32. Taryn
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
TARYN
God.
What a joke.
He was probably an insurance salesman before everything went to shit.
“Put her in the cage,” Caesar demanded.
Wren blinked. “The cage?”
He smirked. “You brought me an enhanced woman Gideon claims destroyed his town. Did you think she was going to be shown to my bedroom?”
My stomach twisted at the thought.
Wren shrugged. “I don’t care either way, but she probably won’t give you a five-star review.”
Curtis grabbed my arm, and I instinctively pulled away. He tightened his grip until it was painful. It seemed my new friend was enhanced.
Every second that passed, our odds were becoming less favorable.
Another man approached from the garage. Big. Shaved head. A huge scar bisected his top lip.
Immediately, I could tell he was enhanced as well.
“Do you need help?” the bald man asked, licking his lips.
“No,” Curtis growled. “She’s just one enhanced woman, and crazy Wren brought her in. I think I’ll be fine.”
The bald man smiled but grabbed my other arm anyway. “Just because you saw her first doesn’t mean you’ve got dibs.”
“Fuck off, Jonah.” Curtis sneered, but I noticed the small flicker of fear in his eyes. “I never said I wanted her.”
I could’ve fought, and maybe with my training I could’ve taken one of them. But two enhanced men were beyond me. This was a battle I’d win by wits alone.
So, I let them walk me toward the maintenance garage.
Wren followed, but Caesar stopped her. “You stay.”
“Why?” Wren squinted at him in question.
“Because I said so,” he spoke in a taunting tone.
Her face went blank, and I was scared for a moment that she would lose it. Wren had been surprisingly resourceful up to this point, but she was genuinely mentally ill and beyond stubborn.
I let out an internal breath of relief when she just shrugged. “Okay.”
I kept walking, annoyed with myself for doubting her. I needed to trust her and my men.
Adrian knew me well enough to understand how hard it was for me to give up control to anyone. It was even harder on this side of the fence, but if they could set their differences aside to love and protect me together, I had to give a little, too.
The garage smelled of oil and gas fumes, and with my enhanced senses, it was stronger than I’d like.
A floor-to-ceiling steel cage occupied one corner. Expanded metal was welded to a heavy frame, with concrete beneath. A thick industrial door with a small, barred window completed the scene.
Well, it looked like someone had planned for difficult guests.
Curtis unlocked the door. “Inside.”
I stepped in, and Jonah removed my cuffs.
It felt good to have my hands free.
Out of nowhere, Jonah shoved me hard enough that I hit the cage wall, and I reacted before I could stop myself. My elbow caught him across the mouth, and blood sprayed.
He stumbled backward, even as Curtis swore.
Jonah stood at his full height and slowly touched his split lip, then smiled. “Do it again.”
What the hell?
He charged right at me, quick as lightning. I dodged the first swing, but the second one nailed my ribs.
Damn, he was strong.
Pain exploded through my side. I ignored it and drove my knee into his stomach, but he barely even moved.
Curtis grabbed me from behind, and I slammed my head backward into his nose.
He screamed.
It was worth whatever I would get for doing this. Ben’s words of wisdom sounded easier in theory than they proved to be in practice.
Two more men rushed into the garage.
Shit.
I couldn’t fight four, and none of this was helping me find Lila.
I forced myself to stop fighting, but the men surrounding me kept going.
A fist caught my cheek, and my head snapped sideways. Another hit drove me to one knee.
Jonah grabbed my hair and pulled my head back. “Are you done?” He was breathing hard, and I could clearly see a massive erection bulging in his pants.
Blood filled my mouth, and I felt like I was going to be sick, but I was known for my stubbornness. “No.”
He hit me again.
Fuck. I hoped my men skinned him alive before they killed him.
“How about now?” He was panting so hard I was scared he was going to jizz his pants.
I knew it was time to play the scared woman, so I nodded and tried my best to look defeated.
Curtis wiped the blood from his rapidly healing nose. “That really wasn’t smart.” He kicked out, and a huge bruise bloomed instantly on my thigh. “Crazy bitch.” He tossed me into the cage.
The heavy door slammed shut, and the lock turned. Footsteps receded until I was completely alone.
I slid down the far wall. My cheek throbbed, and my ribs hurt. I wiped the blood that was running from the corner of my mouth on my shirt… and smiled.
I was inside, and they hadn’t killed me. Things were going according to plan. Well, mostly.
I listened intently and heard men chuckling, truck engines, and a few generators running side by side. I hoped that if Lila heard rumors I was here, she’d find me and we could get the hell out of here.
The afternoon dragged on, and men came and went, staring at me through the little window. I felt like an animal in the zoo. Some taunted me, some asked questions, and others whispered things so vulgar I felt sick.
I gave them nothing.
Eventually, one woman brought me water. She was maybe thirty, and thin, almost emaciated. Fading yellow bruises covered one arm.
She pushed a dented cup through a slot built into the door. “Drink.”
“What’s your name?” I took a sip of the water and almost moaned as it slid down my dry throat.
Her eyes darted toward the garage door. “Don’t.”
I was confused. “Don’t what?”
“Ask any names.”
“Why?” Damn, were they not even allowed to talk to each other?
She shook her head. “Just drink.”
I took another sip. “Do you know a blonde girl? Her name’s Lila.”
Every bit of color left her face. “I have to go.”
“Wait! Please!” I begged, but she didn’t even slow down.
I sighed and drank the rest of the water, not knowing when they’d deign to bring me more.
By late afternoon, I knew which men worked in the garage. I knew Curtis was the only one with a ring of keys hanging from his belt. I’d spotted several more enhanced men, and I’d seen even more who weren’t enhanced.
Yet, Lila was nowhere to be seen, and I hadn’t caught a single mention of her name.
Motorcycles growled somewhere beyond the garage. Several engines rolled through the gate before cutting off almost together.
Men shouted outside, and I heard someone laugh. Whoever had arrived wasn’t a stranger here, and I moved closer to the steel bars and listened. Boots crossed the gravel, and a door slammed.
A voice drifted through the open garage entrance. “Caesar around?”
Every muscle in my body locked.
No.
No way.
I knew that voice.
Footsteps came closer.
A man appeared in the doorway.
Alive.
Beck had shot him. I saw it. I’d watched the bastard fall as we were running away.
Nash stopped when he saw me and smiled slowly. “Well, hello there, Taryn. Long time no see.”
My stomach dropped.
Well, shit.
I closed my eyes, hoping that he’d somehow be gone when I opened them.
Nope, no such luck.
He stood outside the steel cage with one shoulder resting against the frame, helmet tucked beneath his arm, scar cutting pale and ugly along the side of his face.
At least Beck’s bullet had marked the son of a bitch.
“Surprised to see me?” He smirked.
I really hated that I could see the resemblance between him and Beck.
I leaned back against the wall. “Disappointed is more like it.”
His mouth curled. “Still mouthy.”
I shrugged, but didn’t comment. He looked older than the last time I’d seen him. Harder. Leaner. The months trying to survive must have been rough on him.
Hooking up with a lowlife like Caesar was right up his alley.
“I was out looking for you,” he grinned. “After I got your description and learned the escaped woman was enhanced, I knew it had to be Taryn Calder.”
“How astute of you.” I drawled, trying to give the impression I wasn’t freaking out.
His presence might complicate things. Nash would be more likely to keep a closer eye on me than Caesar would.
“Where’s that boy of mine?” He rubbed a finger down the scar on his face. “I owe him some payback.”
I hardened my expression. “I have no idea. We split after everything went down at Gideon’s.”
“I seriously doubt that.” Nash threw his head back and laughed. “That boy has his nose so far up your ass, there’s no fucking way he’d let that happen.”
“Believe what you want.” I shrugged. “I could give a shit less.”
“We’ll see soon enough.” He ran a finger along one of the bars covering my window. “Until then, maybe I’ll find out what’s so special about that split between your legs.”
I put my face right up to the bars and bared my teeth. “I’d kill you first.”
Nash flinched slightly but covered it with a quick smile. “You can try. Dear old Ben would be proud of that show of toughness from his little girl.” It was his turn to wink. “Too bad you’ll never get to hear it from him.”
My heart kicked once. Hard. But I refused to show my distress. “Is that supposed to hurt me?”
His eyes searched my face. “That cold look doesn’t fool me.”
Something shifted behind him, and I saw it was Caesar entering the garage. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Nash glanced back. “Catching up with my boy’s old lady.”
“You can get your ass away from her.” Rather than being protective, his tone was marked by possessiveness.
Nash chuckled. “Relax. We’re just talking.”
“I said move, don’t make me tell you again.”
Nash straightened and backed away holding up his hands. “No problem, boss.”
Caesar turned his head and regarded me pensively. “She’s your son, Beck’s ,woman?”
“That’s the one.” Nash nodded.
Recognition sharpened his face. “The big bastard from Gideon’s place?”
Nash’s face took on a strangely proud look. “That’s him.”
“That boy is fierce. One of my men saw his fight with Mace and said it was a bloodbath.” Caesar looked thoughtful. “He’d make a great addition to our outfit.”
“You’d have to use the bitch to keep him in line.” Nash pulled a cigarette from his jacket and lit up, taking a long drag. “Otherwise, he’d be more trouble than he’s worth.”
“Something to consider.” Caesar shrugged. “Isn’t there some info you were supposed to bring me the minute you got back?”
Nash’s jaw flexed.
It was clear to me that he didn’t appreciate being an underling. I might be able to use that.
“Later, sweetheart.” Nash took another long drag from his cigarette, then dropped it on the floor and smashed it under his boot. “I’ll have to tell you about how I watched your dad get torn apart by infected as I burned your house to the ground.”
“Fuck you.” I ground out the words, my teeth clenched tightly.
He chuckled while trailing Caesar out.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Beck had the first shot at him, but one way or another, Nash’s time on this earth was done.