Page 41 of The Book of Wrath

“Two weeks before he was killed. Megan never got them from the photographer. She couldn’t bear to see the pictures of what might’ve been but never was. A local photographer by the name of Alice Porter took the photos and should still have them if she didn’t delete them. Why?” Ally gave me my answers, now it’s my turn.

“If Megan never got her engagement photos did she pay for them?” I needed one more answer.

“Matty paid for everything up front. The last thing that was supposed to be paid for was the rest of the venue which was to be paid the week before the wedding. He had it all taken care of. Now why are you asking?!” She demanded and I handed her the photo of the couple under a rose archway.

“Whoever took her, left these as a calling card, a few different pictures from that shoot and a letter. I think I know what happened to Matt. And I think you’re right. These people might be connected to his murder, but I think it’s deeper then that. Melissa, how long have the Paxley’s used the library for campaigning?” I ask her, it had to be longer than just the duration of Ryan and Megan’s relationship.

“At least fifteen years. Where are you going with this?” She asked me, but Rick put the clues together.

“Was Ryan ever with his dad? Did he ever see Megan before Matt died?” Rick asked, Ally seemed to connect the dots just like I did.

“Oh my god! Yes! Ryan was hardcore flirting with Megan, they were formally introduced after Matty’s death though. Ryan got pissed at Matt for quote cock blocking him at an event for his dad. That’s when Matty said that he was her fiancé, and that Ryan should learn his place. He took Megan with him that night and I had to finish up the party without her. Matty was adamant that she was not to work anymore Paxley parties if Ryan was going to be there,” Ally let the words flow out of her.

“Ryan murdered Matt to get Megan!” Melissa finally connected the dots and the dread that seeped over her was apparent.

“I need to know how he got the photos—” Andy set the laptop down on the hood of the cruiser, with a search site up.

“Alice is Ryan’s cousin. Something tells me she either gave him the photos when he was dating her, or he stole them. Megan might not have known.” Andy said as he let out a long sigh.

“If we are right, this will be a huge blow to the Paxley campaign. We still have the event here this weekend, and it all starts off tomorrow.” Melissa uttered out like this was the worst news she could ever receive.

“That won’t be happening. I will be making a press release in the morning about the attack here, I won’t say anything about Megan being missing unless we can’t find her within the next thirty-six hours. No one says shit, is that understood?” Rick demanded.

We all nodded our heads. Tonight, we would hunt down the Paxley’s until we found Megan. I will not rest until she is back in my fucking arms. Someone’s going to die, and it sure as fuck won’t be any of us.

Chapter 33

Megan

Lights flew by at a blinding pace, or what would be a blinding pace if I could see anything more than this stupid black bag that’s been over my head for gods knows how long. My legs and arms are bound tight with what feels like rope. I tried talking, well screaming at the top of my lungs was more the right term, but that only landed me with a gag popped into my mouth.

No one spoke around me now that I was conscious. I don’t know how long I was out for or who the fuck took me, but the moment I can get my hands free I will be clawing out these fuckers eyes. I did not survive almost getting killed months ago to be kidnapped and fucking murdered now!

Fuck it. If I’m going to die, I won’t go peacefully. I started thrashing from side to side, hitting both bodies on either side of me. Both large and muscular. I trash my feet into the floor trying to leverage myself up from the seat because clearly these idiots forgot the seatbelt.

“Fuck! Grab her!” A rough male voice yelled as I collided my head with what I am assuming was theirs. A fist thrusts it’s way into my hair, slamming my face into something hard. It hurt. Like really fucking bad. I felt wetness run down my from nose, oh hell no! I trash back against the fist and slam my feet down hard on what I was hoping was a foot. I wasn’t in stilettos, but my boots had heels to them, and they could still do damage. I hear a grunt and the first loosens. Okay I can to this. I twist myself to the side and throw myself back onto the mans lap. Sure enough, I could feel the outline of his dick through his pants. I grab hard, digging my freshly manicures claws into him, clipping his balls as I squeezed.

“Let fucking go of me!” he shouts but I just dig in harder, pulling my feet up onto the seat and kicking them straight into the face of the first guy. I felt the bones crunch under my feet. Wailing came from across the car as I dug in deeper. Fuck these guys.

“I will kill you bitch!” The one male screams, I kick again, another successful crunch could be heard throughout the car. I start screaming against the gag, trying to get it wet enough to slip out of my mouth. I take my chances and try forcing my knees up to my chest to get the man whose balls are being pierced.

My knee connects with something, I can’t tell if it was his face, the side of his head or maybe even his nose, but I do care. I keep at it, thrusting my feet straight with force, kicking the one man then back up with a slight rock to knee the other man.

The car slams to a stop and I hear the car doors opening. Thuds then grunts are all I hear before I am being dragged out of the car and thrown onto the hard dirt ground. The bag being ripped from my head brought light into my view temporarily blinding me until a hard slap to the face had me hitting the ground hard. I landed on a sharp rock, cutting up my hands.

“You stupid bitch. You couldn’t just sit there a little longer could you?” A deep, rough male voice said. I know that voice. My eyes fix on the man in front of me as I grip the sharp rock in my hand. “You never did know your place though. Ryan just had to keep you. You weren’t supposed to become his fucking girlfriend, let alone his fiancé. You should’ve seen the look on our father’s face when he announced that you wouldn’t go up for auction like we’d originally planned.”

Ryan’s older brother Derek was staring me dead in the eyes, smiling like a snake about to strike. He reached his hand to my face, and I flinched. I knew what Ryan was capable of, I even knew where he learned his vicious tactics from. Everyone assumed it was his father and that Alan was adopted because he was too kind. There weren’t many people that knew that Ryan and Alan had an older brother. He didn’t go to functions and was kept off all public platforms. They used to say it was for his job. It would compromise him if he had an online presence. Derek worked for the government, or at least that’s what they told me. Something tells me that’s not the case and I’m about to find out why Ryan kept me away from him. Probably the only thing that man ever did for me.

“Now, you’re going to apologize to my friends here, or they will take your apology by force. What will it be sweetheart?” Derek left the choice up to me; fake say I’m sorry or they rape me. I conceded and lowered my eyes, cutting the rope slowly with the sharp rock. Derek reached for the gag and pulled it out of my mouth, I took a deep breath trying to control myself before I spat out words that I would probably regret.

Derek took a step back between the two massive men. Both bleeding, both looking at me with pure rage. Derek snapped his fingers at me, forcing me to look up at them all. We were on the side of the road; it was dark with the sun setting in the distance. How fucking long was I out for?!

“I’m sorry I kicked you in the face and kneed you in the face,” I said, trying to tamper down my attitude. I knew I didn’t sound sincere at all, but I kept the sarcasm out of my tone so that was a plus. Derek clicked his tongue as if he was annoyed that I even spoke.

“I don’t think that you really are though. I think you enjoyed hurting them. I think you got nice and wet causing them pain,” Derek said, moving back over to me. I felt the rope around my wrists finally loosen, I need to get my feet free. I need to run.

He gripped my hair so tight that I felt the follicles pull from my scalp, fire lancing through my head. “I think you need to say sorry in a different way, don’t you?” The serpent smile as back, and both men grinned along with him. No. No! They both stepped forward at the same time. Derek reached down at my ankles and untied the rope holding my legs together. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “I promised you in exchange for Ryan. I promised you alive, not untouched.”

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