Page 74 of Secret Redemption

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ava hit the ground hard, her knees skinning as the hard-concrete tore through her skin. They had been blindfolded and led none too gently into a cold, dank smelling space. She heard a door open in front of her, and someone walk in.

They had separated her from Zack when they walked in, He’d grabbed her hand trying to stay close, but then she had heard a smack and knew they had hit him with the barrel of a gun. Zack hadn’t uttered a sound though. From the second they had gotten in the car he had been focused on everything around him.

His demeanour was calm and cold, and it was that demeanour that had made her feel better about the situation. He was Zack the SAS operative now, and there was none better in her opinion. His reputation was legendary and even decorated SEALs had talked about him in awe. Zack and his team would get them out of this or die trying, and it was that thought that had her stomach in knots.

The feeling that something was going to happen to Zack had been plaguing her more with every day that passed. He was so strong and honourable, and he wouldn’t think twice about sacrificing himself to save her. It was who he was, and she loved every fibre of the man, but losing him would not be tolerated. So, she needed to do her bit.

The blindfold was tugged from her face roughly, and Hamilton looked down at her smugly. “Was your journey comfortable?” the asshole inquired as his goons held semi-automatic rifles on her.

“Oh yeah, just peachy perfect,” she said pseudo-sweetly.

“Ah, she has a backbone. I like that in a woman. Helen is much the same.” Ava felt her back stiffen at the sound of her mother’s name. “Maybe we should get her in here, and my men can show you both some manners,” he finished coldly as a hard look crossed his face.

Ava stayed silent knowing that whatever she said would make it worse. “Aw so she does learn quickly when to be silent,” he said, patting her head gently as if she was a fucking puppy. She tried not growl at him like one.

“Now, I have to go spend some time with your fiancé and maybe teach him some manners.” The door opened, and her mother was thrown towards her.

“Momma,” she said and crawled towards her mother as Hamilton and his men left, the door closing loudly behind them.

~~~

Zack tensed as the next punch hit him, pain radiating through his whole body from the blows he had already taken. He remained silent not giving the man watching the satisfaction of knowing it hurt. Hamilton got off on the power he held.

He was chained by his wrists to what looked like a meat hook, his shirt cut from his body so that the brass knuckles the men used would cause more damage. His feet were barely touching the ground making the pain in his shoulders burn.

Blood dripped freely from the cut in his lip and eyebrow. He knew he had at least one broken rib and his torso was a purple canvas of bruises. It was nothing he hadn’t had before and nothing that would not heal.

It still pissed him off though, but at least while he was the focus for Hamilton, they were probably leaving Ava and her parents alone.

“Are you going to tell me where the Phial is?” Hamilton asked as he stepped closer.

“Are you going to tell me why it’s so important?” Zack rasped. He saw the other man nod, and the mother fucker with the brass knuckles hit him again.

“You know your arrogance and insolence was what landed you in a cave in the desert,” Hamilton laughed.

Zack tensed, and every instinct told him that this man was behind his capture and torture. The desire to pound the man’s face into dust was strong, but it was the ability to lock that emotion away that made Zack the operative he was. Not betraying his reaction, he allowed a look of complete boredom to cross his features.

“Ah, I see we are going to be stoic and silent. You never did care about your own pain, did you, Zack?”

Zack’s heart kicked up infinitesimally before he got himself under control. He knew this was headed in a direction he didn’t want it to take, and he needed to keep the focus on him.

“Tell me what it was about the Watchers that attracted you to join? Was it the money or the power? Oh no, no don’t tell me, let me guess. It was the fact that the doctor and the leader were both women, wasn’t it? You still like it up the ass from your women, Walter?” he sneered and spat blood onto the man’s polished military boots.

The mottled rage on Walter’s face was enough to warn him that he had gotten to him, the second was the uppercut Hamilton delivered. His vision blurred at the blow and nausea roiled in his gut. Fuck that hurt!

“So, one last chance Zack, for old times’ sake. Where is the phial?”

“Fuck off!”

“I see despite your upbringing, you are as uncouth as ever.”

“What’s the matter, Walter? Still jealous that not only am I better than you at everything but I’m also going to bury this sick cult you’re involved in?”

“Hmm,” Hamilton said as he paced in front of Zack, his hands behind his back, the army uniform he wore with pride full of medals that he had earned at the sacrifice of others.

“I see I need to bring in someone more proficient at this and perhaps some incentive for you. I’ll be back shortly, Zack. Don’t go anywhere,” he said with a sick laugh as he left the room as if he was on parade at Sandringham.