Page 41 of Property of Raider
There won’t be a fucking third time.I don’t care what it takes, who I have to bleed, or how dark I have to become to make sure she never slips away again.
You’re mine, and I’m motherfucking done living in a world where you’re not in it.
Chapter Thirteen
Anastasia
Blinking my eyes open, I see that once again the trees are whizzing by.Great.Once again, I’m in a vehicle with no fucking clue where I’m going or what the hell is happening.I lay there, my body still heavy and out of sorts, trying to remember anything since the day after I injured my leg and hand.Working to ball my hand into a fist, I let out a hiss as the wound pulls slightly but relax when I don’t find it anymore swollen.I lay still, hoping that the people in the vehicle don’t realize I’m awake.
The vehicle slows, turning onto what sounds like gravel, and the trees close in tighter around us.I let out a breath because it seems they’ve decided what to do with me.The gravel road is smooth beneath the tires as we crunch along.I close my eyes, giving in to the thoughts of what could have been, what should have been, and what I’ll never have.I pray Raider and the others did what I needed them to do and protected Rusher, keeping him safe from Shea.The vehicle finally comes to a stop, and to my complete surprise, only one door opens.
The back hatch pops open.“I know you're awake, Amar.”
I squint one eye open, seeing the bigger guy standing there looking younger and even more relaxed than before.Still not moving because I will be damned before I make them getting rid of me that fucking easy.I hear his feet shuffling before the back of the SUV squats down.Squinting one eye open, I see that the bigger man of my two guards is leaning back onto the SUV looking out over the open field.I slowly sit up, scooting back from the door to add space between us.
The man looks back at me grinning.“It’s good to see you up and moving.”
“What the fuck is going on?”I whisper, my voice horse.
He laughs, but it sounds hollow and broken.“It seems even though you are the boss’s sister, that bitch has no love for you.She decided you were too sick, too damaged with the gash on your leg, and we needed to do away with you.So, that’s what I’m here to do.”
He says it as if we’re just talking about the weather.Instead of answering him or saying anything, I start to stretch and work the kinks out of my sore joints and muscles.The man glances back at me before nodding and standing, going to the back seat of the SUV, pulling out a small bag.When he comes back to the trunk area, he tosses the bag inside.
“I thought you might want to put on some actual clothes,” he shrugs, walking away as his phone rings.
He answers it speaking rapped fire Spanish.Not one to shoot myself in the foot to spite someone, I dig in the bag and am shocked to find jeans, underwear, a sports bra, a long-sleeve Henley, a jean jacket, socks, and boots all with the tags still on them.I look back at the man, confused as fuck about what the hell is going on.His words make it sound as if he is going to kill me, but can I hope maybe that’s not what’s about to happen?The sound of his voice rises, and the Spanish comes out faster, causing my anxiety to climb.Rushing while he is distracted, I pull off the old bloodied clothes and start pulling on the new ones.
I’ve just pulled on the first sock when he ends his call, coming back around the SUV.He looks me up and down before nodding and turning to sit back in his spot.I decide that trying to get some answers about what happens next is the smart thing to do.
“Thank you for the clothes, but I don’t understand.If you’re supposed to be taking care of me, why would you do this?”My voice is still a whisper.
“Isn’t that what I’m doing?”he waves to my fully clothed self.“Taking care of you?”
Annoyed, I give him my best mom look.“We both know this is not what Shea and Jose meant by take care of me.”
He turns, holding his hand to his chest, gasping in mock horror.“They didn’t?Are you sure about that?”
“Pretty damned positive,” I grumble, not liking his mocking tone.
“Well, I guess when they say words are important and context matters, this is an example of what they mean,” he says flatly with an eyebrow cocked.
I finish sliding my boots onto my feet, sliding to hang my legs over the back of the SUV.“So then what’s your plan?You didn’t bring me all the way out here just to have a chat, did you?”
Taking in my surroundings, it hits me we’re sitting in the parking lot of Tender Touch Butcher & Slaughterhouse.I look out past the big metal building, seeing several groups of different animals.Checking the parking lot, it hits me there isn’t another car in sight, so what exactly is going on here?Is she going to kill me and use the slaughterhouse to cover up the kill?
Done with the not knowing and everyone else making life-altering decisions for me, I decide to pull my big girl panties on, and fucking ask him what his plan is.
“What was the point of giving me clothes if you’re just going to kill me anyway?”I snap.
His head jerks in my direction, a look of betrayal reflected at me.“Kill you?Is that what you think we’re doing here?Look, if I were going to kill you, I would have at least done it before you were awake and could fucking make things difficult for me.Shit, do you know how many opportunities I had to do just that?”
I just shake my head, looking down at my hands, not able to truly wrap my brain around the thought of being that vulnerable.“No.To be honest, I don’t have much of a memory after Jose punched me in the face however many days ago that was.”
“Four,” he looks at his watch sighing.“Make that five days ago, and to be honest, there was a moment earlier today I didn’t think you were going to make it out alive.”
“I’m confused.Why are we here?Why are you doing this?”I question.
“Now you’re asking the right questions, estimado (dear).”He nods with a look of pride in his eyes.
