Chapter Twenty
Amber
Amber wasn’t sure how long she had been here, it felt like days. Her body hurt like hell. When they arrived at the saw mill, Ratchet had his men took her to an office in the back and tied her to a chair. But that didn’t last long. Keeping her tied, Ratchet had his men moved Amber to a building somewhere on the back of the property. Once there, the beatings started. Leaving her face untouched, Joe’s men used a cut-off section of a water hose and hit her repeatedly. No visual signs would show on the outside, but it would leave some lasting marks on the inside.
“So baby,” he said with a sneer, “Did you really think I would let you walk away from me?”
“Honestly Joe, I didn’t think about you at all,” she stated flatly, earning the first slap across her face. It stung, but other parts of Amber hurt far worse, not that she would ever admit it. Amber was finding it difficult to take a deep breath.
“Let’s try to watch our tongue, dear. I have big plans for you and would hate for my buyer to show up and see that beautiful face of yours disfigured,” Ratchet snarled.
“Buyer? Do you really think you will get that far? Bitch, please!” Amber said, spitting blood on Joe’s shoes, earning another slap.
This was going to be a long day, she thought to herself. But there was no way in hell she was backing off this bastard. She just wished Zander and her brother would hurry the hell up and find her. Amber seriously didn’t know how much more her body could take before it shut down.
Just as Ratchet turned, the building shuddered and the sound of gunfire filled the air. Amber felt a rush of relief fill her. They were here. The Grim Reaper and his Henchmen were here. Amber would live to see another day.
“Find out what the fuck is going on!” Ratchet yelled to his men.
Turning back to Amber, he stalked towards her, backhanded her across the face and then grabbed a handful of her hair. It felt like he was trying to rip it out by the roots. Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall.
“This is not over,” he scoffed.
“Oh yes it is,” Amber smirked back, spitting in his face.
Ratchet ran out of the room. Amber sagged against the chair. The only thing keeping her from collapsing to the floor were the ropes holding her. It seemed like hours passed before the door to her room was smash in, completely off the hinges. Amber’s gaze shot up and landed on K. She was rescued, just like she knew she would be.
“Hey there, Rocky,” he said with a smile, “You have some people looking for you and one really pissed off Grim.”
“I am so happy to see your pretty face,” she smiled, but winced.
K crouched down behind her to remove the bonds and Amber felt herself fall sideways.
“Easy,” he soothed, catching her before she hit the ground. “Can you walk?”
“I don’t think so,” Amber answered honestly.
Lifting her shirt, K searched for any signs of trauma. But Amber knew he wouldn’t find anything. “I don’t see anything,” he said.
“Water hose,” was all Amber had to reply. She knew K would understand.
“Fuck,” he whispered, gathering her against his chest.
“You can say that again.” Amber tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it hurt too much. The two slaps to the face had split her lip.
“Target has been located. Injured. Will need assistance. We are coming out,” K said, causing Amber to look at him in confusion.
Seeing her face, he pointed to his ear, where she noticed a wire that disappeared behind it and into his shirt. Ah, she thought, earpiece, duh!
“They’re in the other room. Is that really necessary?” she asked.
“We aren’t the only one’s here. Dallas SWAT is outside and your brother is sniping. I don’t want either of them firing on us when I carry you outside.”
“Good thinking.” After everything that had happened already, a gunshot wound was not at all what she needed.
K lifted Amber into his arms and carried her from the room. As they entered the main room, she saw all the bodies. This was way too much for her. She pressed her face into K’s chest. He looked down at her and wrapped his arms around her a little tighter.
“Amber honey, please tell them to let me go,” she heard.
Lifting her head, she saw Ratchet on his knees. “Put me down” she told K.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because, I have business to finish,” she mumbled.
“No you don’t,” he told her. “Reaper will end this.”
Trying to block out all the blood and gore around her, she saw Tank standing against the wall, with a huge rifle pointed towards Joe. Viper was against the other wall, in the same stance. Finally, he eyes landed on Zander’s.
He walked towards her and K. “What injuries do you have?”
“He beat the shit out of her with a water hose,” K answered the question for her. “Tied her to a chair so she couldn’t defend herself.”
Zander leaned over and placed a soft kiss against her forehead. The feeling made Amber sigh out loud and filled her with warmth. She wanted to feel his arms around her, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. Zander might have come to rescue her, but that didn’t change how he felt about commitment.
“Take her outside,” he ordered.
“Amber! Please!” Joe continued to beg, but she just ignored him. “You fucking bitch!”
Walking outside she was met by the Dallas Police SWAT team.
“Is Reaper finished in there?” the Chief asked.
“No. There is one loose end he has to finish off,” K told the officer. And Amber had a feeling, that loose end was Joe. The humane side of her hoped Zander finished him off quickly, but the vengeful bitch she was right now, hoped it was slow and painful.
“Okay. We’ll stand down until then,” the Chief said, walking back to his men.
“Oh, Miss Parks, do you need medical attention?” the Chief turned back to ask.
“Ginx will look at her when she gets back to the clubhouse,” K answered. The Chief inclined his head and kept walking.
It seemed like hours had passed before a noise drew Amber’s attention. She and K turned to see the remaining Henchmen walk out of the building, as a single gunshot rang out from inside. Amber’s eyes continuous searched for one person, but she didn’t see him anywhere.
Where was Zander? Why was he still in the building? She was about to ask when another loud explosion rumbled the ground. Amber gasped and turned in the direction of the saw mill. Timber and debris fell from the sky. Flames and smoke filled the air around the building.
“What the hell,” she said.
“That would be Reaper,” K chuckled. “He’s the Grim. Hell, Fire, and Brimstone.”
Shaking her head, Amber could only smile.
Like a mirage, Zander came walking out of the building behind them. He looked every bit the protector, the enforcer, the Grim Reaper.
“Hand her here,” Zander told K. Amber felt her weight shift from one man to the other. The moment she was placed in Zander’s arms, a sense of safety engulfed her. Before Amber knew it was happening, she fainted from exhaustion.