Nine
Brooke
When I jerked awake, my hands instinctively clutched the sides of my head, hoping to shove back the wicked pain that indicated my brain was splitting into two.
I was once again in an ungraceful heap on a cold, hard, cement floor in the warehouse he had brought me to, out in the middle of nowhere.
But as long as I had fight left in me, I was fighting back.
Although sadly, I wasn’t sure how much energy I had left.
My brain and heart screamed, ‘Full steam ahead,’ but my body was slowly losing on that front.
Because of the brutality he had dished out – not counting the sexual assault – I was beginning to think this wasn’t an act of revenge between two clubs and I wasn’t the prize they were taking back to their prez. So I wasn’t sure how much time I had left.
“I was hoping you’d wake up soon.”
His disgusting voice crept over me like an oil spill.
“I like a feisty girl who fights back.
It makes me hard and gives me complete satisfaction when I get a taste.”
He grabbed his crotch.
I swallowed the bile that shot up my throat.
So far his hands were the only thing that had touched me, but I was under no illusion that was his sole intent.
But I’d die before I allowed him to rape me.
Although his fingers in places that weren’t welcome was rape too.
I forced back those horrifying thoughts. I had to keep a level head for just a little while longer. “This isn’t over club business, is it?”
I wasn’t sure why I needed that clarification.
The laugh that spurted from his mouth lacked any real humor; in fact it could only be described as demonic.
“No.
And your dad was a damn fool to make you give up protection like that.
It wouldn’t have been so easy to get you had you still been with that biker guy.
Or there was a real possibility I wouldn’t have been able to get to you at all.”
He leered at me from across the room – his dark eyes cruel and his brown hair a tangled disaster from going several rounds with me – as he leaned against a storage cabinet with his arms crossed over his chest.
Yeah, it had been too easy to grab me from my home.
He knew my schedule; that I wasn’t seeing Grayson anymore; and that my roommate wasn’t home yet.
It hadn’t even been that dark out – I had just gotten home from work – but he had kidnapped me with ease.
I wasn’t even sure there were any witnesses or evidence left behind.
I prayed there was some sort of clue and that help was on the way. But as the hours ticked by, my hope slowly diminished.
“Nah, this is police business.
Your dad put away my brother and he died before his parole hearing came up and he had the chance to get out of there.
So I have a big problem with the chief there.
He’s going to pay.
By the time the police figure out where you are; it will be too late. But that club; they have their ways. And then I wouldn’t be this lucky.”
He licked his lips.
I didn’t like his double meaning.
And I had to hold on to that little spark of hope that they were out searching for me.
Turning the damn town upside down.
Deep down, I believed – although at this point it could just be wishful thinking – that my dad would suck down his pride and go to Grayson for help.
And despite my hurting Grayson like I had, he would move heaven and earth and go through the fires of hell to save me.
Even though the room continued to spin, I slowly shifted to a seated position.
That way I could more easily move to defend myself.
The nefarious glint in his eyes signaled another vicious round was about to begin.
Shooting me an evil smirk, he prowled across the room.
“I think I’ve had my fun.
Now for the real enjoyment.
I want a taste of you and my dick wants in on the action too.
Then I can send a picture of your naked body with your brains blown everywhere to your dear old dad.”
Arms and legs shaking with the effort and a good dose of fear, I forced myself to a standing position, mimicking a fighting stance as best I could to prepare to fight for my life.
Snickering, he grabbed me by the hair and thrust his crotch into my belly.
“The more you fight, the harder he gets.
And I’m going to love every minute of it.”
Using every bit of strength I had, I shoved my knee up into his crotch.
His hand tightened in my hair as he slammed the butt of his gun into the side of my head.
The action made stars dance before my eyes.
Then he tossed the weapon across the room before he began tearing at my shirt with one hand and ripping at the button of my pants with the other.
Lifting my hands to his head, I tore at his face, trying to gouge out his eyes.
He roared in an infuriated fit and hurled me across the room where I crashed into a wooden table.
The collision fractured the table into pieces and my ribs cracked on impact.
Pain shot through my chest.
His eyes wild with fury, he stalked toward me.
In a snap decision, I grabbed one of the splintered pieces in one of my shaking hands, feeling every movement I made tear through me, leaving a fire of pain zipping along every nerve ending.
I forced myself to breathe through every bolt of agony.
Because he was rabid with rage, he hadn’t noticed my makeshift weapon.
Paying it no mind, he was on me in a matter of seconds, freeing his dick from his jeans.
In the next instant, using the jagged section of wood like a knife, I sliced at his offending appendage.
Bellowing in pain and with his attention on his precious sliced up manhood, I sat up as far as my protesting ribs would permit and slashed along his throat several times.
His blood splattered across my face and chest.
With his focus now on his shredded dick and the ragged gash slit across his neck, I dragged my exhausted body across the floor and toward his discarded gun.
Beyond fatigued, my body screamed in protest the entire way, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
God, it was like I slithered along the dusty cement for months, but I finally had my fingers wrapped around the cold steel.
Then I pivoted so he was in my line of sight; aimed at his head; and fired off three rounds.
One of the bullets hit its target and after he shot me a bewildered look, he crumpled to the ground.
Setting the weapon beside me, I loosely wrapped my arms around myself and curled into a lax ball.
I was so tired.
Commotion sounded from outside the storage room he had me locked in.
Of course his buddies would have heard the gunshots and would come to investigate.
I didn’t have the strength to fights off any more attacks.
But I knew I’d have to do something so I closed my eyes briefly to help scrounge up some energy.
When the door burst open, I could barely peel my eyes open to slits.
“Fuck, look at the bloodshed in here.”
Was that Grayson’s shocked voice or was I dreaming? Please tell me I’m not dreaming and they found me.
When he moved closer, my blurry eyes recognized my rescuer.
He knelt down beside me and ran a hand gently along my head, my shoulder, my arms, and down my hips to my legs.
“Fuck, Princess.
You didn’t leave us anything to rip apart.”
Over his shoulder – but not taking his eyes from me – he added, “We need an ambulance and the coroner; in that order.
No serious bleeding, but she has a lot of bruising.”
“I don’t like violence.”
My fuzzy gaze locked on his concerned one.
I had been fighting for my life, but that didn’t mean I liked the carnage I had left behind.
“This wasn’t violence, Princess.
This was fucking self-defense.
You were in fear for your life so you used deadly force to protect yourself.
Nothing wrong with that.
Hang in there. Help is coming.”
I closed my eyes again.
I was finally safe and still so incredibly tired.
“Don’t close your eyes, Baby.
Stay with us.”
He clasped my hand in both of his.
His warm grip felt wonderful against my chilled fingers.
“It hurts to breathe, keep my eyes open, everything.
Tell my daddy you found me.
He has to be so worried.”
Scrounging up a tiny swell of energy, my words puffed out barely above a whisper.
“He’s here with me.”
I peeked my eyes open again.
My dad’s panicked face came into blurry view.
“Keep talking to Grayson, Brooke.
Help is coming.”
Noise across the way drew my dad’s attention.
“Get her on that fucking stretcher now and into the ambulance!”
“Thank you for rescuing me, Grayson.”
I just hoped it would be enough.
It was borderline impossible for me to keep myself conscious.
Exhaustion and pain consumed me.
“You didn’t need rescued, Princess.
You just needed someone to help get you out of here.
You took care of that bastard all by yourself.”
His words were drenched with pride.
My eyes slipped shut again.
“Don’t leave me, Grayson.”
“I won’t ever.
But you need to stick with me too, Baby.
Open your eyes, Brooke.”
Panic rose in his voice.
My body was lifted onto something pillowy, but the sheet lacked that extra softness you adored while in bed.
God, how I craved Grayson’s bed or even mine.
But at least this felt a hell of a lot better than the cold cement I had become well acquainted with during my captivity.
Grayson took my hand in his again.
As I was rolled out of the room, I worked to force my eyes open. But it required too much effort and with Grayson at my side, I was under his protection so I could just rest.
“You’ll have a police escort the entire way there.
Drive like a wave of lava is on your ass.”
My dad’s angry voice demanded.
His livid words were the last thing I heard as silence engulfed me.
Sometime later – I wasn’t sure if it was hours or days – low murmurs and the sound of something beeping pulled me from my drowse, but I didn’t have the energy to hold onto it for long and drifted off again.
The next time I was drawn from my nothingness, my brain picked up on male voices talking quietly.
I smiled to myself since I recognized them.
I was safe and had a pretty good idea where I was, but I needed to be sure.
After several attempts, I managed to pry open my eyes, blinking many times before the room came into focus.
I slowly trailed my gaze down the many wires attached to my body.
Ah, that explained the steady beep.
I tried to swallow, but it was like I had consumed a pound of sand and the taste wasn’t any better.
I must have made a sound of disgust because Grayson and my dad turned at the noise.
Relief and absolute joy radiated from their faces as the concerned press of their lips pulled up into huge smiles.
“Oh thank fuck.”
Grayson was the first to reach my bed.
With my dad positioning himself on the other side.
Grayson leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Oh Princess.
We’ve been waiting for you to open your eyes.
How do you feel? Can I get you anything?”
“I feel like I ate a pound of sand.”
I rasped.
Maybe I had.
He twisted to grab a small cup with a straw.
“Let me help you sit up.
Can you sit up?”
I nodded.
Grayson fussed with the bed control and then he and my dad helped situate the pillow behind me to help me into a seated position.
Then he held the cup up to my mouth so I could take a sip.
I waited a few moments to make sure my stomach didn’t revolt and when it didn’t; I took another few sips.
“How long have I been here?”
My dad took my hand in his.
“Two days.
With all the trauma your body went through, your body needed complete rest to start healing.
The doctor said you had some internal bleeding, but nothing significant.
And now that you’re awake and talking, I believe you’re starting to heal. But I’ll go find the doctor just to be sure.”
He pressed a kiss to my cheek before heading to the door.
“I know the guy who took me is gone.
Did he have anyone else?”
I couldn’t stop the shiver that raced down my spine.
I never wanted to go through that terror ever again.
Grayson tugged a chair to the side of my bed and sat down before leaning in close.
“Your dad is working with the police to clean up the situation.
He looked into the guy’s background and we did some of our own digging.
There isn’t anyone else connected to that piece of shit.
He was working alone for revenge. And your dad has been very supportive of our actions.”
“Thank God they are all gone.”
A few tears slipped down my cheeks.
“He was so vicious.”
I remembered how hard he had hit me and kicked me.
The look of glee in his eyes when I yelped in pain.
I tried to keep so much of it locked inside so I wouldn’t show any weakness.
“And he touched me, Grayson.”
I swallowed down a sob.
I didn’t think I’d ever get over the feeling of being violated like that.
“I feel so dirty.
How can you stand to look at me after he had his filthy hands places he never – ”
“Hey.”
He placed a tender kiss on my lips.
“You are still my princess and I love you.
Nothing will ever change that.”
“I don’t think he . . .”
I couldn’t force out the words.
I was almost positive he only attempted it once and I killed him during that fight.
“No, he didn’t.
We had them run all of the tests while you were unconscious so you wouldn’t have to experience any more trauma.”
Grayson peppered my cheek with gentle kisses.
“It’s going to be okay, Brooke.
I’m not trying to downplay what you went through; it was horrific.
But I’m so fucking relieved I have you back.
That I can help you every step of the way to work through this. You still have some physical healing to do with your broken ribs and bruises, but your emotional and mental healing are going to take the longest. But I’m going to be with you the entire time.”
“So my dad isn’t going to give you a hard time about this?”
“No.
He’s feeling a lot of guilt over this.”
The door opened and my dad and the doctor stepped inside.
“So, you finally decided to wake from your slumber, Sleeping Beauty.”
Stepping over behind Grayson, the doctor gave me a wink, his hazel eyes twinkling with his amusement over my reaction to his nickname for me.
My eyes widened as I feared that Grayson was about to go apeshit crazy on him.
His emotions were already a mess over my suffering.
But the doctor chuckled and ran a hand through his blond hair.
“Ah, you don’t think I should be saying things like that with your biker boyfriend within ear shot.
It’s okay.
He had been calling you Princess so I joked you were the sleeping one and it eased a little of the tension over this entire ordeal.
So no worries. By the way, I’m Dr. Clanson. How about I check some things out to see how you’re healing? Although by the looks of it, I’d say you’re doing pretty well all things considered.”
After Grayson stepped aside but not too far from my bedside, the doctor studied my monitors before gently poking and prodding my body and asking me questions.
“Well, it seems you are healing nicely.
I’d like to keep you one more night to be sure, but I think you should be able to go home tomorrow.
I’ll be back in to check on you tonight when I do my rounds.
Right now I’ll order you some simple breakfast to make sure you can keep down food. How does that sound?”
“As long as it doesn’t taste like sand, I’m game.”
“Well it will be bland, but I don’t think it will taste like sand.”
The doctor shook my hand and then my dad’s and Grayson’s before stepping out into the hall.
“Please stay with me.”
I blurted, panic lacing my tone.
“I hate how weak I sound.”
But even though the threat was gone, the horrid memories had taken up residence inside of my brain.
Grayson sat back down in his chair.
“You don’t sound weak.
Because you’re not weak.
You’re my warrior Princess.”
With gentle fingers, he tucked some of the unruly strands of my hair behind my ear.
“You fought for your life, held nothing back, didn’t cower in a corner.
Feeling fear and being weak are two completely different things.
Do you think I’m weak?”
“No way. Never.”
That notion was absolutely ridiculous.
“Well, I’ve never felt fear like I felt when you were taken.
I was never more afraid than when your dad showed me that video of you and I had no idea where you were or how long you’d been there.
I was afraid I’d be too late.
I’ve been at your side since we found you; not just for you, but for me too.
I’ve had my guys drop off clothes and stuff for me and I showered here. I couldn’t bear to leave your side.”
He rubbed a hand down his scruffy face.
I guess his showers had been quick and he didn’t bother taking the time to shave.
But I didn’t mind.
He was so freaking gorgeous scruff or not and he had been with me the entire time.
“And when I found you crumpled on the floor, your body so battered, at first I thought you were dead and the grief that crushed my chest almost drove me to my knees.
But when I caught a slight movement from you; relief rushed through me and quickly morphed into rage at what he had done to you.
And then I took in what you did to him and my heart filled with pride.
There is not one ounce of weakness in you.”
My dad, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, started to pace my room.
“Dad.
Are you okay?”
The inquiry scraped along my still sensitive throat.
He turned to me, his eyes filled with so much pain.
“It’s okay, Dad.
I’m going to be okay.
I’ll heal.”
I assured him.
The mental and emotional healings were going to take a long while, but I could do this with Grayson at my side.
“It’s not okay, Brooke.
This never should have happened to you.”
His words blew out on a tortured groan.
“It’s not your fault, Dad.
That scum bag wanted revenge for you doing your job.”
“It is my fault.
I never should have been an asshole and come between the two of you.
I never should have made you choose.
I knew you loved him and would do anything to protect him – even if it would break your own heart – just as he would do anything to protect you.”
He ran his hand agitatedly through his hair.
“If you would have been with him; that bastard wouldn’t have gotten his hands on you.”
“You don’t know that.”
He and Grayson both raised an eyebrow at me at my declaration.
“Fine.”
I huffed out a breath.
“It wouldn’t have been as easy, but you can’t know for sure that he wouldn’t have still gotten to me.”
“Brooke, don’t try to make this easy on me.
I deserve your anger about what I did.
And believe me I will regret my interference in your relationship for the rest of my life.
And I can’t thank Grayson and his club enough for rescuing you.”
He shifted his gaze briefly to Grayson and ducked his head.
“I don’t know that our team would have been able to find clues on that video as quickly as Hack did.
And I didn’t know if you had much more time left.”
My dad choked on those last words.
“I’m so sorry, Brooke, that my obduracy almost cost you your life.”
“I forgive you, Dad.”
And really, there was nothing to forgive.
I mean I couldn’t deny I was pissed as hell for his being a jerk that day.
But that had quickly morphed into a huge bout of depression.
Although that hadn’t even lasted long before I was thrust into survival mode.
So his being a jerk over my dating a biker and his threat which forced me to choose didn’t really matter in the whole scheme of things.
I wasn’t going to hold it against him.
We’d never know if things would have turned out differently and I wouldn’t have been abducted if I had still been seeing Grayson at the time.
And besides, I couldn’t take the pain on his face any longer.
“You’ve had a bad go of things since Mom died. We both have. And I’m sure you’ll work things out with Grayson too. You both love me. And want what’s best for me.”
“I do love you, Princess.
So so much.”
Grayson ran the back of his hand along my cheek.
“Even with the bruises, you are still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known.
And your dad and I did a lot of talking while you were resting.
There wasn’t much else to do.
And since we were united in wanting you to get better and not have to worry about reliving this through a trial; your dad has been working his tail off tying up loose ends so that this is a closed case.”
“I hope someday I can believe I deserve your forgiveness for this, Brooke.”
My dad walked over, leaned down, and pressed a long kiss to my forehead.
“I love you, Brooke.
Always.
I’m going to go take care of some more police business now that I know you are okay.
And I know Grayson will stay with you.”
Shifting his focus to my boyfriend, he stretched out his hand to him.
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you and your club did, even after how I treated you.”
Grayson shook his offered hand.
“As I said earlier; you are holding enough guilt over this that we don’t need to add to it.
And I know Brooke doesn’t want that either.
And it took a lot for you to come to me for help.
But I know deep down you knew I wouldn’t turn my back on you; that I would do anything to save her.
We still have a lot of work to do on our relationship, but we both love Brooke enough that things will work out.
Just like this did.”
After running his hand gently over the top of my head, my dad crossed the room to the door and left.
“I knew you wouldn’t hold a grudge against my dad.
I mean I’m sure you’re still pissed about everything and I am too.
But you’re a good man, Grayson.
And I’m very lucky to call you mine.”
“You’ll always be mine, Princess.”
He paused, his face scrunched in thought.
“You never had Dani come get your stuff from my place.”
The happiness in his eyes dimmed a bit at the reminder of that memory.
“I didn’t want to think about what I had done.
Like a robot on autopilot, I just went through my day.
I was like a zombie.
I just felt empty inside.
Probably another reason he was able to so easily – ”
I shook my head.
“I’m not going to talk about it.”
Grayson ran his hand soothingly through my ratty strands.
“Princess, you might find you need to talk about it.
Don’t keep things locked inside.
If you feel like you need to talk about something about what had happened, share it.
I’m not going to lie; it’s going to be hard to hear it because even though I wasn’t there, I can guess about the horrors.
I’ve seen plenty in my years with the club.
But I promise I won’t show my anger.
And you know it will never be turned toward you.
And your dad said he knows a really good therapist through the station that he’s going to have you call when you get out of here. I’ll go with you if you want me to.”
He tenderly cupped my cheek.
I leaned into his touch.
“I think I’ll want you to go with me.”
When my breakfast came, I offered Grayson some of my food, which he declined.
“No, you need to eat, Princess, to gain back your strength.”
After taking another nibble of the blandest oatmeal I had ever had touch my tongue, I raised an eyebrow at him.
“I could part with some of my meal and it not cause an issue.
Admit it; you are waiting on something more appetizing.”
I sighed.
“Go get yourself something tastier to eat.”
Releasing a brief chuckle, he kissed my palm.
“I’ll confess; I’m not tempted at all by your breakfast, but I don’t need anything right now.
And I’m not leaving unless it is with you to take you home and I’m not going to have any of my brothers bring me food and sit here and eat it in front of you.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but I don’t want you to be hungry.”
I frowned.
He ran my hand along his scruff.
“I’ll be fine.
If they spring you tomorrow; we’ll both go out for a delicious breakfast to celebrate.
I’ll eat my fill then.”
He shot me a wink.
My dad popped in a few times during the day to update us on the progress of the case, but I was sure he left many of the grim details out to spare me.
I was equal parts annoyed and relieved.
He and Grayson weren’t necessarily babying me, but maybe they were more aware of my mental state than me.
And at least I was being clued in on many of the particulars.
When visiting hours were officially over, Grayson not only stayed but crawled into the bed beside me.
It was a tight fit, but I didn’t mind being snuggled really close to his side.
Thankfully most of my tubes and wires had been removed so it wasn’t quite as cumbersome to accomplish the task.
Wrapped up loosely in his embrace, I found immense contentment even as horrifying thoughts threatened to invade my newly found peace.
But hopefully I would be released tomorrow so that I could truly begin my journey of healing.