“Tie them up and get them in the van,” Fury commands, tossing me to the floor. Every inch of my body screams in agony as sharp cramps tear through my stomach, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction of knowing the pain they’re causing. A wave of sadness crashes over me at the thought of losing my baby before I even had the chance to celebrate its life. Silas would be over the moon at the idea of becoming a father. Asmy wrists are bound, the room dims, and I surrender to the darkness that pulls me into the abyss, welcoming its escape from a reality I can no longer endure. My final thoughts are of Piper, wondering why she never made a single sound.
ELEVEN
EMBERLYNNE
My eyes flutter open,vision blurred, head cloudy and for a moment I struggle to make sense of my surroundings. A dim light flickers overhead and the unmistakable sound of an engine rumbles beneath me. My body suddenly jolts causing my head to throb as I try to recall what happened, and then I remember every frightening detail. Panic sets in as I try to move, but my wrists and ankles are tightly bound, the jagged rope digging into my skin. I strain to listen as my heart races, hoping for a sound or something to tell me where we are.
Fear claws at my throat as I wriggle against the restraints, trying to free myself, but they’re too tight to allow any movement. The cold metal floor sends a chill through me and the stench of oil and sweat fills my nose. A wave of nausea hits me and I try but fail to swallow it back down. Involuntary heaves wrack my body as the contents of my stomach come up, staining my clothes.
Tears streak down my face as memories from earlier flood my mind. Londyn and I had been celebrating the positive pregnancy test, confirming what I’d suspected all along. We were planning the perfect reveal for when Silas comes home onSunday. Everything was perfect. Then my phone rang and I went into the bedroom to talk to my husband. That’s when everything went to hell. How did Fury track me down? How did he get past our security system?
We constantly get alerts from the cameras due to the coyotes and deer roaming our property, so I didn’t think it was necessary to check this one time. My mind reels with the ache of what might have been, struggling to make sense of it all. Londyn lies motionless across from me, and I can’t even tell if she’s still alive. She’s been dragged into the chaos of my life, and whatever happens to her is on me. All I can do now is pray we find a way out of this.
Sharp pains shoot through me, forcing me to shift uncomfortably, but I freeze as a sudden warmth spreads between my legs. “No. This can’t be happening,” I think, panic rising in my chest. My breath hitches as I feel the unmistakable dampness of blood. It’s not much, but it’s there. My heart pounds, and a cold dread sinks in. Am I losing the baby?
Tears blur my vision, but I’m helpless, unable to stop what I fear is happening. The joy, fear, and disbelief that had overwhelmed me earlier are now consumed by a growing sense of sorrow. The excitement of creating a new life with my husband fades, replaced by pure terror.
A faint, anguished moan breaks through my thoughts. Londyn is waking up, her breath harsh as she tries to move.
“Londyn, are you okay?” I whisper, each word clipped as I breathe through the pain. It feels like I’ve got a cracked rib or something from Fury’s assault. There’s no way he’ll take me to a hospital because he’s the kind of man who takes pleasure in watching people suffer. Every kick was fueled by years of hatred for the Rebel Riders, who kept my brother safe.
“I-I think so,” she responds, her beautiful locs matted with blood. Even in the dim light, I can see where that bastardslammed his gun into her temple. “Where are we?” she asks, disoriented.
“We’re in a van, but I have no idea where he’s taking us,” I reply, guilt weighing heavy in my chest. “Londyn, I’m so sorry I dragged you into this. If we make it through this alive, I’ll understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore or work at Barrister Holdings.”
“Let’s not talk about that right now. How are you doing? Did he hurt you?”
The question doesn’t catch me off guard, I just don’t want to say it out loud. That would make losing my baby real and I’m not sure I’m ready to admit it. But, I owe it to her to be honest considering everything that’s happened.
“It feels like I have one or two cracked ribs and…I’m pretty sure I’m losing the baby,” I manage as more tears well in my eyes. No matter how short my pregnancy was, I’m gutted by the potential loss. Imagining what life would’ve been like as a family of three fills me with sorrow and knowing that I may never see Silas again. The farther we drive, the more I lose hope of us ever being found.
“Oh, Ember. I’m so sorry,” she somberly expresses, her voice bringing a sense of comfort to this impossible situation. The van jerks to a screeching halt, throwing us around like rag dolls. We both wince in pain from the sudden stop and my stomach churns once more. Before I can fully process what’s happening, the door slides open, and rough hands yank me out, my legs barely holding me up as I stumble. Though it’s early evening, my eyes struggle to adjust as I glance around. Fury shows no mercy when I fall to the ground, laughing as I cry out in pain.
“Get your hands off of me!” Londyn shouts as she’s shoved down beside me.
“Shut your fucking mouth or I’ll shut it for you,” Fury snarls, his voice dripping with anger.
His eyes flicker with a cold warning, as we’re both snatched from the ground and dragged toward a motel room. I take in my surroundings, the worn paint peeling from the walls, the scattered, mostly empty parking lot. The place has the look of somewhere people turn a blind eye, avoiding trouble at all costs. The pungent odor of mildew and stale air slams into me as we’re shoved inside and thrown onto a stained bed. Fury and his men move about the room, closing the curtains and flicking on the air conditioner, every move a silent dare for us to resist.
I know better than to beg or plead. It’ll only make things worse. So we sit in silence, anxiously awaiting his next move. Not even the growing urge to use the restroom is enough to make me speak. The dampness of my underwear tells me I’m still bleeding, and a searing pain burns in my chest. Londyn gasps as she turns toward me, her eyes scanning my face. I can only imagine what I must look like after Fury's attack. The swelling is becoming more obvious now that the adrenaline is wearing off, leaving me to feel every ounce of pain.
“Are you sure we weren’t followed?” Fury asks one of his men while peeking through the curtain.
“Yeah, I’m sure, Prez,” the man replies. Biting down on my lip, I wince as my lower belly spasms. The cramps are becoming unbearable and I’m growing weaker from the loss of blood.
“This went smoother than I expected,” Fury taunts, blowing a kiss in my direction. If I weren’t restrained, I’d tear his fucking lips right off his face. When I first saw him, standing in my living room, I foolishly let my guard down, transported back to our first encounter. If I’d just kept my head, I could’ve taken him and his crew down without a second thought. But the shock of seeing him again threw me off, and now Londyn and I are stuck here, trapped. My poor husband must be losing his mind with worry after I dropped the phone. But then again, he called to warn me—how did he know something was about to happen? It doesn’tadd up, but I don’t have time to figure it out because Fury says something that pulls my focus back to him.
“We hit the jackpot! Two Royal Bastards for the price of one,” he gloats, fist-bumping his men. I’m stunned, trying to make sense of what he’s saying. We’re not involved with any MC.
I remember my father mentioning them a long time ago, but as far as I know, he was never involved with them.
“What are you talking about? We’re not part of the Royal Bastards,” I insist, waiting for him to correct me. But he doesn’t respond. Instead, he strides over to Londyn’s side of the bed and yanks her up, forcing her to stand. She struggles as he tears her shirt down the middle, exposing her shoulder. There it is, a Royal Bastards tattoo, clear as day, inked into her skin. Once again, my mind reels because none of this adding up. Wait, did he say two?
TWELVE
MAVERICK
My heart poundsin my chest as I pace back and forth in the parking lot of the motel. How could I have been so stupid to leave Ember vulnerable, thinking she was safe. This is the result of years of deceiving her and if anything happens to her, I’m not sure I would survive. If I had just told her from the beginning who I truly am, this never would’ve happened. She would be safe behind the wall of my compound, untouchable. Dread sinks in as I frantically call Elijah, praying he intercepted them somehow. After three rings he finally picks up.
