Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Frankie
It’s been two days since I went to the clubhouse and learned just how cruel Bane can be. I’d been naive—delusional, thinking he was anything but the killer that he is, because that’s exactly what he did. He killed any chance we might have had. I never should have gone back there.
Closing my eyes, I suck in a lungful of air, beating back the emotions.
Stop it, Frankie. Bottle that shit up.
Shoving the last shirt into my overnight bag, I zip it up with more force than necessary. It doesn’t matter now, I’m leaving Odin for good. My things have already been packed into the U-Haul downstairs, and tomorrow I’m out of here.
My phone ringing on the counter pulls my attention and I reach over and grab it. Glancing down at the screen, I feel a small flicker of disappointment when I see Trinity’s name lit up on the screen.
“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound more upbeat than I feel.
“How are you holding up?”
I swallow hard. “I’m okay.”
“Bullshit.”
Despite everything, I laugh. This is why I love her. She never lets me get away with anything.
“Fine. I’m not okay, but I will be.”
She sighs. “What time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“First light. I want to get on the road before the traffic picks up.”
“And where exactly are you going?” she asks, the worry in her voice unmistakable.
I glance around the empty apartment, at the bare walls where family photos once hung. “I don’t know yet. Just... away from here.”
A sound on the stairs grabs my attention. “Hey Trin, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay. I think someone’s outside.”
“Outside? What if it’s—”
“I’m fine. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
Ending the call, I walk over to the window and peer out into the darkness.
The U-Haul sits in the driveway, but nothing seems out of place.
I twist my neck and glance over towards the steps, but there’s nobody down there.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that someone is out there in the darkness, that someone is watching me. A shiver slithers down my spine.
“I’m losing it.” Rubbing my hands up and down my arms, I turn away from the window and cross the empty living room to the air mattress I set up earlier, and sink down onto the edge of it.
The yellow eviction notice sticking out of my purse catches my eye. It’s a cruel reminder of one more thing that’s been taken from me.
Reaching over I pull it out, staring at the official letterhead.
Just another reminder that this place was never really my home.
Dad rented this place, trying to paint a picture that was all a lie.
The great father, the big shot in the big house.
All of it lies. And stupid me, never even questioned how he could afford this place on his salary.
“I’m so mad at you, Daddy,” I whisper, looking up to the heavens. “But I miss you.”
All thoughts of my father disappear into the ether as my front door swings open and Bane steps inside like a fallen angel, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his cobalt eyes locking onto mine. He looks devastating in his dark jeans, black tee, and leather cut.
I climb to my feet as his gaze sweeps through the empty room before stopping on the overnight bag at my feet.
“Going somewhere, baby?” He lifts a brow.
I bite my tongue, hating the way my heart flips at him calling me baby.
“Running again?” He takes another step into my space.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t run from shit, and for the record, what I do is none of your business.”
“Everything about you is my business, babe.”
I flinch, the lash like a whip across my skin, ripping the flesh from my bones. “Don’t,” I whisper. I can’t do this with him. Not now. Not after everything that’s happened.
Bane takes another step closer, and I take one back. “Please don’t.” Shaking my head, I’m desperate for him to back off—for him to stop this madness. “Please.”
His eyes rake over my body, and he licks his lips. “You belong to me, Frankie.”
Rage like I’ve never felt before surges to the surface, and I throw my arms up in the air, fed up with this cat-and-mouse game. “What do you want from me?”
His eyes narrow, and that smirk I want to wipe off his stupid, handsome face appears. “Every-goddamn-thing.”
“I hate you,” I whisper as tears run down my face.
“No, baby, you don’t.” The mask slips as he lifts a hand, cupping the side of my face. “You love me, which is why this hurts so goddamn much.” He moves closer, pinning me against the wall. “And I love you. You have my whole fucking heart, Troublemaker.”
“I don’t want it.” I lie, unable to hold his stare.
Bane drops his face to the crook of my neck and inhales. “Fuck.”
I try with all my might to fight the pull between us, but it’s too strong. My eyes close, and I tilt my head the tiniest bit. Anything to have him closer, if only for a heartbeat.
And that’s when he makes his move. Before I even realize what’s happening, he spins me around and pulls my hands behind my back.
“What—what are you doing?” I shriek as the familiar feel of cold plastic is wrapped around my wrists.
“Taking you home where you belong,” he growls in my ear.
“I know you did not just do that,” I snarl, losing the battle to swallow down the anger that’s threatening to consume me.
“You gave me no choice, babe.”
“Are you out of your mind?” I shout, struggling against the restraints. “You can’t just—”
My words are cut off as he stuffs a bandana in my mouth.
My eyes widen in disbelief. This motherfucker. I’m going to cut off his balls when I get free.
Tossing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing, he grabs my purse from the floor and takes off down the stairs, my body jostling with every step.
“Mmphff!” I scream around the gag.
He smacks my ass hard, and I growl.
“I love that bad fucking attitude,” he chuckles, his hand squeezing my thigh.
This asshole thinks this is a game. I’m going to destroy him. No kid gloves, no pulling my punches. I’m going to make him bleed this time. I’ll hack into every account he has and drain them dry. I’ll ruin his credit. I’ll sign him up for every spam email list on the planet.
He drops me onto my feet next to his truck where Journey is standing, smiling like this is all some big joke.
“Hey, doll,” he chuckles like he’s not helping his friend kidnap me again.
Assholes!
Bane digs in my purse and pulls out the keys with the orange U-Haul keychain. “Drive this to the clubhouse,” he orders, tossing them to Journey.
Journey catches the keys with one hand, salutes Bane mockingly, and jogs off towards the box truck.
I narrow my eyes at Bane. I should have known the rat bastard brought reinforcements. These assholes stick together like stink on shit.
Before I can even attempt to make a run for it, I’m tossed into the back of Bane’s truck. The door slams shut and a moment later, I hear him climb into the front seat. The engine roars to life, and we’re moving.
“You brought this on yourself,” he calls over his shoulder. “I tried to do this the nice way, but you weren’t having it.”
Is he fucking crazy? He really has lost his damn mind. This is my fault?
Fuck him!
“I’m not letting you go until you forgive me,” he continues, his voice firm. “And I’m not above keeping you tied up until you do.”
Rolling to my side, I manage to work the gag out of my mouth with my shoulder and tongue. “Fuck you, Bane. Why don’t you just go back to Destiny and leave me the hell alone.”
“I’m sorry about that, babe.” He sighs. “Gonna have to let that shit go. It’s in the past, and we ain’t fucking going that way.”
I laugh humorlessly. “I’ll never forgive you, asshole.”
“Yeah, you will.”
He’s crazier than I thought. He seriously thinks he can just will me to forgive him?
You can’t make this shit up.
“I’m going to make you pay for this, asshole,” I hiss.
Bane chuckles. Actually fucking chuckles. “I can’t fucking wait.”
The truck speeds through the night, and I stare out the window at the passing streetlights, my emotions a tangled mess.
I’m mad as hell. Mad that he thinks he can do this to me again. Mad that I’m helpless to stop him, and mad that a tiny, traitorous part of me is relieved that he’s not giving up without a fight.