Page 9 of Salvation

Hayley stood in the archway leading to her kitchen, tears streaming down her face. And behind her, holding a gun to her head, was Hacksaw.

She was trembling, sniffing loudly as panic took over. Hacksaw sneered at her fear, and my heart leapt in sympathy. I knew what it was like to be abused by these men. Hayley was a soft, gentle soul, not rough round the edges like me.

I fucking hated myself for putting her in this position.

I tried to make eye contact with her, to reassure her that it would all be okay, but she refused to look in my direction, hugging her arms around her chest as though to protect herself.

“Hello, darlin’,” came the voice that almost made me throw up.

Dante appeared from around the corner, holding a beaming Axel in his arms, who was happily munching one of the biscuitsHayley always kept in a jar on her counters. He was wearing his leather cut, filling it like he had been fucking poured into it. I hated that he looked so good, and hated myself for noticing. “Fancy seeing you here. Nice wig, Morticia.” He said with disgust before turning to Axel, gently bopping him on the nose. I saw red, immediately shaking off the icy grip of fear.

“Lisa, wait—” Hayley began, only to have her efforts rewarded with a smack to the head with the barrel of a gun.

“Get your fucking hands off him,” I hissed, ignoring her commands and taking a step forward. I had faced these men down before, and I would damn sure do it again. What’s the worst he could do? Oh, wait—I already know.

That last night on the boat came flooding to mind. All of them stood by as Dante…

Don’t think about it. Not now.

Only, I didn’t get the chance to face any of them, as I never made another step across the room.

Call it intuition. A sixth sense. Or just plain old impending doom. Whatever it was, had me pausing slightly as dread filled my stomach and a shadow stretched across the room from my peripheral.

They had me surrounded.

An arm wrapped around me from behind, a huge hand clamping over my mouth. I saw a bushy beard in my peripheral, before I felt the sharp prick in my neck.

“Night, night, hair buddy,” Vienna hissed down my ear. I struggled in his grip, but he held me steady, pinning my back to his chest with his enormous arms as he waited for the effect of the drugs to take place.

It didn’t take long.

My body became heavy, my vision blurring. I stumbled on my legs, my tongue feeling like a stone in my mouth.

Vienna let go of me as I slumped, causing my body to fall to the floor in a heap.

I fought with all my strength to get onto my stomach, and willed myself to cross the distance between myself and my son.

Fucking move, Rachel! Move your fucking ass before it’s too late, you stupid, stupid bitch!

My fingers clawed into the carpet, snapping my nails as I used every last bit of strength I possessed to try to haul my body over the floor. The room spun, sending a wave of nausea rushing through me. I forced it down, pleading with myself to please,please, make it across the fucking floor.

I pressed my palms into the carpet and pushed with all my might. All I succeeded in doing was raising my body off the floor a few inches. My arms were shaking with the effort, and as soon as I lifted my hand even a centimetre off the floor to try to move, I came crashing back down, smacking my head off the floor.

Come on, Rachel! You’re going to fucking lose your son if you don’t move!

But it was no use. My body was no longer mine to command. My head flopped, growing heavier and heavier by the second. I raised my head, lifting my chest off the floor, but that’s all I was capable of doing. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t do a thing.

I willed every last bit of strength into my body, gasping with the effort of pushing myself forward. My elbows dug into the floor, and I hissed at the carpet burn as I tried using them to claw my way over the distance.

My jaw gritted and I let out an anguished moan, sweat beading on my forehead. The room was spinning worse than ever, but I didn’t care. All I could focus on was moving. I needed to get to Axel. I needed to save my son.

Dante stepped forward and pressed his boot to my skull, grinding my face into the carpet. My eyelids slammed shut the moment I hit the floor.

Don’t do this, Rachel! Don’t give in so fucking easily!

I snapped my eyes back open, that one slight movement taking every last ounce of my energy. Shadows fell over me as Vienna stepped over my body, following his brothers out of the kitchen.

The last thing I saw was Dante walking out of the back door, taking my son with him, before my head exploded with the sound of gunfire that ended Hayley’s life.

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