Chapter 7

TRINITY

Only a few more seconds. Only a few more seconds.

My tank top clings to my sweat-soaked skin, sticking to me and making me feel more constricted than I already do. The blindfold hangs around my neck, and my face stings from where I rubbed it raw. Exhaustion is setting in, and I have no idea how long my captor has been gone, but I imagine he'll be back before too long.

Redoubling my efforts, I scrape the tape on my wrists back and forth, panting like I've swum a mile. Going hard at it, until a crunching sound reaches my ears.

I still, pausing to assess. The thump of the music has completely disappeared. Holding my breath, I strain to listen for the sounds of the party.

There's nothing but an eerie silence. The only thing that can be heard is the sound of my heartbeat drumming as though it's trying to escape my chest.

Suddenly, the crunching returns.

Someone's out there. Someone who doesn't know I'm in here.

Dragging in as much air into my lungs as possible, I take my shot.

"Help!" I scream. "Help I've been abducted."

I slam my legs against the walls of the van, creating a racket that could be heard on the moon.

The crunching gets closer…

And I kick harder. Shriek louder. My words don't make sense anymore—they've devolved into nothing more than mindless sounds. But I've caught someone's attention.

The handle on the driver's door jiggles frantically, followed by some muttered curses, and I hold my breath. Friend or foe?

Feet shuffle around the outside of the van, kicking up rocks that ting harshly against the panels until they quiet at the back. And I hold my breath, every muscle tensing. Friend or foe? The doors screech suddenly, flinging open violently. Although it's night, light pours into the van, momentarily blinding me.

"Who the hell you think is gonna help you here, little bitch?" he chuckles darkly before vicious hands curl around my ankles. His clammy skin touching mine instantly makes my skin crawl, and I kick out futilely against his superior strength. And through it all, the bastard just keeps laughing like this is the biggest joke in the world. His hollow mirth grates against my nerves when he drags me along the filthy floor of the van.

For a moment, I worry he's going to pull me out feet first, letting my head slam into the ground, but at the last minute he yanks me hard into his arms—giving me a look at his face.

The ski mask is gone now, and shock rushes through my system.

"Wolf?" I squeak out, my mouth dropping open. What the hell? Though I haven't seen him in years, the scars across his face are unforgettable, and my mouth drops open at the sight of one of my dad's closest friends. The world around me spins and tilts on its axis. Of course, there was always a chance the MC could find out about Legacy leaving—but I never imagined it would blow back on me. Never even considered it. Stupid—so stupid.

A building looms behind him, and my throat clogs when I take in the quiet clubhouse, enormous and forbidding before me. Growing up around it, I know firsthand how poorly they treat women in that building.

My father hasn't let me enter it since I hit puberty.

"Best they forget about you, Trinny," he says somberly. "I know you and Legacy are close. But being an Ol' Ladyy is a hard life. It's so much less than you deserve, baby girl. And you deserve the world."

My dad's eyes narrow on me in reflection. Once again, I begged to go to the club with him—sick to death of being stuck in this big house all by myself. The girls at school treat me like shit because I'm a ‘club rat.' My mom left when I was little, and my dad is gone on club business all the time.

"I'll be careful," I promise, hoping he'll reconsider.

"No, Trinity. I'm the Vice President, and I'm not sure if I can protect you. If you come with me, there's a good chance you won't walk out of there untouched," he growls with finality.

With a big sigh, I nod my understanding, and he heads out the door into the dark night.

"Let's go, little bitch. Lots of people inside waiting for you," he says. His hot breath fans my face, reeking of stale beer, cigarettes, and rot. My meager granola bar dinner threatens to heave right out of my stomach onto the ground, and I gag.

Wolf grabs me roughly by my still-bound arms, frog-marching me into the building. A funeral march sounds in my head, and anxiety coils around my chest, squeezing like a python until I can barely breathe.

"Please, don't do this. We weren't doing anything wrong," I beg, tears prickling in my eyes. "We were just going on a quick trip. Not leaving…"

"Stop your sniveling and lies," he snorts, spinning me around to slap the duct tape back over my mouth to silence me. Wolf shoves me ahead roughly, causing me to stumble up onto the porch, slamming my stomach into the top step with a grunt. "Hurry the fuck up. Pirate promised I get to come second in your fresh little cunt."

Bile races up my throat, and I dry heave at the image my mind conjures of his sweaty, old body over mine. Fuck, no.

Strength I never knew I had wells within me, and I push myself off the porch, shove my shoulder into Wolf's gut, and race back down the steps. His grunt and snarl of anger echo in my ears, pushing me to move. Pumping my legs as fast as I can, I run for my life. My arms bounce awkwardly, still bound behind me. Fucking mess.

The night air is cooling rapidly, but sweat pours down my back, chilling me to my core. Goosebumps pebble across my skin, and I gasp for breath behind the tape. My eyes scan my surroundings frantically.

Where do I go?

Where can I hide?

The gate looms before me, enormous, and closed. I'm so screwed, but I keep running. Veering hard to the side, rushing along the fence line. Heavy footfalls clomp behind me. "The more you make me chase, you little bitch, the worse this is gonna go for your pussy. Can fuck you nice and slow, make sure it feels good. But if you keep this shit up, you're not gonna like me mad."

He's close now, so close that his heat burns against my back. So close that he's inches away from being able to grab me. The earth dips and rises under my feet, and I dig down deep; surging forward just as he makes a grab for me. His fingers graze mine, and I scream behind my gag.

Wolf growls in frustration, and my foot catches on a rock, making me stumble. In less than a second, he's caught me, pulling me hard against his putrid body. I writhe and struggle, pulse roaring in my ears, but it's over.

A large hand wraps around my throat, choking me, and cutting off my oxygen. Panic fills me, crushes me, and tears flow freely down my face. The world darkens as I sob.

A tongue licks across my cheek, chasing the tears.

"Delicious," he crows, and my world fades to black.