Mace’s Madonna (Pagan Souls of Cherokee MC #5)

Jessamy Chapter 2

Panting hard, I stared out of the crack between the seats. I could see daylight. It felt like it had been forever since I’d seen it or felt the warmth of the sun on my face. If it weren’t for there not being enough room in the back with the cargo he had to haul to maintain his cover for what he was really carrying, I’d still be back there. I had been until last night when he picked up more special cargo. I snorted. I hated those words. “Special cargo.” Why pretty it up? He wasn’t transporting cargo. He was helping kidnap and transport human slaves across state lines. When he made it to the drop-off point, we were doomed. I couldn’t let that happen.

Leland was our jailer’s name, supposedly. I had no idea if it was real. Anyway, Leland had been pissed that he had to take on more people, and it required him to either dump his actual legit load, which there was no way he’d do or figure something out. If he got rid of one of us, that would be even worse for him. After debating and swearing for a solid hour, he’d dragged me away from the others and forced me into the back cab area of his rig. I’d been bound and threatened if I made a sound, that he’d make me wish I didn’t. His threat was clear. I could take a beating. I’d had a couple already. It was the other that I prayed wouldn’t happen.

The way he leered at me, I knew it was only a matter of time before he decided to sample the goods. That’s what he called it when he’d stop at night somewhere secluded and drag one of the women or girls off into the cab of his truck. Those who remained behind could hear the screams and begging. We knew what he was doing. Afterward, they’d come back bruised, dazed, and hurting. I hated that fucker.

The days were blurring together. I’d lost count of how many had passed since I was snatched off the streets like a stray cat. Why hadn’t I seen them? I thought I was alert and always watching out for myself. It wasn’t enough. Those other two men had captured me. What killed me was the area I was in when I was taken was one you’d never worry about. It wasn’t in a terrible neighborhood with shady characters. I guess that was what made it such a good hunting ground.

We talked as more women and girls were added to the back of that trailer. We exchanged first names and stories. It was terrifying to know how easily we’d been picked off. There were tears and a lot of praying. In some, there was anger. I tried to keep it all bottled down. It was a waste of energy to scream and holler about it. I was saving it to use as fuel to get away. I refused to let them ruin my life.

Leland had stopped at a truck stop. I had no idea where we were, not even the state. It didn’t matter. All I wanted was to escape. What he didn’t know was that since he threw me in here last night, I’d been working to get off the ropes he’d bound my wrists and ankles in.

It would be too much to hope he’d have a knife lying around. However, I did spot and snag a piece of sharp metal. I had no idea what it came off of or why it was wedged into the back corner of his tiny sleeping area, but it was my means of escape if I could get loose. I had to be sneaky and not let him see what I was doing. I’d barely slept. Thank God he liked to play his music loud. It covered any sounds I made.

My ankles were free, and my wrists were so close I could taste it. I sawed harder and faster. My fingers were cramped and bloody from clutching the metal so tightly for so long. There was no way to know how long he’d be inside. He’d gone into the store to get who knows what. I almost sobbed when the rope gave, and I was able to get my arms out of it. Standing up on weak, shaky legs, I crept forward. Now, to get out of here. I had to get to the back of the truck and let the others out. I wouldn’t just run and abandon them.

Leland had a lock on the trailer doors, but it was an enter-the-numbers-to-open kind, whatever those were called. The dumbass hadn’t hidden it well the last time he locked it when he hauled me out of the back. I saw the combination. I’d open it, and then we’d scatter. If we did that, he couldn’t get all of us. Better some of us escape and maybe get help than none of us.

This plan of what we’d do if we ever got the chance had been dreamed up during those long, lonely, scared hours in the back. I knew none of the others thought it was possible, but I’d be damned if I wouldn’t try. I owed it to them. Scanning the back of the store and the parking lot, from way back here at the back of the lot, was quick, and then I crawled up and to the door. I got it open and jumped down. Stumbling, I righted myself. I tripped on my feet, running to the back of the truck.

I softly pounded on it and called out in a low voice, “It’s me, Jessamy. I’m opening the doors. Be ready to run.”

Leland used threats of awful things he’d do to us if we didn’t stay quiet when he stopped. We knew he would based on witnessing him doing them to a few who hadn’t listened. My stomach churned thinking about it. My hand shook as I entered the combination. When the lock opened, tears sprung to my eyes. I dashed them away, tore off the lock, and tossed it on the ground. Then I tugged on the handle to open one door. When it opened, the opening revealed disbelieving faces. There were ten of them crammed in there.

“Hurry! Get down and run,” I hissed.

I reached out to try to help some of them. They were weak and traumatized. I had the first one almost down when I heard Leland shouting.

“Bitch! I’ll kill you!” he yelled.

The others all froze like rabbits. One of them whispered hoarsely, “Run. Save yourself. Get help.”

I wasn’t running. As his fat ass reached us, he came at me like a charging bull. There was no one nearby I could cry out to for help. How was that possible in the middle of the day?

“You’ll pay, cunt,” he hissed at me.

I’d forgotten for a minute that I still held the sharp piece of metal I used to free myself. I slashed at him. He grunted, then swore when I sliced through his shirt, cutting a jagged line across his rotund gut. I jabbed, hoping to sink it into that belly and pierce something vital, but he slapped it away. His fist was coming toward me. I knew I could stay and fight and most likely lose, or run and pray I got away and could find a way to help the others.

They were crying and whimpering. One of them gave me a sad smile and mouthed, Run. Save us.

With tears almost blinding me, I ran. I put every ounce of energy into making my legs go. They were shaky, and I nearly fell more than once. I headed for the building. We were on the backside of it. No one was outside, but there were people inside. Maybe someone would help. Leland was hot on my heels. I could hear his breathing and the thud of his boots. He wasn’t shouting, though.

I made it to the back door that someone, probably a worker, had propped open on their smoke break. I squeezed inside, and after a frantic look, I spotted the bathroom. If he came in after me, surely he wouldn’t come into the ladies’ room. If he did, someone would report him. Maybe the cops would be called, and he’d be arrested.

Slipping inside the bathroom, I went to the largest stall. Locking the door, I scurried to the far corner, where I sank into a crouch and huddled. I was shaking so hard that my teeth chattered. I strained to hear if the outer door opened. I jumped when I heard a hard thump like a fist would make. Then I heard an increase in sound like you’d hear if a door were opened. Oh my God, was he coming in?

“Hey, that’s the ladies’ bathroom. The men’s is up the hall,” a woman’s voice said kindly.

There was a pause before Leland said, “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

The door closed, faint rustling sounds, and then another click. I assumed it was the woman going into one of the stalls. I opened my mouth to call out to her for help, but nothing came out. What if it was him and not her? I sat there debating whether to say anything. If he hadn’t kicked in the door to my stall, maybe he didn’t know I was in there. I sat there, mute, for several minutes. It wasn’t until I heard the washing of hands that I was able to say something. No way Leland would care about that. He was disgusting.

“Please, help me,” I said softly.

I heard a startled shriek and then the sound of footsteps.

“Excuse me, is someone in there?” she asked timidly.

“Yes, please, get some help. I need help,” I whimpered.

The tears finally escaped. I’d held them in for days, and they picked now to come out. They were torrential. I was crying too hard to speak. I knew she’d left, but I had no idea if she’d bring help or ignore me.

A couple of minutes later, there was a loud knock on the main door. I screamed in terror. Oh God, what if Leland was back? Had he waited for her to leave? I shrank further into the corner, hugging my knees as close as possible. I knew it wasn’t logical. I was acting like a small child who thought if you made yourself small enough and were quiet, the monsters couldn’t find you. I tried to quiet my sobs by biting my knuckles, but it didn’t stop them. Plus, Leland wouldn’t knock politely.

“Ma’am, are you alright? I heard you need help. What kind of help?” a man called out. It wasn’t Leland’s voice.

I was about to answer the man when a thought occurred to me. What if Leland had backup, and this was one of them trying to trick me into coming out? He always warned us not to try to escape, that others were following him and they’d catch us. According to Leland, they were there for security. I didn’t know whether to believe him, but what if he weren’t lying?

This thought made me keep my mouth shut and stay right where I was. The man called out a couple more times and then went quiet. I wondered what he was doing. Maybe he was plotting another way to get me out without making a scene. I had news for him. If he came in here to get me, I’d scream my head off and make a huge scene.

I kept crying on and off as I tried to listen for his next move. When it came, I was stunned. I heard voices outside the door, and then it opened. I was about to scream when a woman’s voice startled me.

“Hello, I’m Zahirah, but most people call me Zari. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help. Wade said a woman was in here crying. I’d like to help.” She paused.

I knew she was waiting for me to respond, but I didn’t. No one said Leland and his kind were all men. This woman could be one of them. I tensed and waited for her to try to open my door. There were soft swooshing sounds, and then the woman spoke again. Only her voice was right outside my stall. She didn’t touch the handle, though.

“I know you’re scared. Of what? I don’t know. But I can promise you I’m not here to hurt you. My man, he and his brothers own this place. I was working in the office with him when Wade came to tell us about you. My man, his name is Twisted, is right outside. He was going to come in, but I didn’t think you’d like that. Will you tell me your name?”

I tensed at the mention of a man outside the door, especially one named Twisted. What kind of name was that?

“Please, we’re here to help. I don’t know how to make you believe that. Maybe if you hear how Twisted and his club helped me, you’ll see we mean no harm,” she said.

It was several minutes before she was done telling me what Twisted and the Pagan Souls had done for her. I found it incredible and a little unbelievable. She admitted they were a motorcycle club. All I ever heard about them was they were outlaws and most likely to be the same ilk as the ones who had kidnapped me and the others. According to Zari, they weren’t. I didn’t know why I trusted her enough to speak, but I did.

“Please, you have to get me out of here. Some dangerous men are probably looking for me. You’ve got to help me. I’ve got to help the others before it’s too late.”

“Others? Too late? What men?” she asked.

“Horrible men. They stole us! We were on our way to a drop-off place. We’re to be sold. The things that he’s done to us.” I paused, sobbing. I continued, “I can’t let the others suffer anymore.”

“Are you hurt?” Zari asked urgently.

“I hurt all over,” I said.

My whole body hurts. And the two men who kidnapped me, they’d had fun terrorizing me when they had me. They’d touched me in places I didn’t want them to. I ached still from their roughness. Leland might not have raped me like he did some of the others, but he’d beaten me more than once. “What’s your name?”

I made my decision and took a leap of faith. If I were wrong, then I’d keep fighting until I was killed or I was free.

“It’s Jessamy.”

“I hate the circumstances, but it is nice to meet you, Jessamy. I need to tell my man that we need to get you out of here and somewhere safe. It’ll only take a minute.”

Panic filled me. “No! Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.

“I’m not leaving, just passing along the request. I’ll be right back. I’ll stay with you the whole time. I promise,” Zari said. I heard the pledge in her tone.

“Okay.”

She was true to her word. In no time, she was back, and with her, I heard the heavy tread of boots.

“Jessamy, it’s safe to come out. I have Twisted with me. Everyone else is outside.”

Taking a deep breath and getting to my feet unsteadily, I shuffled to the door and turned the lock. Taking another breath, I pushed it open and walked out to face them. I refused to look at the man first. I zeroed in on Zari. She was smiling at me. Her beauty and kindness radiated from her. She held out a hand to me. I took it, and she squeezed my hand gently, bringing me to her. She turned us to face the man.

“Jessamy, this is my man, Twisted. Honey, this is Jessamy. She needs help—the kind the club can give. Jessamy, I know this might be scary, but you’re totally safe with Twisted and the Pagan Souls. If you weren’t, there’s no way I’d be with Twisted or allow my niece and nephew near them.”

I raised my eyes to the man. He was large and intimidating. His grim face and the tattoos on his arms only added to the look. This was a man who wouldn’t take shit, and those threatening him or his would suffer. I only hoped he didn’t see me as a threat. If I was lucky enough, and he decided I was in need, something told me he’d help me. His grimness eased, and a slight smile peeked out.

“Hello, Jessamy. I think the best thing is to get you out of here and somewhere safe. Obviously, you’re running from someone. We’ll talk about why and more after we get you settled. We’re taking you back to our compound. You’ll be safe there. No one who isn’t invited can get in. We have someone there who can check you over. We need to make sure you’re alright physically.”

The mention of leaving the truck stop store made me jerk. What if Leland or his friends were still out there? They might overpower Twisted and take me.

“He might be out there! He may have help. You can’t take me out of here alone,” I cried.

“I won’t be alone, and I dare whoever you’re afraid of to try anything with me or my club, no matter the numbers. So the person you’re running from is here. How do you know?”

“Because I escaped in your parking lot. He was outside that door until a woman ran him off. She went and told someone I was there. He might still be out there waiting for me to slip out.”

“What kind of vehicle was he in? Can you describe him?” Twisted asked quickly.

“He’s not in a car. It’s a big rig. It’s red and silver.”

“Is there a name on it? What does he look like?”

“No name that I saw. He’s a fat, greasy asshole with thinning blond hair—about five foot ten or so. I’d guess he’s in his late thirties or early forties. His name is supposedly Leland. He parked in the back lot in the farthest row.”

“Excuse me a minute. I need to check if he’s there. Storm, why don’t you take her to my office? Hector is outside, and he’ll take you there,” he said to Zari. She nodded her head. He gave her a quick kiss, then was gone.

“Come on. Hector works for Twisted. He’s nice. He’ll make sure we get to the office safely. It’s not far,” she coaxed.

I let her lead me to the main bathroom door and then out. A man was standing there. He smiled. “Ladies, if you follow me, I’ll get you to Twisted’s office.”

We followed him to another short hall, and then we entered an office. Before he shut the door, he told Zari, “Remember to lock it after me. You know not to open it for anyone but one of us, Twisted or a Pagan. You’ll be safe in here.”

“I won’t. Thank you, Hector.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, she locked it. My energy waned, and my legs became weak. Seeing me sag, Zari rushed over and put an arm around me. She assisted me to a chair.

“Can I get you something? Maybe a drink. Twisted keeps some in here. He gets busy and doesn’t like to go out to the front to get anything,” she said as she went to a small fridge.

I was thirsty, and hunger was a close second, but that could wait. “Thank you, yes. Anything is fine.”

When she returned to me, she had two bottles of water, a Coke, and a Dr. Pepper. She kept one of the waters and gave me the others.

“Thank you,” I said before I picked up the water and opened it. I tried to drink it slowly, but I was so thirsty that I choked on it, which made me take a breath.

She was quietly sitting there. I was thankful she wasn’t pressing me to talk more. As we waited, I scanned the office. It looked like a typical one, although I thought it would be messier for some reason. We sat at a small table off to the side of the desk. It allowed me to see the pictures on it. One was of Zari and the other of two kids. She saw me looking at them. She got up and went to get the photo of the kids. She brought it back to the table and handed it to me.

“This is my niece, Aliya, and my nephew, Arif. She’s fourteen, and he’s eleven. Twisted insists on having our pictures here. He says they make him smile and happy. Isn’t that funny? Who would think a guy would say that let alone a biker? I know it may seem strange to put your trust in him and his club, but I swear, you won’t regret it. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? What kind of work do you do? I make custom jewelry.”

I knew she was trying to distract me, and I appreciated it. Her one question raised one of my own. “Where am I? What state is this?”

“Oh my, you don’t even know that—poor thing. You’re in North Carolina in the small town of Cherokee. It’s not a big place, only about sixteen hundred people. We’re on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A lot of people pass through and stay here to visit the park. There are lots of motels and hotels as well as campgrounds around here. This is where the eastern band of the Cherokee Indians is located. We’re also at the Southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs from Virginia to here. Oops, sorry, I sound like a tour guide, don’t I? Arif had to write a paper about the area over the summer for his first week back to school. I read it for him, so now all that information is stuck in my head. Are you from North Carolina?”

I couldn’t believe I was in North Carolina. I knew we’d driven for days. I sometimes wondered if Leland was driving in circles. Surely, if he had been heading across the country, we would’ve been there before now. He must’ve been doing some circuitous driving, but he’d kept going east.

“No, I’m not from here or anywhere close. I’m from Arizona, from a town called Cottonwood. It’s not too far from Flagstaff if you know where that is. It’s bigger than here, but it isn’t a huge city. I think we have about twelve thousand residents. As for my work, I’m a preschool teacher.”

Thinking of my students, whom I hadn’t gotten to meet for the new school year, saddened me. I’d been looking forward to seeing those I knew along with the newbies. Unfortunately, I was snatched a few days before the new ones started.

“Oh, that has to be fun, yet a lot of work. I love kids, but I don’t think I could be a teacher. Barak allah fik means bless you. Have you always taught preschoolers?”

“I’ve been teaching them for three years. After I got out of school and got my certification, I taught older kids for two years, then decided I wanted to start working with them earlier. They’re like sponges when they’re three to five years old. It sets them up to succeed when they go to kindergarten and beyond.”

A knock at the door surprised me. I’d momentarily forgotten where I was and why. I hated that a small cry of fright escaped me. Zari stood up.

“Storm, it’s me. Open up,” Twisted called out. She hurried to the door. I fleetingly wondered why he called her Storm. When she opened it and he came inside, I knew he hadn’t found anyone. The stern look on his face told me.

“You didn’t find him,” I said.

“No, I’m sorry. We didn’t, but no worries. We will. I do have good news. Some of my club is here. They’re gonna help me escort you to our home, where you’ll be safe. You’ll ride with one of our prospects. His name is Bodie.”

My heart sped up at the thought of being in a vehicle with a strange man. Before I could say anything, Twisted continued,

“Zari will ride with you. I know that being alone with a stranger probably doesn’t appeal to you. My brothers and I’ll ride our bikes, and you’ll be surrounded, so there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re ready, let’s get you out of here.”

The next several minutes were a flurry of activity and emotions as I was escorted out the front door. People inside the store and outside pumping gas gave us curious looks. I was assisted into the backseat of an SUV. Zari kissed Twisted and then got in on the other side. The guy who got in the driver’s seat glanced back at me and gave me a friendly smile.

“Hi, I’m Bodie. I’ll be your driver. Please put on your seatbelts. It won’t take us long to get home. I promise I’ve had my license for at least a week, so I should do a decent job of getting us all there in one piece.” He winked.

His humor made me smile. “I feel so much better,” I told him. He chuckled.

After our belts were on, I watched as the bikes came to life. They were loud. I looked out the darkened window in awe of them and the men on them. There were five, not counting Twisted. They were all dressed in leather vests, boots, and jeans, with tattoos visible on their arms. They looked tough and able to take care of themselves. As one, they took off, and so did we. When we got on the main road, three were in front of us and three behind.

I looked at the small town around us as we made our way out of it and into the tree-filled countryside. I’d never seen so many trees and so much green in my life. It wasn’t long until we drew up to a gate. I took in the sight before me. There was a tall chain link fence as far as I could see. The gate opened, and we drove inside.

There were three large buildings. The central one reminded me of a warehouse. It was huge. The others were closer to the fence and slightly smaller. We stopped in front of the one that reminded me of a warehouse. The men on bikes were parking them out front of the biggest building. Bodie got out, opened Zari’s door, and then came around to do the same for me. He held out his hand, which I tentatively took. He made sure I was steady on my feet before he let go and moved away.

Twisted had gotten to Zari by then, and they were walking toward me. I took a couple of steps in their direction. My legs started to give out. I grabbed the side of the SUV. Twisted swore, and then he was next to me.

“I understand you probably don’t like to be touched, but I can’t let you fall on your face. I’m gonna carry you inside. Zari is coming with us.”

I had no idea how far I had to walk. With the way my legs were feeling, he was right. I’d end up on my face. I gave him a nod. “Thank you.”

He gently lifted me in his arms, and I was immediately swept inside. I didn’t get time to look around. Twisted was a man on a mission, and he quickly had me down a long hallway and into a room. It reminded me of a room in a clinic. Inside were two men and a woman. Twisted put me down on the exam bed. He and Zari didn’t leave the room. I eyed the other three warily.

“Honey, don’t be afraid. They’re friends. This is Agony. He’s the president of the club. Next to him is his wife, Eliana. And this guy over here is Bones. He’s a club brother like Twisted. Everyone, this is Jessamy.” Zari made the introductions and cut some of the tension.

The tall man she called Agony, who had apparent Native American heritage, slowly approached me with his wife under his arm. She smiled at me.

“Jessamy, welcome to the Pagan Souls clubhouse. As Zari said, I’m the president of this chapter of the Pagans, and this is my old lady, Eliana. We’re here to help you. However, first, Eliana and Bones need to check you over. See if there’s anything medically you need.”

I tensed at the thought of being touched. They saw it. The other one, Bones, spoke up.

“Jessamy, I can assure you that we know what we’re doing. I’m called Bones because I’m a doctor, and Eliana is a nurse practitioner. She’s my right hand when I need her. We’ll make our examination as quick and painless as possible.”

I was still grasping Zari’s hand, trying not to crush it. Bones noticed. “Zari can stay if you’d like. We’ll have the others step out. The sooner we know if we have something we have to deal with, the sooner we can, and then we’ll be able to figure out how else we can help you.”

His tone was soft, even though he was anything but. I eased my grip on her hand. “Yes, I’d like Zari to stay if she can.”

“Of course I can,” was her immediate answer.

“I’ll be outside. Let me know when you’re done with the exam,” Twisted added. He was speaking to Bones.

“We’ll go wait in the common room. You’re in great hands, Jessamy. I look forward to getting to know you,” Agony said. As he left, he squeezed Eliana’s hand and kissed her. Twisted kissed Zari. I’d never seen so much kissing in my life.

With the door closed, I waited for them to start. Eliana, not Bones, spoke first.

“Jessamy, we’ll make this as easy as we can. To help direct us to where we should concentrate first, we need to know where you hurt.”

The way she was watching me, I knew she was waiting for me to say between my legs. It did ache there, but that wasn’t where my worst pain was. Wanting to get this over with, I began naming the spots and pointing as I did.

“My back, my ribs, and my chest hurt the worst. My scalp is sore from my hair being pulled.” I paused to take a breath. Before I could say more, Zari spoke.

“Honey, I know this is hard, but do you hurt down below? Damn it, I’ll just say it. Were you raped? If you want him to leave so we can talk, we’ll have Bones step out.”

When I glanced over at him, he was nodding. “I can do that if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to do that. I wasn’t raped, not like you mean. But others weren’t as lucky as me. I don’t know why some were targeted, and others were left alone. I thought for sure Leland would do it to me. There was this look in his eyes that said he wanted to. I don’t know what held him back.”

“Well, thank God he did. What do you mean by you weren’t raped like what we mean? Did something else happen?” Eliana asked. She was casually getting out equipment. Bones was doing the same.

“Leland wasn’t the one who kidnapped me. It was two other men. I don’t know their names. They grabbed me in my neighborhood. I was coming from the store down the street from my apartment. It was always a safe place. Not one you’d expect someone to be snatched from. One minute, I was walking and watching around me. Next, they had me. They put something over my nose and mouth. It smelled terrible. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the back of a car, tied up with those two in the front.

“I was with them for almost two days before they stopped in this out-of-the-way rest stop and handed me over to Leland. He stuffed me in the back of his truck. While those two had me the first night, they tried to scare me into behaving. They punched me a few times in the ribs and…” I hated to say the next part. It made me feel dirty, but it had to be said.

“They took down my pants and touched me there. They pushed their fingers up inside of me, in both places and talked about how I felt. They squeezed my breasts hard, too. I was sure they’d rape me, but they didn’t. After that, they didn’t touch me. It hurt because I wasn’t, you know, wasn’t wet. It aches, but it doesn’t hurt.” I hurried up and finished. My cheeks were burning.

I saw the two women exchange upset looks. Bones had his back to me. He spoke next.

“I’m stepping outside so they can help you into a gown. I swear, I’ll be as gentle as possible, but I will have to check all of you, Jessamy. I’m a doctor. It’ll be professional, I promise.”

“Okay,” I said softly.

As soon as he was gone, Zari and Eliana helped me out of all my clothes and into a hospital gown. My clothing was dirty and smelled terrible. I knew I wasn’t much better. They put them aside and held up the gown. Once I was in it, Eliana went to the door and called Bones back inside.

I lay there with my eyes closed as the examination happened. I answered questions about where it hurt more. I told them about what happened over the days I was with Leland and the others who joined me in the back of the trailer, as well as what happened to them. I could feel the fury it caused in them, especially Bones.

I listened to the two medical professionals talk about their findings, which were a lot of bruises. Thankfully, they didn’t think there was anything broken. When it came time to do the examination below, Eliana did it, although she conferred with Bones. It stung a bit when she inserted the speculum inside of me. I didn’t enjoy the finger that was inserted in my rectum, either. Once she was done, I was given the news.

“You have some minor abrasions in your vagina and rectum. They’ll soon heal, and there won’t be lasting damage. They didn’t tear anything, thank God. I can already see they’ve started healing. Until everything heals a bit more, I’ll prescribe you a pain med, and I’d like to give you an antibiotic, just to be on the safe side. I’ll need a full name to give the pharmacy. You can use our address. I could get them other ways, but I think we should keep this above board,” Bones added.

“It’s Mitchell, with two Ls. Jessamy is spelled J-E-S-S-A-M-Y. Do you need anything else?”

“Your birthdate,” he said. I rattled it off to him.

When I was done, Zari asked, “Is it alright to let Twisted back in? Knowing him, he’s worn a ditch in the floor.”

I smiled. I could see him doing that. “Sure, I’m decent. He can come in. I don’t want your poor floors to be abused anymore.” She laughed and went to get him.

“All set?” Twisted asked after he entered. Zari had been gone for a couple of minutes.

“We’re done with the main stuff. I need to tell Agony we’re done with her medical part. I’ll be back,” Eliana said before she left the room.

“Jessamy, I know you’re tired and you’ve been through hell, but we need to talk,” Twisted said.

“About what?”

“About you and those men. You know we didn’t catch the one you escaped from. There are others he still has, according to you. We have no idea what this means. Is it a couple of people doing it, or is it larger than that? I know you probably just want to go home and forget, but I wouldn’t do that. If they got you once, they’ll be able to get you again. You might not have been randomly chosen, meaning they targeted you and might return to where you live to reacquire you.”

His words and the thought that he was right caused terror to shoot through me. I clutched the cover lying over me closer, and a whimper escaped. Bones stepped closer to me. Zari grabbed my hand again. Twisted stepped back and put his back to the wall. Before I could say anything, there was a knock, then a pause. When the door opened, Eliana, Agony, and another man entered. For some reason, my scattered mind chose to focus on the unknown man. I became breathless for a different reason.

Standing there was a man who made me glad I was a woman. He exuded a sense of protectiveness. Even though all the Pagans I’d met so far did the same, his was different, more intense.

His eyes stared deep into mine as he entered and closed the door behind him. I barely heard Agony ask how I was. When I didn’t answer, he looked from me to the other man and back. I thought I saw the corner of his mouth turn up.

“I guess the first thing is to introduce you. Sweetheart, this is another one of our club brothers. His name is Mace. Mace, this is Jessamy. She’s in trouble, and we’re trying to see what we can do to help her.”

Mace came closer and held out his hand. I noticed he didn’t crowd too close. I took his hand, and a jolt hit me. I hoped no one heard the tiny gasp that escaped me. I tried to pull my hand back, but Mace held onto it for a few more seconds before he let go. The tingle was still there. What in the world was wrong with me? Had my captivity messed up my head? It had to be for me to be reacting to anyone after what I’d been through. I lie there, knowing I’d have to sort it out in my head later. Right now, they needed answers to their questions, and I needed to find a way to return home safely.