Captured Devil's Blaze MC Book 1

by Jordan Marie

  “That’s good. Any word on how long it’s going to last?”

  “No. The doctor said the surgery could last anywhere from an hour to several hours. It just depends on how he heals and what they find once they start exploring.”

  “You’ll keep me updated?”

  “Of course. Are you doing okay? Anything going on?”

  “I’m fine, querida. I told you to stop worrying. Colin will need to regroup before he even thinks of striking back.”

  “I know, I’m just worried.”

  “I got this. Have some faith.”

  Beth grows quiet and I get the sense that once again she’s planning something. I’ve had this suspicion for a few days now. The only problem is, I don’t have any idea what it is. I’ve done the only thing I know to do: I’m having her watched and guarded heavily.

  “I love you, Skull.”

  “I love you too, mi cielo. I’ll show you tonight. I find I’m missing my woman,” I tell her and I’m not joking. I’ve not been between those thighs in at least two nights. She was so upset since Annabelle’s death, and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything other than hold her and let her know I love her.

  “Finally.”

  “Hey, if you didn’t like it, you could’ve jumped my bones,” I tell her, deadly serious.

  “I’ll make note of that.”

  “See that you do. You call me if you need me, and keep Briar and K-Rex with you all the time. I don’t know Cade’s men, but I trust Briar and K-Rex to make sure you’re fine.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I think I like when you talk like that, Beth.”

  “Don’t get used to it,” she laughs.

  “Talk to you this evening, mi cielo.”

  “This evening,” she agrees. “Love you, sweetheart.”

  “You too,” I tell her with a smile, hanging up the phone.

  I have a surprise for her this evening and I’m hoping she doesn’t turn me down. When I pick her up, I’m going to run by an ex-member’s house. The dude is crazy as fuck, but he has a license, and I’m marrying Beth.

  I want her as my wife as well as my old lady. Part of it is because if Colin manages to get his hands on her, I don’t want him to be able to claim her. I know the fucker will try. This way, he’ll have to get rid of a husband before he can. Our surveillance has shown that he’s been meeting with a wedding planner about his wedding with Beth. Fuck that shit.

  I haven’t told Beth; she’s got enough on her plate. Besides, it’s not all about that. I know she said she couldn’t have kids, but I was serious with her. I’m not going to rest until it happens. I have a vision of her nursing my child and I want that so fucking much. I won’t stop until it happens, and when it does, we will be married. No child of mine will be born out of wedlock. I might make up my own rules, but my madre would come back from the dead and scalp me if I didn’t follow the rules she held dear.

  Tonight, Beth will be mine in all ways that matter. Colin can suck it.

  I’m alone in Beast’s room. I can’t remember that ever happening. K-Rex is right outside the door and Briar just left to go talk with Cade’s men. Still, for the first time I can remember in forever, I’m actually alone. I’m above ground… and alone. I would almost celebrate, but instead I feel vulnerable and scared, and I hate that.

  I’m using the laptop Skull bought me to finish my studies. I’ll be taking my GED in a few days. There’s no way I could finish high school the old-fashioned way, but Skull knew how important it was to me, so he’s helping me work around that and achieve it in a different way. I wish I’d met him under different circumstances.

  The phone rings again. It’s only been an hour since Skull checked on me. Surely he knows I’ll call him the minute I know anything about Beast.

  “Skull, sweetheart, I told you I’d call you the minute I knew anything about Beast,” I say, answering the phone.

  “Elizabeth.”

  My heart freezes. Only one person ever calls me Elizabeth. And, if it had been ten minutes, ten hours, or ten hundred years, I would know that voice… I used to adore that voice.

  “Dad.”

  “I’ve missed you, sunshine.”

  I say nothing. There’s nothing to say. How can he miss someone he gave away?

  There’s silence for a few minutes, then I hear his heavy sigh. “I need to see you, sunshine.”

  “I can’t right now. There are things going on. It’s just not possible,” I tell him. It’s truthful, but what I leave out is that even if nothing was going on, I never want to see him. I don’t even want to look at him. How could he think I would? He took my sister away from me. He chose her over me. There’s a list of offenses he’s committed and I’m not about to forgive any of them.

  “Elizabeth—” he starts.

  I don’t let him finish. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I don’t know how you tracked me, but please pretend you never did,” I say, and I’m pulling the phone away from my ear when I hear him say the one thing that would make me stop.

  “Skull’s life depends on this, Elizabeth. You need to talk to me.”

  I get this sick feeling in my stomach. How can Skull’s life depend on it? Why would this war involve my father in any way? I try and breathe through my panic and pull the phone back to my ear.

  “I’m listening.”

  “Not over the phone. It’s not safe. You will need to come to me.”

  “There’s no way to arrange that. Skull, unlike some men, makes sure the people he loves are safe. He has men with me all the time, especially when he can’t be here himself.”

  My father sighs, and I know my verbal strike hit its target. Too bad I can’t feel any joy from it.

  “In fifteen minutes, Pistol will show up and take Briar’s place.”

  Again my father manages to take my breath away. How does he know Skull’s men? How does he know their names? Worse, how does he know what’s about to happen?

  “How do you—”

  “That’s not important right now. Listen closely. When Pistol gets there, he will escort you down to the cafeteria. You will follow him and not alert anyone to what is about to happen. When you get there, excuse yourself to the restroom. Once you’re there, there’s a small hall off to the right. Pistol will lead you to it. That goes to the kitchen. Someone will be waiting for you there. Don’t mess this up, Elizabeth. I’m trying to save lives here, but if you don’t cooperate, that won’t be possible.”

  “Why should I trust you?”

  “Because you don’t have a choice, sunshine. I’ll be waiting,” he says, then hangs up.

  My hand is shaking when I put the receiver back into the cradle. My heart is slamming against my chest. I’ve imagined seeing my father in a million different ways, and none of them included this one. The door opens and I look up to see Briar. My first instinct is to ask what’s going on, but right behind him comes Pistol—just like my father said.

  “Beth, are you okay?” Briar asks. I can’t stop my eyes from going to Pistol. He looks at me impassively, but his hands are on the gun he keeps in a holster just beneath his leather cut. He makes sure I see it. The bastard knows exactly what he’s doing. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and look back at Briar. I can’t risk him getting hurt.

  “I’m fine,” I insist. “Just worried about Beast. The surgery seems to be taking a while.”

  “That’s why I’m late. The doctor tracked me down at the nurse’s desk. Beast pulled through and the surgeon was encouraged by the results.”

  “That’s great,” I tell him, genuinely relieved.

  “Yeah, it is. I’m going back to report to Skull and do a few things. Pistol here will be taking over for me. K-Rex is going to stand guard over our vehicles because one of Cade’s men got sick. If you need me, all you have to do is call.”

  “Sounds good. I’m actually getting a little hungry now that I know Beast is going to be okay. Could you take me down to the cafeteria, Pistol?”

  H
e clears his throat and his disgusting voice has a tinge of joy in it. I want to hit him in the balls. “Sure thing. Getting a little hungry myself.”

  “Great. I’ll ride down the elevator with you two, then,” Briar adds.

  We all go out and I’m doing my best to walk and keep my shaky legs from giving out on me. I manage to laugh or respond where it’s needed as Briar talks. We part ways when the elevator stops on the first floor, then Pistol puts his hand to my back and leads me to the cafeteria. When we get there, right away I recognize one of Cade’s men. Skull made sure he introduced me to every one of them so I’d know who they were if I needed help. Ironically, I think it’s these men who may be helping to hurt me. Well, them and Pistol, obviously.

  “I need to go to the restroom,” I announce, loud enough so Cade’s man can hear me. He starts to come forward, but Pistol waves him off.

  “I got this. Come on Beth, I’ll escort you.”

  Asshole.

  I follow him. As soon as we’re out of the other’s vision, I jerk away from him. “Skull will have your head,” I hiss.

  “He won’t ever know.”

  “You’re disgusting. Skull thinks of you as his brother. Don’t you have any ethics?”

  “I’m not dying over some fucking whore of a woman. Now hurry up. Daddy waits,” he says. I really seriously hate him. If I survive this, I need to make sure Skull knows he can’t trust him.

  We walk from the hall into the kitchen and there, surrounded by the silver counters and lunchroom equipment, is the one person I never thought I would see again in my life.

  “Hello, sunshine.”

  My fucking father.

  I look at my daughter, and she’s beautiful. I’ve missed both her and Katie. They might be twins, but they’re as different as night and day. Beth was always the one who had the more innocent personality. That only grew stronger as they aged. I know she hates me. Why wouldn’t she? I’ve done everything wrong with them from the beginning, including their mother. How I ever got ensnared by that bitch Isabel is beyond me. She cost me everything. I can’t let emotion get involved here, though. I have to protect my daughter, even if she hates me. That’s the only thing that’s important. I lost my chance at being a father a long time ago.

  “I’m here. What do you want?” she asks me, and I doubt she realizes how much like Katie she actually sounds in this moment.

  “I know you’re upset with me, sunshine, but I really am trying to save you here.”

  “I didn’t ask for your help. The way I see it, you gave up all rights to even be involved in my life years ago. Now, I don’t know how you got these men to help you, but I would suggest that you—”

  “They work for me,” I tell her, interrupting before she can continue. The hate in her voice is slowly killing me. My words, at least, stop her.

  “What? … How?”

  “There are things you don’t know about me, Elizabeth.”

  “Imagine that,” she says harshly.

  “Are you going to listen or not? Our time is limited here and I thought you’d be interested in saving your boyfriend.”

  “Why would you save Skull?”

  She’s suspicious of me, and she has a right to be. Hell, I don’t give two shits about that damned biker. However, thanks to the moves that Colin has made, I’m left with little choice.

  “My name isn’t Roger Bailey.”

  Beth tenses up with my announcement. I hate to tell her like this, but I have no choice.

  “What’s your name?” she whispers, her face pale.

  “Redmond Donahue.”

  “Donahue?” she asks, even paler than before.

  “I’m the leader of the family, Elizabeth.” I tell her. Shock comes over her entire face, her body swaying, and I know she’s going to faint. I see it coming. I lean over and catch my daughter right before she hits the floor.

  I come to slowly. I don’t think I’ve been out long because I’m lying in Roger’s… Redmond’s… whoever-he-is’s lap. We’re still in the kitchen. His face is laced with concern and I try to block that out. He doesn’t have a right to be concerned about me. Not now. Not ever again. He gave away that right. I jerk up fast and instantly regret it because the world swims.

  “Easy, sunshine,” he says.

  “Stop calling me that!” I scream, and I don’t care if it does sound like a temper tantrum. He left me! He gave me away and now I find out he’s not even the man I thought he was all this time! I jerk out of his arms and stand up without his help. I back away to put distance between us. His face briefly twists with pain. He doesn’t deserve that either. He should try being a little girl and finding out her father, the only person she thought ever really loved her, gave her away. Then he’d understand pain.

  “Elizabeth, time is running out.”

  “If you’re a Donahue, why can’t you make Colin pull back? Why do you need me here?”

  “Because your boyfriend declared war on Colin, but I’m the one who runs the family. To step back after all of the attacks he’s made will make me look weak. You can’t be weak in this line of work sun—Elizabeth. That would only sign my death warrant.”

  “What are you doing?” I ask him, worried about what he’s doing to retaliate. I may have to give Skull away, but I couldn’t handle it if he dies. I just, couldn’t.

  “It will be a small strike. Nowhere near what I’m capable of. But, I will pull my punches, if you work with me.”

  “Work with you? Why would I do that?”

  “Because I’m trying to protect you. The family is already viewing me as weak. I have to watch my steps before that bastard Colin succeeds in overthrowing me.”

  “Why did I never know you were part of the Donahues? How are you kin to Edmund? Did mom know?” I ask my questions. I have so many of them now and I’m trying to hold them back, but I find I just can’t.

  “I tried to retire. It’s something hardly ever done in the family. Isabel had just found out she was pregnant with twins. I wanted to take her and my babies away from all of it, to try and be… a real dad.”

  Disgust rolls in my stomach because I know just how miserably he failed at it. “They wouldn’t let you?”

  “For a while, but Isabel started talking to my brother. She told him the name I was using and where we were. She hated not being part of the family. She wanted the power and the prestige that came with being one of the Donahues. By the time I realized Edmund had found out where I was, it was too late.”

  “Edmund was your brother? Why did it matter if he knew where you were?” I ask. It doesn’t surprise me about my mom. She’s cold, always was. She also loved everything about money.

  “He was younger than I was and because of that, I inherited the throne, as it were. Edmund always resented that. Even when I stepped down and he took over, he wasn’t satisfied. The only way he would ever be happy is if I was dead and my heirs contained.”

  “Contained?”

  “In Katie’s case, it was a hit on her life. In yours, it was to groom you to be Colin’s bride.”

  That’s always disgusted me, but now… “He’d be my cousin! My first cousin! That’s not just gross, I’m pretty sure that’s illegal!”

  “That doesn’t matter to Colin. He’s trying to forge ahead with his Dad’s plans and that means claiming you to gain his position in the family. As long as you and I are alive, Colin’s chance to rule will never happen.”

  This family is even more fucked up than I thought, and that’s saying something. “Let’s cut the bullshit, dad. What do you want me for?”

  “Believe it or not, all I want is to save your life, Elizabeth. Help me to do that. I can’t strike out at Colin right now. He has too many on his side and I’m weak. I have targets through which they can strike out and hurt me. Help me to save your life so I can gain complete control of my empire once more… and I’ll let your boyfriend live.”

  My heart stutters to a stop before pounding erratically in my chest. I don’t know why, but
somehow I know his plan will destroy me. The problem is, I love Skull. I’ll do anything to save him.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Leave Skull and pretend to die.”

  He says it so simply, so matter-of-factly… the words seem so benign, so easy and unassuming. They aren’t, though. Just the thought of those words rips my heart out. I keep hearing Latch tell me I need to have faith in my man. I’m already shaking my head no and backing away from this monster who wants to call himself my father. Unfortunately, I back straight into Pistol. He grabs my arms, refusing to let me leave.

  “Listen to him,” whispers Pistol in my ear. “If you stay with Skull, you’re both going to die. There’s nothing to stop it.”

  “Elizabeth. It’s the only way. I can save your man,” my father joins in, and my stomach is turning so much that I want to throw up.

  “Why?” I whisper. “Why would I trust you, let alone help you, in this crazy scheme?”

  “Because I have something you want, and proof that I can protect you and this Skull.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your sister, Katie.”

  “What?”

  “Katie is alive, Elizabeth. Alive and happy.”

  If I had it in me, I’d faint again. If I had the courage that Latch says I have, I’d run straight to Skull. Instead, I stand there as Redmond hands me pictures of a blonde who looks so much like me that we could be twins—because we are. It’s Katie. There are at least twenty pictures of her. Pictures of her growing up, pictures of her laughing, pictures of her singing, pictures of her blowing out birthday candles—all pictures of Katie. My twin. The woman I thought was lost to me forever. My best friend. My… sister.

  I’m crying my eyes out, sinking slowly to the floor. I hold the pictures to my chest like you would something precious… because they are.

  My sister is alive.

  “What are we doing here?” Beth asks, looking at the small white house I’ve parked in front of. She’s been different ever since I picked her up from the hospital. I asked her what’s wrong, but she only said she was tired. I can’t help but feel like it’s something else. Still, I’m not pressing her on it because there are more important things to deal with.