Chapter 70

JASPER

" A nswer me!" My voice echoed off the walls of the large open warehouse. It was gloomy and had a musty smell. It seemed like a solid spot to handle this kind of stuff, an ideal location for these two idiots to get what they deserve.

"I… I. I don't know." The man supposed to be Harper's father stuttered in a small weak voice.

"You don't know? So, you gave her to them having no idea what they wanted to do with her? You're own fucking child." I screamed. My face was only inches from his. I could smell the rank stench of cigarettes and rotten teeth on his breath. He was a small man, with leathery skin. and dark soulless eyes. Nothing like Harper's.

When we arrived my men already had both, tied to metal chairs. They were bound, beaten, and scared shitless, just like I expected.

They had no clue who I was or what I was to Harper from what I could gather between the sobs and pleas, coming from the woman supposed to be Harper's mother.

"What are you going to do with us?" She questioned in an obvious attempt to take the heat from her husband, defending him from my wrath, but where was she when Harper needed defending? Where were they when Harper was bound and gagged for days? Where were they when their daughter escaped her own version of hell only to go back to an empty home? A young girl lost and left to fend for herself. They never had to see that pain in her beautiful eyes, never once had to see her tremble under the touch of someone who loved her, because she didn't know how to be loved.

My thoughts throw me into a fit of rage. The lack of remorse for that goddess of a woman who has stolen my heart only pushes me further down a path I'm certain wouldn't be good for me. I stepped back and stared. The silence was so loud in the dark of the closed-up warehouse. The only sound was the quiet sobs as she pleaded for mercy on her husband. I kneeled in front of her keeping my distance.

"Did you cry like that when they told you they wanted to take your daughter?" Her eyes widened, her mouth opened and closed but no words came out.

"I didn't think so," I whispered.

"I…is this about Harper?" She stuttered.

"If this is about our daughter, we were on our way to meet her when your men took us." she started to stumble on her words.

"Yes, yes we were," the man agreed, hope in his voice. My brows furrowed in confusion as to why.

"She has a rich boyfriend, we could, um we could get you money if that's what you're after." They go back and forth encouraging each other.

I was so shocked at their antics; that I couldn't form a sentence. I just stood there in disbelief. I looked over to Max where he waited in a corner watching with an identical look of shock.

"We could set it up, you could kidnap her and ask for a ransom," they finished, with so much glee in their voices. Like they fucking did something good. Once again. trying to put my girl in harm's way to save their own asses. Rage boiled up, and I couldn't control myself. I lunged for the man and threw my fist so hard into his face that I heard bones crack.

The woman's piercing scream captured my attention, briefly disrupting my focus until I could compose myself again.

"Shut that sorry excuse of a mother up," I snapped throwing my chin towards Harper's mother. Darius, one of Luka's most loyal guys, stepped forward. He put the gag back in her mouth and put grey duct tape over it.

"P… p…. please, what do you want from me?" the man began to beg. Blood dripping from his nose and mouth. "I'll do anything." He murmurs in a tone smothered in desperation.

I took another chair and positioned it facing him, then I straddled it. Running a hand across my face, I settled in. This was taking more out of me than I expected. I wanted them, I wanted them to feel the pain Harper felt as those monsters entered her small unprepared body, taking her innocence in the most traumatizing way possible. I wanted them to feel the agony she must have felt, knowing her parents were the ones to trade her off like some sort of fucking animal. I wanted them to feel as worthless as Harper did all these years.

I'll never forget that broken girl who stood across the room when she laid eyes on Malice and Havoc for the first time after her escape or the relief that washed over her face when she found out they were gone, that she was safe.

"You know what I want?" I said in a calm eerie tone.

The man shook his head but said nothing.

"I want Your daughter. I want her body, her mind, and her soul." He misunderstood the situation because his response was nothing like I expected. It was exactly what I'd expect from a spineless piece of shit like him

"F… f…fine. She's yours, just let us go. She isn't worth the extra trouble of keeping us. She's never been worth a shit," he snapped, spit flying out of his filthy mouth on the last part. I flexed my fists open and closed trying like hell to contain the fury rising in my gut. A menacing chuckle came from the side of the room. Max's eyes were full of turmoil just barely hidden by the tiny slither of restraint he was fighting.

Max had never been one to tolerate a man who didn't respect a woman. Mother, daughter, or life partner, no matter what. He watched his father do some awful things to his mother growing up. It's one of the many reasons he no longer associates with his parents, but that's his story to tell.

"Jasper, did you hear what he said about your woman?" My eyes were still glued to the man's face.

"I sure did. Max."

The man's eyes grew wide, finally realizing what he had done.

"Jasper? Jasper Whitlock?" he muttered, with splashes of worry in his eyes and spit gathering at the corners of his mouth.

A smirk formed on my lips. "The one and only." I taunted in sarcasm.

The woman started to mumble; her words were inaudible because of the gag. She tried to test the restraints but luckily these guys knew what they were doing so her movements were small. The man was still and motionless. His eyes locked on mine. He realized this was about avenging his daughter, he surrendered, lowered his gaze to the floor, and ended our stare down.

"Oh Max, I think he's got it," I said sarcastically over my shoulder in the direction of the space Max occupied.

"I don't think so, I think he needs a clear understanding." he gritted out, itching to get his hands dirty.

"What do you think? Maybe we have Travis over there, show him a few things." I nodded toward a huge, muscular brute of a man, If I wasn't a skilled and heavily trained fighter I'd be unnerved by his size.

Max smiled. "Nah, too easy." He teased. I could hear the grinding of his teeth from where I sat. It was like holding a dog back from his food.

I struggled internally, wishing I could deal with it on my own. The satisfaction of watching as life left their already dark and empty eyes, even that wouldn't be enough to avenge what they put their perfect little girl through. It's too bad neither of them will ever see what an amazing woman she has become. How fucking strong she is and how much stronger she grows every day.

I couldn't have their blood on my hands. I had to keep my hands clean for Harper's sake, especially in this situation. For once I have to step aside and trust someone else to handle shit for me. I turned and looked at Max, giving him a look that only he understood. He gave me a faint nod of understanding. I stood up and walked out of the warehouse without another word spoken.

As I returned to the SUV, Leo exited from the driver's seat where he had been waiting. Without a word, he opened my door, the way I preferred it. No questions, no small talk. I slid into the back seat and opened my cell just as a text from Harper came through.

I miss you tonight, see you at home.

A smile tugged at my lips. It was like she knew when I needed her the most. Like she sensed the crossroads I was at and struggling with. I texted three words in response, three words that consumed my every thought since she walked into my world.

I love you.