Chapter 11
Tide
I hear them coming back, and my chest tightens. If they hurt her, I will kill them all. They’re already dead for what they did to her at the house. Tying her up is reason enough for me to kill them.
I press myself as close as I can to Mylah, trying to keep her warm and safe. A lot of good that’s going to do me when I can’t move my fucking hands.
“Look who's awake.”
“What the fuck do you want?” I ask them as they circle us. I’m outnumbered. I know that much.
“We didn’t really want you, but since you were there, a two-for-one deal sounded pretty good.”
“What do you want with her?” I ask, feeling Mylah tighten her fingers around my belt loop.
“That’s the thing. I didn’t really want her, but I was being paid good enough to take her,” he says as I eye the others around him.
“By who?”
“That doesn’t really matter does it?” He says as he eyes us like we’re a piece of fucking meat.
“Yeah, it kinda does.”
“What’s with all the questions? What’s going to happen seems to be a lot more important than what’s already happened.”
“And what’s gonna happen?” I risk the chance and ask. Now he smiles, and it’s a disgusting smile. It makes my stomach churn because I know whatever comes out of his mouth isn’t going to be good.
“An auction. Highest bidder takes the prize.” Fuck. Fuck! This can’t be happening. They’re going to auction her off to the highest bidder. I will fucking gut these motherfuckers. Every single one of them.
“The fuck they will,” I growl.
“How are you going to stop me? You’re a little tied up at the moment, but not to worry.
Your time is coming too. You see, we sell to all kinds in this business.
Even other MC’s.” Shit. That’s not what I needed to hear.
If a rival gets notice, then that’s the end of me.
They will kill my ass and not think twice about it. This is bad. Very bad.
“Fuck you.” He laughs. All he does is laugh before he steps up in front of Mylah and grabs her hair, lifting her head. She cries out from the pain as he smiles at her.
“A pretty girl like you could go for a lot, but the sick things they’ll do to you?
You’re not going to like that much. We’ll see if you freeze to death before the auction starts.
” With that, he slams her head against the concrete floor, causing her to cry once more.
There’s nothing I can do. What the hell can I do?
I shift and try to sit up, but I’m kicked in the back, making me fall once more.
The men laugh as they walk back out of the warehouse.
I scoot once more against Mylah and press my body against hers.
That’s when the lights go out, and there’s nothing but darkness. Mylah sobs to herself and I can’t even hold her.
“It’s okay.”
“I’ve never told anyone, but I’m scared of the dark, Tide.”
“I’m here, Mylah. You’re not alone.”
“I’m still scared,” she whispers as she presses herself against me. I want to hold her. I want to wrap her in my arms but I can’t. So this is the best I can do for now.
“Talk to me, darlin’. Tell me about somethin’.”
“Like what?”
“What you’re teachin’ Rebel. Tell me more about him.”
“He’s brave. He steps up to any challenge that’s thrown his way. He doesn’t back down.”
“That’s a good thing, yeah?”
“Yeah. It means he’ll do great at protecting you. He’s a smart boy. I love him.”
“And you’ll still get to see him all the time. That has to be hard workin’ with them and then lettin’ them go.”
“It is. I miss them when they’re gone, but I’m happy they found a family,” she tells me.
“I bet they love you, too, Mylah.”
“I think they do. They are lovable animals,” she says. “Tide?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not leavin’ you, Mylah. I’ll take my last fuckin’ breath protectin’ you.”
“If they do what they say they’re going to do, please find me.” I sigh. This is hard. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen. I don’t know who the fuck they’re going to auction her off to.
“I’ll find you. I’ll always find you.”
“I can’t lie to you and say I don’t have feelings for you, Tide. I won’t do it. Not now.”
“That’s good, baby, because I’m not lettin’ you go. No matter what, I’m gettin’ you back.”
“What if you can’t find me?”
“I will, Mylah. Don’t even think like that. I have my ways,” I tell her.
“What about you? He threatened you.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m strong, I can handle it.”
“I’m so scared,” she cries. I rest my chin on the top of her head as we lie here.
“I need to get up and see what I can figure out.”
“No. Please don’t leave me!” She screams.
“Okay. Okay, I’m not leavin’ you.” I keep myself pressed against her, my chin on her head as I think.
There has to be a way out of here. I’m sure they’re guarding the doors, but there has to be some way out.
I can’t do shit with my arms behind my back, and that’s a problem.
I can’t reach my knife, but she may be able to.
“Mylah, I need your help.”
“What do you need?”
“I need you to scoot down and see if you can reach your hand into my boot. There’s a knife in there.”
“No.”
“What? What do you mean no?”
“I can’t do it, Tide. I’m so fucking scared,” she cries. I know she is. She’s scared, and she’s freezing, but I need her to do this.
“Come on, Mylah. This is our chance to get out of here. I need you to do it for me, baby. I need you to scoot down there and see if you can grab it. I can cut these ties if you can,” I tell her. She sniffles a few times before I feel her body start to scoot down mine. She tugs at my boot.
“I can’t feel anything,” she says softly.
“Keep tryin’. It’s in there.”
“I can’t find it!” She screams this time. The lights switch back on, and she cries out louder this time.
“Just let me go!”
“Mylah, keep it together, darlin’.”
“Please! Just let me go home!”
“Mylah!” I snap at her. Before I know what’s happening, I’m lifted off the floor and dragged across the room.
My tied hands are handcuffed to a post so that I can’t move at all.
I look to Mylah as they stand her to her feet.
She twists and turns trying to get away from them, but it does no good.
She’s taken to the middle of the room and held there as lights start to flicker on.
What is that? Are those cameras? I look around, trying to figure out what the hell is going on, when I see them.
They are cameras. His auction has started. Fuck!
“Welcome, everyone. Tonight, we have a beautiful twenty-eight year old. I know she’s a little older than our usual girls.
That doesn’t stop the beauty, though. Look at her.
Not a single imperfection on her.” He drags Mylah around in a circle so that every camera can see her.
My stomach knots as I try to remain calm.
I’ll find her, I keep telling myself. I will find her. I will kill whoever buys her.
I take in a lungful of air when I see the man looking down at his phone.
“And the bids have started.”
“Fuck you! I’ll fuckin’ kill you!” I roar as I tug at the binds that keep me in place. I’m punched in the face before something is shoved into my mouth to keep me from screaming again. My muscles ache as I pull at the fucking cuffs, knowing I’m not going anywhere.
“Sorry for that little interruption. That will be our next auction,” the man says. Who the hell are they? Why are they doing this?
They keep twirling Mylah around so that the cameras can see her. Tears leak down her cheeks as she looks at me every chance she can get. This is bullshit. I should be able to save her. I should be protecting her.
“The bids are still coming in. Come on, this is a very beautiful woman for you to break.” Acid burns in my stomach as I watch the scene unfold. There’s nothing I can do. Not a goddamn thing. I scream through the gag, but it does no good.
“A few more minutes is all I’m allowing for this one,” the asshole says as he spins her around once more. He keeps checking his phone, and I assume that’s where the bids are coming in.
“And she’s sold! Number thirteen is the lucky bidder.
Your prize will be delivered tomorrow,” he says.
No. This can’t be happening. They can’t take her.
I struggle with trying to breathe right now.
I promised her. I promised I wouldn’t leave her and I won’t, but how the hell am I going to figure out how to find her?
Mylah cries, those tears running down her face as she’s dragged from the center of the room and cuffed to another pole. Then the asshole comes toward me with the phone in his hand.
“This is a special treat for you tonight. A member of the Soulless Bastards MC. He was in the wrong place at the right time. I know there are many of you out there that would love a round with him.” The camera's lights flicker back on, and I’m now in the spotlight.
Mylah screams before a gag is shoved in her mouth.
The man circles me, letting people put their bids in. And they do. They fucking bid on me.
I can’t even imagine what they want to do to me. I can’t think about it, I’m too focused on her. I turn my head, and our eyes lock. I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her. This is all so fucked up.
“Come on, people. This is a SBMC patched member! You know you want a round with this one!” He calls out as the phone pings over and over. Is there really that many here that want a piece of us? Of me?
The phone keeps pinging as the bids come in, and my heart beats wildly in my chest. I keep my eyes on her, though.
I’m going to get out of this for her. It was stupid of me to think I could let her go.
It was stupid to even entertain the idea of it.
I can’t let her go. This connection runs too deep.
There’s too much between us, whether we see it or not. I can fucking feel it.
“One more minute!” He calls out as I keep my eyes glued to hers. I won’t look away from her. I won't turn my back on her.
“And we have a winner!” More tears leak down her cheeks as she stares into my goddamn soul. She’s it. She’s all I want. Damn the consequences. Damn it all.