Chapter 19
Tide
The thought of storming into that house and ripping Padgett’s throat out crossed my mind a few times.
I had to hold myself back so that I wouldn’t do something I’d regret later.
Patch told me what he does to women, and when they put Mylah in the back of that van, and I saw her body… I was pissed. Beyond pissed.
Now we’re back at the clubhouse, and Doc did his thing. He checked her over and made sure she was okay and taken care of before he left. The cuts will heal. That’s what he told me, but what they did to her? She’ll never forget.
“She’s sleepin’” I tell Patch when he walks up and nods toward the hall.
“Good. She needs her rest.”
“You used to do that?” I ask him. I know he doesn’t do that shit anymore. I know he doesn’t harm women in that way anymore.
“At one time, I did. Not that bad though. I didn’t leave marks on them,” he tells me.
“So you’re not the same,” I say.
“No. I’d never beat them. Spank them, yeah, but what he did to her? No.”
“I want him dead.”
“He’s a big player in this game. It’s gonna be hard to get to him.”
“I don’t care how hard it is. I want his ass, Patch.”
“I get it, Tide. What he did was fucked up, but I’m tellin’ you we need to find out who sent her there first. That’s who we need to go after,” he tells me. He’s right. I do want the asshole that had us grabbed to begin with. I want the motherfucker that sold her out.
“You’re right. How do we find that?”
“Mystic is followin’ the trail. He should have somethin’ for us soon.”
“Good. I don’t know how long I can wait on this,” I tell him truthfully.
“I get it, brother. It’s hard to wait but it shouldn’t be long now,” he assures me. I nod my head before taking my beer from the table and bringing it to my lips.
“I’m gonna go check on her,” I tell him before standing and walking away from the table. I head down the hall and straight for my room. Pushing the door open, I see her lying on the bed. Her eyes come to meet mine, and I smile.
“You’re supposed to be sleepin’.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Doc checked you out. He didn’t…they didn’t…” I can’t say it. I can’t bring myself to say it.
“They didn’t rape me.” I nod once more. Good. I’m glad they didn’t touch her like that. “Come lay with me.”
I walk over and pull my cut off before laying it on the chair next to the bed and climbing in next to her. I lean in and press my lips to hers for the briefest of seconds.
“You’re safe now.”
“I thought I was safe before,” she whispers. I reach up and wipe the stray tear that’s falling down her cheek.
“You are now, I promise.”
“Who did this to us? How did you get away?”
“Another chapter of the Soulless Bastards saw me on the video. They got me out. They didn’t know you were with me.”
“You knew them?” she asks.
“Yeah. They were lookin’ for someone else and found me.”
“I’m glad, Tide. I’m so glad,” she cries. I pull her closer to me and hold her a little tighter. This is hard for her, I know, and I want to do anything I can to help her.
“I’m gonna find out who did this.”
“You really think someone paid to have me taken?”
“They said as much. Now I need to find out who it was.” Before I can say anything further, the door flies open and in walks Beth followed by Ranger and Bane.
“She wouldn’t stop,” Bane tells me as he looks to Beth.
“It’s fine. What do you want?” I ask, looking her dead in the eye. I don’t know why she keeps coming back here, but it needs to stop.
“She’s here. Does Christian know that?” Beth asks as she eyes Mylah. I shove off the bed, pressing a kiss to the top of Mylah’s head before I go and grab my boots and cut. I slip them on before walking over and standing in front of Beth.
“You wanna tell me what you’re doin’ here?”
“You want to tell me what she’s doing here? Last I heard she left,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Clearly that isn’t the case is it?”
“She’s been with you the whole time Christian has been looking for her? That’s a little low, don’t you think, Tide?”
“What I think is you should walk your ass back out of here before I do somethin’ stupid. Somethin’ you’re gonna regret later,” I hiss at her.
“Don’t threaten me, Tide.”
“It’s not a threat, Beth. I’m warnin’ you.
You come around here again, and we’re gonna have a problem.
” I step into her space, letting her know that I mean business.
That’s when I feel a hand on my back. I glance over my shoulder and see Mylah standing behind me.
She steps to the side and steps right up to Beth, mimicking her stance.
“Do you know what I’ve been through?” She asks her. This isn’t the time for her to tell everything, but who the hell am I to stop her?
“What do you mean? Fucking your boyfriend’s dad? I’m sure that took a lot out of you,” Beth snips at her.
“I was taken, you bitch. I was beaten,” she screams in her face before yanking her shirt over her head.
She stands there, exposing herself to Beth as she slowly turns around to show her her back.
Her eyes meet mine, and that’s where they stay.
I give her a small nod, letting her know that this is okay.
“You let Tide beat you?”
“I didn’t fuckin’ beat anyone, Beth! If you were smart, you’d leave right now,” I roar at her. Mylah pulls her shirt back on and turns around to face Beth as she smirks and turns on her heel to walk away.
“What exactly does she want?” Mylah asks me.
“Me. Or so she says.” Mylah sighs before walking closer and wrapping her arms around my waist.
“She can’t have you.”
“I didn’t want her to.”