Chapter 31
Winnie
Ihad never been a fan of the water. All my life, I’ve lived inland in small towns or big cities.
Maybe it was after growing up, and with what happened to my sister, but I’ve always been uneasy around bodies of water bigger than I am, where you can look across and not see the other side of land.
When Finn said we were going to Charleston, I thought it was just a big enough city that also allowed people to get lost in.
I thought maybe the club owned a private, secret safe house there, even.
I was not expecting the walk we took to the marina, or the sleek, white yacht that we got on.
Even more shocking was that, apparently, Finn knew how to drive it.
Drive? Skipper it? Either way, we are now sailing south down the coast, heading for the Keys of Florida.
While we are far enough from land, we are not out deep enough that we are in danger of waves that could topple us over, which is a good thing.
From the chair I am seated in, my gaze slides over to my husband while he navigates and also sets up his signal box.
When we left the truck, we stopped giving Squirrel our location.
Apparently, once he turns this signal box on, he will be able to track us again.
With his burner phone, Finn also sent a message to a member of another crime family that the club is allied with.
They are expecting us once we get to Florida.
I still can’t believe the turn of events the previous morning took or that we’re now here.
Safe, alive, and with a plan. My life took a complete turn when I was taken by Marco.
And then again, when I found myself back at the clubhouse and back in the arms of the only man I’ve ever loved.
Now we’re married and all those dreams I used to have, the wish to build a life with him, a family, has wound around my heart.
I meant it at the motel. I can’t let him sacrifice himself for me.
I can’t believe I thought I could sneak out on him; I should have known his skills have only improved over the years.
Still, a small part of me is grateful he didn’t let me leave.
I’ve come to realize that being with Finn is a vital part of my happiness now.
We may have started this marriage with a promise of for now or forever, but I was toppling over into forever.
I love him. I can’t forget what happened, just like he never will forget either, but I am making the choice to forgive him.
I want to try with Finn to make this marriage real.
Sensing my gaze on him, Finn’s blue eyes slide to mine, and he gives me a small smirk. “If you want to rest at all, the bed is comfy.”
Sleeping sounds like heaven, especially after the night we had, but I feel reluctant to leave him. I’m terrified that if he isn’t within reach, something bad might happen. “I’m okay.”
“Win, you’re dead on your feet. We have a few hours to travel. Go rest.” He nudges me lightly, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
“What about you?” I question, my brow raised.
“Once I get a better idea of whether Squirrel can track us, I’ll join you,” he promises, his eyes softening as he looks at me.
I stand, noticing the way my legs shake. The adrenaline from the chase has died down, and my body is feeling it. “Okay,” I agree. “Please join me, though, as soon as you can. I don’t want to be alone.”
Finn hugs me to his side and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I will. Get some sleep.”
My feet carry me down a spiral staircase to an even smaller hallway with two doors, one on each side.
I open the one on the right and find the bedroom.
Slipping inside, I kick my shoes off and slide Finn’s flannel off of me, balling it up to sleep on beside my pillow instead.
The yacht rocks lightly, the sound of the ocean a dull roar that lures me to close my eyes.
BANG!
The yacht rocks violently. I shove myself upright, listening as it sounds like the deck is splitting in half.
There’s a barrage of footsteps while alarms blare.
Then I hear it, the distinct sound of gunshots, followed by the thud of a body hitting the floor.
My first instinct is to hide. But Finn is all alone up there.
We have no backup coming for us in the middle of the ocean.
I want a chance to save him, to protect him, or even a fighting chance to join him in death, if Marco does not spare him.
I leave my feet bare and carefully tiptoe to the door, easing it open. A strong hand grips my wrist, and I’m yanked out of the room.
“Long time no see, love,” Marco drawls, his cold, onyx eyes staring down at me.
I blink, wishing this was a nightmare. “Not long enough.”
He chuckles darkly. He always did find my defiance a turn-on. Marco yanks my arm, and my body crashes into his. “Don’t worry, pet. I’m going to take you home where you belong. I can’t wait to fuck that nasty biker scum out of your system.”
My lips slam shut. I can feel angry heat rising up my neck and blooming on my cheeks. “He’s my husband.”
Marco’s jaw tightens so sharply you could cut a diamond on it, while his teeth grind together. He leans in, his face centimeters from mine. “That’s a problem easily fixed,” he grits out.
Fear bubbles in my chest, followed quickly by disgust when he boldly runs his hand over my breast, squeezing to the point of pain.
Leaning back, I spit in his face, hitting his eyes directly.
Marco yells and swears, his hands coming up to wipe the spittle away.
At the same time, I slam my knee up right into his groin.
He doubles over, allowing me to yank free of his grasp and sprint up the stairs.
“GET HER!” he yells, growling behind me.
I run like my life depends on it, trying to get up to the top deck. My legs pump, and my lungs burn painfully. A thick smoke hovers around the mid-section of the yacht. My eyes sting while I fight to keep them open, desperate to find Finn.
“Finn!” My voice sounds hoarse as I break the top, the sunlight beating down. Black smoke and flames rise toward the sky, and I instantly retreat, my back slamming against a hard chest.
I whirl, hope flaring in my heart, only to once again find myself facing off with my captor. “No.” I try to run, but he stops me, his arm banding around my waist, yanking me toward the stern.
“You’re coming with me, my little love. I’ve grown tired of your little game and waiting for you to accept me.
You pushed my hand by running off with this biker trash.
Now I have to kill him too,” he says, his voice threatening.
I know exactly what he plans to do with me when he gets me where he wants me, and I refuse to live as his captive again.
I twist in his grip, kicking my legs, fighting against his hold.
Marco snarls, fighting against me, half-dragging my body on the ground.
“Let her go.” Finn’s voice is hard and deadly calm.
I freeze in Marco’s hold, tears rushing to my eyes when I see him.
His hair is wet, his shirt covered in patches of blood.
His gun is in his hand and aimed right at Marco.
Knowing he’s in a predicament, Marco holds my body to his, making it difficult for Finn to take a shot.
He won’t chance hurting me, and Marco knows it.
“She’s mine!” my captor yells, viciously, his grip almost painful now where he holds me. I can’t hold in my wince, and Finn sees it. His knuckles whiten around the grip.
“Actually.” Finn cocks his head, a cocky smirk pulling at his lips. “According to Tennessee law, she’s my wife. Also, she wears my mark, so in the eyes of the club, she belongs to me.”
Marco tightens his hold, a snarling sound escaping his lips, before he spits at Finn’s boots. “She was mine before you ever got your filthy hands on her. There’s a way to take care of things legally. Or I could just kill you now. Less paperwork.”
The look on Finn’s face becomes dark, sinister, and makes me feel hot all over when he runs his eyes over my body.
“I’m the one who taught that hot little body exactly how to take my cock and my cum before you ever saw her face, Bianchi.
Her virgin blood was all over me before she helped save your sorry excuse of a life. ”
Marco’s breathing rattles in my ear. The glare in his eye when he looks down at me is murderous. I never wanted him. I fought his advances until he threatened my life, or the life of whoever tried to help me. Finn advances, and Marco retreats, my back still firmly to his front.
“Face it, Marco, she never wanted you. She’ll never lie under you, begging for your cock, like she does for me. My pretty wife jumped at the chance to take my ring and spread her thighs so willingly. Over and over again.”
Finn continues taunting Marco, and I realize it's having the desired effect. He’s unstable, and hearing about how I want Finn in ways I’ve never accepted Marco is a blow to his ego.
“Tell him, Win. Tell him how you let me fuck you bare, and that you screamed for it.”
My pulse rockets, and a blush covers my cheeks. His words should not affect me so much right now. There’s a maniac holding me, and all I want to do is climb my husband. “Finn,” I say his name, my voice sounding raw, needy, and just husky enough that it snaps Marco’s resolve.
The man behind me yells, his hand lifting to raise his gun.
My eyes widen. Finn still can’t get a shot off, while he’s a wide-open target.
Everything slows, just enough for me to think.
I throw my body back, my head colliding with Marco’s chin, knocking us off-kilter.
I somehow manage to dig my heels into the deck and scramble backwards, before hurling my body to the side.
The sudden jerking movement knocks me into Marco.
His weight and mine stumble to the side, and I use that momentum to help push us over the edge.
I hear Finn shouting my name, but it's already too late.
Marco’s hold loosens as we free-fall into the water. I’m submerged instantly, my lungs seizing as I try to hold my breath and not panic. Hands grab at me, and I wiggle to get free, kicking my legs and scooping my arms, trying to get to the surface. My head breaks through, and I gasp for air.
“You’re not getting away from me, bitch!” Marco yells in my face, his hands clasping around my neck. “If I can’t have you, he won’t either.”
That's all the warning I get before I’m pushed back under the waves.
My hands scratch and claw at him, my feet kicking wildly.
My heart thuds painfully in my chest while I struggle to hold in air.
My vision turns spotty. Everything becomes more difficult.
Fear and sadness war inside me. I don’t want to die this way.
I don’t want my parents to hear that their youngest daughter met the same fate as their oldest. I don’t want the club to feel responsible.
In my heart, I believe what Finn told me.
They’re my family as much as his. I want Finn.
Every moment in my life, both good and bad, plays in my mind.
In every clip, it's his smile, his eyes gazing back.
I hold onto that image. I hold onto the moment I first fell in love before everything goes black.