Outlaw's Wrath - An MC Brotherhood Romance Boxed Set

by Glass, Evelyn

  His question was rhetoric. They went over this many times in the past hour. He’d already been to the police station and filed charges of kidnapping. Given that Tasha saw the whole thing made the police take quick action, but of course, they weren’t sure if the police search would yield result. As far as Tasha could recall, the van didn’t have any identifying marks, and it was quite possible that the number plates weren’t original. This whole thing was organized. It wasn’t an impulsive plan, so naturally the kidnapper must have made sure that everything was strategized in advance.

  “What did the police say?” said Ronald.

  “They have put in a bulletin. All roads are being watched, but it wouldn’t be possible to do anything until they found the van. Do you know how many black vans would be on the road this very instant?” he said.

  Ronald ran a hand through his hair. Even though he knew that he wasn’t alone, that all these people were as concerned about Gabby as he was, it didn’t make Nick feel any better. All he wanted was for her to come back safe and sound. It was all he desired, but the possibility of getting what he wanted didn’t seem that great.

  Nick wanted to bang his hands on the wall until they were bloody and black. He couldn’t bear the anguish, the pain, and the desolation that enveloped his mind and heart. Without Gabby, he was nothing. Without Gabby, he was no one. He wanted her back with an intensity that scared him. Nick couldn’t bear the thought of going back to his empty house. Without her, it was just a building. It wasn’t a home.

  If she didn’t return soon, he didn’t know what he would do.

  “I should’ve stayed with her,” Tasha echoed the same thought that rolled over and over in his mind.

  “You couldn’t have done anything else,” said Nick. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  Much to his horror, she broke into fresh sobs. “Not my fault? If I hadn’t agreed to her idea of walking down to get my awful boots, if I went with her to that shop, if only I…”

  Walking over, he enveloped her in a hug. When she cried against his chest, Nick ran a hand over her hair. “It’s not your fault,” he repeated. “If there is someone to blame, it’s the man who kidnapped her. He is the real criminal. We need to get him and punish him.”

  Once Tasha felt a little better, he handed her over to Ronald. “We’ll find her,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. “Somehow, through some means, we will find out where she is and get her back. This is where she belongs, and I want her here.”

  “Why don’t we ask the police to track her phone?” said Matt.

  “They are doing that,” he said. If the kidnapper made a little mistake, the police would catch him. That was Nick’s hope.

  “Let’s spread the word to everyone we know. If there is any lead, any sighting, they will tell us,” said Matt. “They can’t keep driving with her. Somewhere, they will stop and rest, and then we will get them.”

  “What if they take her back to the town from which she came?” said Ronald. “We can ask other bikers’ clubs over there to keep a lookout for her.”

  Those were all good ideas, and Nick appreciated the effort they were making. It sounded like a plan, and doing all this made them feel that they were doing something. He also wanted to do something, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what to do. “Let’s do that,” he agreed.

  What if Joseph, if it was indeed her pimp who kidnapped her, killed her and dumped her body somewhere in the wilderness?

  The thought sent him reeling against the nearest wall. He didn’t want to harbor the possibility but the truth was that it was probable. Joseph had been sending her threatening calls for a while. What if he kidnapped her with the sole intent of killing her?

  Shit!

  He couldn’t bear such a horrific thought.

  “Let’s do all we can to get Gabby back.” Matt broke into his thoughts. “We’re going to put all our resources and all our people to take her out of the clutches of this man. She might not be an official member of our club, but she is a part of our lives and we can’t let anything happen to her.”

  Astounded as he was by Matt’s passionate statement, Nick was also grateful. There was a time, not too far in the past, when he and Matt didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. Matt accused Gabby of snitching on the club with the police, and he wasn’t too enthusiastic about Nick’s plans for the club, but he did look determined to recover Gabby. Nick put a hand on Matt’s shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  “You don’t need to worry, man! If the police call you with a lead, let us know. We will do everything possible. If there is need, we will go there ourselves to find her,” said Matt in a voice that indicated that he was sincere and honest.

  Nick leaned against the wall, feeling weak. “Thanks, man.”

  “You don’t need to worry, Nick, we are all with you and with Gabby also. She is going to come out of it unscathed,” said Ronald.

  Nick certainly hoped so but right now this discussion was making him depressed. The more they tried to find avenues to seek her, the more he was convinced that it was going to be a far more daunting task that it seemed. It wasn’t going to be easy to figure out where she was. If only they knew the location of where that man took her, they would be able to do so much to help her. Right now, he was helpless.

  Nick hated the feeling of helplessness more than anything else.

  “I’m going home. If there is any development, I will call you,” he told them as he marched out of the door. Getting on his bike, he rode off. Although his intention had been to go home, Nick suddenly realized that if he did so, he would become distressed beyond his ability to handle it. Rather than go to his home, he instead rode to the harbor. It was one of Gabby’s most favorite places. She used to love coming here, not only to meet people but also to stare at the crashing waves and ships that swayed on the sea.

  He missed her already.

  Over the past few months, he got so used to her presence in his life that Nick couldn’t imagine a life without her. It was difficult for him to even spend this much time without her. What would happen if he didn’t find her in the coming days and weeks? A lifetime without Gabby was a terrible prospect.

  He loved her. Nick had always known that, but now he realized thus survival depended on her reappearance. He only had one purpose in life and that was to find her and bring her back into this life that they carved out for themselves. He needed her. Her friends needed her. This was her home, and she deserved to come back.

  As he looked out and tried to figure out a way to find her, a hand squeezed his shoulder. He turned around to see Miles. “I heard what happened.” Nick didn’t quite know what to say. Miles wasn’t from the club, but thanks to Gabby’s winning personality, they had all become friends. “Is there anything I can do?”

  Nick turned back towards the ocean. “I’m just waiting from a word from the police. Perhaps, they might have stopped the van somewhere or sighted them on a road. If only we knew where he took her, we can go and rescue her.”

  “We’ll find her,” said Miles with a confidence that Nick didn’t quite feel. “We will.”

  Nick sighed and stared at the distant horizon. He felt as if Gabby was calling him for help, and he wasn’t around to hear her call. What must be happening to her right now? What was she going through? Did the man feed her? Did he tie her? Was he hitting her? Anger coiled in his body, but all he could do was flex his muscles in chagrin at the thought. She’d told him some tales of her pimp’s vicious behavior when she lived with him. Joseph was a man who was prone to bursts of anger, and Gabby did something that riled him up really good. He hated the idea of losing control over one of his girls. She defied him, challenged his authority, and made him look like a fool.

  It was the extent of his obsession that he found her despite all the odds stacked against him. Once he discovered her location, he must have followed her for weeks to figure out her routine. The only thing that probably kept her safe all these months was the fact that N
ick stuck to her during all hours of night and day. One mistake cost him dearly. Once more, he cursed himself for not being there.

  What the hell was he supposed to do now?

  “If you find out where she is, tell me also. I would like to come with you,” said Miles.

  Nick was touched by his concern for Gabby. She had a knack for making friends wherever she went. Nick barely knew Miles before she arrived, and now the man was determined to go to any lengths to find her. This was true loyalty. This was the epitome of friendship.

  “Thank you, Miles. As soon as I get some news, I will let you know.”

  After bidding a farewell to the man, Nick came home. He didn’t want to stay here until Gabby was brought back, but there were no other options. All her memories were here. As he sat in the living room, Nick felt the prickle of tears behind his eyes. He forced them away. He wouldn’t allow himself the weakness because it would make him feel as if he was giving in to the fear that ate him alive. For Gabby’s sake, he needed to be strong. If he wasn’t brave, he might miss the opportunity to save her.

  As he tried to gather his courage and think of positive things, his cell phone rang. “Yes?”

  “It’s Officer Liam, sir. You’d come in with a kidnapping charge not too long ago. We’ve got some news.”

  He sat upright. Hope surged in his veins. “What?”

  “We’ve found Ms. Gabby’s phone.”

  She couldn’t be far from it. Surely, she was somewhere near where they found the phone. “Where?”

  The man gave her a location. “It was smashed into pieces.”

  Nick’s heart stopped. If Joseph took the time to stop the car and demolish the phone, what did he do to Gabby? “Did you find the van?”

  “No sir, it was sighted on a road but by the time someone reached there, it was gone. We’ve not been able to get a lock on it anywhere else. It’s unfortunate, really but we’re hopeful that we would get some news on it sooner or later. We’ll keep you posted on all developments.”

  “Thank you,” said Nick in a dull voice. Later may be too late for Gabby. What if the man hurt her? What if he killed her?

  There must be something that he can do to save her, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure what he should do. His hopes were all anchored on the police, but when they said that they didn’t have any leads, he was heartbroken. If the police couldn’t find her with all the resources that they had at their disposal, how the hell was he supposed to do it on his own?

  Suddenly, the possibility that he might never see Gabby again became very real. Despondency settled in his heart. Images of her flashed in his mind: her sweet smile, her gorgeous face, her honest eyes, and her charming and caring nature. He couldn’t live with her. She was the purpose of his life – and now that she was gone, he was lost and alone.

  Would his life ever take the right turn back to what he wanted?

  Would he ever see Gabby again?

  Nick wasn’t sure – and it was a terrible, terrible feeling.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Gabby opened her eyes in the dark. For a few moments, she feared as if she’d gone blind. The world was a black void where she couldn’t see anything nor could she hear any sound. As she tried to move her hands, she found that they were tied. Panic rose like bile inside her throat, but she pushed it down and concentrated on her breathing. Once she was sure that she was more in control of her emotions, she made another attempt to move her hands and legs.

  She was tied up like a chicken, so much so that she couldn’t even turn on her side. Gabby knew the place she was in. It was the cellar in Joseph’s club. Once, he had forced her down there when she refused to service three men at the same time. This was much worse than that; at least then she had been able to move around a bit.

  This was one of Joseph’s power plays. He wanted to reduce her to the state of a blubbering, crying girl who would agree to whatever the hell he wanted her to do. As always, it worked. The fear that skidded across her nerves was devastatingly crushing. She could feel her will and her mind slowly crumbling as she fought the terror that careened through her veins. If only he got her out of this mess, she would fall in line. The months of freedom that she enjoyed were far more than what she expected when she ran away. Gabby never imagined that she would be able to enjoy the normal things that other people took for granted. When she got away from Joseph, she feared that he would find her at some point and make her regret her move.

  It happened exactly as she thought.

  But she would forever relish the memories of the wonderful time that she had in Hell Brigade. The images that flashed through her mind were myriad; Ronald’s handsome face, Willow’s encouraging smile, Tasha’s bright eyes, but the face that haunted her the most was Nick’s. What must he be going through in her absence?

  What did he do when he reached the store and found that she was gone?

  He would surely blame himself. Rather than curse her for being so irresponsible, he would beat himself that he didn’t do enough. She knew him well. He loved her, and his vow to protect her was sincere. She’d betrayed him by not abiding by his advice. If only she didn’t step out with Tasha. Why did she lull herself into this feeling of false security? If she stayed in the clubhouse, she would still be there, safe and well.

  Now, she was trapped in this cellar, tied like an animal that was about to be sacrificed. Joseph would do his best to break her spirit. He would unleash upon her a storm of horrible deeds that would force her to cower in front of him. If Nick saw her now, he would be ashamed of her.

  The thought sent a tingle up her spine. She never wanted him to cast his gaze on her when she was so helpless and vulnerable. She’d seen the love that shone in his eyes for her, and she didn’t want to see disgust that was directed at her.

  No. She wouldn’t break down.

  She would be damned if he killed her, but she wouldn’t allow Joseph the satisfaction of knowing that he broke her mind. He could do his worst, and she might not smile through it, but she sure as hell would survive it for as long as she could. Nick had said that he would protect her. If she did as he’d said, she would be safe now, but she failed him – not the other way around. Gabby believed him when he said that he loved her. When she was with him, the words got stuck in her throat, and she didn’t say them often enough, but if she saw him now, she would tell him that she adored him. He was her life. Without him, she was nothing. But in order to say all those things, she needed to live.

  Joseph might try his best to crush her before he killed her, but this time, she wasn’t going to comply with his rules. Maybe she couldn’t free herself, but she sure as hell could defy him. If she wanted to survive, she needed a plan. Right now, she didn’t have anything that she could use to her advantage, but Joseph wouldn’t keep her inside this place forever. He would do his best to humiliate her. In order to do so, he would let her out – and when he did so, she would grab a chance whenever she could.

  Rather than cry and moan over her life, she stiffened her resolve. Gabby was going to survive this catastrophe no matter what happened.

  He kept her in that cellar for at least eight or nine hours. Maybe she was wrong. Perhaps it was less or more than that, but by the time he came down, her bladder was close to bursting. She could relieve herself in that situation, but her pride didn’t allow her to do so. The light that flooded inside when he opened the door made her eyes tingle. She closed them as she heard his footsteps descend the stairs. Once, the sound would have sent a lance of fear straight through her heart, but now it only served to remind her that he was no longer her master.

  She was a free woman – and that was the way she was going to die.

  With a knife, he cut open her ropes in one clean swipe after another. She sat up, her muscles cramping and hurting. His gloating face floated into view. The scar on his cheek gleamed in the light. “You bitch! Did you really think I would allow you to roam around when you defied me so openly?” Wisely, she kept her mouth shut. “Get
up!”

  She stood. Gripping her arm, he forced her up the stairs. She climbed up with a great deal of effort. After being tied for so long, her legs were hurting too much. He shoved her inside the bathroom. Gladly, she relieved herself. Gabby looked in the mirror once she was done. Her face was streaked with dirt, and her clothes were rumpled and creased. She washed herself, cleaned her face and arms as best as she could. Even before she was done, he was pounding on the door. Gabby opened the door with dignity.

  She stepped out. He grabbed her arm and forced her to sit on the couch. She was familiar with this back room. It was the place where she and the other girls waited before they went on the stage. She’d spent many years of her life in this same room. Was she a fool when she imagined that she would never get back?

  Perhaps, that was true.

  Or maybe she just needed to bide her time before she could leave once more.