Chapter Eighteen
Amber
Two weeks but it felt like forever. Amber had gone back to the clubhouse with a plan to talk to Zander, but he was nowhere to be found - for two damn weeks! Where was he? Devin wouldn’t tell her anything, the asshole! She felt like, wherever Zander was, he had taken a chunk of her heart with him. He would be back. She knew that, but it wasn’t making her feel any better. For two weeks, she moped around.
Feeling pain explode in her side, she was pulled back into the present. Lo stood in front of her. Both of them were covered in sweat.
“Pay attention!” she yelled, throwing another jab to Amber’s midsection, but at the last minute Amber moved out of the way.
Two weeks, she had been coming here to try to clear her head, but instead, she was getting the crap beat out of herself. Two weeks, she had been getting her ass handed to her because Lo didn’t play around.
They spent the next thirty minutes battling each other in the squared circle - jab... jab... kick... right cross... - the cycle continued, each landing hits.
Lo wasn’t messing around today. She knew Amber’s head wasn’t in the sparring match. No matter how many times Amber chewed her own ass, she couldn’t seem to get her thoughts off of Zander.
As her session came to an end, she climbed out of the ring and grabbed the water bottle from Diesel. The two of them had become fast friends.
They spent a lot of time together. He would flirt and she would just laugh at him. She talked to him about Zander and he encouraged her to wait it out. Told her Zander would come around. He also told her about the night that changed his life, saying Amber needed to at least know what demons she was battling, if she was ever going to win.
The conversations had helped her to understand Zander a little more. She wished he would have opened up and told her himself, but she understood, he wasn’t ready. Would he ever be ready? Amber sighed…
“Stop,” Diesel said, already knowing where her mind was. “He’ll be back.”
“Even you said, he’s never just taken off like this. I’m concerned Diesel,” Amber said quietly.
“Reaper can take care of himself. Don’t worry. He’s one of the baddest motherfuckers I know,” he replied in earnest, making Amber smile.
“Thanks. Give me a minute to shower and change, then we can head out,” Amber threw over her shoulder as she grabbed her bag and headed to the locker room.
“Want some help?” Diesel hollered in her direction, causing Amber to laugh out loud. “That’s more like it,” he called as he watched her disappear down the hall. He hated seeing her sad, Amber knew that.
Ten minutes later, Amber was back in the main room of the studio. Diesel grabbed her bag and after saying goodbye to Lo, they headed out the door.
“Are you hungry?” Diesel asked.
Amber was about to answer when Diesel’s head whipped around to the sound of tires screeching. He shoved Amber behind him as a black SUV slammed on its brakes in front of Lighthouse. The back door flew open and before anyone had time to react, two gunshots rang out.
Amber watched, in what felt like slow motion, as Diesel’s body was pushed backwards into hers by the force of the bullet. She fell to one side, while Diesel went to the other. Scurrying to get to his side, Amber was in full panic mode.
Two men jumped out of the back of the SUV and yanked her up by her hair, tossing her into the backseat of the vehicle and sped off down the street. Everything happened so fast, Amber didn’t even have time to process what happened.
From the backseat, she turned to look behind her, watching as Lo and K both exited the building. Lo was on the phone, hopefully with 911, or Devin as K knelt down to help Diesel.
Please let Diesel be okay, she prayed, please... Amber’s thoughts trailed off as a voice filled her ears. Turning towards the front, she came face to face with Joe.
“Hello again,” Ratchet cooed.
“Stop this vehicle and let me out!” Amber demanded.
She felt the impact long after the hand connected with her face. Without thinking, she let loose a jab straight to the bastard’s nose, hearing the satisfying crack of bone that indicated she had broken it.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” she seethed, as the punk held his face moaning in pain.
“Oh! This will be fun! I am looking forward to seeing the fight drain from you, Princess. To listening to you scream and beg for mercy. Before I am through with you, you’ll be begging for death,” Ratchet said, trying to cause fear in Amber, but it wasn’t working. All Amber felt was anger and pity for the man sitting in front of her.
“Please,” Amber said in annoyance. “There isn’t a damn thing you can do to me, that you haven’t already. I didn’t lose my will to fight then, I sure as shit ain’t going to lose it now,” she replied and got a huge sense of gratification when she watched the smile leave his face.
“We will see,” he replied.
“You are nothing but a pussy!” Amber retorted. She knew she was pushing buttons, but couldn’t help herself.
“Tape her mouth shut!” Ratchet screamed.
Amber couldn’t help the giggle that escaped, she really couldn’t. She had always been a confident woman, and that had only grown since escaping this bastard the first time. She didn’t cower then; she wouldn’t do it now either.
The two guys in the back both grabbed ahold of her arms, trying to hold her down while attempting to tape her mouth. She was able to land a knee to the crotch of the guy whose nose she already broke, causing him to release her and cuss profusely. With a left hook, she landed a solid punch to the ear of the other. Would these assholes ever learn, she wondered?
Just then, Amber watched as a black on black Harley came barreling down the road towards them. She knew that bike. Knew the rider. It was Zander. Hope, and something close to love, blossomed in her chest.
As Zander passed, she saw the lethal look on his face. It would have made even the Devil quake in fear, but not her. A calming feeling settled over her. Amber knew, Sledge must have called him.
Zander would come looking for her and he would find her. She had no doubt. That alone brought her comfort. The only question was: what kind of shape would she be in when he did?
Ratchet would pay for kidnapping her and for whatever treatment she had to suffer through. Velvet Blood would definitely pay. The Devil’s Henchmen were coming, and the Grim Reaper would be leading the pack.
From the back of the vehicle, Amber laughed, causing all the faces in the small SUV to turn, looking at her like she was crazy. Yep, she would be just fine, she thought as she continued to laugh like a mad woman. Nothing about the situation was even remotely funny, but Amber couldn’t help it. Maybe she really was crazy. Maybe this was the last straw to push her over the edge.