Page 113 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I take deep breaths, trying to keep my darkness from unleashing on the wrong person. “Then I guess you better keep up and prepare yourself, Sheriff. Because I have only one goal, and that’s getting them back alive at any cost.”
“Don’t you pull that Sheriff bullshit with me!” he seethes, getting into my face. “I’m your goddamn friend and their lives mean just as much to me as they do you. But this isn’t fucking Iraq, this is my goddamn town and my rules. You assholes may have what it takes to kill these bastards, but you do not have the same resources I do for finding them. So I’m warning you now, Walker, you toe the fucking line or else…”
I grab him and slam him up against the wall. “Fuck you! I don’t follow anyone’s rules when it comes to my woman and kids. You fucking hear me?”
“Goddamit, Walker, get off of him,” Jaxson yells. I let him and Sawyer pull me back but I keep my glare trained on Cooper.
“Listen, both of you assholes need to rein it in. We’re wasting time,” Evans shouts, logically. “Cooper is right, we need him and his resources, but you,” he points at Cooper, “need to back the fuck off him. We all fucking know what kind of rules you would follow if this was Kayla.”
We continue to glare at each other, our breaths rapid with fury. Thankfully, he gives in first, “I know a place where they both go to drink. It’s a biker bar just off the interstate, some of who they hang with will be there and they will probably know something. I know one guy in particular who’s close with Spike.”
I let out a relieved breath, glad that I have a place to start since it would have taken us time to find that out. I look over at Jaxson. “We’ll stop at your place first and load up, that way if we have a place to go we don’t backtrack and waste time.”
He nods just as Cooper interrupts again, “You don’t need to fucking load up! I am armed.”
“You cannot fucking expect us to go into this unarmed.”
We stand off again before he shakes his head. “Fine, but goddamn it, don’t be stupid and make me regret letting you in on this. I could have left your ass at home, sulking in your fucking apartment. Remember that, Walker.”
I nod, knowing he’s right, and pray that I can keep that promise. But if they have hurt her in anyway, it all goes out the fucking window.
CHAPTER 34
Faith
I brace myself as they pull me from the backseat of the car, my head pounding from the blow they just delivered to me while talking to my papa. I hit the ground hard and bite back the fresh wave of pain that slices through me, but can’t stop from crying out when Floyd reefs me up by my hair, the sting in my scalp making my eyes water.
I stumble toward a run-down, abandoned cabin with my hands cuffed in front of me, the too tight metal biting into my wrists painfully. I take in my surroundings, trying to figure out which way we will need to go if we can manage to get out of this.
“Take a good look around, bitch, and whatever you’re thinking you can forget it,” Floyd says, calling me out. “There is nothing around here for miles. I could make you scream like a fucking pig being gutted and no one would hear you.”
I try not to let the fear I’m feeling from his vile description show in my expression. I pray that all he wants is money, and that he doesn’t plan to hurt Christopher and me. I swallow thickly at the thought of Christopher, praying he is in there and okay.
I stumble through the door and blink against the soft light of the lamp they turn on, fighting against the wave of dizziness it brings.
“Lock her up with him,” Floyd orders Spike, shoving me against him.
He follows the command but I don’t miss the glare he sends Floyd’s way. He walks me through the house, leading me into the kitchen, then out the back door and outside again. It’s pitch black and we walk quite a ways from the cabin. I try to take in all I can but unfortunately I can’t see much; I don’t even see the small wooden shack until it’s almost right in front of us.
“Please don’t do this,” I try pleading with him. “Please, if you help us get out of here, my papa will pay you double what Floyd is asking.”
He grunts, not believing me and slaps me in the back of the head, making me get the overwhelming urge to throw up. “Shut up, bitch. I am not that fucking dumb.”
I think about trying again but then decide against it, knowing I can’t handle any more blows to my head. I watch him lift three heavy metal levers then unlock a small padlock with a key before swinging the door open. A disgusting smell overwhelms my senses, making my eyes water and has me gagging.
“Hey, kid, I brought you a friend.”
A small lantern in the top right corner gives off a faint glow in the dark, dank space, but it’s enough for me to see the shadow of a boy huddled in the corner with his head down and arms wrapped around his knees.
“Christopher?” I sob in relief and rush toward him. I hear the door slam and the bolts lock into place as I drop down beside him. “Are you okay?” I notice his body shaking then hear him sniffle, and realize he isn’t answering me because he’s crying. “Oh no, Christopher. Look at me, are you really hurt?” I ask fearfully.
He shakes his head and I hear him mumble something but I can’t make out what he’s saying. I lean in closer but still can’t understand him. “I can’t hear you. Please look at me, you’re scaring me.”
