“Thane met with Torrence. Of course he made a very generous offer in exchange for your wife but Grieve refused. He’s demanding to see you.”
“That’s not the report I was hoping to hear.”
“Torrence wants to deal directly with you. He was adamant about it. That should be enough to keep Bleu alive.”
“I know what he’s up to. If I make a trade, he’s going to kill her so he can avenge his son’s death. That’s the whole point of this game.”
“Then don’t make the trade.”
“I’m not.” I couldn’t if I wanted to. The bomb makings have been confiscated by the authorities.
“We both know these charges are shite. You’ll walk but it’s going to take a couple of days. When you get out, you have to go after your wife immediately. The Order can’t discover that you’ve been released and didn’t reach out to them for an exchange as soon as your feet hit the pavement. They’ll know something is up and the whole thing will fall apart at the seams.”
Bleu and the babies will be the ones to pay. That can’t happen.
People like me don’t need bars. We build our own cells.
That’s what I used to think. Until I met Bleu. She freed me from the prison I’d built around myself, around my heart.
I’m lying in my jail bed thinking of her and our babies when I hear movement rushing toward me in the dark. Instinct sends me hurtling forward. I tackle my assailant and feel a sudden sharp pain in my thigh.
“Prepare to die, Sinclair Breckenridge.”
My attacker and I wrestle on the floor but I easily overtake him. The lights turn on and an alarm sounds. Three guards rush into our cell and yank me off my cellmate. I didn’t pay attention to him when I was brought into the cell but now I take a closer look. Young. Skinny. Hair in need of a cut. I don’t recognize him but he certainly knows who I am.
I notice a huge blood smear on the floor and then the bloody gash on my leg. Fuck. It’s right above my amputation.
I can’t afford for people to find out about this.
“Looks like he got a stab in on you, Breckenridge. You’ll need to have that seen to.”
This isn’t good. I don’t need anyone else knowing about my prosthesis. The guard who saw it when I changed my clothing is more than enough.
“It’s just a scratch. I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
“You don’t get a choice. Can’t have you suing us over an improperly treated injury you sustained while in custody.”
I’m taken to the infirmary and locked inside an exam room. I’m given a towel and told to hold pressure over the bleeding wound to my thigh until the doctor arrives. It isn’t long until I see Jamie come in.
How the fuck did he pull this off?
“Mr. Breckenridge. I’m the on-call physician for the jail tonight. I’ll be taking a look at your wound to see what kind of treatment you require.”
“I’m happy to see you,” I whisper.
Jamie cuts a slit in the upper leg of my pants so my prosthesis isn’t exposed. “Doesn’t look too bad. A few stitches and it’ll be fine.”
The guards are leaning against the wall talking, not paying any attention to Jamie and me. Perfect.
“Any word on Bleu?”
“Thane brought Debra in to assist with finding her.”
That pleases me. I’ve come to trust Debra and have complete faith in her abilities to track my wife.
“Tell Dad I’m not negotiating. I want our most experienced men prepared to move as soon as I’m free. We’re going after Bleu before The Order has a chance to realize I’ve been released.”
Jamie cleanses my stab wound. “Damn.”
“Sorry. My choice of antiseptic supplies are limited.”
“No complaints. I’ll take what I can get.”
“I don’t know how you made this happen but I’m glad you’re here. I wasn’t looking forward to anyone else finding out about my leg.”
“I might have called a colleague and volunteered for the jail rotation when I found out you were here. Turns out people are generally pretty happy to give those up. Good thing since you can’t stop getting yourself injured.” Jamie uses stainless steel pliers to grasp the needle portion of a suture and pulls until it’s freed from the packet. “Whoever supplies the infirmary is functioning under the belief that incarcerated people have no nerve endings. I can’t believe this place isn’t stocked with lidocaine. Ridiculous.”
Jamie pushes the needle through my skin for the first suture. “Not your first experience with little to no anesthesia.”
Doesn’t matter. Still hurts like a son of a bitch.
I recall Bleu talking me through the pain when Jamie was fishing for the bullet in my shoulder. Breathe in slow and deep. Exhale gradually.
“Sometimes I feel like I went to medical school just so I could learn how to treat your arse. I was hoping that would change since you’re married with a baby on the way.”
Maybe I take chances but now isn’t one of those times. “This cannot be considered my fault. My cellmate jumped me with a shank. The only reason he didn’t get a better jab in was because I was awake—too worried about Bleu.”
If I had been asleep, I’d be a dead man.
It’s my guess that Buchanan put me in with someone from The Order. And while my cellmate was obviously privy to knowing I’m Fellowship, I wasn’t given the same courtesy regarding his allegiance. Again, likely thanks to that bastard Buchanan.
“Your wife is going to be all right. You’re going to get out of here soon and rescue her like a white knight should. You’ll be her hero and she’ll love it.”
It’s time to make good on my promise to protect her. And I’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means wiping out every member of The Order.
Chapter 3
Bleu Breckenridge
I offer to prepare lunch since Lainie cooked breakfast this morning. There are two of us eating from the supplies for one. The man she calls Deacon hasn’t come with groceries so the cupboard inventory is shrinking fast. “Pickings are slim. How do you feel about BLTs?”
“That’s fine. I’m not accustomed to gourmet meals around here.”
I’m nauseated. I don’t really feel like eating but I’m fatigued more than usual today. I need iron from a food source since I don’t have my vitamins or iron supplement. Pork is the best option I see from what’s left in our scant food supply.
We’re eating our sandwiches when Torrence arrives with Broden, Reuben, and the third man present during my kidnapping. I never heard them say his name so I call him the short one.
Terror spreads over Lainie’s face. “Don’t be afraid. He’s here for me,” I whisper.
“Mrs. Breckenridge. I trust your accommodations suit you.”
Like he cares if I slept well. I won’t whine. He’d enjoy that. “Can’t complain.”
“Did you become fast friends with my wife?”
He doesn’t need to think Lainie and I are chummy. We can’t afford for him to suspect we’re partnering. “No. She’s not terribly friendly.”
He looks at her and snarls, “She certainly isn’t. But the two of you will have time to become better acquainted. You’re staying a while longer.”
I don’t care for the sound of that but I need to keep up my charade. “Let me guess. Sinclair is refusing to come for me.” I shake my head and purse my lips. “That son of a bitch will be sorry when my father finds out what he’s done.”
“Sinclair isn’t coming because he’s still sitting in jail. Which I don’t mind, except it’s putting a wrench in my plans for you.”
Rodrick should’ve gotten him out first thing this morning. What’s taking so long?
I should use this opportunity to convince Torrence that Sin and I aren’t in love. He needs to believe killing me in front of Sin won’t accomplish what he hopes. “Good. Maybe they’ll keep his ass in jail until it rots so I don’t have to look at him again.”
“Your hatred for Sinclair Bre
ckenridge seems passionate, yet you defended him. You said he didn’t mean to kill my son. That sends mixed messages.”
Shit. He’s right. I shouldn’t have defended Sin.
Now is the time to steer this in a different direction. “I was trying to save my own neck. I thought you might consider releasing me if you thought my husband didn’t intentionally kill your son. But he did. The bastard even boasted about Jason’s murder. The Fellowship celebrated his death.”
“My son was so young. He had a promising future ahead of him. He was going to take my place as leader one day.”
I hate speaking about the man I love this way but I have no choice. I must win Torrence over. “If you intend on making Sinclair suffer, I can assure you that killing me isn’t the way. He loves another––a woman Thane wouldn’t let him marry.”
“That’s interesting. If it’s true.”
“It is. And he’s kept the whore as a lover after marrying me.”
“You’re jealous.” He’s laughing.
“Not jealous. Pissed off and determined to get even is more like it. I was forced to leave the man I loved in America and move to Scotland to become Sinclair’s wife. I lost my beloved. He deserves to lose his as well. And I won’t be happy until I make that happen.”
“He deserves to lose much more than a woman.”
I think I could be persuading Torrence in the right direction. “I absolutely agree.”
“Who is this woman?”
I call off a bogus name. “Kenna McGregor. He brought her into our home as a housekeeper. As though I’m too stupid to know what they’re doing behind my back.”
“This is good information. Definitely something I can work with. Many thanks, Mrs. Breckenridge.”
Torrence and his men are barely out the door when Lainie releases a heavy sigh. “Quite the tangled web you’ve spun. But I think he walked face first into it.”
“It sounded good?”
“Hell yes. I know the truth and I almost fell for it. You’re very convincing.”
“Good.” I have to be. I have a lot to lose.
Two days have passed and nothing. No Torrence. No men from The Order checking in. Most importantly, no Sin. What is happening with my husband? He hasn’t come for me yet. Something is wrong.
I’ve tried everything I know to find a way out of this place but Lainie is right. It’s locked down. There’s no way out until someone opens that door from the outside.
So I wait. I have no other choice. But sitting on my hands is killing me. I’m accustomed to a proactive course. This pussyfooting around doesn’t cut it.
“We’re running out of food. Do you expect your brother’s friend to come today?”
“Aye.”
I’ve been thinking about this. I believe it’s time to make a move. “We should make a break for it when he comes.”
“No. Torrence will kill Deacon if he allows us to escape.”
Does she forget that the alternative is killing us? “Your brother’s friend won’t be allowing anything. We’ll take him by force. Torrence won’t kill him if he’s overpowered.”
“You’re wrong. It isn’t possible for Torrence to be rational about anything.”
“That’s exactly right. He is irrational. He killed his other wife because she couldn’t give him an heir. If you don’t become pregnant soon, he will do the same to you. You’d better wise up and think about that.”
She says nothing.
“That monster will come for you tomorrow night. Would you prefer to be raped again or be gone when he arrives? Your choice.”
She still doesn’t answer. Maybe her priorities aren’t in order but mine are. “I don’t plan on being here tomorrow night.”
“I can’t put Deacon in that kind of danger. I love him.”
“You love Deacon because he’s your brother’s friend, or you love love him?”
“I love love him.”
Things are beginning to make a little more sense. “Is he in love with you?”
“I think he was before my parents traded me to Torrence.” She covers her face with her hands and her voice cracks when she continues. “It’s like he looks right through me when he comes.”
I’d bet money Torrence knows Lainie loves Deacon. It’s another cruel way to torture his wife for trying to run away. And the bonus is tempting poor Deacon with the accessibility of helping her escape. But every time he doesn’t, he proves to Lainie how little he feels for her.
I need to be brutally honest with Lainie so there’s no mistake. “It boils down to two options: stay to protect Deacon, or make a move to get out of here. Regardless of what you choose for yourself, this is happening when he comes.”
“How do I condemn the man I love to death so I can go free?”
“You do it because staying could leave you with one choice. Death. He has the option to make a run with us if he’s so inclined.”
“But he won’t.”
“If he doesn’t, that’s his choice.”
There’s a sound at the door. Someone’s coming in. “Stay out of the way if you aren’t going to help.”
Torrence and two of his men enter. Shit. He’s either come early for Lainie or something has happened with Sin.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Breckenridge.”
He ignores Lainie sitting next to me. “Evening, Mr. Grieve. To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“I’m guessing you’re hoping I’m here to say your husband has been released from jail and has come forward to trade for you. But that isn’t the case.”
“I thought I was clear about my feelings regarding Sinclair Breckenridge.”
“You were. Except everything you told me was a lie.”
I have fucked up.
I knew Torrence would eventually disprove my story but I thought I’d be out of here before that happened. Now it’s come back to bite me in the ass.
I must remain convincing. “I don’t know why you’d think that.”
“It began when I learned Carrick Abban doesn’t have a daughter. At least not one who still lives and breathes.”
Cassidy is dead? That must have happened recently.
“I don’t know who told you that but they’re lying.”
“I think we know who the liar is.”
“I may have glossed over the truth a little. I’m his other daughter. The illegitimate one by his mistress. I’m sorry I lied but he’s still very much my father and will be upset should anything happen to me.”
“Lies. All of it. There’s no chance of a falling out with Little Abbot. I can do whatever I like with you.”
“That would be a huge mistake.”
“I think not.”
Torrence slithers to stand behind me where I sit at the kitchen table. He fists my hair and pulls me back so hard, I’m balancing on the two back legs of the chair. “You’ll pay for the lies you fed me.”
He drags me from my seat and down the hallway toward the bedroom. “Since she can’t seem to give me an heir, maybe you can.”
Broden and Reuben don’t follow. He has done this to Lainie enough, they’re probably confident he doesn’t require their assistance. Wrong.
I wait until we’re inside the bedroom to escape his grasp since I don’t want to alert Broden or Reuben. I surprise Torrence with a punch to his throat—always unexpected, and temporarily debilitating.
He grabs for his throat because my assault causes him to feel like he can’t breathe. It’s the perfect time to strike a second time so I can wrestle him to the ground and put him in a chokehold, the same one I used on Malcolm when I killed him.
I loop my arms around Torrence’s neck and lock them into a death grip. This is kill or be killed, and I have no intention of being the one to go down.
We scuffle for a moment before landing on the floor. We’re a tangled mess when we crash into the rails of the bed, shoving it across the rotted wood planks beneath it. He struggles against me but his upper body strength is weak.
I coun
t so I’ll know how long he’s been without oxygen. Sixty seconds. One hundred and twenty. I need a full three minutes to accomplish my goal.
This needs to sound like he’s the one winning.
“No!” I yell at the top of my lungs. “Stop. Don’t. Please don’t!”
I’m at two and a half minutes when Broden taps on the door. “Everything all right in there?”
I scream at the top of my lungs to discourage him from investigating further. But the bastard opens the door. Dammit.
He rushes me, gun pulled and aimed at my forehead. “Release him or the wall will be newly decorated.”
Thirty seconds more. That’s all I need and Torrence Grieve will be no one’s problem ever again. But my time is up.
I release his throat and show my hands. He sputters, gasping for air as Reuben grabs him beneath his arms and drags him away.
“Who are you?” Broden asks.
I shrug while continuing to hold my hands out.
Torrence lies on his side catching his breath. His cold eyes stare at me. He grabs Reuben by the shirt and pulls him down so they’re face to face. His voice is scratchy and hoarse. “Beat her until she can no longer move.”
Broden grins. “Gladly.”
“Shoot her if she resists,” Torrence adds.
My children and I are dead if I fight. No question about it. I have the responsibility of protecting the two tiny lives growing inside me so I do the only thing I can. I curl into a tight ball around my precious babies to protect them the only way I know how.
Chapter 4
Sinclair Breckenridge
My father offered The Order everything they could possibly want, plus some. Still, they refuse to return Bleu. That sends my red flag to high alert.
She’s been in the hands of my enemy for three days. I have no idea if she and our little ones are safe. That’s the sum total of what I know about my wife and children.
And I’m about to lose my fucking mind.
I’m finally freed, all charges dropped associated with Malcolm’s death. The whole thing was a conspiracy and I’ve no clue about the instigator. But I will find out. And when I do, he’ll be sorry.
Complete Sin Box Set Page 48