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“Just pick something. I’m taking a shower.” I grab my bag that I took off my bike and head to the only other door in this place, shutting it behind me. I don’t need to lock it. My brothers are here with me. No one is coming in unless there’s an issue.

Or… unless they’re looking for something else. And I know I’m not my brothers’ type. They ain’t mine either. And from the shit hand Natalie’s been dealt, no way is she going to want anything to do with any of us.

I turn the shower on and let it get warm. Hot day, but I’m still not willing to take a cold shower. I’m spoiled enough in life to not have to live through my balls shriveling up for no reason beyond being impatient waiting for the water to warm up.

I take my time. No need to rush. We ain’t really got any place to be but home tomorrow. No set time, just get home. Alive preferably.

Letting the water flow over me, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The first one since I realized Natalie had been taken.

I don’t know her. Not well enough to know her mind, anyway.

Seen her with Ruby a few times before. Took her home once or twice when Ruby couldn’t.

Ruby once said most of Natalie’s student aid money went to rent and food. She walks almost everywhere.

Ruby said a lot once we found out Natalie was taken. We didn’t show her the video that the Devils shared with us, even though Flint was recording it just in case we needed to review it.

I’m not sure how many people want to rewatch learning things about Natalie like that. Sure, we wanted more information on her, but not like that. Her getting taken because the Devils Damned thought we killed one of their own. Only to learn that her life has been far rougher than we thought.

I might have gone down and asked her sister for more details after watching it.

And I might not have taken it well when she was close-lipped about it from the start.

She only knew about one before Colombia, but she didn’t seem bothered that there were more.

I got details from her. Specific details.

And I didn’t care that she cried the entire time. Natalie had been through worse than what I did to Reina. I had fucking kid gloves on compared to what she endured.

Mad Max and Bass are getting rid of that trash while we’re here. Sending her home, along with a parting gift for her travels here and all the pain she caused the club.

I told them both that she wasn’t to be in the fucking state when we got back. They had no problem with my wishes. Even smiled as they took the kicking and screaming woman away.

Their old ladies went too, which might have been pushing our luck too much. I don’t fear the brothers making sure Reina makes it back home alive. I fear what Brooklyn and Fairy will do. One is a genius with zero social cues. The other is a Mafia princess.

Neither has a problem with spilling a little blood if it gets them some peace and quiet.

And Reina is never quiet.

Chapter 5 - Natalie

I sit on the bed and wait. I know I’m not going anywhere. I’ve traded one prison for another, even if this one comes with a lumpy bed. Still better than sleeping on the ground, I guess.

I hear the shower running in the bathroom Atom just entered and wonder if I’ll be able to wash up too or if this is some new torture tactic. I feel gross. I’ve gone without a shower before, weeks on end, even months. But that was from being in a room and having to deal with my own filth. Riding on the back of a bike for so long is its own sort of hell. Mostly because of my hair.

I wouldn’t call the Devils Damned nice by any means. They left their mark on me before they found out the truth, and they weren’t exactly accommodating after. They may have moved me after Duke was shot, but I was still kept in an empty room. Nothing to sit on. No comforts. Time slipped by easily enough that I’m not sure how long it’s been since I was first nabbed. If the Hounds are expecting me to give them some grand details on what went down with the Devils, they’ll be left wanting. All I can say is they kept me alive.

They tossed me a few protein bars and a bottle of water a few times. When it was time to go, I got my first meal. Okay, it was an Uncrustable, but it was more than a breakfast bar, and despite my distaste for peanut butter, I ate it like it was fine dining. They also gave me a hair tie. One.

My hair goes down to my ass. It’s the only thing I have from my mother. My skin color and eye color are from whoever raped her when she was held captive herself. And I refuse to cut it any more than I have to, which is why it’s so long. Anything longer than it is now and it’s unbearable.

Or so I thought before I got on the bike.

I knew enough to braid it, but I never expected the wind to use it as a whip against me.

I coiled it up and slid it under my shirt, wrapping the end around my bra strap to contain it. I didn’t even have a helmet till we were almost to the exchange location. Only then did the Devils pull off, and Ivory, the bouncing man he is, got off his bike and bought us all helmets.

Guess they didn’t want the Hounds to know who all was with them since they left their patches off. I still don’t know the name of the guy behind the camera.