Page 50 of Piston

I twist the throttle harder, pushing my bike to its limits. Beside me, Dagger matches my pace, his face etched with the same grim determination.

We'll find her. We have to.

The alternative...it doesn't bear thinking about.

Images flash through my mind like a hellish slideshow. Jenny, bound and gagged, her eyes wide with fear. Her body broken and bleeding. The life snuffed out of her like a candle in the wind.

I shake my head violently, trying to banish the thoughts. I can't afford to think like that. Can't let the darkness consume me.

Jenny needs me strong. Focused.

So I cling to the rage, the fury that boils in my veins. I let it sharpen my senses, fuel my determination.

And I pray to whatever god might be listening that we're not too late.

That somewhere out there, Jenny's holding on.

Waiting for us to bring her home.

SEVENTEEN

JENNY

My head'spounding fiercely as I come to, a rough fabric sack scratching my face. I blink a few times but it's no use, I can't see a damn thing through this thick black cloth. The air is hot, making it hard to breathe.

Muffled voices reach my ears as the fog in my brain starts to clear. Men's voices, angry and gruff. I strain to listen, a pit forming in my gut.

"- goddamn biker scum! I knew we couldn't trust that piece of shit Piston!" one of them snarls in a thick Russian accent.

"Boss said to get the girl, make him pay. We have her now, ?? ?? ??? ????????!" another voice chimes in menacingly.

Shit. This ain't good. Piston...what the hell did you get yourself into this time? Fear grips my chest as I realize just how much danger we're both in. Tears prick my eyes behind the suffocating hood but I blink them back. Can't let these bastards see me cry.

The men continue arguing in Russian, their tones growing more heated by the second. I don't need to understand the words to know they're out for blood. Piston's blood. Because of me.

God, how did I end up here? Tied up God knows where while my old man's enemies plot to hurt him, hurt everyone he cares about. Including me. I want to scream, kick, fight my way out of this mess, but I'm trussed up tighter than a turkey at Thanksgiving. The helplessness crushes down on me, stealing my breath.

All I can do is sit here in the dark, praying to whoever's listening that Piston finds me before it's too late. For both our sakes.

A choked sob escapes my throat, muffled by the duct tape. I can't stop shaking, my body trembling like a damn leaf as the reality of the situation sinks in. I'm completely at their mercy and there's not a fucking thing I can do about it.

Hot tears slip down my cheeks, soaking into the rough fabric of the hood. I try to hold them back, but it's no use. They flow faster, my chest heaving with silent cries.

"????????!" one of them barks, followed by the sharp sting of a hand across my face. My head snaps to the side, cheek throbbing. "Shut up or I'll give you something to really cry about."

I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. Anything to keep from making another sound. Can't show weakness, not now. Gotta stay strong. For Piston. For myself.

But God, it's so hard when all I want is to curl up in his arms and pretend none of this is happening. I've never felt so alone, so completely fucking terrified in my entire life.

The tears keep coming, no matter how much I will them to stop. Each one feels like a betrayal, proof of just how weak and pathetic I am. Some old lady I'm turning out to be.

I just pray Piston gets here soon, before these sick bastards decide to do more than just smack me around. The thought makes my stomach turn, bile rising in my throat.

Please hurry, baby. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Suddenly, my world tilts as one of them grabs me by the back of my shirt, yanking me to my feet. The hood falls away from my head, and I blink against the harsh light.

"She's a fucking mess," one of them sneers, and I see him, the leader. His eyes are cold, devoid of any empathy. My heart pounds in my chad, and I know, I know, I'm in so much trouble.

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