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She goes to the front door, turns the knob and pulls. “Padlocked from the outside. Trust me, I’ve tried. There’s no opening it from this side.”
Lainie is an Order member but I can’t see her as my enemy. If anything, this tortured soul is my ally. I’m neither afraid nor ashamed to use that to my advantage. “We have the same goal: to get out of here alive. Are you willing to put aside your loyalty to The Order if it means escaping?”
“I have no allegiance to The Order. None. Any obligation I felt was terminated the day my parents traded me to a man who would repeatedly rape me and consider killing me if I’m unsuccessful at conceiving his child. I want out of here and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
She may be broken but she’s angry. I can use that. “All right, then. Tell me about their routines.”
“Broden or Reuben checks in every two days. Deacon brings food and supplies every four.”
That’s a new name. “Who’s Deacon?”
“My brother’s mate. He’s kind. Not like the others at all. Has a soft place in his heart for me.”
Ah. That has potential. “Is this soft spot big enough to free you?”
“No. He isn’t willing to die so I can escape.” Not the answer I was looking for.
“How often does Torrence visit?”
“Only when I’m ovulating.”
He should burn for what he’s doing to her. “When will that be?”
“I have four days left until he’ll come for me five nights in a row. And just so you know, I don’t fight him because that can get me killed, but that doesn’t make it consensual.” Her eyes become distant while staring at the white cracked plaster wall. “I can’t go through it again. I’ll kill myself before I let him touch me again. I even have a plan on how to do it.”
Her threat isn’t empty. If she’s formulated a plan, she’s a serious contender for suicide.
She needs reassurance, to know there is a way out. “My husband is coming. I don’t think there’s going to be a peaceful trade so we can probably expect guns blazing. Either way, I won’t leave you behind.”
She comes to attention, her head jerking in my direction. Her sunken eyes enlarge. She places praying hands against her lips and mutters something I can’t decipher before dropping her hands to her lap again. “Swear to me.”
“I swear I’ll take you with me.”
I fully expect an all-out war when Sin comes for me. We should be prepared.
“My father-in-law tried to barter for me but Torrence wouldn’t agree to a trade. Thane offered him everything we had and still Torrence refused to hand me over.”
“Something bigger is going on. Torrence loves money and power too much to refuse a bountiful offer,” Lainie says.
“He wants revenge for Jason’s death more than he wants those things.”
Lainie lifts her brows and nods. “Aye. Now this makes sense.”
I pray Sin suspects the same thing when his father tells him Torrence turned down the deal.
“Why didn’t your husband come to negotiate for your return?” she asks.
“I was told he was taken into custody. After tonight’s events, I suspect his arrest might have saved my life. I’m hoping Sin won’t contact Torrence for a trade.”
“What would he do instead?”
“I hope he and the brothers will rush this place as soon as he’s released. We need to be ready to move in a hurry.”
There’s no time to waste. “Do you know how to fight?”
She snorts. “Do I look like a brawler?”
Appearances can be deceiving. She doesn’t look like she could punch her way out of a wet paper sack but even the smallest person can be taught to deliver powerful blows. “I’m going to show you some defense and attack maneuvers.” I get to my feet. “What’s his signature move?”
She shrugs.
“Show me how he usually restrains you.”
She comes forward and places her hands around my throat. At five six, I’m looking down on her several inches. “He chokes you?”
“Always.”
I look at her neck and see the faded yellow remnants of his last attack. Fucking bully.
“Watch my motion.” I lift my arms over my head and rotate my body. I bring my left arm down slowly over her wrists, forcing them from my neck. I use my right hand to grab her wrists and demonstrate how to hyperflex them.
“Show me again,” she says.
I demonstrate several times before reversing roles with her. She gets a feel for it quickly.
“It takes twice as much energy to swing and miss as to swing and hit. Are you right-handed?”
“Aye.”
I pat my right shoulder. “Reach across my body and put your hands here. Pull me down diagonally to your right.” I bend at the waist to show her what I mean. “You’ll bring your right knee up to kick his face. Do it fast and hard.”
“When do I stop?”
“You don’t.”
Chapter Two
Sinclair Breckenridge
The booking process is long and tedious. As a solicitor, I’m never involved in this part. My clients have already been charged and booked by the time I arrive.
I’m escorted to an interrogation room and left to sit in an uncomfortable chair at a lone table. There’s a video camera mounted on a tripod in the corner. I hope they don’t think they’re going to question me without my attorney present.
I don’t sit long before Buchanan comes into the room. “I want to speed this process since it’s late. I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty of calling Rodrick for you. He should be here any minute.”
I don’t reply.
“Might as well pass the time with a little friendly conversation. Is married life all you thought it would be?”
I give him nothing.
“I have to hand it to you, Breckenridge. That little wife of yours is one fit piece of arse. But I guess you already know that.”
He’s trying to provoke me but I won’t fall for it.
“I bet it’s killing you to know they have her. And I’m guessing I’m not the only one who thinks your wife is fit. The Order is probably putting their filthy hands all over her right now. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
Hold it together, Sin. Stay in control no matter what he says.
“I guess you should be grateful she’s already pregnant so she doesn’t come back to you knocked up by your nemesis. That would put a real damper on the honeymoon phase.”
It’s taking every ounce of self-control I have to not jump over this table and strangle the fuck out of him.
“I wonder if you’ll ever be able to touch her again without thinking of all the nasty things they did to her.”
He’s enjoying this way too much; I refuse to contribute to his satisfaction.
“Oh wait. I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re going to jail for the rest of your life so you’ll never get to fuck your wife again. Damn. That must be depressing as hell knowing you’ll never get between those fine legs again. But don’t worry. I’ll check in on her from time to time to make sure she’s doing all right. I can even come back and give you a report on how things are going.”
I clasp my hands behind my head, lean back in my chair, and prop my feet on the desk. I want to appear as nonchalant as possible. He won’t stop this game if he thinks he’s getting to me.
Buchanan. Meet my poker face.
It works. The motherfucker gets up to leave. “I’ll be back when Rodrick arrives.”
I may appear calm on the outside but a shitstorm brews inside me. I’m a fucking mess.
Rodrick arrives but Buchanan gives us no time alone. I’m unable to get an update on what’s happening with Bleu. Bastard. He’s doing this on purpose.
“Do you understand your rights before we begin questioning?”
I was unaware Buchanan believed I had any.
“We understand,” Rodrick answers.
“How
did you know Malcolm Irvine?”
I’m questioned for the next two hours. The longer I sit here, the more I realize that Buchanan’s grasping at straws. He doesn’t have shite on me and we both know it. I’m going to walk on these charges but it’s going to take time to be released. The evidence will have to go before a judge—he’ll decide if there’s a case against me. There clearly isn’t.
This has to be a set-up. But by whom?
The questioning ends and I finally get a private word with Rodrick. “Tell me what you know about Bleu.”
“Thane met with Torrence. Of course he made a very generous offer in exchange for your wife but Grieve refused. He’s demanding to see you.”
