Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

ARCHIE

More time passed before the woman named Mordecai returned. When she did, she appeared more aggravated than the last time she’d come by.

With the lights, I had no way of telling just how long ago that was. It didn’t feel like days or anything. I knew I’d be thirsty and hungry before then. While my mouth was dry and my stomach grumbled, it was nothing like the fierceness I knew lay ahead should she continue to deprive me.

While she’d left me alone with my thoughts, I pondered over the team and how they were handling my disappearance. Had they told Orion? Did he come back and tell them everything he knew about Mordecai?

In the story he’d told me and Takeshi, he never mentioned a woman. It made me wonder if the person who took him was one of Mordecai’s goons or someone pretending to be her instead. I suspected she had a man who she used as a decoy to keep people from realizing her true identity.

It wouldn’t be all that shocking at this point. The woman was truly twisted.

“It’s really disappointing when my pets don’t play along. I can’t believe they figured out I was watching. If I didn’t know better…” her voice trailed off as her eyes cut my way.

In a flash of movement, she sped my way and ripped my shirt down the middle. He nails clawed at my chest with the movement, a frenzied sort of terror gripping me in her wake.

“Just as I thought. No wire. Then how did they know I was listening in? How’d they figure it out?” She spoke aloud, though I knew the questions were not for me to answer. “Maybe I underestimated Memphis. Or maybe it’s one of the others. Your husband, perhaps?”

As her gaze whipped my way again, I saw a challenge in her eyes. Whatever the guys did to halt her game had her frustrated. And a frustrated Mordecai was a dangerous one.

“Maybe we should up the ante? Let them see who they’re dealing with, yes? Excellent idea, Archie. First, we need to get you all fixed up.”

Two of the men stepped forward with clothes and a tote of cleaning products. A third grabbed me under the arms and motioned for me to walk.

I did as they said, though I had no clue where we were going or what I was to do. Based on the clothes alone, I knew they wanted me to change. The shower products likely meant I needed to bathe too.

But why?

What good was I in a more put together state?

It wasn’t until I was dressed in said clothes and cleaner than I’d been in hours that the reality of the moment hit me. And it came with a digital camera being pointed my way.

Another of the goons was behind the lens, his finger clicking away as Mordecai gave a running commentary. “Smile. Don’t smile. Pout a little. Turn to the side. That’s it, Archie. Show them what you’ve got.”

I had no idea what I was showing. If I had to guess, my expression would be pure terror. Either that was the goal, or I didn’t know myself all that well.

A few minutes later, she declared us done, then she watched the men move about in a routine manner. It was obvious they’d done this a time or two. I was sick to my stomach thinking of all the people who had to go through this not knowing if they’d be rescued.

Unlike them, I knew my time here was short. I might not have been married long, but I knew what I had with Takeshi was real. He was going to move heaven and earth to get to me. All the NightShade men would.

“Are you hungry, dear? I’d like to keep that color in your cheeks for whichever buyer comes through. They typically like a full video after to ensure the product is indeed good to deliver. You understand, of course.”

I didn’t, yet I gave her a confident nod anyway. It’s not like I wanted her to regale me with her reasoning any further anyway.

Mordecai led me and four of the men to a doorway that connected to a long hall. At the end was a spiral staircase. As we moved up, I became sandwiched between the guards, the position effectively cutting me off from my captor. I guess they thought I’d try to attack her or something if given the chance. I couldn’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.

When we got to the next level, I was shocked to find it was a house. An extravagant one at that. There was expensive looking furniture everywhere and the ceiling was painted like we were in some ancient ruin in another country. I took it all in with wide eyes as Mordecai led us to a dining room.

I was instructed to sit down, then a group of young men in collars came out carrying serving trays. The sight of them stole what little appetite I had.

How was I supposed to eat freely when these men were obviously enslaved by this mad woman? How was it fair?

“There’s no need to pout. I’d have put you in a collar, too, but I don’t want to dissuade any buys. Speaking of which, we should take a look at the bids. I’m sure they’re probably growing as we speak.”

As soon as she waved her hand, an open laptop appeared. On the screen sat one of the photos she took downstairs. I could see the fear in my face plain as day. Somehow that didn’t stop anyone from placing their bid. It was already well into the six-figure mark.

“Oh goody! They are enamored, just as I thought they might be.”

I swallowed the bile creeping up my throat. Vomiting would not be a good move. She’d either make me clean it or she’d lash out in a rage.

“Don’t be rude to the cook. Eat your food, Archie. Then we can figure out who the winner is and close out your sale,” she said, as if we were discussing something mundane like our weekend plans instead of human trafficking.

Raising the spoon to my lips, I sipped at the soup to see if it tasted ok. I didn’t know how drugs would taste, nor did I want to know, but I had to be cautious of any of her tricks. When it seemed fine, I decided to eat with more vigor. Who knew if I’d be given another meal anytime soon?

Once we finished the soup, the same servers appeared to take our bowls, then they brought out even more food. As I went to take a bite of the food, a loud explosion rang out. The table shook from the force of it.

“What the fuck was that?” Mordecai screeched. Gone was the polished woman she’d attempted to portray earlier.

The men looked at one another, then took off down the hall. Two remained with us, both of them eyeing where my hands were near the silverware. I only had a spoon and fork, neither of which I felt like using as a weapon.

She motioned for me to continue eating, though she didn’t herself. I figured she wanted to be ready to give orders rather than stuffing her mouth full like I was.

I’d only just finished with my chicken when one of the guards came running back covered in blood. He gave her a fearful look and opened his mouth to speak. Only, he didn’t get to. His face exploded before us, then his body fell to the ground.

Guards one and two who’d remained in the room struggled to pull their weapons free. The lack of preparation had them with two bullet wounds in their foreheads before I could blink to register what was happening.

“Well this is highly inconvenient,” Mordecai grumbled, pulling a gun from under the table and aiming at the shadow in the hall. “State your name and who sent you.”

A smoky chuckle sounded from the figure. “Name’s Carver. Tank sends his regards, doll face.”

I watched her finger move over the trigger of her weapon, but again, it was too slow. She wound up with a bullet in her head to match her dead guards.

Everything I’d just eaten came back up so fast I couldn’t do anything but let it pour out of me. It covered the table and ran down the other side.

I felt a hand on my back, the palm firm as a low voice said, “It’s ok. Get it all out. Bitch probably laced it anyway.”

The part of me that was exhausted from this entire endeavor wanted to cackle at the man’s tone. He didn’t appear to be bothered at all that he’d just swept into the room and killed the person responsible for so many bad things. He’d taken her out without even flinching. Stormed her compound and everything like it was nothing.

“Who are you?” I asked once I wiped my mouth with the napkin he handed me.

“My name is Carver. I know Tank. He traded me a couple of favors to come out here to help you. Can’t say it makes me upset to do his dirty work. His favors are always a good time. Plus, killing psycho bitches and her pups is all in a day’s work.”

I leaned back to look at him. “Who are you really? What kind of work has you killing people and calling it a good time?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure how much you want to know. My job is… varied. There’s a lot to it. Just know I’m on the edge of good guy, with a touch of not so good mixed in. Now what do you say about calling your husband and those other numbskulls to come get us?

“No. Too much risk of getting caught,” I mumbled as exhaustion overwhelmed me.

Carver snapped his fingers at me like I’d amused him. “I like how you think, kid. You ever need a home away from home, come find Pops, and I’ll vouch for you. Let’s load up on my bike. I can torch this place later if Tank doesn’t need any evidence.”

With that, I let the big guy lift me up and carry me outside to his motorcycle. I couldn’t believe this was my life. How the hell did my knight in shining armor turn into what I suspected was a motorcycle club golden retriever of a man who killed people for fun?