by April Lust
Isabella could burst right now. She lifted her leg and kicked at Lionel, struggling to break free from him. He wrapped a leg around hers and forced her legs apart, into an uncomfortable wide straddle. She couldn’t move the way he held her. One arm wrapped around her throat, the other arm wove between her back and arms, his two legs twisted around hers. He released the arm at her throat and threaded it instead through her hair, pulling back hard so that her head tilted up.
He licked her neck and whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait until Jace gets here. I’m going to tie him up and make him watch. You know what I’m going to do then?” He made a groaning noise in her ear. He hand released her hair and he reached around to grab her breast. He squeezed hard, until she cried out. “Oh, I like that. Do that again.”
She shook her head and felt the tears welling in her eyes. Not that. He wouldn’t. Would Jace really let him do that to her? Would he be able to stop him?
“I’m going to do you so hard, right in front of Jace and your little brat. Then, I’m going to kill you real slow. Then, I’m going to kill that asshole boyfriend of yours. Don’t worry, though. When I kill Sara, I’ll make it quick, I promise. Though I can’t promise I won’t let one of my guys have her first. Some of them are kind of perverted, I have to admit. Gross the things they do to little kids.” He shook his head as if he was disgusted.
He had to be just saying this to upset her. She couldn’t allow this possibility to exist. The whole world was turning red now. She clamped her mouth shut. Don’t respond, don’t respond. Don’t let him know he got to you. That’s what he wants. He wants to unravel you. And it’s working. Don’t let him see it.
“Let go of me,” she hissed. She made the words as harsh as she could. If she sounded mad, maybe she wouldn’t sound so distraught.
“Sure.” He laughed again. “Enjoy what little time you have left.”
He let go of her and she almost fell, but slid to her knees and grabbed Sara into her arms. She pulled her onto her lap, her little hands still reaching back because of the handcuffs. Sara buried her face into her chest and cried.
“Mommy, they just took me!”
“I know, baby, but it’s okay now.” She ran her fingers down her hair to comfort her. She picked up Cuddles and snuggled her against Sara’s chest. “See, Cuddles and Mommy are both here. It’s going to be okay.”
“Why did that man do that to you?”
Isabella dropped her voice. “He’s a bad man, sweetie. It’ll be okay. Jace and some good men are on their way and they’ll save us.”
Lionel stood there, watching them with his arms crossed. He had a gun in his hand now and held it casually but threateningly.
“Can we go home?” Sara asked. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“Soon, baby. Soon. Just hang in there a little longer and it’ll be over.”
“I’m scared, Mommy. I want to go home right now.”
“Me too. Me too.”
“Aww, why don’t you just tell her the truth?” Lionel asked. “Tell her you’re both going to die and these are your last minutes together.”
Sara pressed her face harder into Isabella, rubbing dirt and tears all over her shirt.
Isabella glared at Lionel and stroked Sara’s head again. “It’s okay. Don’t listen to him,” she whispered.
They sat there for a while, rocking. Isabella tried to calm her and comfort her in whatever way she could. She kept Sara’s face hidden so she didn’t have to see the gun pointed at her. If Jace was really on his way, where was he already? She strained her ears to listen, hoping the sound of his bike would come to her.
She heard the front door slam and she jumped. Was it him? Was he here? She sat up straighter, listening and waiting.
“Lionel, come here!”
She didn’t recognize the voice that called out to Lionel. Maybe it was the man who’d grabbed her when she walked in.
Lionel left the room.
“Shh,” she said to Sara. “Someone is here.”
“Who is it?” Sara asked.
“I don’t know. I’m trying to hear. Shhh.”
“Are they here to save us?”
“I don’t know. Shh.”
Isabella hugged her tighter, hoping to keep her from making noise so she could hear. Someone was talking, but it was too muffled to be able to tell who it was. She didn’t hear any bikes. That didn’t mean anything necessarily, but she’d feel better if she had heard some. Then she’d know it was him.
Footsteps came toward the room. Someone was coming, but walking slowly. It was probably just Lionel.
She looked up as he stepped into the room and her heart stopped.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my little wife and child.”
Craig glared down at her with a menacing smile. She couldn’t speak. Sara whipped her head around at the sound of his voice.
“Daddy?” she asked.
Sara cringed and started to shake. Her fear of him was evident in the way she looked up at her mommy, as if asking to be taken away from him. Isabella wrapped her arms around her tighter and pressed her face into her again.
How in the world was Craig here? How had he found them? What would happen now? Where was Jace? Terror turned to liquid and rushed through her veins. She’d been afraid of the guns and afraid to die, but she was more afraid that somehow she’d have to go home with Craig. Be his wife again. Go back to living with him and doing as he said. Go back to that life where nothing was ever right and she was never good enough and every time she fell short of his idea of perfection, she was beaten for it. Where Sara, too, was hit for being a child. For being herself. She’d rather die than go back to that life. She would die if it came to that. She’d gladly give her life for Sara to be free that. She’d take Craig out and go to prison for the rest of her life if she had to. She would not go back. Not for a second. She would do anything to avoid that. Anything.
“Did you think you could just leave me and I would do nothing about it? You think I’d let you take my child from me like that?”
Isabella looked up at him. She had nothing to say to that. How could she get out of this? Get away from him? Keep him from taking Sara? Keep him from dragging her back to that hell hole she’d tried to make a home?
“Oh, come on. Say something, Fifi. Didn’t you miss me?”
She hated when he called her that. Always had. And he did it all the time, on purpose, just to drive her nuts. She moved her hand to cover Sara’s ears. She didn’t need to hear any of this.
“No,” she said. “Why would I miss someone hitting me all the time?”
“Don’t act like it didn’t turn you on. I bet you’re so hot for me right now, you’re about to burst. Maybe we can find an empty room and have a little makeup sex. I hear that’s the best kind. I miss your sweet ass being wrapped tight around my dick.”
Her face flushed. Why was he always so crude? And in front of Sara? He really didn’t think at all. And he really didn’t care. How had she ever loved this man? Her heart ached for Jace. Seeing Craig again brought the two of them into clear focus, highlighting the vast differences between them. Jace was nothing like him and she’d been crazy to ever think he was.
“Lucky for me, when you left, it didn’t take long to find you. I’ve been watching you for months now. The Reapers have been a huge help keeping an eye on you.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Months? He’d been watching her that long? He’d known where she was almost the whole time, then. She hadn’t been careful enough. Or sneaky enough. She really had thought she’d outsmarted him. She’d never been so wrong in all her life. God, she was stupid. How could she be so stupid? Of course he’d found her. Of course she’d never be able to escape living with him. Never escape that horrible life. She deserved nothing better than to be pushed around by him.
“I have to admit, you kinda threw things off when you picked up Jace on the side of the road. That was a strange coincidence. Who knew you were so compassionate? It w
as sweet, really. But then you had to go and keep him alive and bang him. And I’m sorry, but no one bangs my wife. Unless I’m getting paid for it. Oh, and Jace will pay, that’s for sure.” He punched his fist into his empty hand. “And you’ll pay for that, too, don’t worry. For being a little slut and opening your legs for the first guy who came along. I always knew you were a little whore, but I never expected this from you.” He shook his head. “You’ll need to be taught a lesson. Seems you forgot who you belong to. And that pussy is all mine and mine alone.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hand harder over Sara’s ear. She hoped she wasn’t hearing any of this. Not that she hadn’t heard things like this a hundred times before. She didn’t need to hear it another time though. Jace would never talk this way. He’d be pissed if he heard Craig talking like that in front of Sara.
Where was he? She should have given him the address. She should have begged him to come and waited for him. She’d listen to him from now. She wouldn’t go off and try to be brave and strong and do things on her own. Obviously, she needed him. She couldn’t do this on her own. She only got herself into more trouble.
And now what? Even if she got out of this with Sara, what would they do? They’d have to leave again. They’d have to go on the run, changes their names and their looks and hide forever. They’d have to always be watching their backs, afraid Craig would show up again at any time. And that was the way he wanted it, wasn’t it? Wanted to keep her afraid forever. It was just another way to control her.
Maybe Jace would go somewhere with them. Could he leave his club, though? She didn’t care what he had to do for money if it meant they could leave and Craig would never find them. All the crime seemed necessary now. Convenient even. He was less trackable if he was dealing in all cash. If he didn’t have a job with a paper trail. Maybe she could start selling drugs, too. Something to earn fast cash so they could keep moving. Keep running from him. Or maybe she could just kill him.
A life in jail or a life on the run? At least if she went to jail, Sara could have peace. Could have a nice, settled life free of fear. And she’d get to see her sometimes. That was better, wasn’t it? It was better for Sara, for sure. Who cared if it was better for her or not? Prison couldn’t be that bad. Maybe she could somehow get a lesser sentence because of the abuse, and maybe her crime would be considered self-defense. No way would she be able to kill him and have him not hit her or choke her or something in the process. So it would be self-defense, right? And that had to be a lesser sentence. Yes. That was her only way out for sure. Kill him.
“How many other men did you screw?” he barked. “Who else do I need to take out?”
She looked down at the ground. She wanted him to stop talking. She wished the ceiling would fall on him and take him out. Even being in the same room with him made her want to puke.
“Well, I guess it won’t matter much,” he said. “Lionel will kill this Jace guy and you’ll come home with me and I’ll bang you until you forget all about those other guys. I’ll bleed them out of you. You really made it easy on the Ghost Reapers, you know. On all of us. They needed to get to Jace. I needed to get to you. What better way than to take the kid, use her to get you, and use you to get him. Funny how life works. Seems that fate is on my side.”
Fate. Where was fate when she needed it? Where was fate now? And if fate was going to do this, then forget it. She didn’t need fate. She did need Jace though. Maybe he wasn’t coming after all. What if something had gone wrong? What if he didn’t know where to go? What if he never came? What would she do then? How would she get out of this?
“Come here, Fifi.” He held out his arms to her.
She shook her head. “Leave me alone.”
He laughed. “I don’t think so. You are my wife. Or did you forget the vow you made before God to love me forever?”
He stomped over to her and slapped her across the face. He yanked her arm, hard. Sara slipped from her lap and Isabella fell on her side, crashing into the ground. He reached around her middle and pulled her to her feet. Then he crushed her to him.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her cheek burned and her hip ached where she’d hit the floor. Her stomach turned and her whole body revolted against his closeness. She tried to push him back, but he held her tighter.
“What a lovely little family reunion,” he said.
He grabbed her jaw and tilted her face toward him, then kissed her hard. His hands roamed all over her body, squeezing her butt and her breasts like he had so many times. He’s probably going to have sex with me right here in front of Sara, she thought. Not like he hadn’t done that before.
She stood still and didn’t kiss him back or touch him. Her arms hung at her side. The best thing was always just to let him do whatever he was going to do. Hopefully he’d be fast. Many times he was. He’d come into the room where she was folding laundry and he’d yank down her pants, bend her over, and shove inside her dry and hard. In a few minutes, he’d be done and he’d leave her alone. She’d cry and go to the bathroom and try to relieve the burning pain, and then she’d go back to the laundry.
That was just how things were for. For years, that was how they were. And when Sara came along, he certainly didn’t stop to make sure she was occupied or wasn’t watching. Several times, Sara had come to her after, asking too many questions. Isabella had gotten very good at having things ready to distract her, should Craig decide he was in the mood.
This time, though, there were several other men here. It was one thing when her husband had sex with her whenever he wanted, but it would be much worse if all the others did, too. And Craig might like that. Might like to watch her suffering and hurting like that. Would probably get a kick out of it.
Where was Jace? She felt the tears running down her face. Why wasn’t he here?
Craig stuck his fingers in her hair and forced her to kiss him again. His slimy tongue found its way into her mouth. She wanted to bite it. She wanted to throw up. He made her feel so wretched. He disgusted her beyond disgust. He nearly choked her shoving his tongue in her mouth so far. She tried to back away, but he held her tight. She hoped Sara wasn’t watching. Hoped she was covering her eyes or clinging to Cuddles and not seeing what her daddy was doing to her mommy.
Finally, he dropped his arms and released his hold on her.
“You hear that?” He smiled menacingly.
She listened and at first, heard nothing. Then. Then, there was a faint sound in the distance, growing louder. A motorcycle engine. No. Not one. Many. They grew louder quickly, then stopped abruptly.
“I think it’s show time,” he said. “That must be your little boy toy and his MC.” He rubbed his hands together and licked his lips. “Time for action.”
He grabbed her one more time and kissed her, slapped her again across the opposite cheek, then let her go. She fell to the ground and scooped Sara back up.
Craig turned and grabbed his crotch. “Soon, Fifi. Soon.”
She closed her eyes to listen better. He was here. Finally. Jace had come to rescue her. Everything would be fine soon.
Chapter Thirteen
From where they stood outside the farmhouse, Jace heard shouting inside. Men calling out instructions to each other. They knew the Hawks were here. They were getting ready. Well, his guys were ready, too.
“Okay, let’s move. Weapons ready,” Jace said.
His guys took out knives and guns. He heard the sound of several slides being pulled back, loading bullets. They walked to the house, ears and eyes open.
“Alex and Aaron, circle around first.” Jace pointed to the side of the house. “Make sure no one is coming up behind us. We’ll keep lookout here while you sweep.”
Aaron and Alex inched to the side of the house, peeked around the corner, then walked out of sight. Jace kept his eyes peeled, watching the house for any movement, and listened carefully for his guys. They’d call out if something went wrong. Minutes later, Aaron and Alex appeared around the oth
er side of the house.
“All clear,” Aaron said.
They approached the porch with Jace and Aaron at the front, the rest of the guys right behind him. Jace lifted his leg and kicked the door, hard. It might not be locked, but busting the lock would make sure it didn’t get in their way later. The door crashed open to the sound of splintering wood.
Two of the Ghost Reapers ran at them, their guns pointing back at the Hawks’ guns. They stopped when they were feet apart and glared at each other.
“Where’s Lionel?” Jace demanded.
“With your girl, having a good time,” one of the men sneered at him.
Jace clenched his teeth and tried to ignore the comment. He was likely just trying to get him mad anyway. Giving in to that would only make things harder and get him tripped up. This was not the time to get tangled in too much emotion and let it cloud his thinking. He had two jobs to do. Save Isabella and Sara. Kill Lionel and his guys. Didn’t matter much what order they happened in, as long as they both happened.