by Khloe Wren
Slipping my USMC issued k-bar knife free from its sheath, I jumped out of the cage and followed the other men into the building. Just before I stepped through the front door, Jenna grabbed my arm with surprising force. I glared into her strange eyes, pissed off that she’d slow me down. “Take Joaquin with you. Don’t ask questions, just accept the fact that not all humans are, well, human. You’ve accepted Eagle and his abilities, treat Joaquin in the same way and you’ll get your girl faster. Understand?”
Since Joaquin had spent weeks in this place, it was logical he’d know his fucking way around. I had no fucking clue what she meant about Eagle though, but didn’t want to waste time arguing the point with the crazy lady. Not when I was this close to getting Zara back, so I ignored the rest of her comment. “Fine, whatever. I’m going in.”
Joaquin pushed in front of me and I frowned at the man when he paused a moment to sniff the fucking air like a damn dog, before he headed off toward a side hall. This day was getting weirder by the moment.
Naturally, fighting had broken out the moment we entered, but I didn’t engage. There were enough Charons and Cowboys to keep the Hammers occupied. I caught a glimpse of Kellen and Xan standing together, plowing through men. Fucking hell, those two could fight. I made a mental note to never piss either man off. Even with all my Marine training, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take down either of those two boys.
Turning away from the fighting, I followed Joaquin around the brawling men in the main room. My goal was to find my girl, then I’d worry about fucking up these bastards that dared take her from me. If there were any left, that is.
Moments after we entered the hallway, two bikers, who were still doing up their fucking pants, busted out of a room further up, and with curses, came at us. Joaquin didn’t fuck around. He throat punched the first one hard enough I was pretty sure I heard the fucker’s spine snap. I slashed my knife across the other man’s throat, deep enough to kill the asshole. Only one reason I could think of that he’d be coming out of a room with his pants undone, so I didn’t feel one moment of guilt for ending the fucker. Before his body hit the ground I was running for the room he’d come out of. Joaquin stayed a step ahead of me, kicking the door in and moving aside to cover me as I entered first.
“Fuck me.”
I’d been told. Seen the old photos, but the sight still knocked the breath out of my lungs. The room was filled with women. No, that wasn’t right. They were only fucking girls. Teenagers. Either completely naked or with their clothes torn to shit, they all looked drugged out of their minds. A flash of my sister’s broken body filled my vision for a moment as rage flowed through my veins. An animistic growl had me stiffening and glancing toward Joaquin. The man’s eyes flashed a bright blue and I could have sworn he had fur for a minute there. What the fuck was he? A familiar feminine groan had me ignoring whatever the fuck was going on with Joaquin and turning to search for my girl.
“Oh, fucking hell. Zara? Baby...”
I carefully and quickly stepped over bodies until I got to her side. She was a fucking mess, but still wore her bra and panties. I hoped like hell that meant Joaquin was right and she hadn’t been raped. Her lips were cracked, and the skin around her mouth was a mess. She still smelled like puke, and when I looked closer at her bra, I could see the remnants of it caught in the fabric. With a groan she lifted a hand to me, trying to roll toward me. I hissed at the sight of her flesh cut up around both of her wrists. They’d fucking cuffed her. And they’d been pretty brutal about it.
“Shh, babe. I’ve got you. You’re safe now. I’m gonna lift you up and take you out to Donna. She’s a nurse. Rose is out there, too. Then we’ll take you home.” Where I’m never letting you outta my sight again.
As gently as I could, I lifted her up and cradled her against my chest. She shivered and whimpered at the movement, and broke my damn heart in the process. I looked for Joaquin to ask him to cover me as I took her out, but he was kneeling down beside one of the girls. Checking for a pulse by the looks of it. He wouldn’t be any help.
“C’mon, mate. I got your back.”
A glance to the door had relief pouring through me. Taz stood at attention, with Eagle by his side. Just like always, my Marine brothers had my back. I strode out of the room and with my brothers surrounding me, I made my way out of the building. I heard a few hisses and curses as we passed through the main room but I didn’t stop. In that moment I didn’t give a fuck that other men were seeing my girl in her underwear. Her beautiful face was bruised up, her lips torn. Scratch marks ran down her left thigh and a large bruise had formed on the side of her stomach. Not to mention her wrists.
I really hoped they saved at least one of these fuckers for me to take my time destroying. The rage inside me was growing out of control and I knew I was going to need to vent it on something, and soon.
Taz knocked on the rear door of the van before turning to raise his weapon to provide cover. Eagle took the other side in a similar pose as Keys opened the way to allow me to climb in with my precious load.
“It’s bad, Donna. She hasn’t really woken up since I found her.”
Donna’s warm hand squeezed my shoulder as I laid Zara out on the stretcher. “That could simply be her narcolepsy. You’re too close to do this, Mac. Go with Taz and Eagle and let Rose and me take care of your girl. Keys will stand guard.”
“C’mon, brother. Go crack some skulls, vent your anger on them. Then come back and we’ll head home.”
I knew they were right. I’d just be in the way and make it harder for them to treat her if I stayed.
“Just give me a sec with her, yeah?”
They all backed up as much as the cramped space allowed and I gently stroked fingertips down Zara’s cheek before kissing her forehead. She looked like a broken doll lying on the white sheet. With my mouth close to her ear, I whispered to her so no one else would hear me.
“I love you so fucking much, Zara, I can’t breathe without you. You hold on and I’ll be back by your side before you know it.”
With tears stinging my eyes I turned and leapt from the vehicle. Keys followed me out and stood at the rear of the vehicle.
“You armed?”
He frowned at me like I’d insulted him. “Of course. Go on and get in there. I’ve got this.”
With a nod I turned back toward the clubhouse and along with Taz and Eagle went to go see if there were any of the bastards left that needed a beating.
CHAPTER 13
Mac
The sun still hadn’t risen when we pulled into the Charon’s compound. I glanced down at Zara again, watching her chest rise and fall with even breaths. Donna had been certain nothing was broken, but that didn’t mean Zara wasn’t going to be hurting for a while. Her wrists had white bandages around them and her face was shiny from the ointment they’d been continually applying to her jaw and mouth. Donna had also put in a drip to make sure she was fully hydrated, and given her some pain meds to keep her sleeping peacefully for another few hours. When we came to a stop, I carefully untangled my hand from Zara’s and moved to open the door. Rolling my shoulders, I stretched out my neck and spine while I watched the bikes and the other vehicles roll in around us.
When Maverick pulled a cuffed Sledge from the rear of another vehicle, I clenched my fists. That fucker was gonna be all mine to deal with.
“What the—”
I glanced to Donna who stood beside me, with her palm cupped over her mouth. Her face had drained of color and she suddenly looked seconds away from passing out. Before I could ask her what was wrong, Sledge started laughing. Crazy bastard.
“Hey, Jenny baby, how’s that daughter of ours doing? You didn’t think I’d ever find out about her, huh?”
Dead fucking silence.
The entire yard seemed to freeze in shock, myself included, before Donna snapped.
“You fucking bastard! It was you who got to her, wasn’t it? It was you who took my girl from me!”
“She
came to me, darlin’. Not my fault she preferred her real daddy—”
She flew across the yard and delivered a harsh slap across his face. And when the fucker laughed, she followed it up with a kick to his groin before any of us knew what was coming. Whoa. Sledge went down with a groan, Maverick did nothing to stop the bastard from falling in a heap. Nor did he do a thing to stop her from getting a few more kicks in. I couldn’t remember ever hearing that woman swear before, let alone drop an F bomb. This violent streak was new, too.
Keys ran to his old lady and pulled her back from Sledge before he scooped her up against him. She wrapped herself around his neck as she started sobbing. No one moved until the door shut behind them.
“Well, I guess that answers the question of who Em’s biological father was. Along with why Donna ended up in Bridgewater. I swear we need to start having a fucking sit-down with every fucking woman that enters this damn town to get to the bottom of why the fuck they’re here. Way too many fucking secrets.” Scout continued to grumble and complain as he strolled toward the front door. “Maverick, bring that piece of shit downstairs, along with the other two. Mac, get your woman settled, then come find me. I’ll be in the bar. Need a good strong fucking drink after all this shit.”
Scout’s rant seemed to break the ice and everyone started talking and moving around the yard. I leaned back in the van to gather Zara in my arms. Rose helped settle a sheet around her so she was covered. Fuck, it felt good to have her warm, soft body against me. Even if she did look like a hot mess.
“I’ll carry her drip and get it sorted up in your room, then I’ll leave you to it. Are you fine to take it out when the bag’s empty?”
“Thanks, Rose. I’ve got it covered. Listen, I can get her settled on my own, if you want to go help with Donna.”
The older woman leaned in and gave me a peck on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Mac. Take care of your girl.”
With that, Rose set the drip bag on Zara before heading after Donna and Keys. Minutes later, I laid my woman out on my bed, and hung the bag on edge of the lamp next to the bed. Once I was certain it was all working correctly, I laid down beside Zara and gently ran my hand over her face, avoiding the bruises.
“I’m so fucking sorry, bunny.”
Knowing Scout was waiting on me and that Zara wouldn’t be waking up for at least another couple of hours, I pressed a kiss to her forehead before I forced myself to get up and leave the room. I found Silk pacing the hallway.
“How is she?”
“Sleeping. She’s pretty banged up, but nothing that won’t heal. You want to sit with her? I gotta go see Scout before I can call it a night.”
When Silk nodded, I unlocked my door to let her in, instantly feeling better that I wasn’t leaving Zara alone. I’d hate for her to have woken early and found herself all alone.
“Thanks, Silk.”
She winced as she looked Zara over. “I feel so fucking guilty. I should have—”
“Stop, Silk. This isn’t on you. You were sick. It’s not your fault and we all assumed Zara was safe here in the clubhouse. No way could any of us have known Sledge and gotten to Em somehow.”
“Didn’t see that one coming.”
“Don’t think any of us did. Okay, I gotta get moving. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She shooed me out of the room. “Go, do your thing. I’ve got her covered.”
I jogged down to the bar, wanting to get this shit over with fast so I could get back to my woman. Grabbing a beer from the prospect manning the bar, I went to Scout, who was sitting at one of the tables with Bulldog, Maverick and another Cowboy whose name I couldn’t remember.
“Where is the fucker?”
Scout raised an eyebrow. “Show some respect, brother. Sledge is down in the basement. He’s not going anywhere. Donna got a few good licks in but there’s still plenty life left in him for you to beat out of him. Although, I suspect Keys is gonna want a fucking go at him with you. Before either of you kill him, might want to see what information he can give us about Em.”
I scrubbed a palm over my head before I took a seat beside the two presidents. “Sorry, no disrespect intended. It’s been a helluva long night.”
“And as the sun’s not yet up, it ain’t fucking over.”
I nodded at Bulldog’s words. “So, what’s gonna happen with Iron Hammers now?”
Maverick leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “We’re going to give Joaquin and his boys a go at running things. If the club folds, another will take its place. Viper would prefer it happen this way, where we’ve got some control over them. I’ve seen the Iron Wolves’ setup in South Dakota. They run a good, clean club, not dissimilar to you boys here.
“They focus on mechanics and tricking out custom vehicles for their income. Well, that and their bar. I think a similar system would work well down in Galveston, once they get shit sorted with those women. But there’ll be none of that kidnapping and drugging shit that Sledge and his boys were pulling.”
I took in Maverick for a minute. The Satan’s Cowboys were a one-percenter club, so I hadn’t been one hundred percent sure they were going to disagree with how the Iron Hammers had dealt with the girls. “So where do the Cowboys draw the line in the sand on this shit? It’s not unheard of that one-percenter clubs to trade in skin.”
Maverick stiffened and growled at me. “The line is consent and being fucking over the legal age. I got daughters, and I wouldn’t stand for that shit happening to them. Sure as hell don’t want to see it happen to someone else’s baby girl, either.”
I lifted my palms. “Don’t get pissed off with me, I was just wanting things clear and in the open.” I took a swig of my beer as Maverick and the other Cowboy leaned back in the seats, calming down. “Speaking of out in the open—what the fuck is the deal with the Iron Wolves and that chick, Jenna, was it?”
Maverick shook his head. “Don’t ask, man. I’ve got no concrete answers for you. They sure as shit ain’t fully human. I’ve heard stories about Kellen that were enough to have even me watching myself around the man. I’d recommend not pissing him off. The best way to deal with the Wolves is to take a policy of live and let live. And be fucking grateful to have them on your side if you get in a bind. From what I can tell, Joaquin and his boys are of the same breed, so you’d best get used to them being a little different.”
I took another long drink of my beer. “They’re certainly different that’s for sure. What about clean-up down in Galveston? What was the body count in the end?”
“Before Kellen left, he said Jenna would handle the bodies. Not sure on a final number yet, but I’d guess somewhere around twenty. A fair few of them surrendered to us. Bastards seemed relieved when we took down Sledge and dragged his ass out. I’ll head back down there later today, after we take the scum downstairs back home, and help Joaquin sort out who’s staying and who’s going. Nothing the Charons need to get involved in at this point.”
Guess the Cowboys were taking the other two Iron Hammers that had been brought in with Sledge. I didn’t give a fuck, so long as they left Sledge for me. I gave Maverick a nod before I drained the last of my beer. “Well, if we don’t need to go back down south and are going to leave dealing with Sledge until later, do you mind if I get back upstairs?”
Scout chuckled. “Yeah, go take care of your woman. We’ve got more than just their president downstairs. We’ll keep Sledge for you and Keys. But if the boys need something to hit, I’ll let them have a go at one of the others, well, at least until Maverick takes them with him that is.”
I half wanted to ask how many Iron Hammers had fucking been brought back. But my need to check in with Zara was stronger. I stood, said a quick goodbye and headed upstairs. I knew I wouldn’t be inside her any time soon. I didn’t deserve the right after I’d not kept her safe. That, and she was too injured. She’d need time to heal. But it didn’t matter. If I could just have her in my arms, be close enough to hear her heartbeat, to see her ch
est rise and fall with her breaths—to fucking know she was alive and safe—that would be enough.
Zara
I frowned at the feel of the soft mattress beneath me. The fact that something was over my naked body keeping me warm had my mind spinning too. Was this another dream? I’d had some fucked-up dreams during the night. Angry men with eyes that flashed a bright blue, Mac coming for me, carrying me away and telling me he loved me. I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t.
My thoughts were so jumbled and I was so fucking tired.
I needed to take my meds.
“Wake up, bunny.”
I froze and held my breath, praying I was really awake and not dreaming. Callused fingers gently traced over my face.
“C’mon, Zara, open those pretty hazel eyes for me. See for yourself, you’re safe.”
“Mac?”
Wanting him to be real, I forced my eyes to open. I had to blink a few times before they’d open enough for me to focus on the beautiful face frowning down at me.
“You’re real.”
I lifted my palm to cup his cheek, and the scratching of his stubble over my palm was another sign this wasn’t a dream. He turned to press a kiss against my skin. So very, definitely, real. The stark white bandage on my wrist caught my attention and I pulled my hand from his face. Memories of the night before were mixed up with the dreams, but as I ran my gaze over both my wrists the memory of them snapping cuffs on me became crystal clear, making me whimper.
“Your wrists were cut up. Donna cleaned them up and bandaged them. She doesn’t think the cuts were deep enough to scar.”
I flexed my fingers and rolled my wrists, happy to discover I had full movement. “They didn’t like me fighting them, so they cuffed me to the bed.” I ran my tongue over my lips, wincing at the sting.
“You want a drink? Your meds?”
I nodded absently as I ran my tongue over the insides of my cheeks. There were small rough patches where the hooks had been. Damn the bastards. Mac helped me sit up, making sure I had enough pillows behind me. He was being painfully gentle with me and I had to wonder if he would still want me like he had before. He was such a strong, powerful man. And his passion was rough. I liked him that way. A lot.