Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Vault

THERE'S A HAZE filling every inch of my mind and body as I watch these dead fuckers touching my girl. She doesn't want their touch and I know she'd be telling them to stop if she could. My girl is completely paralyzed with fear and anger. I know the look in her eyes as they become distant and closed off from the world around her. Annabell is going to some secret place in her mind where no one can reach her. She doesn't have to face what's being done to her in this safe place or remember anything that's happened in her life. At least that's how she explained it to me shortly after coming to the compound when we were hanging out all the time. It's where she forced herself to go when everything got to be too much for her and she needed a break. Now, she's using that safe place for her to get away from the men violating her.

Annabell looks at me and I can see the pain in her eyes as she tries to tell me something. I'm so far lost in the rage filling me that I can't understand what she means. All I know is the light in her eyes is starting to fade and she's losing consciousness while the men continue to run their hands over her body and touch her where they don't have any business touching. My heart fucking breaks when Annabell finally passes out because relief fills me. She won't have to live through more of them touching her even as I watch every move they make so I can fucking gut them after torturing them for touching my woman. She's been through so much shit in her life already and this just might be what throws her over the edge to somewhere none of us will ever get her back from.

"Get the fuck away from her. Right now!" I growl out the best I can as I pull and yank against the chains holding me to the chair.

I don't give a fuck what happens to me when my girl is so fucking lost and in the pain she's in.

"It's no fun when I can't see the fear in their eyes," the only man who's spoken states as he looks directly at me while finally removing his hands from her body. "She'll wake up eventually and I'll make sure I'm here when she does. You're gonna watch us fuck your girl raw until she's bleeding from every hole she has."

"The fuck I am. I'll gut you if you come back in here," I assure them, letting the asshole walking by me kick me once again.

Both men disappear as tears fill my eyes and I take in my girl lying prone on the bed. There are no marks on her body except for the bruising on her temple and the blood coating her skin. She looks like a fucking angel on the bed even if I know that she's in so much pain and hurting. The need to gut the men responsible for this shit fills me in ways I've never felt before as I can't look away from my girl. I'll watch over her and do everything I can to ensure no one else gets close enough to touch her. Especially as I hear more footsteps walking down the stairs toward us.

Looking up, I see a man standing just at the bottom of the stairs. He's wearing a three piece suit that's immaculate and not a wrinkle in sight. Black, polished shoes cover his feet as he adjusts the sleeves of his white button-down shirt. His dark hair is cut short and styled perfectly. The man's skin is tan and there's not a tattoo or blemish in sight as his eyes roam over Annabell's body in a way that's all too familiar with her. After what feels like an eternity has passed, the man finally turns his attention to me and I get a good look at the cold, lifeless brown eyes as they narrow and take in every detail of me. I don't bother hiding the rage filling me as he looks me over like I'm less than a piece of shit.

"So, you're the man Annabell has given herself to? The one she loves so much no one else will ever compare to," he questions me, his voice smooth and deep as he steps closer to the two of us.

"Who the fuck are you?" I bark out, my voice hard and deadly as I look at him with hate-filled eyes.

"My name is Dominic Santos. I met Annabell when we were in college together. I'm sure she's told you about me," he states, arrogance filling his voice as he smirks at me.

"You could say that I guess. She told me about the stupid fucker she met in college who took her virginity and didn't make sure he let her feel an ounce of pleasure while he chased his. My girl has nothin' good to say about you and I have a feelin' that she's gonna fuckin' hate seein' you now," I tell him honestly, laughing as outrage fills his face. "See, in one night, I gave my girl more pleasure than you ever gave her the entire time you were together. Other than that little detail, I know nothin' about you. She doesn't wanna talk to you or think about you. Oh, wait, I do know her best friend had to come pick her up because you decided to put your hands on her in anger. She'll never get close to you again or let you talk to her."

"You don't know anything about Annabell. She needs a firm hand to keep her in line. She's a spoiled bitch and I know she'll eventually come to obey me no matter where we are or who's around us. Annabell will eventually forget all about you and the people she considers family because you're all neanderthals who don't deserve a place in her life. With me, she'll know where she stands and that's behind me, silent, and doing as I tell her to do," Dominic states as if that's already the path she's going to take.

"If you think that's what is gonna happen, you're fuckin' dumber than I realized. Annabell isn't someone you can make bend to your will. She's feisty, lovin', passionate, and deserves all the good in her life she can get. You'll do nothin' but drag her down and bring her pain on a daily basis. She'll never let you in. Those people you want to drag her away from mean the world to her and will only make her hate you for makin' her choose. You'll never win her that way, Dominic. If you knew anythin' about her, you'd have already realized that shit. Annabell isn't yours and she never will be.

"I've loved her for years and know every detail about her life. I know her past, present, and what she wants for her future. Can you say the same thing? No, you can't. It would mean you've taken a few minutes of your time to get to know every aspect of her. When she realizes that you're the one behind her bein' taken, she's goin' to lash out and you'll pay for makin' her feel scared and havin' to have someone watch over her because of the pictures you sent and the note. You're nothin' more than a stalker and this is one game you won't win. I can assure you of that," I growl out, my voice even deadlier than it was a few minutes ago as I take in Dominic from head to toe again and clearly find him lacking.

However, it gets me the response I want. Dominic leaves the bed near my angel and makes his way over to me. I watch as he removes his rings, the first mistake he makes. Rolling up his sleeves the best he can without removing his jacket, Dominic balls his fist and hits me in the jaw. It feels like a fuckin gnat hit me with how weak his hit is. Annabell can hit harder than him and I know that for a fact because I've watched her train before everything happened. I laugh up at him and glare because Dominic is a bitch and this isn't gonna go anywhere because he has no power. The man's hands are softer than any of the ol' ladies I've met over the years. His nails appear clean and like he gets regular manicures. I've seen men do some shit over the years, but a man who goes and gets manicures is something I know none of the men in my life would ever do. I'm sure he gets massages, pedicures, and rarely lifts a finger to do his own dirty work.

"I'm guessin' you're the one pushin' the drugs in Pine View. This has your mark all over it," I tell him, everything connecting in my mind as I realize I'm on the right track when Dominic hesitates and steps back from me. "You're the reason people are overdosin' and dyin'. All to make a dollar. When Annabell finds out, she's gonna hate you for that alone. Add in the fact that your men don't know how to keep their hands to themselves, and she'll fuckin' gut you herself. There's no way in hell she's gonna stay with a prick like you no matter how you try to force her to."

"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Annabell will stay with me because she'll have no other choice in the matter. She'll turn against you and you'll have nothing. I'm gonna take your club, your brother, and everything you hold close," he states as Annabell starts to stir on the bed behind him and he has no clue.

"So you've had someone do some research for you. Good job," I spit at him sarcastically as the words I just said to him penetrate his thick brain.

"My men wouldn't touch her for any reason. They listen to me and are loyal to a fault," Dominic states even as doubt fills his eyes.

"Really? I just watched them touch her without her permission. Sayin' how they didn't get any joy out of touchin' her because they couldn't see the fear in her eyes after she passed out. Then told me they were gonna be here once she woke back up so they could fuck her in front of me and make her bleed from every hole. Still wanna believe these men are loyal to you and wouldn't touch her? You're fuckin' foolish. See, Annabell and me know the meanin' of loyalty and we live our lives bein' loyal to one another on a daily basis. I pushed my girl away and I know at any second I could've called her and told her I needed her and Annabell would've shown up without hesitation. That's true fuckin' loyalty. What you have is a bunch of pussies led by a bitch who only stick around because of the money and drugs you give them," I inform him, my voice hard and cold as Annabell looks at me before closing her eyes once again so Dominic doesn't know she's awake.

Dominic doesn't say another word as he turns to leave the room. Before he completely bypasses Annabell, he stops right next to her and runs a finger down her cheek in the gentlest manner he can. Her entire body goes tight at his touch and I know there's no way in fuck she wants him touching her for any reason. With one last lingering look even though he's not taking in any details of her to see that she's awake, Dominic leaves the basement and slams the door at the top. I don't hear the locks click in place as footsteps sound above us.

Annabell's eyes open and she stares directly at me. Tears fill her eyes and I know she's figured out who kidnapped us and is holding us hostage right now.

"I'm so sorry, Alex. This is all my fault. I should've seen who he truly was long before now. Even after seeing the note, Dominic wasn't even a thought," she says, a lone tear spilling over and rolling down her face.

"Not your fault, Angel. He chose this path in life and he's gonna try to do everythin' to ensure he gets you back. I don't know how much you heard from him, but he's gonna try to force you to stay with him, Bell. I'm not gonna let that shit happen. Ever. The guys will come for us. I already pressed the alert button on my belt and there's one more thing I can do," I tell her, remembering the tracker we've all got in our boots.

"How is there one more thing you can do, Alex? Didn't they search you when they got us here?" she questions me, panic filling her voice as she looks around the room and starts moving her hands once again.

"Stop, Angel," I tell her, noticing all the blood covering her wrists and hands. "You're bleedin' and makin' it worse. Fox gave us all trackers to put in the bottom of our boots. I just have to slam my foot down and it will activate it. For some reason, it doesn't activate when we walk or run. There's some kind of reaction to us slammin' our foot down that activates it or somethin' like that. I don't get all the words Fox says when he tells us this shit."

Lifting my foot as high as I can get it with the chain around me, I slam it against the cement floor. Repeating this a few times, I want to ensure I manage to activate the tracker so the guys know exactly where we are. This will pinpoint our exact location. According to Fox, nothing will interfere with this tracker. Even if we're underground or there's some kind of signal jammer. I highly doubt Dominic will think to jam the signal of cell phones and shit here because he's not that smart. It doesn't take a smart man to manufacture and sell drugs. He just needs to flood the city and let the money roll in. The way he's doing business, he's created a monopoly and we've heard that none of the other dealers are making a dime because they don't have what the addicts want these days.

"Bell, are you okay?" I ask her, my voice soft and gentle as I try to ease the pain filling me.

"I'm as okay as I can be. I understand if you don't want me after what just happened. Um, did they . . .," she trails off, her voice broken as she lets the possibility of them raping her fill her mind.

"No, Angel. They stopped touchin' you almost immediately after you passed out. I'm not gonna tell you what was said after that. You don't need that shit playin' on a loop in your mind, Angel. What I will say is that if I have my way, they won't touch you again. I'll die before I let them do anythin' else, Annabell. Don't ever doubt that shit for a second," I promise her as more tears slide down her face.

"I don't want you to die, Alex. I love you and we just got one another back. When I get free, I need you to let me break you free too. I've been taught how to pick a lock. Tank wanted to make sure I could escape from any possible situation I ever found myself in. Playboy might have had a hand in that lesson too. We're both gonna get out of here. Then, I want you to take care of Dominic so no one else ever gets hurt by him," she states, her voice full of determination as I watch her continue to work the ropes around her wrists as more blood flows from her body.

"The guys will be here before we know it, Annabell. If we get the chance to escape before they get here, we'll have to find a place to hide dependin' on where we are. If we're still in the city, we can get somewhere safe and call for help. If we're on the outskirts of town, we'll have to hide until the club shows up. I'm sure Valor called your dad. If that's the case, we'll have him, Playboy, Tank, and a ton of others show up with them. You know your family isn't gonna fuck around when it comes to you," I state, knowing the guys are more than likely already in town despite not knowing how long we've been here.

"I'm sure they are. My dad, brother, and Tank will take out anyone who gets in their way of finding me. You know how they are when it comes to us. I wouldn't put it past Shy to be with them so she can take out the assholes who took us. And you know Valor is gonna fuck some people up for taking you. He loves you and will do anything to get you back," she tells me, her voice full of hope and determination as she continues to look at me with love in her eyes.

"I used to believe that. After pushin' him away, there's a rift between us and I know it's gonna be up to me to start fixin' it. Once we get through this shit, I plan on fixin' things with him. I want to get back to where we were before we lost Dad. If that means I have to bare my soul and be completely vulnerable then that's what I'll do. I don't give a fuck what it takes to fix all the damage I've done when I was at my lowest point. Includin' fixin' the shit between you and me. I'll spend the rest of our days provin' how much I love you and want you every second of the day.

"I tried to keep them from takin' you, Annabell. If those other three men hadn't jumped out of the van, we would be at the clubhouse right now. Well, you would. I'd be findin' Dominic and takin' his ass out by now. Gettin' the answers without involvin' you in this shit. Instead, I failed you and we both got taken," I say, dropping my head as guilt fills me with the thought of them hurting her because I couldn't take out the men that came for her.

"It's not your fault, Alex. You couldn't take on six men alone. No one can. Not even Tank, my dad, or brother could do something like that and they've been doing this shit for longer than you have. Your dad couldn't take on six men alone and come out the victor. We all have our limits and yours is taking on more than three men alone. If you weren't here with me and they followed through with everything they want to do to me, I know I wouldn't survive that. I almost didn't survive it when the men took me years ago. You saved me then and I know you'll save me now," she says, the truth of her words shining bright in her eyes as she lets her head drop back so her neck isn't supporting her head any longer, but she doesn't take her eyes off me.

"I love you, Angel. We're gonna get out of here and things are gonna change," I tell her as the pain starts to pull me under and I fight with every ounce of strength in my broken body.

"I love you too, Alex. I look forward to spending time with you and seeing what these changes are," she returns, our eyes locked even as mine start to slide closed.

Annabell is talking to me, but I can't hear her words. They're distant and distorted. I'm surrounded by darkness and the pain slowly fades to nothing as I let it consume me. I want to stay awake for Annabell and be able to protect her. Passing out isn't going to allow me to do that shit. However, my body is too beaten to avoid passing out and staying alert. Fuck! Annabell's face is the last thing I see before everything goes completely dark on me.