Chapter Twenty-Six
Dragon
T he building seems smaller than I remember. When I was just a kid, it seemed like this massive being that had swallowed me whole. For so long, I rotted away in the belly of the beast, slowly being devoured piece by piece by the parasite who had his fangs in me.
Night Giant.
Leo or Vaughn or whatever other fucking alias he has. No matter what his real name is, he’ll always be Night Giant to me. The one who tried to take away my life, my body, and my soul.
“We don’t have to do this,” Cove says from beside me. “We can get Copper to call in his contacts. They can take him out and get to your brother.”
For as simple as that sounds, I know it’s anything but. Night Giant hasn’t remained off the grid for so long by being stupid. He’s smart and calculating. Detailed and efficient. It’s not a surprise to me that he’s an accountant.
“It’ll take too long,” I mumble, unable to tear my gaze from the rusting, metal monstrosity before us. “Who knows what he’ll do to Mitch. I don’t want to find out.”
Cove shudders, no doubt imagining the worst. Night Giant destroyed me and I’ll be damned if I let him do the same thing to my little brother.
“Fine,” Cove concedes, “but the second he gives him up, we’ll do everything we can to take him out. The guys will be nearby and ready. It’ll be over quickly.”
Despite his sure words, the quaver in his voice gives him away. He’s nervous as hell that this is going to end badly. I’m pretty certain it will…for Night Giant. To see him bleed and hurt for everything he’s done to me will be invigorating and freeing. I need this. I need to kill him with my own two hands. Bury my monster for good.
“Let’s go,” I grunt out, lifting my chin toward the door. The same door I escaped from all those years ago.
Cove stays in step beside me, a strong presence despite his smaller frame. He’s in bitch boy mode, but this time his claws are aimed at someone other than me.
We step into the building, the creaking of the door on its hinges much louder than I remember. Everything is just as it was before. An eerie wave of confusion washes over me. Time seems to have rewound to the past. I don’t feel like Dragon. I feel like Chase, caught in that fucker’s web.
“This way,” I grit out, forcing my feet to move. I walk between stacked storage containers until I come to the place I called home for nearly two years. “Fuck.”
A heap of clothes sits on the soiled mattress—the same fucking mattress. I remember the blood stain in shape of an elephant. A chill shivers down my spine at the memory.
Cove walks over to the mattress and lifts a T-shirt. I recognize it as one I’d seen Mitch wear in one of his social media pictures. I stalked every single post of his and remember it all.
“Where is he?” Cove demands.
“Come on,” I grunt, waving for him to follow. “There was a place Night Giant took me sometimes.”
Cove’s fingers run down my spine and his palm spreads out over my lower back. “Breathe, Dragon.”
I suck in a sharp breath, thankful for the cool oxygen filling my lungs. “I’m breathing. Still alive, BP. Can’t get rid of me yet.”
He smirks at me. “Don’t plan on ever getting rid of you, asshole.”
If I weren’t in my own personal hell, I’d capture his sharp jaw in my brutal grip and claim him with a fiery kiss. But with Night Giant lurking with my little brother, I can’t afford not to stay focused.
We walk down a series of corridors made by a careful arrangement of stacked shipping containers that go all the way to the incredibly high ceiling of the monolithic building. As we reach a dead end, forcing us to go left or right, I hold a finger to my lips, craning my ear to listen.
Breathing.
The heavy kind of breathing when someone is terrified.
Mitch.
I creep forward, making sure to keep Cove protected at my back. Cove and I aren’t stupid and came strapped with weapons. I’m sure Night Giant will force me to give them up, but right now, I’m hanging onto them like a lifeline.
A whimper.
Closer.
My heart is hammering inside my chest, pumping blood furiously to my ears, making it nearly impossible to hear.
Cove grips the back of my leather cut, stopping me. We wait in silence until my heart isn’t racing like it was. It’s then I hear it too. Footsteps on a dirty floor.
“Shhh, princess. Your savior will be here soon.”
Boiling rage surges up inside me, singing all rational thoughts. I charge toward Night Giant’s voice, ignoring the hisses of Cove behind me. When I step into Night Giant’s “room,” I don’t see him sprawled out on the bed naked like I expect. For some reason, this startles me into confusion.
So many times, I’d been dragged into this room from my makeshift cell to please the motherfucker. I spent so much time on my knees in this room.
But he’s not naked and waiting.
He’s fully dressed, standing behind my brother, a Glock digging into his temple. Mitch is in nothing but a pair of black boxers. He’s shivering and his green eyes are wild with fear. A strip of duct tape over his mouth prevents him from speaking. When his gaze flickers to me, another wave of terror makes him tremble. Since I haven’t seen my brother since he was like in the first grade or some shit, he probably doesn’t even recognize me.
Sickness roils in my gut.
Does he think I’m one of them? A sicko like Night Giant?
“It’s okay, bubba,” I say in a tone I hope he remembers. “I’m gonna get you out of here.”
Recognition flickers in his eyes and he starts sobbing. This sends Night Giant into a fit of creepy laughter. It makes every hair on my arms stand on end.
“We had a deal,” Cove growls from behind me. “Us for him. Let him go.”
Night Giant’s grin is cruel. “But what fun this could be. I’ve always thought Mitch here looked just like his brother did at this age.” He roves a free hand over Mitch’s bare stomach. “The training would have to start all over again and I’ve just put too much time into my little pet. Right, Caught?”
A full-bodied shudder quakes through me. “Let him go.”
“Sorry,” Night Giant says, “I couldn’t hear you. Your whispers don’t do shit for me, Caught. You know I prefer your screams.”
I struggle to breathe. If it weren’t for Cove’s fierce presence, I’d probably pass out. Sweat trickles over my brow and the knife in my slick hand feels slippery.
“Let Mitch go,” Cove growls. “You want Dragon, so take him. Let the kid go.”
Night Giant digs his grip into Mitch’s ribs, wrenching a pained howl from him that’s smothered by the tape. “Someone grew some balls since he last got on his knees for me. Tell me, little shit starter, do I need to cut them off to make you behave?”
Bile claws up my throat, burning me in the process. I wish I really were a dragon so I could breathe the fire out of me and burn the motherfucker who has my brother in his wicked talons.
“What we’re going to do,” Night Giant says in a commanding voice that makes my skin crawl, “is we’re going to take a walk. Outside.”
Outside is good.
There’s a slew of badass bikers in hiding out there.
Copper or Filter could probably blow Night Giant’s big head off his shoulders if given a fraction of a second.
“Fine,” I grit out. “Let Mitch go and we’ll go with you.”
“Not yet,” Night Giant barks out. “Move your asses and stay where I can see you.”
Cove tugs on the sleeve of my shirt. “Come on.”
I follow after Cove, hating the idea of having Night Giant at my back. My brother whimpers and sobs, breaking my heart into a thousand black shards of glass. I want to save him—to hug him to me. I’ve let this monster take so much away from me and I’m desperate to take it all back.
“Walk to the end there and hang a left. There’s a door. Wait for me,” Night Giant instructs from behind me.
Fury wars with my fear of this man. I hate that he still has a hold over me. I’m blasted with memories of his touch—mostly brutal and sometimes almost loving. I’d been sickened into believing that maybe one day he’d just forget to torture me and just once take care of me. He told everyone, after all, I was his favorite.
But every time ended in pain. Horror. His taking what I didn’t want against my will. My throat feels as though it’s closing. Each breath is labored and my knees nearly buckle with each step.
Why am I willingly here again?
For Mitch.
Save your brother, man.
Tears sting my eyes and I know I’m losing the inner battle. I have to just hang on until Mitch is safely in the protection of Koyn and the other Royal Bastards. So close. I can do this. I can hang on until we trade him off.
Then what?
Then he’ll have me and Cove.
Cove. Cove. Cove.
Cove is mine.
Anger rears its ugly head, chasing away the shadows of fear creeping up on me. I harness that fury, stoking each flame of hatred with memories of Night Giant’s cruelty. If he touches one hair on Cove’s head, I’ll slaughter him. I have to.
We reach the door to the outside. Night Giant instructs Cove to open it.
“You, behind us,” Night Giant tells Cove. “Caught, I want you walking ahead. I prefer that view of you.”
I snap my eyes shut, flooded with a memory of him beating my bare ass with his belt. Choking down the disgust, I try to breathe and remember the plan.
Trade us for Mitch, then attack.
Easy.
On shaking legs, I walk past him and along the side of the building where he gestured. The Mississippi River is close as this factory must have been used at one time to ship the containers up and down the US. I can feel eyes on us and wonder who has Night Giant in his crosshairs. It makes me nervous, though, because if they take the shot, who’s to say they wouldn’t miss and hit Mitch or Cove…
I gag and stumble over my boots. Night Giant rumbles out a hateful laugh from behind me. We walk until we reach a dock. A tugboat bobs at the end, thumping against the dock with each ripple of the water.
Uneasiness settles in my gut.
“Get on the boat, Caught,” Night Giant growls.
“You promised to give Mitch up,” Cove bites out from behind us. “So do it already.”
Night Giant scans the property, a menacing glare on his face. “They’re fucking everywhere. I knew you couldn’t come alone.”
“We’re both liars,” I grit out. “Get the fuck over it.”
“You,” Night Giant snaps at Cove. “Drop all your weapons before you get on the boat.”
Cove glances at me. I still have my knives. With a clipped nod, I motion for him to obey. In his usual bitch boy form, he huffs and puffs as he tosses his weapons to the ground.
“Now strip down to your underwear,” Night Giant demands.
“Why?” Cove glowers at him. “What the fuck for?”
“Because I said so, goddammit. Don’t test me, kid, or I’ll blow the brains out of this one’s skull.” To prove his point, Night Giant digs the barrel of his Glock into Mitch’s temple so hard he cries out in pain. “I wonder if he bleeds like big brother does.”
Cove scowls as he starts yanking clothes off. When he’s in nothing but his tight boxers, he throws his hands up in the air. “Happy?”
“Not quite. Come closer,” Night Giant says, backing himself onto the boat with my brother. “Get on the boat and untie the rope there.”
“We’re trading,” Cove reminds him, his voice dripping with hatred. “In case you forgot.”
“I didn’t forget, smartass,” Night Giant snaps. “Do as you’re told.”
Cove gingerly steps onto the bobbing boat. He unties the rope that keeps us tethered to the dock. The knife, still in my grip, seems to buzz. I want to carve out Night Giant’s eyeballs and cram them up his big ass. I want to make him suffer. But I don’t dare make any sudden movements with Mitch still in his grip.
“Come closer,” Night Giant urges. “Stand in front of him with your back to him.”
Cove obeys, his body thrumming with anger. “Now what?”
“Garrison, time to go!” Night Giant barks.
The engine flares to life and we begin to move. I’m frozen in place, wondering what Night Giant’s play is here. He smacks Mitch in the head with the gun, knocking him unconscious. Before I can stop him, he shoves him off the boat.
Splash!
I start for my brother. Night Giant jerks Cove into his grip, shoving the gun into his temple this time. Koyn charges from somewhere and dives into the river after my brother. I’m torn between jumping in too and staying with the plan to take out Night Giant.
“You motherfucker,” I hiss. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Caught, heel .”
And just like that, with his firmly commanded words, he fucking owns me again.