What follows is systematic and ritual. Titan doesn’t waste movement, doesn’t pull his punches.
I should look away. Should leave like Ash wanted. But I can’t. This is the reality of the world I’m part of. The club I married into. The war is being fought in my name.
So I watch.
The man holds out longer than I expect. Ten minutes of Titan’s fists breaking bones, splitting skin, crushing whatever resistance he has left.
His screams echo off the barn walls. Wet, gurgling sounds that make my stomach turn.
Ghost’s hand is still on my elbow. I realize I’m gripping his arm hard enough to leave marks.
Finally, the man breaks.
“Okay,” he gasps. “Okay. I’ll talk.”
Titan stops. Steps back. Blood covers his knuckles.
“Smart choice,” Ash says. “Now. Why were you watching the garage?”
“Orders.” The man’s voice is barely audible. “Marcus—he told us to watch for her. The girl.”
Ice floods my veins.
“What girl?” Ash asks, though we all know.
“The president’s daughter. Bonnie.” The man lifts his head, one eye finding me in the crowd. “He wants her. Put a reward out. Fifty grand to whoever brings her in alive.”
The barn goes silent.
“Alive?” Ghost’s voice is deadly quiet.
“Yeah. Alive. Unharmed.” The man coughs, spits blood. “He’s claiming her. She and the baby. Says they’re his. Says she’s carrying his kid and he wants them both back.”
24
BONNIE
Marcus is claiming my baby.
The words echo in my head, over and over, until they stop making sense.
Ghost’s arms are the only thing keeping me upright. My legs won’t hold me. My brain won’t process what I just heard.
Fifty thousand dollars. A patch. All for delivering me to Marcus Stone so he can claim me and the baby growing inside me as his property.
“Get him out of here,” Ash says, voice cold and flat. “Barnes, Miller—take him to the cells. We’ll deal with him later.”
The prospect is unchained and dragged out of the barn.
I don’t watch them go. Can’t take my eyes off the spot where he was chained. Blood pools in the dirt, dark and wet.
“Bonnie.” Ash is in front of me now. “Look at me.”
I can’t.
“Bonnie.”
Ghost’s arms tighten around me. “Give her a minute.”
