Page 122 of Paladin's Hell

Chapter 39

Jayden

I’d tried to stop myself losing consciousness, but it was something I had no control over. As I lay in that car, accepting I couldn’t get free, knowing my feeble attempts were doing nothing more than to exhaust and overheat me. Though it went against the grain, I knew lying still would help me to last longer. Gradually, I knew I was losing the fight.

I started to hallucinate, felt insects walking over me. At one point, I could have sworn there was a snake in the trunk slithering around my legs. Then my eyes closed again, and this time, I no longer had the strength to open them.

There’s moisture on my cracked lips. My tongue flicks out greedily to wipe it away, without thinking where it came from. I open my mouth slightly, in the hope that there’s more. Is it raining?

I’m hallucinating again. I’m hearing voices. My hands no longer seemed tied behind me, maybe I’ve lost all feeling. Must have done in my head too, it no longer feels like it’s resting on metal. There’s also a cooling breeze flowing over me.

I attempt to open my eyes which are darn near swollen shut and sealed with dried tears. As more water dribbles into my mouth, I at last manage to see out. It’s one of the bikers, Rusty.

“Take a sip, sweetheart. But slowly.”

Someone grabs my hand, holding it tightly. “Pal?”

His mouth moves, I don’t hear his words, but that doesn’t matter. I’m just overjoyed that he’s here and I’m no longer locked in that car. I try to reach for him, but my arms are dead. I can’t move my legs. Rusty helps me sit upright, holding that bottle to my lips, taking it away when I take a big gulp.

“Slowly, take it slowly. Too much too soon and you’ll be sick.”

My limbs start tingling. “Oh,” I gasp.

“Pal, start rubbing her legs. She’ll have cramps from dehydration and from lying in the same position for so long. Ink, Pyro, work on her arms.” Then into my ear, he says, “Sorry, darlin’, your muscles are crampin’. It will hurt. We’ll get you back to the clubhouse and I’ll get you some painkillers once I know you can keep them down.”

“I can’t ride,” I tell him, seriously.

“Fuck, no,” he chuckles. “Got the crash truck coming.” He smooths his hand over my forehead, I think it’s a comforting gesture, but he disavows me of that when he says, “You’re not burning up so much. Your temperature has started to come down.”

At last I think I can move my arms. I struggle to sit straight, Rusty helps. It’s then I notice I’m not wearing clothes, well, only my underwear. And there are men all around me. “Pal, my clothes?” I gasp.

Rusty snorts a laugh. “She’s going to be fine if that’s what she’s worried about.” Then to me, he asks, “You got a bikini, darlin’?”

“Yes, but…”

“Probably less decent than what you’ve got on now. Hey, Pal,” his voice has hardened. “Fuckin’ look at this.” I’m leaning forward, Rusty’s now able to see my back. “She’s been fuckin’ tasered.”

“He’s going to die.”

Hoping Pal knows who it is, but so there can be no doubt, weakly I grab his arm. “It was Taser.”

“Yeah. We’ve sussed that already, Jay.” The expression on Pal’s face would be frightening were it not that I know it isn’t directed at me. He’s planning retribution for Taser. Good.

A truck has appeared. I’m lifted in arms I’d given up thinking I’d ever feel around me again. Pal lifts me into the back, then slips in beside me. “Put the air conditioning on full while you load my bike, Wills,” he instructs the prospect.

They know what they’re doing. It only takes a couple of minutes before Pal’s Harley’s secured and we’re driving. Once back at the clubhouse he carries me straight up to our room, Shooter following close behind, Rusty too. Pal goes to place me on the bed, then stops abruptly, making me fasten my arms around his neck.

I grin when I see why. Bitch is comfortably stretched out in the middle of the comforter.

“Just put me down, Pal. She won’t hurt me.”

“It’s me I’m worried about,” he growls. But he places me down carefully. Bitch gets up, arches her back, then stretches her front paws out. She comes and cuddles beside me, butting her head against my arm, purring loudly.

“Jayden gonna be alright?” a gruff voice asks. It’s Hellfire.

I pull on Pal’s arm. “A tee-shirt would be good,” I tell him.

Pal starts, seeming annoyed he hadn’t thought of that for himself. Quickly he opens a drawer, grabbing the first thing he finds and passing it to me.

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