Page 74 of Has-Been
Forty-Five
I’dwokeninavan, and it wasn’t moving. I was alone, tied up, and with something over my head so I couldn’t see. It was cold, and my head was throbbing with pain. I tried moving and I was tethered somehow, so I couldn’t move my legs or arms from the position they were in. I was on my side and they were drawn back behind me.
My mouth felt dry and cottony, and that was because something was stuffed in my mouth, and it was covered with tape. I could feel it pulling and stretching as I tried to open my mouth.
What the hell was going on? Where was Has-Been? Oh god… what was the last thing I could remember? There had been something going on, but it was evading me, as my head throbbed in time with my racing pulse.
Oh god, the fire! There was a fire, and Seth couldn’t get out of his room! He was trapped, they were all trapped! And then someone… someone grabbed me.
There was a loud slam, and then the van started up, my body being jolted back as it raced forward. I tried to call out for help, but I couldn’t make more than a muted mumble that wouldn’t even be heard over the sound of the engine.
It seemed like we drove for ages, and when the van suddenly parked up and the engine cut out, I prayed that this wasn’t the moment I was about to be raped or murdered. I prayed that Has would save me. He would, right? He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. He’d promised. He said he’d keep me safe.
A loud metallic screech signified the side door of the van being pulled open, and cool air rushed inside, swirling around me, before I felt someone climb up and lean over me, fussing with the ropes or whatever was holding me in place.
Finally my arms were no longer being pulled back, but they were still tied. My ankles were released next, but still tied. I was helpless, and this bastard knew it. It was what he wanted, wasn’t it?
He dragged me out of the van, and hoisted me up onto his shoulder, carrying me somewhere. I hated that the hood he’d put over my head and tethered at my throat, was blocking me from seeing anything. It was even making it hard to breathe, and being gagged wasn’t helping with that either.
We moved inside somewhere, because a door slammed behind us, and then I was being carried further into the building. Eventually I was dropped heavily on the floor, and let out a muffled yelp as I landed on my hip and elbows. A low chuckle was the only response from the fucker who’d kidnapped me.
I was beyond terrified, because it had to be the guy who’d taken me before, and he’d made it clear before that he planned to rape and kill me. How the hell had he managed to get at me right there in the clubhouse? He was definitely one of the bikers, but which one? I only knew a few of them, and if I heard a voice without seeing the face, I couldn’t tell one from the other.
I was left alone for ages, panicking with that cloth bag over my head, and being gagged and tied, and so vulnerable that I knew I was out of chances. If Has and Seth didn’t find me here, then I’d die in this horrible place. I could tell it was horrible, because the floor I was on felt gritty and rough, and when I moved my feet, I kicked something that felt like paper or cardboard packaging. I’d been dumped among litter like I was nothing more than rubbish.
“Kinda like you like that.” I sucked in a panicked breath, and choked because of the way he’d gagged me. I thought he’d left, but he’d been here all along, watching me, enjoying my terror.
“There’s something about a panicked vulnerable woman that really gets me hard. Don’t worry, darlin’, nobody will disturb us here. Nobody knows about this place, and this time you don’t have your fucking phone for them to track. They’ll never find you. Now I need to get back for a bit, show my face, you know… keep them guessing. Don’t go anywhere, now.”
He practically sang the last line, laughing as he walked away and the door thudded closed. I heard a key turn, and knew I was effectively trapped, and all I could do was wait for his return, even though I feared it more than anything.
Forty-Six
Torchwasn’tdead,notyet, but he was fucking close. He’d been found just outside the club grounds, beside some litter and tyre marks belonging to a van of some description. He’d been stabbed, appropriately in the back, by some fucking coward.
There was blood everywhere, and he wasn’t responsive, but he was already in an ambulance and being rushed to the hospital.
A few guys had gone with him, Ryder included, but I couldn’t because I couldn’t move without throwing up or practically passing out. The injury to the back of my head was bad, and it was only when I was fucking hairless, that the doc was able to check it properly, and stitch it up.
“I need out of here, dammit. My girl is out there, and she needs me.”
Doc caught my arm as I tried to move out of the bed for the fiftieth time.
“Nick, Tommy, your job is to fucking keep him here. Do anything you have to, except injuring his head any further. Reacher, a word.”
Doc and Reacher disappeared outside and the door closed.
“This is insane. I need to be doing something!”
Tommy and Nick both pushed me back as I tried to sit up, and I fixed a fierce glare on one then the other.
“You really gonna fuck with me?”
Tommy grimaced, glancing at Nick before he spoke.
“Has, come on, man. If you get up, you’re only gonna slow down your recovery, and you know you need to be at your best for her. Think about it… someone is effectively decimating our fucking club, and they need you on your game.”
Fuck. I sat back, rubbing both hands over my face, as I felt the sting of frustrated tears. I would not fucking lose it in front of these… theseboys.
