 16

  He Returns

  Lexie

  I was perched in the window overlooking the front lawn of the manor when he returned. The large black limousine pulled into the circular driveway, stopping near the front entrance. He emerged from the rear door of the car and paused to look into my window. It almost looked as if he smiled at me, but I must have been mistaken. I closed the curtains and turned to face Link.

  “You seem troubled kitten. Is something wrong?” Link’s look of concern was more of a menacing face, but at least he was trying. I walked to my vanity and began brushing my hair. He walked over to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He had seemed upset by something for the past day, and I didn’t want to upset him further. I was still unsure of what he knew of Thane and me, and I didn’t want him to think I was upset by Thane’s return. I hadn’t been beaten or tortured in nearly a week, and I wanted to keep the streak going. I’d hoped that he just chalked my uneasiness up to pre-wedding jitters. As I was about to speak, Dante burst through the door.

  “Halt!” Link shouted with authority. “How dare you burst into Miss Love’s private quarters?” He was sneering at Dante ready to attack. Dante stopped dead in his tracks.

  “Sir, Thane has returned. He’s waiting in your office.” Dante seemed pleased.

  “So, he thinks he can disappear for a few days, and return home as if nothing has passed. Did he say where he was?”

  “Sir, Thane claims to have ventured into Canada to do some recruiting.”

  “And why did he not inform us of this change of plan Dante?”

  “Mr. Ganyon claims to have lost his cell phone Sir.”

  “Have you placed a trace on the phone Dante?”

  “Yes sir, but we’ve been unable to receive any pings back from the phone.”

  “Please inform me if you do. Come kitten. It’s time we reacquaint ourselves with Thane.”

  Before I could protest, he’d grabbed me by the hand. I was being ripped from the room where I’d found comfort, and led back to the one who’d abandoned me. Through the maze of hallways and to the elevators I was callously dragged. When the elevator doors opened, I was gripped by a wave of nausea. I hated Thane for abandoning me like this. He’d all but thrown me to the wolves to satisfy his own cowardice. For weeks I’d been subjected to horrendous tortures. I’d watched my friends suffer and writhe in pain if I so much as used the wrong tone. I’d been forced to shower Link with my affections to keep myself and my family from harm, and all because he’d left me to die here, alone, without him. He chose to save his own skin. I could feel my cheeks flushing with rage. I glowered at him as we entered the office. I chose to stand across Link’s desk from him and stare hatefully so he would know my displeasure with him.

  Link sat in his oversized leather chair and stared at Thane. “Well, well, well….my son finally decided to return. I was beginning to think you’d run off to begin anew.”

  “Link, I’m sorry I did not make contact, but I wanted this to be a surprise, a wedding gift of sorts.”

  Link was intrigued. He placed his elbows up onto his desk and stared forebodingly at Thane. “A gift, old friend? Please, do tell.”

  “May I?” Thane grabbed the remote from Link’s desk and turned on the flat screen that was mounted to the wall behind me. I cringed. I knew this television all too well. Every time I disobeyed, Link would turn it on, and show my family being tortured in one sinister way or another. Thane clicked through the cameras showing first Cam sleeping peacefully in his chains. Next was Lenny who appeared to be watching the camera’s movement. After that came Brent, who appeared to be arguing with the air. Paul, who was on camera four, must have been arguing with Brent on camera three.

  “Are you going somewhere with this Thane? I’ve already seen all of this, and I’m growing weary.”

  I stood silently, fixated on the pictures of my family flashing across the screen. I fought back the tears that were welling up in my eyes.

  “Patience old chap. You will like my gift.”

  Thane clicked to camera five. Evie! I gasped with emotion. Thane looked pleased as he glanced towards Link. Link rose from his chair and approached the monitor. He grazed his hand across Evie’s form on the screen.

  “You’ve brought her home to me. How did you find her?” Link was actually breathless.

  “It was quite difficult. I earned her trust, and lured her to the farm in Kentucky. The horde stationed there did the rest. I merely convinced them to keep quiet about her capture so that I could surprise you and your bride to be. I know how much you wanted her to attend your wedding.” Thane looked excessively proud of himself as he spoke.

  “Of course. She will be my guest of honor. When did this happen?”

  “Early this morning, around three a.m.”

  “Was she in Nashville as I’d suspected?”

  “Yes. She’d moved back home. It seemed as if she’d given up the search.”

  “How ever did you earn her trust?”

  “Her spirits are quite broken, so it was relatively easy. Even though I didn’t have to do much, I hope I have pleased you.”

  My eyes spilled over with emotion. They were hot with rage, yet cool with sadness at the same time. I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel. I was spinning inside. They were all alive, yet they were being held prisoner for Link’s enjoyment. All of them brought to him just as I was, on a silver platter, by Thane Ganyon! I could no longer contain my emotions. I leapt over the desk and knocked him from his chair. I clawed at his chest ripping his shirt to shreds before he was able to grab me by the wrists. I was screaming into his face. The words were flowing from my mouth, but I did not recognize them. I felt as if I wasn’t in my own body. I’d lost all control. I could see his lips moving, but all I could hear was the pulsing of my heart in my ears. I was kicking and wriggling trying to get another good hit at him when I was whisked off of him. I felt a needle go into my neck. Instantly my arms and legs turned to mush. I was thrown onto Dante’s shoulders and carried off like a sack of potatoes. I screamed obscenities at Thane as Dante carried me like a rag doll down the hall. Thane had a worried look on his face. Link placed his right hand on Thane’s shoulder and handed him a cigar with his left. The fury rose up in my body again, but I was unable to react. I was paralyzed from the medication. Dante carried me down the all too familiar corridor into the room that I dreaded. He threw me onto the cold metal table and tore my clothes from my body. I could feel his cold unfeeling eyes appraising my naked frame. He roared as he picked me up from the table and threw me against the sterile, silver wall. My feeling was coming back and I began to shiver as I lay on the equally cold, stark, silver floor. My teeth chattered violently. Dante leapt on top of me, his fists knocking the wind out of me. I was gasping for air, helpless. He smirked as he glared at me. He picked me up and tossed me into a large tub of icy cold water. His h
ands were on my throat holding me under. I flailed violently under his grasp. Dante would allow me up long enough to hear the agonizing screams coming from the monitor of my family being tortured.

  I could hear Evie shout to the fellas to fight through the pain. “Fight it! Don’t let him win!” She was screaming at them, while her voice was filled with agony.

  Dante shoved my head back under water once again. My lungs were burning from lack of oxygen. I was nearing the point of blacking out when he grabbed a handful of my hair and ripped me back out of the water. I gasped for air.

  “Enough!” Link’s voice boomed from somewhere in my torture chamber.

  I was pulled from the water and thrown forcefully onto the cold metal floor. I lay there shaking like a drowned rat. Dante picked me up, interlocking his arms through my elbows and pulling me up to face Link. Link placed his hand on my chin.

  “Now, are you ready to apologize for your appalling behavior, my dear?”

  I was shivering too hard to answer. My lips were near frozen and unable to form words. I merely glared at him. Dante jerked back on my arms, ripping my shoulders from their sockets. I screamed in agony. The hot searing pain pulsed up and down my back and through my arms to my finger tips. Tears rushed down my cheeks.

  Link violently grabbed my face in both of his hands. “Do you think I like hurting you kitten? Do you believe that I enjoy this? Now apologize, kitten, before I am forced to stick hot pokers into Evie’s eyes!”

  I knew that he meant it. He would scorch out her eyes if I did not obey. I could hear her struggling. I closed my eyes and pictured her in my mind. I could not let her be tortured any longer. I looked into his eyes and nodded my head in agreement. As violently as Dante had ripped my shoulders from their sockets, he thrust them back in. The pain was intense, nearly unbearable. Dante shoved me into a puddle of water onto the floor. I lay there sobbing as Link threw a towel over my body.

  “Clean this up!” He was nearly growling. I could see his body shaking with anger. The pain in my body was not nearly as bad as the pain I was feeling in my heart. Thane had betrayed me once again. He had used information that I’d given him, to capture poor Evie. Once again, he’d allowed me to be tortured. Evie was my last hope of escape, and now she was a prisoner just as I was. All hope was truly lost now. I knew that I must accept my fate to keep them safe. I would be obedient. I would swallow my emotions, my pride and allow myself to become Link’s totally. He would finally own me just as he always desired. I could feel another needle being shoved into my arm seconds before I blacked out.