Shadow groans and scrubs a hand over his face.
Isla smirks and says, “I don’t know who Macy is, but she sounds cool. So, are you guys stalking us or something?” She flutters her lashes at them expertly, and I feel a moment of concern. I know she’s fifteen, but jeez, I’m not ready for this part of her life yet. “Or are you just standing here to look pretty?”
Viper and Shadow share a look but grin. “No stalking, promise,” Viper assures her. “We’re here to grab a few things for one of our club brothers. He’s got a concussion.”
My nurse hat instantly goes on. “Has he been checked by a doctor?”
“We have one that’s a club member,” Shadow assures me. “He’s good, but it’s a higher grade so he’s going to be taking it easy for a bit and Medic will be checking him again soon to check on his progress.”
I’ve never heard of a doctor named Medic, but I think I heard there’s a doctor who does rounds at the hospital that’s associated with the local MC, so maybe that’s who they mean. I relax and nod. “Good. Head injuries should never be taken lightly.” I instantly think of the man trapped by Vlad and my mood sours. I wonder if he’s doing okay or if he’s got anymore head trauma I’ll need to worry about the next time I’m dragged in to oversee his care.
“We should probably grab those and get back,” Shadow says. He grins at Sawyer and Isla. “You two keep out of trouble. Sounds like your mom has her hands full.”
“She’s our sister,” Isla corrects him. “And don’t worry, we’re amazing kids.” She adds that with an innocent smile. I can barely resist rolling my eyes.
Sawyer nods and looks at them curiously. “I’m going to get my license soon. How old do I have to be if I want to join a club?”
Sawyer has never once shown interest in joining a motorcycle club, just in getting his license. Though, I assumed that meant a car.
“Eighteen,” Viper answers him firmly. “And even then, you have to be ready to do the work to join. You can’t just ask to join a club and be in. You have to work hard and do what the club asks of you, no matter what it is, as a Prospect. Then, if you do all that, and the club agrees, you get voted in as a patched member.” He looks at me briefly. “And we’re not an outlaw club, so there are strict rules you have to follow as well. If you’re still interested at eighteen, come and talk to me.” He pulls out a card from his chest pocket and hands it to him. “Until then, keep your head down, do good in school, and don’t be doing anything stupid. And keep an eye on your sisters,” he adds pointedly. “We’re big on protecting women in our club.”
Sawyer takes it. “Thank you,” he says to Viper with a respectful nod to Shadow.
“Have a good night,” Shadow says with a nod, a smile for Isla and me, and they make their way down the aisle, murmuring to each other.
I force myself to follow the kids to the cash, but I glance back at them once before we leave, my mind already starting to spin.
We’re big on protecting women in our club.But what about children? Would they help me if I had to send the kids to them?Would they be able to help me get them out of here and away from all this bullshit with the Russians?
It’s something I need to keep in the back of my mind because if shit goes south, I might not have any other choice. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my family, even if it means sending them away.
CHAPTER SEVEN
HULK
Maybe my blue-scrubbed angel will be my ticket out of here.
“Didyou really think they would come for you?” Vlad taunts me as he slams his fist into my ribs again. Fuck, if they weren’t broken before, they probably are now. Every breath is agonizing, and it feels like my entire body is just one large throb of pain. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but it’s been long enough that I know Vlad has hidden me away somewhere that the club can’t find easily. I know they’re looking for me, but will they be able to find me in time?
I have to trust they will. I just have to last that long.
Another blow comes to my other side, and I hear the snap this time. I let out a roar of pain, unable to catch my breath, and trying desperately not to lash out at Vlad in retaliation and hurt myself worse. I need to get out of here.
The only thing that’s different this time is Vlad’s alone. I don’t know where his guard dog is, but Nikolai not being heremeans that Vlad is left unchecked. Without the voice of reason to slow him down, he might just kill me. Another blow to my gut has me groaning, unable to hold it back. At this rate, I won’t be surprised if I have internal bleeding. My entire body is black and blue, with some purple mixed in a few places. When they let me go to the toilet earlier, I was pissing blood.
“Tell me what you know, and this all stops,” Vlad hisses, getting into my face. I stare at him through bleary eyes, forcing myself to not look away or drop my head like my head is begging me to. “How did you find out where the locations were? Who told you? Was it that bitch that fucked up our other operations? How?” The questions come fast, clipped, with barely a breath between them. “Tell me!” he screams when I don’t answer.
My silence only enrages him further. He turns back to the table and grabs the whip. I force myself to keep my face impassive, despite knowing the agony that’s about to come. The man is skilled with a whip, and I can see why most men would tell him whatever they want to avoid the pain that comes with it. I’m not like most men.
I took it once, and I’ll take it again.
The first lash slices through the skin, further splitting open one of the other already gaping wounds he left from the last time. I’m pretty sure he’s hit bone. I grit my teeth, trying to hold back the scream, but on the third lash, I can’t hold it back anymore. The cry leaks out, and I can all but feel Vlad’s glee as he continues. By the time he finishes, I’m in shock. My body’s shuddering. My head falls forward, and I vaguely note the blood falling in a steady flow to the floor around me.
This might be the day I die. I don’t even care when Vlad comes in front of me, screaming and yelling, trying to get me to answer. I don’t even care when he hits me again, making my body jerk, but no sound leaves me. Vlad curses and rushes out. Consciousness wavers.
Maybe this is for the best. If I die here, I know I’m dying without revealing anything that Vlad wants. I’ve withstood the beatings and the torture. I probably should be grateful they haven’t started cutting off limbs or appendages, though I’m sure that will come if I miraculously survive this.
I force myself to think of them. My family. My club. The people who have accepted me since the day I was a stupid Prospect who didn’t know anything about life and the ones who I know will find me. Maybe I’ll be alive, maybe I won’t, but they’ll get to me.
