The Devil's Hellions patch on their backs told me they were from Byron's rival MC. It didn't take a genius to know what they were doing. I was going to be some sort of leverage to take down my brother.
But if I could only get away...I tried to break the duct tape around my wrists but it was no use. Even if I broke through, I couldn't just leap off a speeding motorcycle.
When we stopped at a bike repair shop, I knew it was their headquarters. I would only get a couple chances to escape. When my kidnapper cut my binds, I took off sprinting. But the fat biker was faster than I thought. He stepped in front of me and slammed his fist across my face, making me see stars for a moment.
Next thing I knew I'm being carried over the shoulder of the man who took me and they're telling him to take me to the basement.
My eyes bounced back and forth, frantically trying to take in all my surroundings. You never know what small detail could save your life. Inside the motorcycle repair shop was a full-on bar, stocked with every kind of alcohol you could think of. Pool tables filled the open spaces and bikers and sluts were knocking back beers. They watched as we passed by. None of them would help me.
I wanted to scream and plead with them but the duct tape over my mouth only produced whimpers. He brought me down to a dark room that reeked of mold. A small rectangular window in the corner let in only a sliver of moonlight.
The man set me down onto the cold cement floor. I got a look at his patch and his name was Phoenix. Didn't know if it was his real name or a nickname that bikers liked to use a lot. His long jet black hair was perfectly straight and his grizzled beard gave him a maturity.
“I'm going to get you a blanket to keep you warm,” he whispered to me, going upstairs and leaving me alone. He didn't chain me up or anything. These bikers must be dumber than I thought. Or escape was impossible so why bother tying me up.
I used my freedom to rip the tape off my mouth and I took in a breath full of mold and mildew. My mouth was dry and begging for a drop of water.
I waited for what seemed like hours until Phoenix returned with a blanket but he also brought a group of bikers with him. I huddled up into a corner and tried to stay as far away from them as I could. I'd been around MCs long enough to know what they did to prisoners.
But I wasn't going to be easy. I'd use my teeth, fists, and whatever else I could to protect myself.
A man with slicked-back hair approached me and wrapped the blanket around my back. His patches told me his name was Blaze and he was the president. “We're not going to hurt you,” he told me.
I didn't let him finish. “My brother Byron is going to kill every last one of you fucks when he finds me.”
The men got a good chuckle out of that. But he didn't like it when I spit right in his face, hitting him directly under the eye. His hand raised in the air and I braced for impact. But Phoenix stopped him, grabbing Blaze by the wrist. “Tater already gave him a good shiner, Prez. Byron might not like getting his brother back with two black eyes.”
Blaze looked ready to destroy Phoenix with just a glance. “Don't ever touch me again.” Phoenix let go of his wrist and Blaze wiped my saliva off, his gaze returning to me. “Tell us what you know about the Fires of Hell.”
Even though I despised Byron, I didn't want to get him killed. No matter how much he infuriated me, he didn't deserve that. I laughed right in Blaze's face. “Why would I tell you anything?”
Blaze grinned. “After my boys take their turn with you, you'll be spilling every dirty truth to me just so I can kill you and end your misery.”
Blaze wasn't throwing out empty threats. His fiery eyes truly meant it. I looked to Phoenix for help but he was staring at me with all the rest, like I was a piece of meat. Nobody was going to save me here.
“I'll give you an hour to decide. Give up everything you know or become our little plaything,” Blaze said.
The filthy bikers left me alone in the basement and all I could do was cry. It had been so long since I really cried—I mean full-on balling. Why did I have to be Byron's brother? Why did this have to happen to me? I lay on the cold cement floor and cried myself to sleep.
I woke up hours later and a minuscule amount of sunshine was beaming through the small window. My stomach grumbled and I told it to shut up. There were more important things to think about than food. Being used by every member of the Devil's Hellions MC and then killed was at the top of the list.
But that was not an option. I'd have to tell them something. Byron would understand. It's not like I knew anything important. Byron kept me far away from any MC business.
If I told them enough, maybe they'd let me ago. But I knew that was just a naive dream. This dank room was going to be my coffin.
Time passed and I had no idea how long I'd been down there. Footsteps at the top of the stairs made me sit straight up. I expected Blaze and the rest but Phoenix was alone when he reached the bottom step.
“I brought you some food and water,” he whispered, placing a tray with a sandwich and glass of water.”
Manners went out the door as I stuffed the sandwich into my mouth, cramming it in until my cheeks puffed out. I drank from the glass, not even swallowing the food first. “Is this how you treat human beings?” I said finally.
Phoenix put his index finger to his lips. “You need to be quiet. They don't know I'm giving you food.” He looked to the stairs and listened. Once he was satisfied nobody was there, he talked a little louder. “You have to tell them what you know. You're not going to like what happens if you don't.”
“You guys will just kill me after I spill my guts. You might as well get it over with and shoot me now.”
Phoenix raked his fingers through his long hair. “Listen to me, Patrick. This isn't a game. Your life hangs in the balance. I'm trying to do everything I can to make sure you don't rot down here. But you have to tell us something.”
I couldn't tell if it was a lie or not but I had nothing to lose by trusting him. “Okay, I'll tell you what I know about Byron.” Blaze stood up to get the others but I stopped him. “I'll only tell you, Phoenix.”
He crouched down and listened intently as I betrayed Byron.