by E. C. Land
When I came-to after he knocked me out, I knew I was home. Seriously? Couldn’t he have picked somewhere other than the home he tortured me in since the day he moved in? I’ve hated this place since my dad died—it’s like the cancer that killed him. Just instead of him, it’s going to be me this time.
Not seeing Jake anywhere around, I take my chances and run for it. Big-fucking-mistake… I should’ve remembered this.
Getting closer to the tree line, I pray I get to the road where someone will see me as they drive by. Unity Road is always busy with people going up and down. I send a prayer to the big man upstairs, but there’s no point—He never listened before. If Jake catches me, I’m dead. Hell, I’m lucky he hasn’t let the damn hounds out. But, that’s probably because I’m the wrong type of prey for them.
Please let there be someone coming down the road.
Why would he take me just to release me into the woods? Jake has always been sadistic, but this is a hell of a lot worse. I don’t even know what I’d call it.
Just as I break through the tree line, he grabs me from behind.
“Caught ya. Now for some more fun. You, my sweet stepsister, must be punished. You let yourself be defiled, and become pregnant with someone else’s child. I told you earlier, you were meant to be mine. I just have to make sure we do something about that abomination.” Jake squeezes me so tight it hurts.
“Please, Jake, what did I ever do to you? Let me go.”
God, please save me and my baby.
“My beautiful angel, don’t you know I’m never letting you go again? Now, your mom and my dad are gone for a while, so it’s just us. I’ve made some accommodations for you. I’ll let you out tomorrow to play again.”
When we reach the house, he pulls me through to the basement where he’s set up my old bed and dresser. Oh my god, he plans to kill me down here.
I just know it.
3
Lynsdey
What the hell is he doing? It’s been hours since Jake pushed me into the basement. I know night has fallen — it’s close to fall and starting to get cooler, especially after the sun goes down. And being down in this basement, it’s a hell of a lot colder.
Imagine a nun that has a stick up her ass and hasn’t been laid since before she took her vows. She’d be as cold-hearted as this room is. Doesn’t help that the noises from the pipes scare the shit out of me along with the creaking of the floor above, and the shadows from the flickering light hanging above me. This room is something based out of a horror flick. Which I fucking hate!
After my dad died, I started hating this house. When I was younger, I hated having to come down here. My dad used to make sure the door stayed locked unless mom was doing laundry. After, mom would send me down here anytime she thought I was being bad, which was constantly when she married Jake’s dad.
Why did she have to marry that man and bring his sadistic son into our lives? Sad part was, she seemed to adore Jake.
The miserable woman couldn’t stand the thought of being alone, so she had to go a marry Lucifer’s father and turn my life into a living hell. Why did my dad have to die? Why couldn’t it have been my bitch of a mom? Since the day he died, she became someone completely different. Some days, I wish I’d died right along with him. That’s how bad growing up here was.
The door opening and the footsteps of my stepbrother pull me from my thoughts. I turn towards Jake to find he’s carrying a fast food bag. The smell of greasy food coming from the bag is enough to turn my stomach. Damn, that’s all I need—to puke all over him. He’d beat me for sure.
“Thought you might be hungry, angel. How do you like your new accommodations?”
The nerve of him. I’m not his angel.
I’m no ones.
“Not hungry,” I mumble loud enough for him to hear me before turning away, trying to find something else to focus on besides him.
“Oh, my angel, you need your strength for the next game we’re gonna play. You wanna know what it is?" He moves closer to me. I turn to keep him in my sight. I don’t wanna know what he has planned. Him and his games can be ruthless. I’m scared of what he’s going to do.
“Quit with the games, Jake. Hell, they’re not even games. You’re completely sick just like you always were.” He moves to stand right next to me. I hope he doesn’t think I’ll let him touch me—at least, not without a fight. The thought of even his hands on me sends shivers down my spine.
“Oh, my angel, you don’t mean that. We used to always have fun playing my games but this one is going to be even better, so eat your burger and when I get back, we’ll have some fun. My lord will be visiting tonight. Don’t forget, you’re to be his.”
With that said, he places the bag next to the table I didn’t even realize I was standing next to. I barely move as he runs his hands along my arm up to my neck, squeezing with enough force that my vision starts to blur from the tears that form in my eyes.
“You’ve always been gorgeous to me, my angel, and will please my lord when it’s time, but you need to learn your place now, and I won’t tolerate the tantrums or your attitude. The next time, I’ll have to punish you. Am I understood? You don’t behave and do as your supposed to, I’ll make you wish you had.”
He squeezes my neck a little more, to the point of not being able to breath. Unable to speak or even nod my head, I do the next best thing and tap his arm, letting him know I heard him. “Good girl, angel. I’ll be back in an hour. When I get back, we can begin our fun. I have some friends coming over as well for a party, so you best be good for me. My lord awaits you. We’ll be taking care of that abomination you’re carrying tonight.”
No! No! No! I need to get out of here now! He intends to kill my baby!
Coughing when he releases my neck, I grab the bag, so he’ll think I plan to eat the nasty burger. I take it out of the wrapper and look at the contents. Seriously, who can stomach so much grease? Let alone processed meat from McDonald’s? That’s just gross. I don’t do fast food. I’ve always preferred to cook. I mean, no one can get a burger as good as a homemade one. Once the door shuts and the dead bolt slides into place, I throw the food to the floor, not wanting anything to do with it.
Jake is a fucking psycho that needs to be put down, to say the least. The man seriously should never have been released. Not after what he did to those women. From the pictures I had seen, I found it scary how much they resembled me. The remarks he made hurt — blaming me for him hurting and raping those other women because I hadn’t been old enough for him. That he was having to wait for me to come of age.
Shaking my head at the thoughts swirling around me head, I need to get the hell out of here— fast. I look around the basement noticing the only window into the basement is unlocked. A plan starts to form in my head and I pray I’m still small enough to fit, otherwise I’ll have to go to plan B, which I haven’t thought of yet. I only have one shot at getting out of here and need to do this right.
Jake said he’d be back in an hour. That gives me an hour head start. He’s not the only one that knows these woods like the back of his hand. If I play my cards right, I can get to one of the connecting roads that run right to the Devils Riot MC clubhouse before the hour is up. I’ll have to be quick about it.
As quiet as I can, I drag the chair that use to be in my room upstairs, placing it under the window so I can better reach. I push the window open as far as it will go before I pull myself up and wiggle out, cutting my stomach to hell on the sharp edges of the windowsill. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from yelling out from the pain.
I pray like hell this whole ordeal doesn’t hurt my baby. Once I’m completely out the window and on my feet, I make my way along the edge of the house, staying in the shadows, so I can get to where I need to be in order make it to the tree line. Last thing I need right now is for Jake’s hounds to get my scent.
I quietly, but quickly, make it to the edge of the tree line. I look down at my feet as I brace myself for what I’m
about to do. This is going to suck monkey ass having to run without shoes. My feet already hurt from his earlier game, now it’s going to be even worse since he took my shoes after the last round. Jake always had a thing for taking shoes off before entering a house. Said we were to bare our bodies to his lord. Whatever that meant?
I dart through the trees, making sure to stay as quiet as possible, at least, through this part of the woods. Once I get a little bit further, I can make a break for it and sprint the rest of the way to the road. If I can make it, I should be able to make it to clubhouse.
Thorn may be pissed that I took off on him, but I know he’ll help me if I ask. If he doesn’t want anything to do with me, that’s fine. He never said we were anything but friends with benefits. But I know he’ll help. I just know it. The club is all good men. I’ve met most of them through Kenny. Kenny’s married to the VP, Horse, and her brother, Twister, is the President of the club here. If anything, I can always go to them first.
When I finally make it far enough away that I don’t think the hounds will hear me, I take off. My entire body it sore and blood seeps from the cuts in my stomach. My shirt is already soaked and sticking to my body. Once I’m safe, I can call my doctor and make sure my baby is safe.
God, I should’ve just told Thorn when I found out instead of running scared. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in this predicament. I know he doesn’t want anything to do with a baby, let alone have a family, but hell, at least then my friends will be around more.
So lost in thoughts of Thorn and what will happen when he finds out, I make it to the road without even realizing it. Its pitch dark out here. The clubhouse shouldn’t be more than another few miles up the road. Walking as fast as I can with my stomach and feet bleeding from the abuse they’ve taken today, the pavement doesn’t help as rocks embed into my feet.
Placing my hand on my stomach, I think about my baby and how I need to get him or her safe. He or she has to be. This baby is the only family I have. I didn’t realize how much I wanted a family until I saw the test. This baby is also the best thing that came from Thorn and I together. He’ll never know how much I loved him or how much he hurt me.
I continue to walk at a slower pace— I’m exhausted. I hope I can make it the rest of the way. It can’t be much further. I know I’m heading in the right direction… I think. Please let me be right, it’s only another mile or so away and I don’t think I can take much more. The pain in my feet is starting to become unbearable.
The sound of bikes in the distance gets my attention. They sound as if they’re moving this way. Oh, fucking hell. From the sounds, it’s more than one or two bikes. I don’t know if I should hide or stay in sight just in case it’s not the Devils Riot.
I don’t want to go through what Kenny went through when that other club wrecked her truck and took her. I move to the side of the road to stay out of the way as they pass but also to try and stay out of sight. As they come around the curve, I see them. That’s a hell of a lot of bikes too. There has to be like ten bikes heading this way and I know I’ve been spotted when the one in front slows to a stop.
“Lynsdey?” Twister calls out to me.
“It’s me,” I whisper, knowing he can’t hear me. Suddenly, I’m lifted into a set of muscular arms. I don’t even need to look up to know whose—Thorn’s arms. I’ve always loved the way it felt being in his arms. Placing my head on his shoulder, I know I’m safe now and can finally let the pain take me under. They won’t let anything happen to me— not now.
“I’ve got you, babygirl. I’m never letting you go again. I swear it,” Thorn says just before darkness takes me under.
4
Thorn
I’m pissed as hell as we pull out of the lot for the clubhouse. All this shit could’ve been avoided if she came to me. Instead, she left. Why the fuck didn’t she get in my face about whatever I’ve done to hurt her? It’s not like she didn’t have the fucking chance. Fuck, she could’ve come at me at any time.
Since Cleo let that shit slip out her mouth, I keep racking my brain, needing to figure out what the fuck I’ve done to hurt Lynsdey. I swear when I get her away from that stepbrother of hers, I’m finding out and she’s gonna listen to everything I have to say.
She’s fucking mine! My woman and my kid. They’re both mine!
When I notice Prez slow to a stop in the middle of the road, I look around him and have to do a double take. I don’t even hear Twister shout before I’m off my bike and walking to her.
Lynsdey.
How the fuck did she get here?
I catch her before she falls over. “It’s me,” she whispers as I lift her into my arms. Her body relaxes almost as if she’s grateful to know it’s me holding her. “I’ve got you, babygirl. I’m never letting you go again. I swear it.” I kiss her forehand as I hold her closer to me as her breathing evens out.
I take in her body as I hold her in my arms. Lynsdey’s face is partially bruised and there’s blood soaking through the front of her shirt. What the hell?
“Brother, we need to get her back to the clubhouse now. I can check her over better from there,” Dragon says from next to me. He’s looking towards Lynsdey, doing his best to examine her. Before he joined the club, he was a Corpsman with the Marines, stationed in the same unit as Rage and myself. So, he’s our go to medic for the club when one of the guys needs to be stitched up.
“Fuck the clubhouse, we need to get her to the damn hospital! She’s got blood all over her,” I yell, the blood from her wounds running onto my hands.
“Calm down, brother. She’s in your arms and she’s still breathing, we’ll get her there. She’s safe now. You need to calm down, though,” Rage says softly to keep me from losing my cool.
Fuck, there’s blood all over her. I can handle a lot of shit, and in my time with the military, I saw more than enough. However, seeing my woman covered in blood, yeah, that’s something I’m having a hard as fuck time handling.
“How the hell did she get this far? The house is supposed to be a good fifteen-minute ride out,” Burner asks. I tune them all out as I keep my focus on Lynsdey.
“Don’t fucking care right now. All I know is my woman is fucking bleeding and needs to get to the hospital.”
“Already on it, got a prospect bringing one of the SUV’s with Kenny and Cleo so we can get her to the hospital,” Prez says as he clasps a hand on my shoulder. “She’s gonna be good, brother.”
Doesn’t take more than a few minutes before the prospect pulls an SUV up next to us. I watch as Badger opens the driver’s side door and rushes to open the back for me as I carry Lynsdey the rest of the way. Thank fuck its him.
“Take my bike back to the clubhouse. Kenny, you drive. I’m not leaving her side until I have to.” She’s gotta be okay for the baby. Fucking hell our baby! How could I have forgotten our baby in all this. She doesn’t know how much she means to me, and I don’t know how to tell her. This woman means everything.
Everything!
The sick bastard could’ve done anything to her while he had her. She could be hurt a hell of a lot worse than I can tell by looking at her.
I wish I knew where all she was hurt. If he hasn’t already found her gone by now, there’s a chance he might show at the hospital. I highly doubt it, but him being her stepbrother he could be notified as next of kin. I hope he shows up. He doesn’t seem to be too smart going after the one woman I’ve ever cared about. I swear, the asshole will get my knife through his throat. Justice will be served for what he’s done to.
I will get my revenge for Lynsdey.
Growing up the way I did, I learned not to show my emotions to people the way others show them. Other than my granddad, none of my family shows their emotions. Fuck, my parents are complete dicks towards everyone around them, including each other. Probably why they’re a perfect match. Unless it involved them and money they could use for their gambling, they didn’t give two fucks. Thank god I was an only child and they didn’t ruin the
life of some other kid. My granddad took me as much as he could before he passed. He was my idol, and I wanted to be like him, so I joined the Marines on my eighteenth birthday, following in his footsteps.
I always said I never wanted a family, so I wouldn’t have to worry about whether I ended up like my parents. I didn’t want to ever put a child through that shit. Now, I’m going to have one with Lynsdey, and I’ll make damn sure she and the baby have everything they need.
In the short amount of time I’ve known Lynsdey, she has captured my heart and I’ll be damned if some pussy ass dick takes her from me.
I come out of my thoughts when the SUV comes to a stop. Kenny pulls us right up to the entrance door for the ER. I carefully get out with Lynsdey in my arms, going straight for the nurse’s station.
When the nurse looks up, she immediately gets on the phone calling for assistants. Everything seems to be moving in slow motion as a doctor and several nurses rush out to the waiting room to assess the situation.
“Sir, you’re going to have to let go so that we can help her,” the doctor says trying to get me to release my hold on Lynsdey. I can’t; as much as I know I need to, I can’t. If I take my eyes off her, something else could happen. Fuck, I can’t do it.
“Come on, brother, we gotta let them do their job. Place her on the gurney so they can get her to the back.” Rage encourages me knowing I’m not in a good place right now.
“Brother, I can’t. You’re gonna have to take her out of my arms.” The pain and rage that’s flowing through me at the knowledge that Lynsdey suffered some form of pain has me starting to spiral. Letting go is just too much. The sight of her blood, the bruises, and the pain she when through… Fuck! I just can’t do it.
“Alright, brother, I’m gonna help. Don’t flip on me when I take her. All I’m doing is placing her on the gurney so these people can help her. Okay?” At my nod, he counts to three before taking her.