Chapter 32
Grace
After we cleaned up from the absolute hottest sex ever, we napped for a few more hours before I had to get ready for work.
Avery had let me start later with Maisie so we could all arrive together, and Oak and Ollie agreed to accompany us.
Kai was not happy, but Everett put him in his place.
He agreed to stay with Kai and keep him from doing anything stupid.
We all piled into Ollie’s truck and arrived at The Dusted Bull right at six. Since it was a Friday night, locals and weekend visitors packed the bar. Both Maisie and I were on the go as soon as we clocked in.
Oak and Ollie took up residency at the end of the bar and watched everyone with military precision.
They took turns watching us and monitoring the other patrons for anything out of place.
It was strange to see Oakley so serious.
He was usually the carefree, mischievous one, and having him so stoic was almost as off-putting as knowing Cain was out there somewhere.
Time at the bar always flew by when we were busy, and before I knew it, it was ten thirty and time for my break.
Oliver accompanied me out the back, and we sat in silence as we both ate our burgers and fries.
I’d spent little time with Kai’s team except for Everett, so getting this time with Ollie and Oak was different.
Ollie was the quietest and seemed to be the most closed off of all of them.
“How’s Everly doing? Was she affected by the events of the other night? Is she okay?” I asked.
A small smile pulled at his lips. “She’s perfect. She thought it was fireworks and was excited to go check it out. I was thankful she was okay with the noise, even if I wasn’t.”
“You weren’t?” My gaze flashed to his, and now that I looked more closely, I could see the telltale signs of exhaustion. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his face was drawn, the edges of his lips pinched with pain. “I’m sorry for all that’s happened.”
“Not your fault. Any loud noises can trigger me. Sometimes even the crack of a whip can do it. It’s happened before and will probably happen again.” Resignation clouded his tone.
As I put my hand on his, I gave him a comforting smile. “Still, it can’t be easy. Do you see someone, like Kai does?”
“Yeah, we all do. What we experienced over there isn’t something you get over. It’s something we each have to learn to deal with and accept. I’m glad I never have to go back.” He muttered the last part. I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear him.
We finished our meal in companionable silence, and we both headed back inside.
I got back to work, and Ollie returned to his brother.
They were a paradox for twins. I wondered if they’d always been like this or if something had happened in their lives, other than the military, to make them so different.
Maisie finished her shift at midnight, so Oak took her home, while Ollie stayed at the bar with me until I finished my shift. The rest of my shift passed with little fanfare, and the bar was officially closed by the time Oakley strolled back in and joined Ollie.
“I’ve just got to clean up, and then we can go,” I said to both of them.
“No worries, darlin’. We’ll be here,” Oakley added with a wink, and I couldn’t help rolling my eyes.
There was only a skeleton staff left after the bar closed, and I’d always found it peaceful. After restocking the most popular spirits, I grabbed the cleaning spray and prepared to wipe down the bar and various high-top tables and booths.
As soon as the cleaner’s scent hit my nose, nausea flared in my belly.
I swayed on my feet as I clenched my hands into fists, wondering if it was just a wave or if I was going to be sick.
I made it through two high-tops before the wave intensified and I ran for the bathroom.
As soon as I saw the bathroom door open and in the process of being cleaned, I hotfooted it out the back.
Stumbling through the back door, I dashed for the nearby dumpster and lost the contents of my stomach.
Bile burned my throat as I heaved. When I was finally done, I rested my hands on my knees and panted for breath. Pregnancy was no joke.
Gravel crunched behind me. I figured it was one of the twins coming to check on me.
I offered a hand as I spoke. “I’m fine, just need a sec.”
“Oh, honey,” the malicious voice from my nightmares called. “No, you’re not.”
Before I could do anything, something hard hit me on the back of my head. Spots danced in my vision as I crumpled to the ground, my hands flying out to catch me.
My palms burned from the gravel and likely glass around the dumpster.
No, this couldn’t be happening. How was he here, and no one noticed?
Before I was able to react, he gripped a fistful of my hair and pulled.
I tried to cry out, yet my words were unable to escape my throat as the cold press of a blade touched my neck.
“Don’t even think about it,” he growled, his breath rank with stale whiskey and cigarettes. “I’m going to have so much fun with you.”
He dragged me around the dumpster, my feet slipping, making the blade press harder into my skin.
I could feel the slice, the trickle of wetness, and the sharp pain as I was forced towards a black sedan.
The driver turned, but my vision swam and I couldn’t make them out through the murky windows before Cain pushed me inside.
“Hello, dear sister.” His fist connected with the side of my face, and darkness consumed me.
My head was pounding as I fought to open my eyes.
Where was I? Cain! Cain had found me.
And Jordan was here? Had the driver really been Jordan?
Darkness enveloped me as the acrid scent of decay met my nostrils. Tears burned the back of my throat as images flashed in my mind of everything that had just happened. Work. Getting sick. Cain with a knife to my throat. Jordan.
Breathing through my mouth, I tried to sit up and winced as ropes cut into my bound wrists.
Scrambling to my knees, I took in my surroundings.
I was in a dilapidated shed. Dirt and debris covered the floor, and the only light came from the moon, which filtered in through a crack in the door to my left.
A shadow passed over the light, and I froze. Voices were muttering on the other side of the door, but my befuddled brain couldn’t make out what they were saying.
My eyes darted around the room. I needed to find a way out or something to defend myself with.
Thinking back to my self-defense classes with Kai, I wished I’d gone more often, paid more attention, and learned more.
I was in the exact situation I feared and had no way to defend myself.
Wracking my brain, I considered the basics.
Anything could be a weapon, avoid confrontation and try de-escalating the situation, and if physical defense is needed, target the vulnerable areas like the eyes, throat, knees, and groin.
De-escalation never worked with Cain. My only chance would be with a weapon or a groin hit and making a run for it.
But what about Jordan? What was his role in this?
What did he want from me? Panic gripped my chest like a vice.
The twins must know I’m missing by now; they’d send help. But where was I?
Shifting, I tried to wriggle my wrists, testing the hold and range.
They were so tight I was worried they were going to cut off my circulation.
Using my teeth, I tried to gnaw at the binds, pulling, twisting and nipping at the frayed edges, but nothing happened.
The ropes stayed there as I panted from the exertion.
The door banged open as Cain’s silhouette filled the frame.
“Aw, look who’s awake.” He crouched low, his muddy brown eyes blazing with hatred.
“You really thought you could escape me? Oh, honey, you have no idea what’s in store for you.
” His unhinged voice accompanied the menacing flick of his Karambit knife in front of my face.
He had mottled burns scattered over the side of his face and neck.
“It looks like you don’t know what you were doing,” I taunted, then I dipped my head to his marked face.
His gaze flashed. “This is nothing compared to what we’ll do to you.”
“We?” I hated how my voice broke on the word. Where was Jordan?
“Oh, yes. It’s a family reunion.” His voice dipped, turning icy and malicious.
“Bet you didn’t even notice as we watched you.
Followed you to work, watched as you played whore for my cripple of a brother.
You couldn’t handle a real man, so you had to slum it in my brother’s filth. Too bad you’ll never see him again.”
Fear gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe. “What have you done?”
“Nothing he doesn’t deserve!” Cain screamed as spittle left his mouth.
“He dared to touch what’s mine. He and everyone who helped you will burn.
” His eyes were manic as they skittered around the room before settling back on me again.
He was losing touch with reality. “That’s a long list.” He laughed maniacally, his eyes bulging.
“Cain, you need help. Are you on drugs?” I asked.
“You don’t get to speak.” He backhanded me across the face, and I fell sideways as blood filled my mouth.
“I don’t need drugs. I’m fine with my righteous anger.
I think you need a reminder of your place.
” He spat as he pulled me to my feet by my hair.
He flung me against the rotting wall so hard that the breath whooshed out of me.
His hand came around my throat, squeezing, not letting any air in.
He lifted his blade to trace the back of it over my cheek.
I tried to pull away as I clawed at his hand, desperate for air. My vision was darkening at the edges.
“Enough,” my brother’s harsh voice reverberated around the room, and Cain’s grip on my neck loosened just enough for me to suck in gulps of air as my knees hit the floor.
“J-Jordan? Why?” My voice was timid even to my own ears.
“Why do you think?” he spat. His voice filled with venom. “Because you and Alexandra need to learn your place.”
“Alexandra?” Dread dropped into my stomach like a lead weight. “What does she have to do with this?”
He crouched down so he could look me in the eye; a darkness that was soul-deep radiated off him. “She learned her lesson the hard way. As will you.”
“What do you mean? We’re your sisters!” I cried. This couldn’t be happening. I knew my brother disliked me and Lexi, but this was more than a dislike. This? This was a bone-deep hatred.
He scoffed. “Nothing but whores, the both of you.” He gripped my throat, pulling me to my feet.
Jordan was larger than Cain and stronger, too.
His grip dug in and he growled menacingly into my face.
“Alexandra got pregnant with that bastard and refused to get rid of it. She brought shame to our family and needed to be removed.” An evil smirk lifted his lip, as his green eyes, so similar to mine, sparked with excitement. “Pity that brat didn’t die with her.”
His words echoed in my brain as my head spun, nausea and dizziness threatening to pull me under. I clawed at his hand as the truth of his words sank in and threatened to bury me alive. “You killed her.”
“Of course, I did, and it was a thing of beauty. The wreckage, the blood, the pain.” He hummed, his grin growing, “Some of my best work, but I’m sure I can do better with you.”
“You won’t get away with this,” I vowed. How could my brother be so evil? He’d killed Lexi and almost killed Hazel, an innocent child. He was sick.
His eyes gleamed with pride. “I already have, and you won’t be around long enough to tell the tale.”
He pulled a large, gut-hook Bowie knife out of the sheath at his side. “Why don’t you stay a while and think about what you’ve done. Cain and I need to have a little chat.”
He flipped the knife back and forth before red-hot pain lanced through my shoulder as he plunged the knife deep. He had pierced through my shoulder and into the wood at my back. The scream that tore from my throat couldn’t be helped as pain exploded down my arm.
No, no, no, this can’t be happening.
My legs shook as I fought to stay standing. Darkness was closing in, my vision flickered, and spots danced in front of my eyes.
I’m so sorry, baby, I thought, as I battled to stay upright.
Every breath was agony as blood flowed like a river down my arm.
Too fast. My shoulder was on fire, but I couldn’t move, pinned to the wooden slat by the blade with the hooked tip.
Was this the end? Was I about to be murdered by my brother and husband?
Just before I lost consciousness, a feminine voice filled with disdain, yet so familiar, reverberated around the room. “That’s enough. For now.”
Then everything went black.