“But-”

His voice allows no argument as he snaps, “You don’t get a fuckin’ choice. What the fuck do you think you’re goin’ to do with a fucked up leg, aside from get us into more strife?”

I’ve got nothing. Pippa squeezes my hand and I close my eyes. Don’t cry; be strong for him. He needs you to be strong. I can’t be there, I know that, but an idea comes to my head all the same. I snap my eyes open and start rambling.

“No, you’re right. I can’t be there; I can’t run fast enough. But I can be a distraction. If we’re seen, we could lead some of them away. They might think we haven’t gotten our backup.”

“No,” Mack barks.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Tyke mutters. “If they think we’re still alone, they’re going to be off guard. If they spot us, or even the girls, they’re goin’ to send men.”

“It’s too risky,” Mack argues.

“Maybe, but it’ll take five or so of the men out of the picture. It’s worth a chance.”

Mack says nothing more, but I know he’s considering it. He’s a smart man; he knows he has to consider everything when it comes to a good plan.

“You girls get some rest,” Tyke offers. “We’ve got a fair bit of drivin’ to do. We’re five hours or more away from the house now.”

“I thought you said it was only four?” I ask.

“Misjudged, took us five hours to get to that hospital. We’re not goin’ all the way back, because they’ll be lookin’ for us. We’ve looked up maps and found a twisted route, not back roads, but not the highway either. Best you can do is sleep, you’re gonna need it.”

“Mack?” I whisper in the darkness, hating his silence.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” his voice is low and dark. “It ain’t over yet.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

2014 - Maddox

A booted foot connects with my ribs, hitting what’s already broken. I have no fight left. The pain has gone far and beyond. Now I’m drifting in and out of an agony induced haze that has me teetering on the edge of passing out, yet my body seems to want to keep putting itself through hell by keeping me awake.

I wish the fuckin’ darkness would come.

“Get up, you piece of shit,” Atreau barks. “You’re not so tough now, are ya?”

Arms curl around mine, jerking me up. There are two men holding me, straining with my weight. I spit blood in Atreau’s face, earning me a jaw crunching punch. I bare my teeth at him; grateful I’ve still got them all. He gets up in my face, his vile smelling breath making my empty stomach coil.

“I could beat you more, but I’ve got a load of crops that need to go out. You and your boys start work tomorrow, aren’t you lucky?”

“Fuck you, cunt,” I hiss.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you...we found your precious girlfriend. Looks like they didn’t get back up, after all. My men are moving in first thing; they’re at a hotel. Can you believe? And here I was thinking they were smart. Looks like they’re not, because they came back.”

My mind swims and my stomach continues its destructive path, twisting and turning. Mack wouldn’t be so fuckin’ stupid as to get caught...he knows better. He should have gotten the guys. What the fuck is he doin’ at a hotel? Krypt growls from his spot in the corner, and Atreau laughs.

“I thought bikers were smart, the ultimate. Looks like you sent the wrong guy to look after your girl. Don’t worry, you’ll see her tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” I croak, my voice barely there.

“There are too many people there tonight. A wedding. I can hardly send my guys to go in and get them now. We’re watching them, though. They won’t get out without passing my men.”

Fuck. No.

“You fuckin’ certain they’re alone?” I challenge.

His eyes flicker. “We saw them, smart ass. They’re alone.”

“You’ll fuckin’ pay for this. I’ll cut your fuckin’ dick...”

He hits me again, so hard I spin and the men let me go. I land on the floor with a thump. Pain rips through my body, causing a tortured bellow to leave my lips. I might be tough, I might have lived with pain, but this...this is far and beyond anything I’ve ever lived through. It fuckin’ burns.

It doesn’t stop me from opening my mouth and snarling another insult.

I’m rewarded with a kick to the nuts.

That’s when darkness finally takes me.

~*~*~*~*

2014 - Santana

“They’ve seen us,” Mack mutters, pacing the hotel room.

I’m on the bed, my hands clutching Pippa’s. She’s watching Mack and Tyke, confusion flickering across her face as he rambles and storms across the room. He’s not happy with the plan, to say the least, but there’s really no other choice. They need to think we’re alone, that we’ve got no backup.

“That’s the point,” Tyke mutters from the couch. He’s leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, watching Mack pace.

“Don’t fuckin’ care,” Mack barks. “I don’t like this fuckin’ plan. They could bring ten or twenty men, maybe even fuckin’ more. Then what hope have we got? We’ll have our brains blown out before we can move.”

“They won’t kill us,” I say, my voice scratchy, my throat sore.