Diablo

I wanted to roar to the heavens while, at the same time, I wanted to hurl up my guts. She was so terrified she was like a blind animal in a trap. She wouldn't or couldn't hear a word we said. She was struggling so hard to breathe she was gasping. When Micro ran up and started saying shit about Galway, I didn't pay attention to him. She was my only concern. When she went completely limp in my arms, I was terrified. Without thinking about it, I turned and ran for my house. They all followed me to the front door, then right on inside. I took her to the couch in the living room and laid her down. I checked her carotid pulse with shaking fingers.

"Let me check her," Wolverine barked as he pushed past the others. I came to my feet. I was relieved to feel her strong pulse, but I didn't want him touching her.

"You keep your goddamn hands off her. It's your fault she's like this. You had to come to the house, running your mouth about shit you know nothing about," I snarled.

"My fault? You were the one playing some game with her," he snapped back.

I lunged at him, but Scorpion and Butcher got between us.

"Move," I ordered them.

"I can't do that. You both need to cool off. I believe you should listen to what Micro has to say," Butcher said calmly.

"Butch, if you don't move, I'm putting you on your ass," I warned him.

"You can try. I haven't had a good tussle in a while. It might be fun. Instead, I believe the two of you need to calm the fuck down. Tell us what started this?" Butcher demanded.

I was about to blast him when Micro got my attention. "Pres, I don't mean to piss you off more, but you've got to hear what I found out. It's important. Is she okay as she is, or should we try and wake her up?" he asked Wolverine.

"I think she probably passed out from hyperventilating, but I can't be sure unless he lets me check her," he sneered slightly at me.

"She's fine. Her pulse is good. Micro, tell me what you think is so damn important," I ordered as I dismissed Wolverine.

Micro hesitated a couple of seconds, then got to it. I think my death glare convinced him to spill it or meet my fist. I was barely holding on to my temper. When it was let loose, it wasn't a pretty sight. Inner Diablo came out like the demon he was. I didn't want to release him on my brothers, but I might if pushed too far.

"I told you I'd discovered some things I thought you should know about Jauhnna. Well, while I waited for you to text me that it was fine to come over to talk, I kept digging. I found more, way more. Christ, it's not good. First, I know who her husband is. The name Galway isn't exactly common here in the States. She's right to be afraid of him. His name is Galway Radigan. He's the head of a small, deadly, driven criminal family in Nevada. She told the truth. She ran away from him three years ago, and he's been searching for her since. I'd bet money that those men who took her work for him, even if indirectly. There's been an open reward, bounty, whatever you want to call it, for bringing her back." He paused.

"A fucking bounty! Are you kidding me? What, like the old West, dead or alive bullshit?" Scorpion chimed in, sounding disbelieving. I was right there with him. What the fuck could she have done to warrant a bounty on her head?

Micro nodded. "An honest to God bounty. The only good thing is in order to get paid, she has to be brought to him alive. Whoever took her must be shitting themselves at the thought they had all that money in sight and lost it. If they or anyone else has a clue she's not dead, they'll be sniffing after her in a heartbeat. I don't know how she evaded them this long."

"How much is he promising?" I asked gruffly.

"It's two million dollars. He's got the backing and financial help to pay it from his brother-in-law, her brother." He dropped his next bomb.

"Her fucking brother is helping him! Jesus Christ, why? What did she do? You said he's the head honcho of some crime family. How big? Are we talking about the Mafia? What about her brother?" I asked.

Everyone knew the Mafia was thick in Vegas and other parts of the country. Hell, we even had one of the alleged top Irish Mafia families right here in St. Augustine, the O'Sheerans. We'd never had trouble with them, although we'd heard they had cleaned up their act over the last few decades. Bull and his club in Hunters Creek had some slight connection to them through Maverick's old lady, Rylan—something to do with a lawyer.

"The Radigans are a small gang with ideas of grandeur. I'm still getting information on how well they're connected. The same goes for her brother. As for what she did, I don't know, but whatever it was, he's determined to get her back."

"Over my fucking dead, cold body, is he taking her! There's no telling what he'll do to her. She stays, and we figure out how to make her safe," I commanded. I wasn't taking it to the table for a vote. It was happening. Anyone wanting to argue could meet me in the ring.

"No one can make me safe. The only way that happens is if he and my brother and their top guys are dead or I am. I think we know the most feasible option," a husky voice whispered from the couch.

Wheeling around, I saw her green eyes watching us. There was distrust there, plain as day. She was curled on her side, fists clenched. She shifted and stiffened when Wolverine moved toward her. He halted.

"Jauhnna, we need to talk. You've got us all wrong, but I can understand how intimidating it is to be faced with all of us at once. Let me get rid of these guys, and then we'll work this out," I told her gently.

I hadn't had to find the gentle side of me outside of my daughter and grandkids in ages. Usually, I was a more abrasive guy who didn't care who liked me. In her case, I wanted, no, it was critical, that she like and trust me. I wasn't so sure why.

She shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about. If you're telling the truth and have no plans to hurt me, you won't have a problem letting me go. I hate to ask for money, but it won't be much. Just enough to get what I need, and then I'll repay you. You can forget you ever saw me."

"We can't do that," Scorpion said.

The rest of my guys nodded in agreement and murmured the same words. Wolverine was staring extra hard at her. Wanting to divert her argument for at least a few minutes, I hurried to speak.

"I think before they go, you should be introduced to everyone. They're a motley bunch, but they're good guys. You've met Scorpion and Wolverine. This is Micro, if you haven't guessed. He's the one I told you about yesterday. He's our resident IT wizard and the club's treasurer." Micro gave her a chin lift and smile.

I pointed to his left. "This is Butcher. He's our enforcer. It's his job to maintain order during our meetings and activities. He ensures members adhere to the rules and our bylaws and defends the club's members, property, and territory." I watched her pale and shrink further into the cushions.

"Ahh, honey, there's no need to be afraid. I'm only a menace to our enemies. You're not one of those," he told her with a wink. She untensed a tad.

I hurried to the next person. "Thunder is our secretary, and this is Crash. He's our road captain. He plans our riding routes when we go out as a club, to a rally, or on a run." Each smiled, nodded, or gave her salutes to ease her tension. I wasn't sure it was working.

"These four are Cowboy, Lucky, Punk, and Turbo. They round out our dozen members. The only ones missing are our prospects, Liam and Zax. You'll meet them later. Now that we've got introductions over, you guys head back to wherever. I need to talk to Jauhnna, and then I'll update you later. Micro, I need you to stay for a while."

I noted Wolverine was opening his mouth to argue. I gave him a quelling look. Butcher shook his head at him. He subsided, but he was unhappy about it. Too bad.

"It's nice to meet you."

"We're here to help."

"No worries, we've got you."

Those remarks and more came from my guys as they streamed out of my house. Wolverine was next to last to leave. Butcher stood there as if a sentry. Wolverine walked out in a huff. Before he left, Butcher had one comment.

"We're all here to help her, Diablo. Remember, we're on the same team. As for you, honey, tell him everything. It's hard to trust, I get it, but you can trust us. We won't let you get hurt." He walked out as soon as he finished saying his spiel. The door closed firmly behind him. As I faced her, I saw she was still curled in a protective ball on the couch. It wouldn't do.

"Who would like a drink? I know I would. It's too early for liquor, so it's soda, tea, coffee, or water."

"If you're offering some of your precious coffee, then yes," Micro said.

"Don't get used to it. You bastards would drink me dry if I let you. You know, you can order this, too," I grumbled, waiting to hear what she wanted.

"Yeah, but if I order it, I pay. It tastes better if someone else does," was his smartass comeback.

I gave him the middle finger. A soft giggle made me glance back at her. She watched us with an amused expression, and her body wasn't as tightly wound. I pointed to her. "Hey, none of that, missy, or you won't get a second cup. I saw how much you loved it. You're gonna be like this one, I can tell."

My teasing remark made her smile. "You should've never shared it with me. It's addictive. Yes, please, I'd love another, if I may."

I grinned at her as I bowed. "You may. Micro, get your ass to the kitchen. I'm not waiting on you. She gets VIP treatment. You don't."

He pretended to pout as he dragged himself to the kitchen. When he tried to get a huge travel mug for his cup, I smacked him in the back of the head. He grinned at me. A second giggle came from the living room. He and I bickered back and forth as we prepared the coffee. We all had a hot cup of java within no time. It was time to get down to business. The amusement slid off her face. She was back to looking apprehensive.

I asked her, "Where would you like to start?" She glanced at Micro and then back at me but didn't reply.

"Why don't you tell him your name?" Micro suggested.

"Your name?" Of course, I should've known it wasn't her real one. How else would she have been able to hide for so long? I detested the idea of calling her something else. Jauhnna suited her.

She took a deep breath and then spoke up. "Jauhnna Carter isn't my real name. If it were, there would be no way I would've remained hidden for so long. My real name is Joanne Radigan, née Vierra. I'm from Las Vegas."

Joanne seemed too ordinary for her, but I offered, "Would you prefer we call you Joanne?"

She vigorously shook her head. "No! Please, I don't want to hear that name again, ever. In my heart, I'm Jauhnna. It was the name my mom tried to give me, but my father said no. It feels more me than the name I had for the first twenty-nine years of my life."

"Okay, we can do that. Mind if I ask where Carter comes from?" I asked next. I wanted to ease her into the more complicated questions. The ones I had no doubt would trigger things she might rather forget.

"That was chosen by the man who made up my fake identity. I thought it was solid since no one found me for so long, but if Micro easily found the truth, it's a miracle they hadn't been at my door long ago."

"Sweetheart, the cover was damn good. I only got suspicious because we knew you were on the run, and I knew what tiny anomalies to look for. When I found one, I unraveled it, and that's how I found your real name and who your husband is," Micro assured her.

"Don't call him that. Galway has never been a husband, not in the sense that I understand the word. If I had my way, he'd have zero connection to me, and I'd never hear his name or see him again," she said vehemently.

"We know it's not easy to talk about him. Why don't you tell us about your brother? The one helping with the reward to find you. Why would he help Galway? Does he not know he treated you horribly?" I was guessing on the horrible part, but I was convinced it was a fact. The way she reacted to any mention of him and the mere fact she ran and hid told the truth. I was steeling myself to hear the details.

"My brother Janus is as evil as Galway, and our father wasn't any better. When Father died, Janus assumed his position as head of the family. He's pushed the boundaries to go further than even our father did. He won't want anything to upset his rise to more power, influence, or money, just as Galway won't."

"Don't take this wrong, but why are you so significant to them obtaining or keeping those things that are so important to them?" Micro asked.

She cast her eyes down and stared at her cup. It was glaringly obvious she didn't want to answer—the why of it was what was nagging at me. The silence stretched until she set her cup on the coffee table and met our eyes. There was determination staring back at us. She straightened her spine.

"A couple of reasons. Initially, it was to create a tie between our families. That would be achieved not only by our marriage but also by our children. I was a disappointment in that department. No matter how many times he tried to get me pregnant, I never conceived. I'm barren. He was furious about it."

"So if all he wanted was a child, why not divorce you and marry someone else who could give him children? Shit that sounds cold. I don't mean to diminish your inability to have kids," Micro added.

"I want them very much, but it's not to be. However, I'm thrilled I never had one with him. No way would I ever want that man to be the father of any child, especially mine. As for why he didn't just get rid of me and get another woman who could, it's complicated. He was never faithful. I never cared if he was. I loved when he gave his attention to his whores and mistresses. It meant he was giving me a break. One reason he didn't divorce me was there's money involved. See, my mother was quite wealthy in her own right. She found a way to protect her wealth from my father. When she bore him a son and a daughter, she knew Janus would be raised in my father's image, so she ensured the majority of her wealth would come to me. As his wife, Galway hoped to have access to it."

"And?" I prodded when she hesitated. I knew there was more.

"And two, Galway doesn't like to lose or give up anything that belongs to him, even if he doesn't want it. He'd rather destroy it than give his possessions to someone else."

Her casual reference to herself as a possession, as if she was an inanimate object, pissed me off. I came to my feet. I paced to try and let the anger seep away. There was more to it. The way she said one of her first statements was troubling me.

"You said no matter how many times he tried to get you pregnant, it always failed. What does that mean? Tried?"

Her hands clenched into fists for a moment, and then she visibly forced them to relax. Tension was mounting in the air. When she met my gaze, fire and pain mixed in her eyes.

"It means every time he raped me and forced his seed inside of me, attempting to impregnate me, it failed. No matter how brutal he was or how he did it, his seed never took. He was furious and would punish me for my inadequacy as a woman. Every time I saw a negative pregnancy test, I was both relieved and heartbroken. He's a monster."

Hearing her confess to being raped repeatedly for God knows how long sent my rage skyrocketing. I let out a roar and, seeking a target, swept the tchotchkes on the mantel to the floor. Hearing some of them shatter filled me with satisfaction. I could always get more knickknacks. I tried to imagine it was her husband's face I was shattering. It was her cry of alarm that made me rein it back in. I panted as I fought to subdue my fury.

"I'm sorry. I'm alright. I won't hurt you, Jauhnna. I'm just so fucking angry with that bastard. He deserves to be put down like the animal he is. How can your brother help him? You're his sister."

"Because Janus is made of the same cloth. He doesn't care who he uses, hurts, or kills to gain what he wants. I have no doubt he's backing Galway because Galway has promised him something he needs or wants in return. What it is, I have no idea. That's why when I escaped, I didn't go to him. He would've hand-delivered me right back to my prison."

"May I ask why you married him?" Micro asked softly. I'd almost forgotten we weren't alone.

She gave a humorless snort. "You think I was given a choice? That's laughable. My father forced me to marry him. I detested the idea and tried to talk him out of it, but he didn't care. I was marched down the aisle, and threats were made. There were rumors about Galway and how he treated others, especially women. I was sacrificed for the good of the family. Only I wasn't included in the family." Her bitterness was audible.

I asked hoarsely, "How long were you with him before you ran? How did you get away?"

"I was forced to wed him when I was twenty. I ran at twenty-nine—nine years of utter hell. How I got away was rather simple. I made a friend without him knowing it. It was through a woman I met at the library. That was one place he let me go without guards stuck up my ass every second. They'd wait outside. I think it was because the thought of books scared them. Who knows if they could even read? They were morons. They were all about brawn, not brains. One day, I got talking to a fellow reader about our book choices. Over time, the conversations grew personal. She saw my guards always waiting on me and how they treated me. She asked about them, and I was so desperate for a friend that eventually, I confessed.

"That's when she revealed she worked with an underground organization that helped women, children, and even some men to get away from their abusers. She assured me she could get me to safety and I'd have a new identity. It took a while for me to believe her. Finally, after a particularly fierce and brutal night, I told her to do it. It took a few weeks to get everything in place, but when it was, she got people to help smuggle me out of the library under their noses. I wish I could've seen their faces when they realized I was gone. She took me to a safe house, and from there, I was issued a new identity and coached in it. Over several weeks, I was moved from safe house to safe house until I ended up in Georgia. I started over there, and I was there until yesterday."

I knew she was probably downplaying what she went through. If he raped her over and over, God only knew what else he subjected her to. What had finally broken her? She said it was a fierce and brutal night. I burned to ask what happened, but she was slumping. She'd had enough, and I knew we had sufficient information to track down and eliminate not only her bastard of a husband but her brother, too. It would take time and finesse. We'd have to ask for outside help on this. I typically wouldn't, but I'd take it if it meant success. Walking over to the couch, I crouched in front of her.

"Darlin', you're one courageous woman. I know you have no reason to trust us. I hope as time passes, you'll see we're trustworthy. Just know we're here to protect and help you. Can you give us a chance to prove it?"

She studied me for several tense minutes before slowly nodding. I held out my hand. She took it, and we shook on it. The deal was sealed. Now, to start the hunt. My inner devil couldn't wait.