Chapter fourteen
Nicole
Sat on the rusted floor in the back of the truck, Nicole was in complete despair. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her bump, her only pitiful form of protecting her sons. She couldn't get her mind to accept what had happened. She wanted to be angry, shout and scream at her captors but she didn't have the energy for it and the lump in her throat was making it hard to breathe, let alone make a scene.
She kept the last image of Duke in the forefront of her mind, his eyes flashing with determination and reassurance that he would save her. She knew in the very depths of her heart that he'd come but she couldn't cope with the guilt if anything happened to him or his brothers. She was holding herself so stiff and still that her muscles ached with exertion. She wanted to curl into a ball and weep. Her own father had done this to her, to his grandsons, she felt like such a fool. He had no excuse for his actions in her mind. He could have called it off or at least told her to stay back when he saw she was pregnant. But no, the self-serving bastard had carried on regardless. If she'd only listened to Duke when he said to stay away she wouldn't be in this position.
Nicole had always thought she was brave, could face anything head on, but at the moment she couldn't lift her head or open her eyes. She feared seeing her Dad or Wrath. She felt sick to her stomach at her dad's betrayal. What kind of father shoots his own daughter? She knew he was selfish but this was something else. There wasn't a word strong enough to describe what he'd done, betrayal seemed too weak. The painful pulse from her gunshot wound was timed perfectly to her rapid heartbeat. She stayed focused on that, not allowing her mind to contemplate what she might be about to face.
The truck started to slow and came to a sudden stop. Her shoulder slammed into the side and she swallowed the added pain. She could have braced herself but her arms were fixed around her sons and that's precisely where she would keep them. No matter what. A heavily scarred, familiar hand skimmed down her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Her skin itched with revulsion, yet she held herself still. She refused to give him any reaction.
"I'm leaving you now. Don't be too upset, you're going to be seeing me again, soon. Maybe we'll get to know each other better this time around.” His hand skimmed around her neck and held her nape tightly. “Don't give my men any hassle or I'll be sending that baby to Duke in pieces." Wrath spoke above her before patting her on the head and quickly tearing her vest off her. The small amount of comfort she had from wearing it disappeared.
The truck door opened and closed. Nicole prayed that he was gone. His last words rumbled through her mind. She could still feel his touch on her, she shuddered and her stomach rolled, repulsed by the images that now haunted her mind. She turned her head to the side just in time to vomit. She couldn't draw breath. Her lungs were seizing and her body felt too heavy. Dizziness disorientated her. Panic made it worse. Nicole knew she was about to pass out but she couldn't allow it. Who would protect her babies? With that last devastating thought Nicole slumped away from the vomit, her body and mind becoming too overwhelmed; she blacked out.
********
Nicole woke expecting to find herself still in the back of the truck, this was much worse. It was a cell. Three exposed brick walls and a barred cell door enclosed her. She was lying on a thin, stained mattress on a cement floor that emitted a strong smell of sweat, vomit and urine. A red bucket sat in the corner with toilet paper by the side of it. She hoped it was empty. A paper bag sat just inside the bars, she wasn't ready to explore that yet.
She pushed herself up to a sitting position and closed her eyes again. She hoped that blocking out the view would let her collect herself but it didn't. Layers of crusted, dried blood stained her arm and her side, her headache thumped loudly and pain seemed to envelope her entire being. She couldn't stop the sob that escaped her. She ran her hands over her bump, relieved to feel her babies moving around and kicking against her hands.
She tried to distract herself by picturing what she thought they would look like. They would be darker haired for sure as hers was black and Duke's a rich, deep brown. Maybe they'd have her pale, creamy complexion with his brown eyes. She hoped they grew to be tall and broad like Duke. She smiled at the idea of three stocky toddlers wrestling with Duke as she watched on, loving seeing them play together. She prayed to God that that would come true. The idea of never holding her babies made her heart fracture. She had to get out of here and soon.
Nicole had no idea how much time had passed sitting on the mattress. There were no windows and all she could see through the bars was a corridor with strip lighting, the odd one flickering, irritating her. She'd been listening for any movement but had heard none. The cold wall her back rested on was getting very uncomfortable and she needed to move about. Her body was too stiff. She tried to stand up without making any noise. It wasn't easy or elegant with her bump and an arm out of commission but she eventually managed it.
She walked slowly towards the bars to investigate beyond her cell. She pressed her face into them and could vaguely see there were two more cells on either side of hers. One end of the corridor was a dead end, while the other had a large steel door. She wasn't brave enough to call out to see if any of the other cells were occupied. She hated the idea of being down here alone; she could be forgotten and just left to die. Her thoughts were turning more and more morbid. She had a feeling she was underground. The air was stale, warm and heavy. All manner of disgusting smells continued to assault her nose. She felt like she was in a horror movie and was just biding her time until the monster showed itself, in this case, Wrath.
She bent to pick up the paper bag and was surprised to find a peanut butter sandwich and a bottle of water. At least they didn't intend her to starve. The crinkle of the bag sounded thunderous in the silence. She ate quickly, her aching stomach protested but she knew she'd need the energy at some point and she had no clue when the next meal would come, so she forced it down.
A small sound caught her attention. Nicole strained her ears, sure that she'd just heard something. Suddenly, the sound of crying and a bolt being unlatched rang through the air. She stumbled away from the bars and pressed herself tight to the back wall. The corridor door opened and slammed into the wall, letting in a new stream of light. The crying was loud and clear now and heart wrenching to hear. It was definitely a woman and she sounded in a lot of pain. A huge bald man wearing a Riot MC cut dragged a small blonde woman by the hair swiftly past her cell. She wished she could call out or help in some way but she couldn't. Terror had frozen her in her position and her chest was heaving to pull in air. She didn't want the man's attention to waiver to her.
"Shut it bitch! I don't wanna be listening to your wailing the rest of the fucking night. Don't make me join you in there and give your mouth something better to do."
The woman's sounds were reduced to a quiet whimper. She heard a cell door clang shut and a few heavy footsteps. He appeared at her door and rested his hands on the bars, leering at her. His eyes looked dead and rotten teeth showed through his twisted smile.
"Don't think we've forgotten about you, Duke's whore. You're mighty fucking fine even with that bastard's spawn growing inside you. I might just take my break with you."
He pushed himself away, winking and flicking his tongue at her before he left. Hearing the corridor door close brought her a measure of relief. She didn't know who he was, he wasn't with Riot when she'd stayed with them and had no idea what he was capable of. She wasn't able to make out the name on his cut and there was no way she would have stepped closer to him to find out.
After a few minutes had passed and she was certain they were alone, Nicole cleared her throat and walked closer to the wall separating her from the other woman. She could still faintly hear her weeping.
"Hello? Are you okay?" There was no answer. "Can you hear me?"
"Ye..ye...yes." The small voice was strained and husky like she had a cold.
"Do you know where we are?" Not that it would make any difference or change her circumstances if she knew, Nicole still wanted to know.
"N..n..no. I came here in a truck, blindfolded. I've never seen the outside of this place." Nicole felt whatever bit of hope she had left drain away.
"I'm Nicole, by the way."
"Bianca."
She waited by the wall for a few more minutes but when Bianca said no more, Nicole didn't either. She didn't have the energy to have a one sided conversation. As much as she wanted to try and comfort Bianca, all she wanted to do right at that moment was lie down and sleep. She crawled onto the mattress and let silent tears roll down her face. Being away from Duke gave her an ache in her chest that deepened with every hour that passed. She rubbed her hands over her bump and hummed Adele's ‘Make you feel my love’ to her babies. At least a part of Duke was still with her. She lay down and fell into a light sleep.
Duke
Duke pulled up next to Prez outside Riot's compound. One of the brothers next to him was just getting off his bike to cut through the gate’s mechanism when they started to open. He steeled his expression as members of Riot started to spill from the clubhouse. He knew this was a sort of a trap, so using hand signals he instructed a few of the brothers to park their bikes between the gates to prevent them from closing and trapping them inside. They always had an exit strategy. He followed Prez as he moved closer to the clubhouse. There was zero hesitation in his movements. This needed to be done and he was ready for the slaughter to begin.
The brothers all got off their bikes and stood shoulder to shoulder facing the fuckers. He couldn't help but feel a bit smug that the arrogant look on their faces were soon going to change as long as everything went according to plan. The Riot brothers started to part and through them came Wrath. Duke held his position although every cell in his body yearned to tear the bastard apart with his bare hands.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Fallen pussies paying us a visit. You fuckers decided to switch to a real MC? We can patch you in right now if you want."
Duke could hear the grinding of teeth and growls surrounding him. This bastard was going down. Prez stepped forward and Duke followed. Wrath met his eyes and gave a half smile, trying to taunt him.
"You got someone who belongs to us. You know our way. Give her back now or you all die and you'll have only Wrath to blame." Prez addressed the Riot brothers, ignoring Wrath completely.
Wrath was pissed, he thought he was above everyone and to be ignored was the ultimate insult. Riot members swore and protested, a few drew weapons.
"Loyalty amongst brothers is paramount. It's admirable. It's what holds us together. But why would you be loyal to a President who lies to you?" Wrath's face slipped slightly before he renewed his resolve. "Why don't you ask your President where all the money goes from this club? Yeah, you all earn, but it could be a lot more. Ask him about the two hundred thousand he keeps from you."
Wrath quickly spoke up and spat, "You think my brothers are stupid enough to listen to your fucking lies. We're going to end you Fallen motherfuckers and take your money and women. Can't wait to ram my dick up Shel's ass. Nicole's was pretty tight but I'd like the comparison." The brothers surrounding him laughed and jeered. "Then we'll get ourselves a new recruit. Looking forward to raising a Riot MC baby. If it's a girl, she'll be whoring young, just like her mother."
Duke was at the end of his rope and was going to snap. Hearing Nicole's name was a relief but at the same time it unleashed a monster inside him that he could barely restrain. If any of what Wrath said turned out to be true, Duke would see to it personally, that the bastard was tortured to within an inch of his life for a long time. He desperately pushed the image of Nicole suffering to the back of his mind. The thought was too distracting, almost debilitating to him. He needed to be present in the here and now.
Nicole looked full term because she was carrying his triplets. It was satisfying to hear that Wrath obviously didn't know everything. Whatever was happening, Nicole was holding her own, wasn't talking and pride welled up inside him. Duke clung on to that. Minutes were starting to feel like hours the longer she was gone. It was time to move this along. Any small amount of patience and restraint had disappeared. Prez gave the signal and he pulled his phone from his jeans pocket. Time for stage two of their plan. Duke held a sick satisfaction inside, knowing what was about to happen.
"We all know you haven't got the dick to satisfy our women, Wrath." Prez laughed. "You keep spewing shit and we're sick of hearing it. Just give us Nicole. Tell you what, we'll do a trade.... Nicole for Emma." Wrath's whole body jerked and his muscles visibly bunched under his cut. "What's up Wrath, not told any of your brothers about Emma?"
Wrath bared his teeth and looked like he was about to foam at the mouth. The Riot brothers started to look unsure and wary, sending sideways glances to Wrath, noticing his reaction.
"You know fuck all about Emma." He spat.
"Really? You sure about that?" Prez taunted. He rattled off her and her mother's address and then gave a brief description. "She seems like a sweet kid. Didn't like it very much when we told her what you'd done and that anything that happened to Nicole would be done to her. So far you've said you fucked her ass. Anything you want to add?” Duke could see thin lines of blood trailing down Wrath’s fingers from where his hands were fisted so tightly. He gave no response, visibly seething. “Make the call Duke and put it on speaker."
Wrath was shaking now, neck bulging and wide eyes showed his fear and disbelief that he was trying to unsuccessfully mask. Duke dialled a number and silence reigned as everyone listened to it ring.
"Boss." It answered.
"Nicole's been fucked up the ass. Make it brutal." They all listened as girlish screams blared from the phone's speakers amidst desperate pleas for help.
Wrath shot forward but was restrained by his brothers. "Give her up Wrath or this is going to get bloody, if it isn't already." Prez nodded towards the phone. "We've got no beef with your brothers. Just you. The girl's already got shot in the arm and now this. How much more are you going to put your daughter through? And make no mistake about it, we're making sure she knows that everything that's happening to her is because of her dear old daddy."
His face was distorted by his anger. He looked manic. "Light them up!" Wrath yelled, reaching for his own weapon.
The only ones who did were his inner circle. They were quick, but the Fallen brothers were quicker. Duke's shot stayed true as it blasted through Wrath's VP's forehead. He watched as the body crumpled to the ground amongst the others and blood seeped into the ground below. The fucker had tormented Nicole when she was here before, that shot was for her.
Wrath's gun was pointed straight as Prez but he had yet to pull the trigger. Indecision shadowed his eyes. He was twitching and blood was splattered over his face and body from his fallen comrades, the only men present who were loyal to him. Now he was alone and he knew it. His eyes turned to his remaining brothers who were stood with their arms raised. Some of their own free will, others from the guns pushed into their backs by their own brothers. These were their inside men.
They were loyal to Riot MC, but not Wrath. The club had gone to shit and they wanted to see a change. This was their way of bringing that about. He could see confusion and terror behind Wrath's dead eyes. His world had crumbled and he hadn't seen it coming and he didn't know where it was going either. There was no way out. No happy ending. Duke couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face.
"I'd drop that gun if you ever want to see your daughter again, Wrath." Prez was smirking at him and Duke was revelling in his downfall.
Wrath held his position for a few seconds before his gun fell from his grasp. Duke broke from the group and circled behind Wrath, roughly pushing him to his knees. He got the cable ties from his pocket and tightly bound his hands and feet making sure the they cut deep into his skin. He wanted to do so much more but they needed answers first. Prez gave him the nod and Duke ploughed his fist into Wrath's head with as much force as he could muster. The crack sounding from his skull was deeply gratifying. Wrath was slumped on the ground, knocked out. Two of his brothers dragged him to their truck that was waiting just outside the gates and threw him in the back. Duke walked back to Prez and turned to face what was left of Riot MC.
"We're leaving. We got what we came for. We don't want a war but if you bring it we'll make sure to end this MC for good. You've been warned."
Duke saw some of the brothers nod in acceptance while others sneered and their eyes promised revenge. It was up to whoever their new president would be now to sort the ranks and enforce decisions. If they decided to come at Fallen it would be the last thing they'd ever do. His breathing was easier as he climbed back onto his bike, but it wouldn't slow until Nicole was back unharmed and Nole Fletcher and Wrath were in the ground.
They headed back to the compound where all the other brothers were waiting. Prez filled them in while Duke supervised Wrath being hauled into an outhouse and strapped to a chair. He was joined by Razor and Slam. He turned to them, eager to hear news of Nicole.
"Nic wasn't in their hideouts, brother. We need answers from this fucker and we need them now." Razor seemed to be acting different but Duke hadn't got the time to figure out why.
Prez, Hollywood and the Musketeers approached and they all headed in to the outhouse. Duke was taking lead. He knew no one would argue. This was his retribution to deliver. Wrath was staring, defiance radiating from him. Duke knew it would take time to break him but he'd get there.
"You wanna tell me where you're keeping Nicole?"
"Fuck you!"
"You sure that's your answer?" Wrath kept his stare and didn't answer. "Okay, have it your way."
For the next hour Duke tortured Wrath. He pulled his finger nails and teeth with pliers, carved 'Fallen' onto his stomach, beat the soles of his feet and carved up his arms. Wrath was starting to break but not fast enough for his liking and Duke was getting desperate. The fucker was stronger than he gave him credit for. He was afraid to do much else, he could bleed out from the injuries he already had and dead men don't talk. Time to kick it up a notch.
"You still not going to talk?" Wrath glared back, his eyes less focused than they were before. "We'll see if your daughter can loosen that tongue of yours before I cut it out."
Wrath started to struggle against his restraints. Keeping his daughter a secret had been his downfall. If he had let his club protect her, this would have been nearly impossible to pull off. But Wrath wasn't about brotherhood, he was out for himself and kept his family hidden so he could store his money with them. What he didn’t know is that his family was completely safe with no idea of these events. Prez dialled a number and it answered. In the background you could hear a girl sobbing loudly. The girl was actually one of the brothers’ teenage daughter putting on a show.
"Last chance, Wrath."
His body slumped and he hung his head as he spat out an address. Prez shut the phone.
"If you're bullshitting us, we're going to bring your daughter here and make you watch us cut her up." Razor warned.
Duke sprinted to his Harley and took off from the compound as fast as he could. The rumble from his brother's bikes followed him. It was now early morning and the sunrise gave him hope that this day would be better than the last. The address they were headed to was half an hour away. His heart was beating out of his chest. He prayed that Nicole was okay. He'd not let himself think about what really might be being done to her until now. His palms were sweating as he revved his bike up to speeds he'd never reached before. The address was in the warehouse district. When they got close he pulled over. He didn't need anybody guarding her to take action against her if they heard their bikes. They had no idea what protocols or fail safes, if any, Wrath had in place.
Razor, Slam and Hollywood joined him at the front, Prez and the Musketeers took the rear. The old warehouse was set further away from the others and looked ready to fall to the ground. Slam attached his silencer to his gun before they rounded the corner. He was their crack shot. One brother was by the side door where three bikes were parked. That at least gave them a head count of who was inside. It looked like they had the right place. Slam took aim and shot the brother in the head.
Slam had been an army ranger and this was his speciality so they deferred to him. Duke knew that storming in there would be stupid and dangerous but fucking hell, he wanted to. They ran to the door and braced against the wall either side of it. Slam reached for the handle and quietly pushed it open. They waited to hear any movement but all they heard was laughter and deep voices. They couldn't pick anything specific out from what was being said. Slam raised his hand and when it fisted they made their way inside, armed and ready for anything.
They were in what looked like a reception area with two doors leading from it. Duke approached the first and swung it open, ready to fire on whoever was inside. It was a storage closet with only a few bottles of water inside. Razor approached the next. When it opened they looked at the faces of two massive brothers watching porn on a laptop and playing cards. Duke took aim and shot the biggest fucker in the chest. The yelling and sounds of firing were deafening and anyone left in the building would be left with no doubt that they were there. The fuckers ended up riddled with bullets. It looked like Duke wasn't the only one venting some anger.
Duke ran to the only door from that room. It was steel and reinforced. He tried to open it but it wouldn't budge. Hollywood was searching the bodies for keys. Duke noticed a deadbolt at the very top and unlatched it. The heavy door creaked loudly as he opened it and ran inside, right into a dark corridor lined with cells. His shock was only momentary, his attention was drawn to none other than Nole fucking Fletcher pointing a gun into one of the cells. Duke didn't even have to guess to know who was in there. He'd had enough of this bastard. It didn't matter who he was to Nicole, he wouldn't be leaving the warehouse alive. He would have shot him straight away if his eyes hadn't registered the small pale hands clinging to the bars.