Page 15 of Bones

“What the fuck, man,” Tank says, as he comes to an abrupt halt behind me. “You passed the pasta sauce.” He grunts, his thumb pointing back over his shoulder to where we just were. His voice grates on my every nerve and if he wasn’t my brother I swear I’d slit his throat right here and now.

Her eyes widen in shock as she takes me in like she’s seen a ghost, before they quickly flick behind her to the man who’s yet to notice the change in her demeanor. She quickly faces forward, continuing on like nothin’ happened and my heart breaks a little. Does she not remember me? Is she with that dude now? Did she run away? All these questions swirl in my mind and I have no clue what to say or do. I’ve been lookin’ for this girl years and she’s finally here, standing right in front of me.

So, like the fuckin’ psycho that I seem to have become in her absence, I trail behind them at a distance not wanting to tip him off to my presence.

To his credit Tank seems to catch on quickly that something is up, and remains quiet at my side, even dragging the cart along and tossing random items into it. She remains by his side the entire time, almost as if she’s a dog on an invisible leash. Something isn’t right here, I can feel it. Her head is bowed, and she looks almost…subservient. Similar to how she was when we first found her in the crate in the woods. And it’s then it clicks. It’s Dane. The man who took her on the way back from King and Elana’s wedding.

I reach into the waistband at my back, ready to pull the trigger and end this mother fucker, grocery store be damned.

“Get him.” I growl to Tank as I flick my head over to Dane while he rings up their items before he places his hand on her lower back, seeming casual as he guides her out of the store. Tank nods silently, following them out of the store. The moment they exit Tank yanks Dane around the corner and away from everyone’s view. A moment later, I reach for her, drawing her back into my chest and I feel her shoulders shaking as she sobs.

“I got you, princess.” I whisper in her ear as I hold her against me, needing to feel her, to know that she’s okay, that she’s alive and real. I close my eyes, breathing her in. Her sobs get harder at the nickname and I turn her around to face me before pulling her farther into my chest. I cradle her just like I did that night she broke down in front of me. “I’m here, baby. I’m right here.” I hold her until I feel her body give way, going slack with what I hope is relief. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back.” I command and as much as I don’t want to leave her, I know I need to handle Dane myself. I won’t let Tank have the satisfaction of ending his useless life.

She whimpers but nods at my command. It breaks my heart to know she’s been trapped with this man the whole time. Having to relive everything she had thought she’d escaped. My girl is so fucking strong.

I round the corner and come face to face with the guy who tormented my girl, who not only started all this, but took her from me again. The man who took an innocent child and used her body and tricked her into thinking that it was all okay, normal.

My fist swings out, and before I know it his jaw is hanging loose from his face and my knuckles are coated in his blood. I don’t know how many times I hit him but it must’a been quite a few. “Take him with us. What I’m going to do to him can’t be done in public.” I growl, my anger barely hangin’ on by a thread. Tank just nods, not even bothering to ask questions.

I head back around the front for the store, finding Beth standing right where I left her. Her head down and her body continues to shake. “Come on, princess, let’s get you home.” I murmur, not wanting to frighten her. I lift her into my arms, not giving a single fuck about all the people giving us weird looks and carry her toward the SUV. I open the door and place her in the back, before crawling in beside her, not willing to let her go. Tank tosses a now unconscious Dane into the trunk before getting behind the wheel. I think it’s safe to say we will never be going back to this particular grocery store.

I hold her in my arms, her legs strung across my lap as her head rests against my shoulder. “He won’t hurt you ever again. I promise.” My voice is harsh, but I can’t manage to say them any softer. She nods her head her eyes still closed.

He takes off quickly making sure to take many turns and stop short a handful of times to bang Dane around in the back. I take sick pride in knowing he will soon be facing his end, and I can only hope it’s a similar way to how he tortured her all these years.

Tank musta shot off a text to the rest of the guys before we got back to the clubhouse because by the time we’re pullin’ up, Gage is standing out front a cigarette danglin’ from his lips and a scowl on his face hard enough to crack a statue.

I quickly get out, not wanting the fucker to have time to try and escape. Tank guides Beth toward the clubhouse but the moment her eyes meet Gage’s her knees buckle, and she almost hits the gravel, Tanks arms the only thing keepin’ her up. The relief in her palpable as she finally comes home.

Gage leans forward planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. His eyes soften only for a moment when he takes her in before he turns back to me and his rage flares. Following me toward the trunk of the SUV. He yanks it open and drags Dane out by his ankle making sure to give it a good twist before his face connects with the rocky dirt. I’m not sure where he got ‘em from but Tank managed to put some cuffs on him. When I raise a brow at him, he just tossed me wink. Fuckin’ perv.

Dane makes weird grunty noises, unable to speak properly with a broken jaw. “Take him to the back.” Gage grunts out and someone, I’m not sure who, takes him while my eyes are locked on Beth’s where she watches from the window. Elana hovering over her shoulder.

I meet her inside, needing to take care of my girl before I destroy that piece of shit. “You okay, princess?” I lower my voice, pulling her toward the couch before crouching down in front of her. The urge to take her in my arms again is strong but I don’t want to trigger her. I know when she first came to us, she wouldn’t let anyone touch her. Her eyes meet mine and the blankness I see in them reminds me so much of the past. I close my eyes, unable to hold hers as I see all the pain she’s been carrying. The weight crushes me like a two-ton semi.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” I stroke her cheek, her tears quickly pooling in my hand and as she leans against it. “I tried to find you. I looked every day for two years. I never gave up. I would look for you forever if that’s what it took.” I tell her honestly as I press my forehead against hers. Trying to fight back my own tears. “And I’m sorry about that night, too.” I tell her after a long pause. Knowing I need to get this out before I lose my nerve. “I freaked out and I was a goddamn pussy. I’m so sorry, baby.” Her sobs get louder as she crumbles, her body physically unable to contain all her pain. “Beth.” I tilt her chin, making sure she meets my eyes. My need to tell her everything forcing my lips to move. She will never have to bow to anyone again. “I love you.”

I’ve been torturing him for days, enjoying every fuckin’ second of it. Only taken breaks to eat and piss.

“How did it feel?” I ask, knowing that he can’t answer me. His eyes roll back in his head as he tries to fight against the chains that are supporting his weight to the branch of the willow tree. “How did it feel to take her innocence? To fuck a goddamn child!” I roar, unable and unwilling to hold back my rage. Using the crowbar that I found in the back of the cage I swing it like a baseball bat, aiming for only ribs that remain unbroken. He squeals in pain, and I eat the sounds up like they’re moans from my girl.

I only pause when I hear the clicking of heels on the back patio. I turn in time to see Elana strutting toward me. “Here, I thought you could use this.” She smirks at me before turning her eyes to the piece of shit in front of me. I take the bag from her and peak inside, not wanting to ruin the surprise for our guest of honor. A laugh rips from my throat as I eye what’s in the bag.

“Damn fuckin’ right I can.” I smile and nod toward her as she gives Dane the finger before heading back inside, leaving me to do my work. I watch as drool drips from his mouth, unable to close it to swallow.

“You’re in for a real treat.” I smile, more than ready to give him a little taste of his own medicine, but I want to draw out the suspense. I watch as his eyes stay locked on the bag, knowing the anticipation is killing him, I leave it right where he can see it. So far, all I’ve used is the crowbar, a bat, my knife, and my fists, preferring to be more hands on, but for this, I’ll make an exception. After taking a few more swings at his legs and chest I finally go back to the bag, making sure my back is to him so he can’t see what it is right away. I pull out the gloves first, making sure to pull them on slowly, like a doctor before an operation. A sadistic smile on my face taunting him. His whimpering grunts continue on as he dangles there.

By the time I turn around and his eyes finally connect with the absolutely ginormous silver cock that Elana brought, he’s bucking violently against the chains. More wounded animal noises gurgle from his throat.

He eyes the huge dick that I can’t even fit my hands around and I say, “I imagine this is what even your tiny cock must have felt like to a child.” I will have no mercy and show no remorse. And for the first time since our torture session started, I see genuine fear. Good. I also notice there conveniently isn’t any lube in the bag, which I wouldn’t have used anyway. I doubt he afforded her even that, so why should I.

I make my way around him slowly, not wanting him to know when it’s coming. I yank his pants down past his waist as he continues to wiggle like a bait on a hook. Having had enough of it, I draw my gun and put it to his head, “Stop fucking moving.” My jaw is clenched so hard I’m surprised my teeth don’t crack. He stills but it’s almost as if he thinks better of it because a moment later, he’s movin’ again. Fine, he wants it this way, that’s okay too. I step away, heading back into the clubhouse for a moment. Let him think I’ve changed my mind or that I’m takin’ a break.

“Is it done?” Beth’s small voice says as she sees me enter the main room.

I give her a soft smile. “Not yet, baby. He’s going to pay for every goddamn second he kept you away from me.” I lean over and pull her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is gentle, but I can’t help deepening it, sliding my tongue along her soft, full lips. God, she tastes so good. I pull away reluctantly, knowing I have a job to do.

I grab the extra chain that we use sometimes when we need to hook up our bikes and take it out back with me. He’s still thrashing around by the time I get back and I use the extra chain to tie up his legs, givin’ him much less room to move. A few of the other guys come out to either watch or join in on the torture, letting everyone have a turn at him like a piñata at a kids' birthday party.

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