CHAPTER TEN

– DEANNA –

The loud music is messing with me. Either that or the ringing in my ears from getting hit is overriding my brain. Whatever. Soon it won’t matter anymore because I know this won’t last long anyway.

I’ve never been a quitter. There’s no tapping out, admitting defeat, or anything along those lines. Yet now? I think I’ve reached a point which some might call “the point of no return.” My body is done. My mind is done. Hell, every-fucking-thing is done.

Except for my heart. It’s still beating more fiercely than ever. I truly believe there’s only one reason for this particular organ to still function, and that’s Hayden. At one time in my life there was my father and my twin who I solely lived for. Then there was only Bran who I loved more than myself, and needed to protect.

Thank fuck she’s safe, and has Heath who will love and protect her in ways I won’t be able to. Hell, she might just be pregnant if whatever they gave us to sedate us didn’t fuck it up. Which means she’ll become a mother. A family. Building a life on her own.

Something I know I’m not a part of and might never get the chance to. The kicks I’ve endured? If by some chance I was pregnant, I’m sure I’m not anymore now. I’ve fought tough men, trained fighters, and have taken many hits and injuries, though this level of fighting dirty has taken its toll. I don’t know if I have any fight left inside me.

Blood sprays from my mouth and the burst of pain shooting through my skull is another wave I endure right before more pain assaults me as my head bounces against the wall. I spit out the metallic tang filling my mouth and try to focus on the dark moving figure that’s closing in on me.

“Ready to submit to me yet, cunt?” Loco snarls. “Don’t worry, you’ll still be awake when I fuck your cunt raw, I’ll make sure.”

I wait for him to come closer, needing to save my strength since my body is too damn tired to fight. This motherfucker has been beating me for…I have no clue how long. He dragged me back here when Lyla and Bran managed to escape.

I really thought he was going to lock me up in the shed again. Instead, he took me into their clubhouse and into his room. He ordered me to strip and get on the bed. I ordered him to chop off his cock and play Ping-Pong with the little fleshy dot. I guess neither of us is good at following orders. The air shifted, shit turned bad after the loud music started, and the fighting began.

I’ve fought bigger opponents, but even underground fights have some rules to follow. This right here is life or death, no rules, and only one focus; kill or be killed. I feel like I’m being killed so I guess he’s winning.

The hope of being rescued is long gone. I have no clue how much time has passed, but Bran and Lyla would have had to told someone. Then have them come to where we ran to the road, find wherever this clubhouse is.

And the damn clubhouse is deep in the woods because it was one hell of a long walk through the trees, past the shed, and the huge yard with drunk bikers hanging around firepits. That’s when the torture started because Loco bound my hands with cuffs this time instead of zip ties and dragged me behind him by the hair.

I’m pretty sure I have some bald spots. I guess it’ll be part of my charm if I do survive. Right next to the missing teeth, broken bones, and whatever else wrong with my body. ’Cause I felt a rib snap when he kicked me a moment ago.

I spit out another mouthful of blood, along with a tooth. Yeah, I bet I’m looking fucking good. Good enough to fuck if you ask my brother. Motherfucker. Anger overrides the pain and I manage to kick his knee once he gets close enough.

The roar ripping from him only gives me a few seconds of satisfaction. Then there’s more pain shooting through my thigh, my stomach, two more kicks and then he’s punching me in the face again. I don’t see it coming, though. One of my eyes has swollen shut.

Yeah, I did mention the whole looking sexy as fuck, right? A smile tugs my mouth, or at least, I try to smile. Might look a little manic with all the blood and missing teeth, but who fucking cares?

A laugh bubbles up and I sneer, “What’s the matter, ugly fucker? Can’t get it hard? It’s the sister thing. I’m sure as hell revolted by just the thought of you being my brother, let alone you putting your filthy hands on me.”

I can pinpoint where he is by the shadowy figure on my right. He needs to get closer ’cause this time I want to gauge his eye out with my fingers. I have to because I know I won’t last long.

His cheap cologne assaults me and I watch the figure squat down. Closer. He needs to come closer otherwise he will simply block my arm. I’m fairly sure my wrist is sprained, and I can’t put my full weight on my leg…I think it’s broken. I also cracked a few ribs and it’s getting damn hard to breathe. I’m a mess. Like I mentioned, it’s the point of no return.

Life is walking out on me and refusing to answer to my pleas for a goddamned break.

What feels like the last smile of my life slides across my face when Loco finally inches close enough. My hands flash forward and I launch myself at him with the last bit of energy my body possesses. My thumbs press into the soft tissue of his eye.

I block the pain of the assault he’s giving in return. Loco’s trying to get me off him, but I hold strong and don’t give up until I feel his eyes give in. At least he won’t ever see himself fucking anything anymore. The air leaves my lungs when I feel pain lashing out on my side.

“Die, you fucking cunt,” Loco snarls.

I stumble back and glance down, seeing the hilt of a knife buried in my side. I cough at the taste of blood bubbling up in my mouth. Breathing becomes difficult and the pain is overwhelming. Loco crawls to his feet and I know he’s going to end me.

One should never pull a knife out once it’s lodged inside you. Simply because the knife is stopping the damage on the inside, a moment frozen in time so to say ’cause if you pull it out? That’s when the bleeding and damage shit starts.

Though, right now I have two choices left; dying slowly or get killed. Like I said, I never give up, not willingly anyway. It’s why I grab the hilt and rip it out the moment I see Loco come at me. The scream ripping from me is foreign, even to my own ears, when I jam the knife into his throat with all the energy I can muster. I pull it out and stab him again. His body jerks as if he’s getting hit by something else.

This time I don’t have the energy to pull it out again. Loco falls to the side and stays down. The relief hitting me only lasts a heartbeat or two. I might have killed him, but I’m not saved yet. I still have to get out of here, which would involve getting up and walking, probably fighting a few other bikers I might run into.

I lean back against the wall and wince. There’s so much pain I don’t know a spot on my body that isn’t hurting. I’m damn tired. Maybe if I close my eyes for a breath or two, I’ll be able to recharge. Yeah, it’s a lie. I’m not getting out of here, and one of my eyes is already swollen shut, the other one is closing on its own accord.

Like I said, the only organ still functioning is my heart. I’ve finally found a man in my life who doesn’t bullshit me, who makes me feel my worth, and stands strong beside me instead of shoving me behind him.

Hayden. He’s the one who holds my heart, keeping me tied to this world the way that huge muscle pumps blood through my veins. He made me fall for him. Not entirely correct, more like the fucker tackled me, so I had no other choice but to let him in. A sob rips from me. I wish things were different.

Earlier today I didn’t want to think of the possibility of being pregnant. But now? I would have loved the chance to wake up next to Hayden each and every day. Plan a future, start a family, the kind of shit books are written about…the romance kind because Hayden sure knows how to fill pages with great sex.

“Dammit, Hayden,” I croak on a whisper to no one in particular since I’m consumed by darkness; one eye swollen shut, the other closed. “You made me love you, and now there’s nothing.”

I feel myself slipping, my head hits what I think is the floor…I have no clue, and not a care in the world when oblivion takes me under.