“Fuckers. I’ll kill them all.”

“Just focus, Krypt.”

Krypt?

I open my mouth and try to squeak his name. A hand strokes over my face, only barely there. “I got you, baby. We’re goin’ to make this better.”

“Load her up, Krypt. It’s goin’ to fuckin’ hurt.”

Maddox.

“You want me to fuckin’ drug her?”

“You got a better idea out here?”

“Fuck.”

Everything goes quiet as I drift back into my unconscious state, but before I’m fully out, I feel a needle being plunged into my arm. Then everything goes black again.

I wake again. This time I’m bouncing. Like I’m in a car.

Everything hurts.

My tongue is dry.

I cry out hoarsely, desperate. Where’s Krypt? Where is he? I want him. I need him.

Krypt.

“I got you baby,” a soft voice says. “I got you. You’re safe.”

Krypt.

I reach out, my fingers desperate to feel him. My mind is spinning, but I know I need him, almost frantically. I clutch at anything I can, my fingers curling around something soft.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, placing a warm hand over mine.

“Krypt,” I wail. “Krypt?”

“I got you.”

“Krypt.”

“She’s hallucinating. Just hold onto her.”

“Who’s there?” I cry, hearing the faint voice and feeling my panic rise.

“Ash, I got you honey.”

Krypt?

I cry out for him, reaching around frantically again. I feel a chest, but I don’t know whose it is.

“I’m sorry, Krypt, I’m sorry. Don’t leave me out here. Please don’t leave me out here. I want you. I do want you.”

“Hush, you’re going to be fine. Just hang in there.”

“Krypt!” I wail. “Please don’t go.”

Another sting pushes into my arm, and once again my world is taken from me.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I wake to the sounds of voices. I shift. I’m on a bed. I can feel the soft mattress beneath my body. I let my eyes flutter open. I have to blink rapidly to gather my bearings. I stare, confused. I’ve never seen this room before. Where am I? I try to swallow, but my tongue feels like a dead weight, dry and scratchy.

“Krypt?” I croak.

Nothing.

I try to sit up, only to cry out in pain and drop down again. I turn my head and stare down at my heavily bandaged shoulder. I got shot. Oh my God, I got shot.

Leo.

“Leo!” I cry, trying to sit up. “Leo.”

The door opens and before I can say another word, Krypt is beside me, his big arms steadying me. “He’s at the hospital; he’s okay. You’re okay.”

“Oh Krypt,” I rasp. “Oh God.”

“Hey,” he says, turning my chin towards him. “I swear it’s okay.”

“I got shot.”

He stares at my arm before turning back to me. “You did, but I promise you it’s not as bad as it seems. It’s only a small wound, now it’s been stitched. You’re going to be fine. We got some antibiotics. So long as you take them all will be fine.”

“You stitched me?” I croak.

“After we got the bullet out.”

“I had a b-b-b-bullet?”

He strokes my cheek. “It’s okay, Ash.”

“W-w-w-where are we?”

“At the clubhouse.”

“But . . .”

“Hey, it’s fine,” he murmurs. “It’s the safest place for us. We thought being up there was, but how fuckin’ wrong we were. We couldn’t hear them coming in. Out here we can see from all directions, including a clear view of the road. We’re goin’ to end this, Ash, don’t you doubt it. Those fuckers will pay for what they did to you.”

“Claire!” I suddenly shriek.

“What?” he asks, narrowing his eyes.

“If they got Leo, that means they could have Claire. Oh God Krypt, no.”

“Calm down. Tell me where I can find her.”

“G-g-g-give me your cell.”

He hands me his cell and I unlock it quickly, dialing Claire’s number. It rings and rings. When it answers, I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Claire, oh my God, I’m so glad you’re okay—”

A low chuckle sounds out, making me pause. “I wondered when you’d call, Ash.”

That voice. I have never heard it, but I already know it’s bad.

“Who is this?” I say, my voice low.

Krypt reaches for the phone, but I shake my head, needing to hear for myself.

“My name is Howard. I’m sure you’ve heard of me. I delivered that package to you, did you get it?”

“Fuck you,” I spit.

He laughs again. “That’s no way to talk to the person holding your friend.”

“What do you want?” I growl.

Krypt reaches for me again, but I shoot him a warning glare. He snarls but he doesn’t push.

“I wanted you dead, but that didn’t work out so well. You see, I can’t have you around, ruining my plans. That club will get what’s coming for them, but while you’re in the way, threatening to ruin it all, it just won’t happen.”

“Just say it,” I croak.

“You for your friend; the decision is yours. A life for a life. If you want her to live, you will meet me in three days time at the Southside wharf. If you don’t want her to live, don’t show up. The choice is yours. Think long and hard about it. Oh, and Ash, if you call the cops or bring those fuckin’ bikers in, I’ll slit her throat. But,” he laughs bitterly, “I’ll fuckin’ rape her first.”