43. Ryn
Chapter forty-three
Ryn
Trust is the hardest gift to give- Ryn Raines
“You’re an omega,” my father sneers.
The menace in those words, the sheer rage, makes my mouth go dry and leaves me feeling like my legs won’t work properly.
I yank my wrist, but he’s got me too tight. “Let go of me.”
“You’re coming home with us.”
I look over my shoulder and see the pack I ran from, the pack he tried to sell me to. The security nods politely and disappears as they go to take their places outside the property.
“Not happening. I’m bonded,” I hiss out in giddy relief. “You can’t just sell me.”
He rears back, and before I can register, his hand cracks across my face.
“We saw the photos. I couldn’t imagine you’d be so selfish, so stupid. I raised you to be better.”
Half my face has turned numb, but I haven’t stopped fighting to free myself. Still, my thoughts are sluggish and slow. He hit me, he really hit me.
My mother lifts her hand again, almost like she’s going to protest.
“Darling, please?” Chile whines.
“Shut the fuck up. This is your fault. You filled her head with ideas of music and being a damn whore.”
My mother flinches .
I struggle, and just as suddenly, he throws me at a wall. I bounce against it and crumple to the floor, stunned.
“Typhor!” my mother shrieks. “You’re going to hurt her! Stop!”
“Typhor, I think you should stop. What are you doing?” Tara says in shock. “You’re going to really, seriously hurt her.”
My father sneers at his mistress. “Shut the fuck up.”
Tara flinches. “You can’t do this to her. She’s your daughter.”
“Do you want to work in this industry ever again? You shut your whore mouth, and you do as I say. I’ve got enough video evidence of you to destroy your career. So choose, you can either spew your bullshit about saving my daughter or you can lose everything.”
Tara opens her mouth, her face is milk white. “Let her go.”
“Get out. I’m done with you.”
Tara hesitates, so he takes a menacing step in her direction.
She flinches, looking at me with enormous eyes. “I’m sorry.”
We watch as she runs out of the house; the door slamming behind her.
“Right, now where were we?” my father growls. “You’ve cost me my whore now, too. What is it about you? You fuck everything you touch.”
He jabs his toes of his shoes into my ribs and grinds them. I cry out, squirming to get away from him.
“You really are bonded, aren’t you? You little shit,” Typhor says almost to himself.
He grabs my hair and hoists me to my feet. I grit my teeth, swallowing the scream that wants to come out.
“Let her go!” My mother throws herself at my dad. Her tiny, manicured hands beating his back. She pulls at his hand, but he lets go and sweeps her away.
I watch her go flying, hitting a table with her hip, and letting out a pained cry. She struggles up and pauses while a massive blow hits my midsection, causing me to crumble over, the wind knocked clean out of me.
“Stop!”
“You shut your whore mouth!”
My mother flies at him and shoves him off me. I scramble away from them, desperately gulping and trying to suck in oxygen.
I can hear my mother’s cries, and this time, I get up and charge into the fight, shoving my father off her. She rolls away, dropping to her knees.
Typhor roars and spins, belting me across the face. My head rocks to the side, and I let out a hideous moan, but he turns back to my mother, kneeling over her.
My eyes widen as I watch him put his hands around her throat.
“Should have done this years ago. ”
“Typhor, please!”
“Shut. Up.”
“Dad!” I scream.
I look around the room, but there’s nothing I can use. The security are staring, gone, and Uley has a look that can only be called hungry. But the pack, those creepy old men just stare impassively.
”Help us!” I shriek at them.
I charge him, trying to pull his arms free.
“Stop! You’re killing her! Dad, please! Stop!”
My mother’s face turns bright red and then deep red. Her mouth opens and closes as I sob.
“Stop it!”
“Fucking whores. Omega whores,” he mutters.
I scream as loud as I can, my voice ringing out around the room.
He turns towards me, his face screwed up in rage. His veins pulsing in his temple. His eyes are red, and he looks insane.
“Stop!” I sob. “You’re killing her.”
I hit him across the head as hard as I can, but it doesn’t even register.
“Help!” I scream, the pack my father promised me to simply stare at us, uncaring of my screams. I’m so shocked I just stare at them. Are they going to let my father murder my mother? Are they really going to just do nothing?
I hate them. At that moment, I hate them almost as much as I hate my father.
The door bursts open, and Envy races towards me. He grabs my father’s arms and pulls, but even he can’t break the grip. My mother’s eyes close, and my panic explodes. He’s killing her.
Envy purrs.
I don’t even hear the words, it’s just the sudden power in that purr. He looks at me, trying to tell me something. I listen to what he’s doing and try it. No, that’s not right. I try again and again, and on the third attempt, I get it.
“LET GO!”
My father’s grip snaps off my mother. Envy drags her out and away from him.
The vile man who has tormented me all my life sits there glaring at us. I can see his hands tremble and twitch. He’s trying to fight it. Envy lifts my mum in his arms and turns towards the doors.
The pack closes in, finally stirred to action. Their expressions filled with satisfaction and lust.
“Two omegas,” purrs. “That would make a good payment.”
Envy steps in front of me. I grab the back of his top and step so that I’m beside him.
He glances at me, then back at my father. If he puts my mother down, my father will kill her. If he doesn’t, they will take us.
I close my eyes and hope that Kelly got my message.
Bently rubs his cheek as he circles towards us. “You’re both really pretty.”
Ellis simply studies us before looking down at Typhor. “They have bonds and alphas. I don’t think they are worth the hassle.”
The words snap my father out of his trance, and he springs up, straightening his tie and hair before advancing on Envy. I jump between them and snarl.
“Fucking little bitch!” My dad snaps. “Yeah, they have bonds, but it doesn’t matter. Just take them and hide them in a cellar somewhere. Are you scared of some two-bit musicians?”
The words give me an icy chill.
Ellis nods. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the first time. Grab them both. Let’s go.”
“Give me my wife, Omega!” my dad barks out.
Envy stiffens, the command sinking in and trying to force him to move. I grip his shirt and lean against him, purring slightly, trying to free him from the command.
Second by second, he relaxes as the command rolls over him and dissipates.
I lean in, inhaling his scent. Trying to find the courage to turn and fight.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the alphas edging closer. My father straightens his shirt, and I see blood on it. Either mine or my mothers.
He’s an asshole. I can’t believe she stood up to him for me. I look at her pale face. She needs a hospital. Really needs one. Her face is gray and slightly mottled, and her breathing isn’t right. She might die.
No. I can’t do it.
I whirl and face them.
“Let Envy and my mother go, and I’ll go peacefully. I don’t have alpha bonds. Just an omega bond.”
“What?” my dad bellows. “You shut up!”
“Shut up, Raines,” Bently says and glances at Ellis and Yardly.
“He can ignore our commands! I say we let them go and keep her.”
“No!” Envy shouts.
I lean into him, staring up at his beautiful face. “You have to do this. She needs a hospital.” I lean up, staring into his eyes. “Envy, I’m trusting you. Find me. You’ve done it before. You can do it again. This is me trusting you. Trusting our pack.”
“No!” Envy whispers.
“Please, Envy, she’s my mother. ”
He looks down at her and then looks back at me, his expression tortured.
“Auryn,” his voice comes out so soft and full of emotion. I understand everything in those two syllables.
“Omega, you have your deal!”
“No!” my father bellows, but I shove Envy out of the way and catch the vicious blow on the chin.
I fall back, stunned.
Envy screams, but I look up and see him and my mother being dragged out of the house by security. That’s good, right? He’s safe. He’s gone. I let out a hysterical giggle, but I hurt everywhere.
I sit up and try to open my jaw. It’s stiff and sore, but it doesn’t feel broken.
Ellis holds out a hand. I stare at it, feeling the end of all my dreams staring me in the face. I lift mine and place my hand in his.
“Good, Omega. Come.”
The command snaps into me, and I’m powerless to fight it. I move into the space under his arm and stand there, wishing I could resist. That I could fight it.
For several long seconds, I just feel tired. My body hurts, but my heart more so. How many times do I need to say goodbye to these alphas? Why can’t I be free to love my omega?
I hear yelling and fighting outside.
Ellis snarls, but before he can do anything, the door bursts open, and Kelly stalks in. Ezy and Gael narrow their eyes on my father, while my cousin looks at Ellis.
“You’re going to take your hands off my cousin or I’m going to feed your bodies to the sharks.”
Ellis tenses. I would, too, if I were him. Kelly Raines is a throwback to our very powerful grandfather, Maxwell Raines. Charles doesn’t have the cut throat aggression that he gifted to his son.
“Kelly, I thought you were dead,” my father drawls.
We all know he’s lying. He would be keeping tabs on him and would have known if something happened.
“Clearly not, Uncle. But what are you doing on my island? You know you’re not welcome in this neck of the woods.”
Typhor bares his teeth. “I’m not leaving until I have my wife.”
“Your wife is on holiday with her family.”
Typhor raises his eyebrow and opens his mouth-
“You, of course, are not welcome.”
I’ve never seen this version of Kelly. He’s strong and cold and almost as ruthless as my dad. Is this why he ran ?
Digs storms into the room and lets out a vicious roar when he sees Ellis’ hold on me.
Tyr and Mako are a moment behind and the temper in the room becomes untenable. They advance as a unit towards the alpha holding me.
Ellis steps back, letting me go. Holding his hands in the air. It doesn't stop Tyr, though, he lets fly a vicious punch that sends the alpha halfway across the room.
“Stop!” Bently shouts. “He did it!” he says and points to my father.
Ellis stands up and simply brushes off his suit jacket and glances at Bently and Yardly. “Let's go. It’s not worth the hassle. Our contract is void, Raines. You owe us our money. We’ll expect payment upfront.”
“You okay?” Tyr says, gripping my face and peering down at me. “Oh, shit, you’re hurt. Come on, let’s get you to a doctor.”
Digs rumbles and steps between the threats and me, looking entirely too adorably menacing.
“You came?”
Mako makes a sound of disbelief. “You thought we wouldn’t?”
I shake my head, but it makes it ache, and I stop with a groan.
Tyr grumbles and gently pulls me to the light so he can check my face. “I’m going to kill him!”
Tyr whirls and punches my father, who has just tried to get past him.
“You ever touch her again, and you’re a dead man!”
“I’m Typhor Raines-”
“I don’t give a shit who you are, Typhor. As you can clearly tell, we weren’t afraid of you before, and we aren’t now. Ryn belongs to us.”
My father springs towards them, his expression one of black murder, but Kelly shoves him up against the wall.
“You hit my aunt?” He glances at me. “You tried to kill her? You hit my cousin? Do you enjoy hurting people weaker than you, Uncle?”
“I can do much worse to you than this. Just remember that, Kelly.” My father licks his lips, but I think it’s a nervous gesture. “You still haven’t found her yet, have you? But I know…I know exactly where she is.”
Kelly tenses. “Raider will survive. And as for me, there is nothing I care about that you can touch without breaking your word. Your power is gone.”
My father nods and lets out an evil snicker. “You should never have left. You should have stayed with me. Maybe we could have worked something out with your pet whore.”
Kelly’s fist tightens. “Don’t speak of her. You agreed to leave her alone. She’s in the past, and I honestly don’t even give a fuck about her anymore. ”
I gape at them, wondering who she is and what they’re talking about. I’ve never heard Kelly be so ruthlessly cold about anyone in my entire life. He sounds like he really hates this woman.
“I left you Alpha Labels. Don’t make me come back and take it.”
“As if you could.”
“Don’t try me, Uncle.”
Kelly steps back as my father stalks past him, disappearing out of the house. Kelly’s expression softens when he finds me enfolded in Mako’s arms.
“You okay? Ryn?”
I dip my head, but my lip wobbles.
He walks over and pats my head. “Smart move, kid. But how did you know I’d be here?”
“You wouldn’t leave me if I was in trouble.”
Kelly sighs. “I’m not sure I enjoy being that predictable. You’re the smartest of us all, Ryn. You always save yourself.”
“Plans for my plans, cousin.”
He pulls me into a hard hug, and it’s only when I feel him around me that I realise how scared he is. He’s shaking.
“I’m okay, Kelly. You made it in time.”
“Not quite.”
“You got here,” I say into his shirt. “He can’t hurt me anymore.”
Kelly steps back. “Maybe it’s time. Maybe. All right, we’re leaving. We’ve got a competition tomorrow.”
Ezy holds out his fist, and I bump it. “See ya round, Kid. Stop knocking around with dick heads, ey? You look awful.”
“I won’t, Ezy. Promise. Thanks for the assist.”
Gael lifts a hand, and the three of them walk out, their open shirts flapping in the wind and their flip-flops smacking.
“Typhor Raines?”
I whip my head around and then race to the porch. There are three policemen standing there with two unmarked cars, looking entirely too official. Uley backs away and then turns and runs. I can’t say I’m surprised.
“You’re going to have to come with me.”
I struggle out of Mako’s arms and follow the policeman and my dad as he’s escorted to the car, along with Ellis, Yardly, and Bently.
To my surprise, Tony is standing there directing the police. He says something in a scathing tone as the cars turn away and spins towards us.
“Tony? ”
“Hey, kid. I brought the cavalry." He stomps up to me and gently inspects my face. “Oh, this isn’t good at all. Those bastards. Come on, let’s get you looked at. I bet it’s hurting something fierce.”
I have to blink back tears as he fusses over me.
“Why are you here?” I manage to get out.
Tony puts his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “You’re one of my kids now. I was worried about you. Fact is, I don’t think Fate’s Choice is a band without you.”
I stare up at him.
“Oh, nope, no tears. It will hurt too much. Stop it. There are lots of people who care about you, Ryn. Lots of people are looking for you.”
“There are?”
“There are! Your friends in the industry, your cousins, your aunt ripped me a new one a couple of times over. Auggie is terrifying. A group of old ladies called me from a town called Two Rivers, and I got a serve from an old bitch, I mean birdie, named Alma. And I’ve received several offers from the Despair and Mirakill MC club members to, and I quote, ‘crack skulls and make people disappear’.”
I snicker but have to stop because it hurts too much.
“Get her to a doctor, Tyr. I’m going to the station to make sure that he doesn’t get off.”
I murmur my thanks and watch him walk away.
Tyr lifts my hand, drawing my attention and kisses my knuckles. “Envy was recording. He’s sent the footage to the police.”
I turn into them, leaning into his chest as Mako and Digs close in, forming a shield around me.
“Thank you for saving me.”
Tyr kisses my temple. “You are the most capable person I’ve ever met, and I’m sure you would have found a way to rescue yourself, but we’ll always be here. Always on your side. We will always come for you.”
I bury my aching face in his chest. All those years of praying for help, for someone to come rescue me, and they finally did. I am saved.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and now the tears appear. I shake hard enough that Digs picks me up, holding me under my ass as he walks us to the car and slides in with me sprawled all over him.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to check on your mum and find Envy and get you to a doctor before Tyr starts frothing at the mouth.”
I let out a breath of relief. Yes, that’s exactly what I want to do.