She heard voices. Low and rough. She smelled things, overpowering sense. Weed, sweat, something cooking. Food. Her stomach grumbled. When was the last time she'd eaten anything? That didn't matter. But water did matter. She could barely open her mouth it was so dry.
She shifted slowly, trying not to make a sound, but her body protested with a low growl.
The men snapped around and looked at her.
“Sleeping beauty is awake then,” someone said. She recognized the voice. Badger? “Hey, Luther! Your girlfriend’s awake.”
Luther. Nina's heart raced. This time she was surely dead.
Nina groaned and pushed herself up on her elbows. She slowly rolled up to a sitting position. To her surprise, she wasn't bound. She assessed the room. She was in fact in an old cabin, the kind that circled the more remote part of the lake. A group of Luther's men sat around a table playing cards, smoking joints and drink beer. She saw Luther emerge from a back bedroom. He was wiping something from his hands that looked nauseatingly like blood. He smiled as he saw her. He wore tailored slacks and a dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up, the phoenix dancing on his muscular forearm. He still had on his tie loosened around his neck.
Luther came over and knelt beside her. With a smile, he reached out and stroked her sweaty hair, Nina instinctively flinched, pulling back, but she tried not to overreact.
She rolled her neck around, feeling the popping crack, and face Luther directly. She stared up into those dangerous eyes.
“How you feeling, miláček?” Luther asked with so much tenderness and sincerity in his voice it was enough to make anyone believe it was genuine.
“I've had better days,” Nina said. She forced a smile. She felt her lips crack as she moved them.
“Oh honey, you do look terrible. I'm sorry they roughed you up like that. But, you weren't cooperating.”
“Can I have some water?” Nina asked. Now wasn't the time to play difficult.
“Of course.” Luther got up and went to the kitchen and then came back with a cup of lukewarm tap water. Nina drank it slowly and calmly until it was empty.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “Now what.”
Luther rubbed his neck and looked as though he were thinking.
“I'm not sure what's next. I held out hope for you. Kurva! I really did. But you've really pissed me off for the last time.”
“I didn't do anything Luther. I kept my promise.”
Luther clutched a handful of her hair and pulled her hair back. “Oh, miláček, you never were a great liar. Now is not the time to practice. I know you're working with the DEA. I know you're fucking that cock sucker they have running the case.”
Nina willed her body not to react, praying her face remained a stoic mask. Luther knew her too well. He knew her better than anyone else ever had, he knew the nuances of her expressions, the flicker of her eyes and the flair of her nostrils.
“You were dead,” Nina said.
Luther looked at her affectionately, and then a moment later, smacked his hand across her cheek. She fell back and winced from the pain. Her teeth clacked together.
She bit down and faced him still.
“I'm not saying I didn’t expect you to move on with your life. But, I did expect you not to move on with the DEA. Don’t you know what a betrayal that is, miláček?” He pulled her head back further, exposing her throat. “God you have such a beautiful throat. I nearly forgot how fucking beautiful your skin is.”
He let her head go with a jerk and she slammed into the wall. Nina yelped.
“Are you going to kill me?” Nina said, rubbing her head.
Luther stood, cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. “Probably. I think I must. I mean, you betrayed us, Nina. You betrayed all of us. God, you're a smart woman, you know that? You really had me fooled. For a time, I really didn’t think you talked. I thought you took it like all of us, doing time like you're supposed to.”
“You want to talk about betrayal?” Nina said, growing obstinate. “You faked your own death so you could hide in the mountains like a coward.”
Luther laughed slightly. “I know that's probably what you think. That's what a lot of people thought. But I wasn't running and hiding. I was laying low, keeping myself alive to fight another day. And I was building things up back home. We still have business at stake. A lot of business. A lot of fucking money on the line.” He reached out and grabbed her hair again. “You have any idea how much money your little stunt cost me?”
“It's always about money for you isn't it, Luther?” Nina said.
“The world spins on money, miláček. But remember that I loved you. That's the reason that you're not already dead.”
Luther kissed her forehead, letting his warm lips linger.
Chapter 44
The next few minutes were a flurry of commotion and low chatter. Finally, they moved Nina to a back room. They hoisted her onto the bed and tied her hands behind her back around the bedpost with zip ties. She shifted, testing their strength but she knew there was absolutely no way to get out of these things.
“I have business to attend, miláček, but I will be back soon,” Luther said. “I trust you’ll behave?” He tenderly cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
Nina was left in the dim light, silence suffocating her. The minutes—possibly hours—ticked by as she ran through every possible scenario of escape. Hopelessness enveloped her like a dark cloud.
The door creaked open. She snapped up. Badger stood in the doorway, a lecherous grin on his face.
Nina stiffened and glanced behind him.
“No one home, love,” Badger said. “Left me in charge of guarding the precious goods.”
Nina’s heart palpitated but she kept a stony expression.
“Doubt they’d leave someone like you in charge of the goldfish.”
Badger’s smile fell and she knew she’d mis-stepped. But maybe not. She could use his pride to her advantage.
He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. With a smug grin, he made a show of turning the lock.
He looked back at her.
“Aren’t you a sight. A little tied up, huh?” He chuckled at his own banter.
Nina futilely tested the restraints again. The hard plastic dug into her skin.
“I know what you’re thinking, Badger, but it’s not a good idea. Luther will be back at any moment.” She said with coy suggestion and not threat.
Badger smiled. “They won’t be back for at least an hour. Plenty of time to take my time with you. At least twice.”
Nina’s insides turned over at the thought of him touching her but she knew this was her best chance. She tilted her head, bit her lip. She dropped her shoulder so that her tank top sleeve fell, revealing her black bra strap. Mob lackey, local cop, all the same. Walking, talking cocks.
Badger’s pupils flared and he came toward her. He fisted her hair and pulled her head back, exposing her neck. Her pulsed throbbed against her skin and he looked at her like he’d like nothing more than to bite right into her.
Under normal circumstances, she might be game.
“Luther won’t mind, will he?” Badger said.
Nina wanted to laugh. Are you kidding? Luther will gut you alive for this. But she only smiled as seductively as she could manage.
Badger pressed his mouth to her neck, running his tongue along her carotid. She fought back her revulsion.
He slipped his hand up her shirt, cupping her breast under her bra. He groaned.
“Perfect. Fuck. Don’t worry, I’ll be good to you. So good.”
Using his knees, he shoved her legs apart. Then his hands were down her jeans, rubbing, pressing, prodding. Her stomach turned. He pressed a finger inside her and it was all she could do not to urinate on him.
“Untie me,” she said, forcing her voice into a husky whisper.
“What?”
“Untie me.”
“I’m not stupid,” Badger said. He pressed another finger into
her.
Nina bit her cheek.
“If you cut my hands free I can do things to you. Don’t you want to know what it’s like to be Luther?”
His hand stopped moving and she saw the spark of the idea flash in his drab, bloodshot eyes.
Nina wiggled. “C’mon, Badger. I know exactly what to do. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Badger pressed his mouth to hers then, knocking her back. He thrust his tongue into her mouth. She gagged, wanting to throw up but she pressed back, slipping her tongue into his mouth. She felt his hard dick against her leg.
Badger pulled away, the clear sheen of desire in his eyes. Without a word, he slipped a knife from his back pocket and cut open the zip ties.
The bonds broke and Nina’s hands fell free. In an instant her knee landed in Badger’s groin. He choked and keeled over, grabbing the bedpost to steady himself. Nina seized the moment and grabbed the knife from Badger’s loosened grip.
Badger snapped back to attention, but he wasn’t quick enough. Nina slashed the knife across his neck. He gasped, blood bubbling from his throat, then he collapsed to the wooden floor in a puddle of viscous red.
A shock of guilt went through her but not enough for her to turn around.
She didn't bother to look back as she ran out of the room toward the front door.
She grabbed the knob and tried to pull but it was locked. She could hear them coming behind her. She spotted a gun on the table and snapped it up. She fired a few rounds into the knob until it fell free. She kicked the door open and ran out into the cold night air.
The brisk night air assaulted her senses, nearly knocking her back. The night was a conspiracy of truncated sounds, distant rustles and faint whispers on the wind. Nina breathed, focused, tried to isolate decibels on the air. She was on the lake, and the cabin in the middle of the woods. Where was she going to go?
She spotted the bikes lined up in the corner and ran toward them. She hopped on the first one and saw that thankfully the keys were in the ignition. She revved it up and took off.
It was only a moment before she heard engines revving behind her and the chase hot on her tail. She would only be mere seconds in front of them.
She went full speed, as fast as she could, her sharp night vision kicking into gear. She tore through the woods and down the path. She drove around the lake in a fury. The night was crystal clear, the moon bright. A thousand stars danced above. This part of the lake was completely unoccupied this time of year and the only sign of life was the roar of guttural engines behind her.
She breathed slowly, calmly, and tried to keep steady, taking sharp turns as the lake zigzagged.
In her rearview she could see them on her tail. They were only feet behind her at this point. This is it. This was her last chance. So clichéd, but everything flashed before her. All her mistakes, all the people in her life that mattered. Her friends, everyone at the Black Cat. She thought of Cammy, Abby and Jake. She pictured their sweet big eyes, the baby laughs. She thought of birthday parties and Christmases and all the things that she could have taught them. She could have been the fun aunt, the edgy one who slipped in candy before dinner when mom wasn't looking.
She thought of her mother growing old, bitter, still angry at Nina. Would she ever forgive her? Would Nina always be the dark spot on the family tree, the one no one really wanted to talk about? She thought of the friends she used to have before she'd made so many mistakes. She thought of Beck. His face, soothing, comforting like a warm blanket, was before her. She wished she’d said so many things to him now. She wished she had told him how much he’d meant to her through this. How she trusted him, how she wished she could give him more. But it was too late now. The engines grew louder, deafening and consuming. They came up at her side and she felt a jolt. They were ramming into her, but she kept steady. She was surrounded. With one final slam, one crashed into her and her bike went veering off the path directly into the lake. Nina had only the forethought of sucking in one breath before she tumbled into the icy water.
Chapter 45
Nina choked and gasped as her lungs filled with water. She flailed, her clothes weighing her down. The bike was on top of her as it pushed her deeper. Calm down, she told herself. Focus. Like a fish, she slithered out from under the bike and forced herself to swim to the surface.
The lake water was bitter cold and tasted of fish and salt. She felt debris floating into her mouth. Finally, she splashed to the surface.
Nina choked and gasped as she struggled for air. The icy water pulled her down assisted by weight of all her heavy clothing. She floundered about the water, still groggy and disoriented. Then she felt hands on her arms, pulling her up. She shrieked and flailed and kicked, but the hand came down over her mouth.
“Shush! Keep your voice down. It's me.”
That voice, like soothing honey on a dry throat. She relaxed and then assisted in pulling herself out of the water. Beck pulled her up into him. He pressed her into his chest.
He pulled her face up to meet his, wiping the wet hair from her face.
“Nina are you okay? Are you injured?”
Nina did a quick assessment of herself. She was definitely banged up and she might very well have broken something in the fall, but right now she couldn't feel anything. Her entire body was numb. She couldn't think.
She shook her head.
“I don’t know, probably, but I can't feel it.”
Beck laughed and pulled her close again.
“Okay, we don't have time to do an assessment now. Let's get the hell out of here.”
“Wait, Luther!”
“Yeah they’re just around the bend, shh.”
“You saw him?”
“Yes. You can’t seem to get rid of him, can you?” Beck said.
“Jealous?” Nina said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Beck rolled his eyes. “Seriously Nina now is not the time for that.”
“How did you know where to find me?” Nina said.
“I'll explain later. Come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “You think you can ride?”
Nina nodded fervently. “Whether or not I think I can, I don’t have another choice right? I don't see a car out here.”
“You're so pragmatic. What I love about you.”
Nina froze and gave him a questioning look.
“Oh relax, don't read into everything everyone says. Just get on the bike.”
Nina loaded onto the back and Beck kick-started it. He took off running. They circled around the lake.
Nina clutched Beck tightly from behind as they rode through the night. He was going at a steady pace, taking turns with delicate ease. She knew he was doing it for her sake. She leaned in closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled tightly. For a brief moment she could pretend they were riding off to somewhere romantic and safe, and not running from her worst nightmare.
The came around the edge, and quickly her serenity was shattered. There in a row, was Luther and his men, waiting patiently. He had a look of frustrated fury on his face. But ever calm and collected. Ever stoic. Even in his moments of violent outburst, Luther still had a controlled sensibility about him. Everything he did was deliberate. He was never reckless.
Beck’s bike skidded to a slow and then he sharply turned it to backtrack, nearly knocking Nina off.
He took off in the other direction but they didn't get far. Luther’s entourage cut them off at the path. Beck’s bike skidded through the dirt and he coaxed it to a stop. He instantly whipped out his gun. Nina did the same. Luther's men didn't move. Nina's heart pounded. What was the move here? What was Luther getting at?
“He wants me alive,” Nina said low and under her breath.
Beck glanced back to her. “What?”
“Luther wants me alive. They're not going to kill me.”
Nina swallowed hard
“But they'll kill me,” Beck said.
“Yes. They will kill you.”
&nbs
p; “Not if I kill them first,” Beck said. He cocked the gun.
“Beck, be careful,” Nina said, keeping her own gun pointed.
“Just put those down,” Luther called out. “Nina just come with us. Don’t make this difficult.”
“On your life, asshole!” Nina screamed back.
“Come on now, you know what happens when you don't cooperate. Do you really want us to have to hurt Cammy and those two precious children?”
Nina's stomach turned over, but she held tight. They didn't have Cammy. He was bluffing.
“Nina, I’ve been patient with you thus far. But my patience is thinning,” Luther said.
“I'm gonna need all of you to back the fuck up and disarm. I’m a federal agent,” Beck shouted. “I’ve already radioed for backup. So unless you all fancy getting your heads blown off, I’d get on those little prissy boy bikes and dance back to safety.”
Nina’s heart raced at his baiting. Luther wouldn’t be intimidated by the entire SWAT team, let alone a solo Beck.
Luther snickered, unamused or moved. “No sir, I don't think I will. I think I might put a bullet right through your head.”
“You can try,” Beck said.
Nina felt it on the air before the hellfire shattered the night.
One of the men snapped up his gun, but Beck was faster, firing off three shots, taking him out.
He grabbed Nina and pulled her down behind the bike as they returned fire. Nina yelped as her tailbone collided with a rock.
“Sorry,” Beck said, tossing Nina an apologetic look.
“No need,” Nina said, returning fire with her own gun.
There was a barrage of bullets flying back and forth until finally the air silenced. Nina breathed, her breath sounding like a drum echoing in the still night air.
Finally, she heard a familiar voice.
“Nina, I'm unarmed don't shoot.” It was Luther.
The Redemption Lie Page 24