by Nikki Landis
His kisses occupied my brain as his hands roamed. Insistent. Arousing. Burning. Years from now I would remember every brush of his lips across my own, every trail of his fingers across my heated skin, and every thrust of his body into mine. I’d remember the look in his eyes and the moment I knew I was home, loved and cherished, my soul joining his in a beautiful and intricate dance of passion, release, and surrender.
I knew the moment, that perfect hour we spent in each other’s arms, as the most intense and amazing of my life. We shared out hearts, our bodies, and a level of love and trust that transcended everything I thought I knew about life. When Peter’s eyes met mine, his chest pressed close, and his voice hoarse and thick with emotion, I knew I could never love him more than I did at that precise minute in time.
“Forever,” he whispered, his forehead lowering as it met mine, “always my Rae.”
“Forever Pete.”
We lay entangled in arms and legs, wrapped up in each other for hours and never moved.
“I love you,” he whispered once, and squeezed tight, “my heart is yours.”
I nuzzled into his embrace and fell asleep to the consistent and strong beat of his heart, thankful for this moment even if we never had a chance for another.
Chapter 28
Another two weeks past. Leah was doing well, but I could tell she didn’t understand why we weren’t going home. R.J. and Pete took turns leaving our safe haven for groceries and supplies, but I was getting antsy. My mother was adapting well, but the Outlaws watched her every move and waited for my return. I knew I couldn’t place her in danger and remained with Leah in hiding.
Peter was becoming anxious and decided to drive to a secret location Mack had disclosed with extra guns and ammo. He was afraid of an ambush if we were found. Extra protection was necessary to defend ourselves even if I didn’t like the idea of guns. The tension was mounting and I knew the guys were keeping everything as normal as possible for us, but I was growing bored and short on temper.
The following day I found R.J. and Peter arguing.
“Charles was a part of this from the beginning. He married Rae’s mother as a means of revenge against Ron and the RRMC.”
“Fuck!” Pete yelled, raking his hand through his hair, “Then we were right. He was there to frighten and intimidate both Rae and Sarah.”
“If that’s true then why didn’t he just take her to Striker? Why all the games and deception?”
“Part of the plan. I’d bet anything he was supposed to grab Rae that night, but you were there when he snuck into her room and his plan had to change.”
“Fuck!” Pete shouted as I walked into the room filled with silence so sharp and full of tension that I could have cut it with a knife.
“Do what you have to do,” I belted bitterly, “Charles was always a traitor. I don’t care what happens to him, just my mother.”
“I don’t like the idea of leaving you, but we have to find out what happened with Charles.”
“I know R.J.”
He smiled and walked forward to place a kiss on my cheek, “We’ll protect your mother.”
“I don’t like how vulnerable she is. We need to get ahold of Beckett.” Pete’s hand rose to my cheeks as his worried gaze roamed my face, “I’ll be as fast as I can. You won’t be alone. I’ll send guys for your protection.”
“I know babe,” I teased, trying to lighten the burden I saw in his eyes, “take care of my mom.”
“I will. Love you my Rae.”
Despite his better judgment, Pete left with R.J. to search for Charles’ whereabouts and ensure my mother was safe. I tried not to feel anxious but not knowing what was happening on the outside of my safe little bubble was terrible on my nerves. I played with Leah and kept her company until I tucked her into bed that night.
The night past into day and still I heard nothing.
Peter and R.J. had been gone entirely too long when two more days past. I was restless, worried about their safety and my mother, concerned with Leah having proper nutrition instead of snack foods, and hoping nothing happened to the guys. Beckett and Shane were posted on guard duty to ensure my safety and helped to relieve my tension. We played a lot of cards those restless and uncertain days.
Another day later, after entirely too much frantic pacing, I was ready to leave the house and find something for Leah to eat. The groceries had dwindled and we were out of basic necessities. Peter left cash just in case, but I didn’t expect him to be gone for so long. Something must have happened and it set my nerves on edge. If he was preoccupied, that must mean they were dealing with Charles and the Outlaws on their end and it would be safe for me to go to the store.
Right?
I had every intention of taking Beck or Shane with me, but as I walked into the living room, I noticed Shane asleep on the couch with Leah’s bear sitting on his chest. On the other end, Beckett was curled up with Leah resting in the crook of his arm, his head lolled to the side as he lightly snored. The cutest thing I’d ever seen was those two big guys snuggling with my baby sister.
I didn’t have the heart to wake them.
Leaving a quick note so they didn’t worry, I took Shane’s car and drove to the closest market about fifteen minutes away. Pete had been giving me driving lessons, and I felt proud that I could get myself there safely. Just an hour was all I needed. I’d probably be back before they all woke up.
The convenience store was small but quaint. I could see the car from the storefront which helped me relax. This was the middle of nowhere. It shouldn’t take long for me to pick up a few groceries. Surely Peter would understand. I couldn’t let us all starve.
I’d been shopping for about ten minutes, filling up the cart when a noise behind me caused my heart to stutter and beat erratically.
“Well, if it isn’t Edge’s little piece of ass.”
Edge? Who the hell was Edge?
I spun around in time to see the asshole who hit me the day Charles was taken, Devlin. A tall, muscular Native American guy stood beside him with a cruel smile on his face. Next to them both was a face I hadn’t seen since the drive-in. The same guy who tried to steal my treats, the scar that ran along the left side of his face lifting his smile into a calculating sneer of frightening pleasure.
They found me.
Shit.
I WAS FORCED INTO THE back of a black van with tinted windows. The Native American guy literally threw me inside like a ragdoll and I crashed into the hard interior. There wasn’t much inside but a metal frame and thin stained carpet that reeked of cigarettes and something foul.
“Careful Akando, she’s not here for you to knock around,” Scarface warned (I decided to give him that nickname for the time being). “I’ve got plans.”
Devlin, my worst fucking nightmare, was watching me with a hungry predatory look in his dark eyes, “I want to break her in first. That pussy has been dangled in my face far too long.” He grabbed his crotch and smiled, a cruel grin forcing a shiver to run through my body.
Oh, God. I forced a steady breath. I didn’t want to lose my temper or my ability to think straight with these bikers. Keep breathing, I thought, just focus and stay calm.
“Shut the fuck up Dev, I’m first in line.” Akando grabbed my chin and forced me to meet his hard gaze. “You’re gonna love what I give you baby and scream for it too.”
I swallowed in disgust and turned my head, yanking it free from his grasp. These words were meant to terrify and unnerve me. A show of force and domination that proved I was under their complete control. I’m certain I was taken because of Charles. Didn’t Pete and R.J. say that very thing days ago, right before they left?
“You’re not stupid enough to do that,” I pointed out. “Peter would seek vengeance. You can use me as a bargaining chip and hostage, but you can’t hurt me. We all know that.” My chin rose in defiance and false courage. “I’ll play along with your game but remember that Pete is not one to mess with.”
Scarface laugh
ed, hard. “I like you Rae, more and more every minute that passes.”
“I can’t say the same,” I retorted, sizing him up and finding him lacking in every way.
He wasn’t thrilled with my obvious opinion and sneered, “I’d be careful Rae. Accidents can happen. I’m the only one you can trust right now, I wouldn’t be so quick to anger me.”
Akando laughed and pinched my ass before I scooted far away from him, “I’d listen to Bryce. He’s a killer.”
Dev laughed hard at his comment as Bryce – Scarface – seemed to get pissed.
“I’m not afraid of you, but you should be terrified of Pete,” I replied smugly, “he’s going to tear this place apart once he knows I’m gone.”
“Oh, he knows little Rae of sunshine, don’t you worry.” His finger brushed the side of my face. I turned my head, repulsed. “He’s coming, and that’s exactly what I want.”
How did he know about the ray of sunshine phrase? Only my dad or Pete ever mentioned it.
This was bad. I was in more danger than I thought.
I held my fear in check but only barely, “You should let me go. He’ll kill you for this.”
“What makes you think I’d let him live?”
I looked dead center in his eyes without blinking, my voice strong and confident, despite how terrified I was becoming, “Don’t fool yourself. Pete will end you and we both know it.”
For the first time his confidence slipped just a little, quickly replaced with anger as he grabbed my chin roughly forcing me to meet his cold stare, “If he’s going to kill me anyway, why shouldn’t I enjoy you a little first?”
The chill from his words froze my limbs and I stiffened, glaring at him in anger and defiance, “You can try.” Not really a threat but I’d fight to the death to keep their hands off me. I wasn’t going to be raped.
Fuck these assholes!
Bryce continued his perusal as we parked and the back doors of the van opened, searching my eyes as if trying to assess how big a risk he was willing to take. He pulled me out into some kind of warehouse and barked orders to the others. Without replying to my comments he seized my arm in his tight grasp and dragged me along the concrete floor of the warehouse and into a private office. The door was slammed shut behind us and the door locked before I could blink.
He turned to me, his voice low, and whispered one word, “Scream.”
Huh?
“For fuck’s sake, just scream.”
I blinked rapidly at his calm voice, the anger gone in an instant. He opened his mouth to say it again when I let out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed in the dark office and seemed to bounce off the walls. Outside the door I heard laughter, no doubt from Devlin, Akando, and a few of the others I saw gathering as we rushed past.
What the hell was happening?
I backed up as Bryce approached, but he lifted his hands in the air and paused when he noticed how freaked out I was becoming. “Stay back,” I warned.
“Listen, Rae,” he moved steadily forward as I darted behind one of the hard plastic chairs planted in front of a metal desk. This office needed remodeling, old as shit, smelling of mildew and completely gray from floor to ceiling. “I need to explain a few things, and if you can’t trust me it’s not going to work.”
“What’s not going to work?”
“Getting you out of here safe and unharmed and back to Edge where you belong.”
In total disbelief I sank into one of the chairs, staring up at him in surprise. “How? And why do you call him Edge?”
“I have to keep my voice low but before I say anything else you need to scream again.”
I frowned.
“Now,” he hissed.
“Fine,” I bit off, throwing my hands up in the air and opening my mouth, letting another scream belt out like I was a damn professional scream queen. Right in the middle of my performance his hand slapped over my mouth, abruptly cutting it off.
Outside a chorus of laughter sounded around us as footsteps shuffled past the door.
“I want her next!” Devlin yelled as he let out a loud catcall.
Holy Hell.
Just for maximum effect, I screamed again, more out of frustration than anything.
Bryce chuckled under his breath and took the seat next to me, leaning back and fixing me with a calculating stare that unnerved me.
“What?” I asked testily, glaring back.
“Damn, you sure are cute. If you weren’t already Edge’s old lady, I’d make a move and take you for my own.”
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or teasing, “Well as uh, flattering, as that may be, why don’t you get to the point?”
“I need you to give Edge a message for me. He needs to know I’m serious. Protecting you and returning you to him whole and untouched is my gesture of goodwill.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Goodwill? He’s the one who helped kidnap me!
“Why do you call him Edge?” I asked again since he didn’t bother to answer the last time I asked.
He waved the question away impatiently, “Not important. Everyone calls him Edge. It’s his name with the RRMC. The message I need him to hear is more important.”
“Alright, let me hear this message.”
His face lost the soft look and turned hard, a cruelty I would have thought couldn’t exist two minutes ago radiated from him. His right lip curled up, tugging his skin down and pulling his mouth upward, and stretching the long puffy scar that ran jagged across the left side of his face from temple to chin, “Striker, my father, is one crazy son of a bitch. He’s mixed up in some serious shit, and from what I understand he’s involved not only your stepdad Charles –”
“Vader,” I spat, “that jerk is not related to me.”
He managed to bark a low laugh and continued, “Rafe is involved too. Guns, drugs, and crossing not only state lines but international dealings with a few MCs and guys I wouldn’t fuck with. That’s saying a lot,” he interjected in case I wasn’t sure whether or not he was dangerous.
What an ego.
“So how is Charles involved?”
Let’s cross that bridge first.
“He’s beholden to Striker. He was stupid enough to owe him money and got himself addicted to some of the drugs we pushed, even if he is a casual user.”
“Meaning?”
“He’s bad news for your family Rae. You’ve got to make sure he isn’t allowed back in your house if he survives the tasks Striker has set for him. He’s just desperate enough to try anything. I don’t know if he’d hurt you or your mom, and you’ve got Leah too.”
I just stared at him, chills running up and down my spine, “How do you know so much about me?”
“I make it my business to know this town and the people in it, especially my rivals and enemies, just in case I need leverage.”
I swallowed hard. Leverage. Like now. I was only safe because it served his purpose. Sighing I stood and began to pace, chewing on my fingernails in nervous agitation, “Why was I taken, Bryce?”
“To prove a point to Edge. He’s too close to the truth, and if he gets mixed up in all of this shit, he’s going to end up dead. I’m giving you a chance to keep him far away. You were supposed to be hurt today,” he admitted, “so Edge knows we mean business.”
“Yet you aren’t hurting me. Why?” I sank down next to him again, shaking my head. “Just tell me, please.”
“Maybe I’m a decent guy Rae.”
I searched his eyes, giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I knew how ruthless this MC was and having Striker for a father meant he had a cruel and difficult upbringing, “I’d like to believe that, but we both know it isn’t the case.”
He tilted his head, a smirk riding his features, “You’re pretty observant honey.”
Despite the situation, I laughed, “You’re mental.”
He shrugged but couldn’t hide the small smile I glimpsed before he stood all business. Bryce’s hand reached for mine and pulled me
up, yanking me close. His cool blue eyes assessed my face, and then he leaned down like he was going to kiss me.
What the hell?
I let my hand fly, the sound crackling in the air as my palm hit the side of his face, “Are you retarded?”
He started to laugh loudly when my hand covered his mouth and I told him to hush. He didn’t move it and chose to lick my palm instead.
Gross!
“Hit me,” he ordered.
“Excuse me?”
“Hit me. If we walk out that door looking like we had the time of our lives they’ll know I didn’t touch you and then Devlin will make sure it happens, with my consent or not.”
I sighed, lifting my hand and smacking the side of his face.
His brow arched. “Seriously? That’s all you got?” Before I could reply he snatched my top and tore it at the neckline, ripping the fabric and exposing a good portion of my chest, his nail snagging on my skin and part of the lace leaving a welt and ruining part of my expensive bra.
“Ouch!” I hissed, covering my exposed cleavage but he was staring intently, desire filling his cool ocean blues. Next thing I knew his mouth was on my breast, sucking the skin as he started to give me a hickey. “Stop!” I cried, hitting and punching him but he latched on, his grip tightened around my waist.
Now I was in serious trouble.
Never let your guard down stupid!
I kicked at his shins and brought my knee up to his groin, but he blocked me chuckling as I fought.
Oh, so this was funny?
Pissed off, I leveled him with a strong right hook, knocking him off balance as the suction on my chest was broken and he stumbled, both of us crashing to the floor. My head bounced off the concrete and his hand at the same time as he cradled it and I moaned.
“Shit! That wasn’t supposed to happen sweetness. You alright?”
“You just gave me a hickey!” I accused, livid with his careless behavior. My head spun with vertigo for a moment before I could focus again.
“I sure did. You taste delicious Rae, and I needed a little revenge on that bastard of a fiancé of yours. Tell him that’s for the dick pic.” he felt the side of his jaw and moved it around, a popping sound filling the quiet space. “You pack a nice little punch sweet stuff.”