Chapter 81
Lark
Eyeing the picture boards warily, I trudge back to the bed and sit down cross legged before pulling the thick comforter around me.
The bedframe squeaks under me and my body stills as my mind whirls.
I carefully shift so that my knees are closer to the edge of the mattress.
Keeping my hand under the blanket, I reach down under the mattress and bite my cheeks to keep from smiling.
How did I not notice that before?
Probably because you’d just woken up from being drugged and tasered?
I roll my eyes at my sarcastic internal self.
Shifting the blanket, I look down at the shackle and trace my finger along the keyhole.
I wonder if I can pick the lock? Razor started showing me how to do it yesterday, but unfortunately, I haven’t had much practice.
I bite my lip as I debate if I should even try it.
On one hand, I could screw it up, but on the other hand, I could be able to get free.
Once again, I reach down and feel around the wire springs before giving an experimental tug. At first, nothing happens other than the spring shifting under me. I tug harder and have to tamp down the urge to do a giddy dance of happiness.
The wire moved.
A lot.
I go to tug again when I frown. It could be noticeable if I take a section of the spring from the front. Maybe I should do it from the back?
Not really wanting to look at it again, but also knowing I should play things up in case there are cameras, I make a show of scowling at the boards of pictures before turning away in a huff as I lay down.
As I do so, I make sure the comforter is draping over the edge of the bed and I get to work on the spring.
I wiggle a section back and forth while trying to keep the movements to a minimum so that it’s not obvious what I’m doing. I don’t know how long it takes, but eventually, a section breaks off and I fight the urge to squeal in happiness. I shift to the spring next to it and repeat the process.
Two sections of wire in hand, I make a show of grumbling, muttering about how uncomfortable the mattress is while at the same time, scowling over my shoulder at the picture boards.
If there really is a camera in here, I need to make it seem like I’m looking away in disgust at what’s behind me.
Not that I’m acting in that regard. The pictures and everything Zac has done does disgust me.
I sit cross-legged again and make sure the comforter is draped all around me but that I’m able to look down easily. I bite my bottom lip as I concentrate and try to remember everything that Razor told me to do.
My first couple of tries are a bust, but on my third try, I hear a click. Yes! I double down on my efforts and a few minutes later, the padlock opens.
Fuck yeah!
I glance up, looking around while also straining my ears. Not hearing anything, I slip off the padlock and lay the chain down on the bed off to the side.
Slowly, I get up, letting the comforter fall to the bed and grin when I still can’t hear anything.
Looking over my shoulder one last time, I creep toward the door opposite of the one Zac went through earlier.
I nudge the door open and cringe when it squeaks.
Pausing, I listen, and when I don’t hear anything, I push the door open wider and slip out, shutting it as quietly as I can behind me.
Then, as silently as I can, I creep through the dark warehouse, avoiding the few slivers of light that come in through the broken windows.
While my feet are cold on the concrete, not having my boots is actually helping at the moment.
Though it’s going to suck once I get out of here, but I push that thought aside for now.
I’ll deal with that when I get to that point.
Voices in the distance have me freezing for a second, but then I shake myself out of it.
Darting behind a stack of barrels, I squat down, trying to stay out of sight.
My breath catches in my throat as I catch sight of trees outside the door in the distance.
My heart beats faster at the sight of freedom being so near, but then it lurches when I realize the voices are coming from around that same area.
There’s no way I’ll be able to sneak past them and escape.
I’ll just have to sit tight and hope no one notices me.
I strain my ears, trying to hear what they’re saying. At first, I can’t make anything out, but then they come a little closer and my stomach drops at what they’re saying.
“There are enough doses in that case to keep her under for a week,” someone says but I don’t recognize the voice.
“Same effects as before? And will it work this time?” Zac asks.
Wait… What does he mean by that? Has he done this to anyone else before? A thought comes to me and I frown. Does he know about Darren having those guys drug me? He couldn’t mean that though… Could he?
I chew on my lip in worry as I peak between the gaps in the barrels, wondering if I can see who this mystery guy is. Someone grunts and I can almost picture whoever it is having an annoyed look on their face.
“My associate that was with me before who gave your cousin the wrong drug has been dealt with. The drug you asked for is the drug you received. I verified it myself. One, maybe two doses and she’ll be so strung out with need that she won’t be able to think straight.
She’ll give you whatever you want so long as you give her what she needs—fucking her over and over for hours while the drug remains in her system.
However, be careful who you keep around her once you move her to the secured location you mentioned.
She’ll be begging anyone, even a woman, to give her what she needs,” the man replies and my stomach knots at the smug, satisfaction in his voice.
Fuck. What kind of drug is in that case? It makes you horny and irrational? Wait a minute. That sounds like the drug Mary told me about. The one that Oasis was using. But that one didn’t make someone beg for sex. Is this person tied to Oasis? Or is this some other kind of drug?
A second later, my breath catches in my throat.
Not just any person.
That someone will most likely be me since Zac is inquiring about it. At least this time, anyway. Who knows if he plans to do this to someone else. A shudder runs through me at ever having sex with Zac.
A woman hums. “You’ll need to pick your words and phrase them carefully, Zac, so that she doesn’t suspect exactly what she’s signing or signing over,” a familiar voice replies, and I can almost see the smug satisfaction on her face.
Kelly Cox.
“And the other factor?” Zac asks again and the man grunts again.
“Yes, it also contains the fertility drug. She’ll be your breeding machine. Just remember our deal,” he replies and the cold hard edge to his voice has me swallowing the whimper that creeps up my throat.
“A week? That should be enough time to get that bitch to sign everything over,” another familiar voice sneers, and the level of hatred in his voice surprises me even though it shouldn’t.
Richard Cox.
“Yes. We’ll ruin her on all fronts. We’ll take everything from her, and she’ll have to watch as everything she loves is torn down and converted.
That should help you, Zac, while you’re breaking her.
The icing will be when that biker tosses her to the curb after he finds out what Zac has done to her,” Kelly replies and once again my anger rises even as another blade from Kelly’s betrayal slices through me.
They will not get their hands on everything my family has worked for all these years!
A faint sound of something scraping on the cement behind me has me freezing before cautiously looking over my shoulder.
Fuck.
“You should have realized you’d never be able to outsmart us,” she says as she smirks at me before crossing her arms across her chest.
I eye her as I slowly stand and face her before cocking an eyebrow in question at her. Does she really think she’s fooling anyone with what’s she’s done?
She’s had some work done on her face to make it look more like mine. Her once dirty blond hair is now dark brown to match mine. She’s even started dressing like me, too.
Even with the changes she’s made, I know exactly who she is. I’d recognize that sneer anywhere. And with the level of hate shining through her eyes, I’m not surprised to see her here.
I shake my head. I had hoped she’d take the olive branch the club had offered her, but no.
She’s going to throw it all away just so she can push me out of the picture.
Even though I’d only met her that one weekend of Mae’s baby shower, she still glared daggers at me whenever she could.
She may not have been after Anthony at the time, but the fact that someone other than a bunny was claimed as an Old Lady has apparently always been a sore spot for her.
Even worse than the other bunnies from what I’ve heard.
“If you honestly think changing the package will change your insides, you’re even stupider than I thought. There’s no way Reaper would ever touch you, Crystal.”
She curls her lip at me. “We are going to take everything from you, including Reaper. You’re not the only one that will be given the drug.
After he’s finally had a taste of me, there’s no way he’d be interested in your fried, fat ass any longer.
” She pauses and a sneer pulls at her lips.
“I don’t know why everyone’s so obsessed with you.
Reaper. Darren. Zac. Even Richard and Kelly are obsessed with you, though theirs is a different kind of obsession.
At least theirs I can get behind.” She pauses again and a dark glint shines in her eyes.
“And today will be the beginning of the end for you.”
Footsteps and the click of heels signal everyone else’s arrival behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, my heart squeezes when I see the briefcase Zac is holding and it’s so much bigger than I thought a week’s worth of drugs would be in.
How many doses are in there? When I look up into his eyes, they promise retribution for my escape plan.
My stomach twists at the excitement that lies just underneath that anger.
Shit.
Now what is he going to do?
Is he really going to give me whatever drug is in that case?
And if he succeeds, will I really lose everything that I love, including Anthony?
No.
I can’t think like that.
Anthony and the club will come for me.
Turning to face the others, but making sure not to give Crystal my back, my gaze cuts to Kelly, whose eyes are blazing with hatred at me.
“Why, Kelly? Why after all these years are you still attacking me like this? I have done nothing to provoke you and yet you come after me time and time again. Why?”
“Because you don’t deserve happiness. Not after what you’ve done.”
I frown. “What the fuck did I ever do to you? You’re the one who stepped in on my relationship with Aiden. After that, I’ve done nothing to you. You’ve been the one attacking me! Not the other way around.”
She huffs. “It started when we were kids. Every time I did well or got something special, you just had to go and one up me. Every single time. In school. For birthdays or holidays. I started dating the football quarterback. You and he ended up being prom king and queen and everyone pushed me aside. Even with Aiden, you had him first despite the fact that I told you I loved him. You ignored my feelings and just went after what you wanted.”
I shake my head. “You were the one competing with me in school, not the other way around. I never drew attention to my accomplishments or gifts. I hated that kind of attention. You were the one always bragging about what you did or got. Sometimes, you’d go on for months about the same thing!
“As for Aiden, I never knew you liked him. You just told me you had feelings for a guy but never told me who. When I asked, you always said ‘it’s a secret’. If I had known that guy was Aiden, I never would have said yes when he asked me out. That’s not the type of person I am.”
Kelly shakes her head. “No, I told you and you still went out with him.”
Understanding suddenly dawns on me. “You’re pissed that I’m happy,” I whisper, and my chest tightens painfully.
“And because I’m happy and you’re not, you want to squash my happiness.
You’re pissed that the man you love appears to not love you back.
Or love you enough. That is, if the rumors are true in that he’s been cheating on you since returning from your honeymoon. ”
Her eyes blaze brighter with hate and I know I’m right.
“Why should you be happy when I’m fucking miserable?! Why should you get everything you want when I’m stuck with someone who can’t be faithful and ignores me? Why should I have to be the one to care for those brats when I never wanted kids in the first place?”
My heart hurts at the pain etched on her face and in her eyes, even though she hasn’t been my friend for a few years now.
“None of that is my fault, so why are you taking it out on me? Aiden should be the one you’re having a conversation with.
Not me. You knew he was a cheater before you married him.
Why are you now suddenly so surprised that he cheated on you? ”
Her blond hair hides her face as she lowers it and shakes her head violently.
“No. You don’t get to be happy when I can’t be,” she replies, ignoring my questions.
“No. We’ll take everything from you. Your land.
Your businesses. Your family. Your friends.
Even that pathetic biker. You’ll lose everything and then when you break from that? Zac will break you even more.”
Determination steels me and I square my shoulders. “I’ll never sign anything over to you or anyone else. I’ll never break. I’ll never submit to any of you, especially Zac.”
A smug grin spreads across Kelly’s face. “It will be so fun watching you break.”
I narrow my eyes at her. I will find a way to get out of this, and when I do, I’ll enjoy making her pay for this. Especially if they manage to accomplish any of their plans.