Page 88 of Daughters of Chaos

Lace shifts on the bed next to us, where she cuddles next to Stitch. He hasn't let her out of his sight since Raven was taken. Even in sleep, they're glued together. Not even the wind could pass between them right now. It's sweet in a way, but it leaves a bitter reminder in its wake.

Lace is safe. So am I. Mason and Stitch will make damn sure it stays that way, but no one was there to save Rae. No one was keeping watch over her like they were us. Likeshehad for us. Part of me can't help but wonder if things would be different if she had a Mason or a Stitch in her life. If she and Jesse had worked out . . .

Would she have sacrificed her safety that night if she'd had someone like him waiting for her? If she had a deeperconnection with someone here, would she have tried harder to keep herself out of harm's way? I know the answer. Deep down, I already know it wouldn't have mattered.

Rae would always be the shield when it came to keeping me safe. No matter the cost, she would always protect me, even if it meant she paid the price. It breaks my heart to know that, to know what it had cost her this time.

She's in the hands of the enemy because she felt she needed to keep me safe. Her protective streak cost her her freedom, and there's nothing I can do to help her. Bile rises in my throat as that truth sets in. All I can do is wait and hope and pray that our guys get her out before something terrible happens. I've never felt so useless.

Mason's burner phone vibrates on the nightstand until he leans over to answer it. "Yeah."

A voice on the other line is talking as Mason nods along, giving short replies to the caller—my dad, I assume. The call is short, but when he disconnects the line, Mason looks my way. "Viper and the others are in their hotel. They just got word from Officer Normandy. One of the Bastards slipped up. Normandy tracked his cell location to the warehouse. They're definitely here."

The news touches me with the smallest hint of relief. We're in the right place, but we still have a long way to go before we can make our move. We have to be sure Rae is in there, and until our recon team gets back or calls in, we have nothing to confirm that. It's a waiting game now, and time is not our friend.

53

Raven

Pounding. My head is fucking pounding, and my arms are stiff. The smell of smoke and damp, dirty air fills my nose as I blink my eyes open.

I'm in a small, dark room with crumbling concrete walls. Shifting, I look around. The room is empty, but I hear voices outside the metal door. Two? Three men, maybe? I can't be sure through the pounding in my head, but I know they outnumber me.

Those fucking pricks got me. Covered my mouth with some chemical dampened cloth and knocked me out.The fuckers.I'll make them regret it. That's for damn sure.

Pulling myself to a seated position, I listen closely to the voices. They're gloating about capturing me, talking about how devastated the Sons will be when they can't find me here in . . . I can't make out the city. Wherever they brought me is supposedly hours away from Phoenix.

Fuck.

The Bastards outside my door are talking about Scar, their horrific leader. He's pleased that they brought me in and did heavy damage to the Sons but pissed they didn't get Nix too.Thank fuck for that.

At least I only have myself to worry about here; I can handle that. As long as Nix is safe, I can take whatever these assholes throw at me. I'll make them wish they left me behind. Looking down at my arms, I see bruising from where they manhandled me to get me here, bruising, but no restraints. They probably thought I'd be out longer. That or they don't think I'm a threat.

Boy, will they regret that.

Feet shuffling and the creak of the heavy door catches my attention as three men enter the room. I recognize one of them from the house—one of the two Bastards who ganged up on me to get me here. The others are strangers. The guy from the house smiles widely when he notices I'm conscious.

"Well, look who's awake. Hello, sweetness." His voice is almost as disgusting as he is, making my skin crawl as he looks me over. "Didn't think you'd be awake so soon, but since you are . . . "

He starts toward me, and I shoot to my feet, readying myself for a fight. One of the others shoots a hand out, stopping him in his tracks. "Boss says no one touches her until he's sent his message to her daddy."

I grit my teeth at his words, clenching my jaw so hard it aches. Fuck these guys!Scar's guys.The sadistic prick who rapes and murders for sport. They'll all burn before this is over. Even if theSons don't make it in time to get me out, I'll see to it that every last one of them fucking burns.

The nasty one shoots his fellow goon a look and says, "Well, Boss won't know if it's just a little taste." He moves forward, shoving his way past his friend as he eyes me, licking his lips as his eyes gleam with malice.

Every step closer makes my blood boil. I know what his intentions are, and his buddies don't seem primed to stop it, even withBoss's orders.Big Nasty sends me a look that makes my hair stand as he continues moving closer. The other two hang back, content to watch whatever their sick friend has in store. Neither moving an inch to stop it.

I set my sights on Big Nasty, calculating every step he takes, and when he's within arm's reach, my lips curl in cruel delight. Rebel Raven is here now, and she's itching for a fight.

54

Phoenix

Night is closing in as Jesse and Tweak slide through the door where Lace, Stitch, Mason, and I are holed up. We've been here all day, laying low, fielding calls from the others about what they've dug up during recon.

Our guys have seen men going in and out of the warehouse all day, and the Devils heard in town that a rowdy group of leather-clad men had been harassing locals for weeks now. Their descriptions of the troublemakers fit with the pictures we have of Scar's men. It has to be them.

We're close now. Hopefully soon, we can move to rescue Raven.

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