Page 90 of Daughters of Chaos

I ignore the nausea stirring in my stomach at the thought, steeling myself for what I need to do. Martin wiggles in his seat when he feels Mason and Jesse approach. They pause for a second before ripping the bag off his head, exposing the monster beneath. I take him in from the wildness in his eyes to the scowl on his face to the crisp black cut over his shoulders—the one that clearly reads "Desert Bastards MC".

His frantic eyes meet mine, and he goes rigid. One of the Devils unties the gag at his mouth, and immediately, Martin starts pleading with me. "Nix, thank goodness. Tell them this is all just a misunderstanding. They've got it all wrong."

I scoff, unable to hide my disgust for the man who played me for so long. "No, I don't think it is, Martin. They found you with the Desert Bastards, walking around freely, talking like you were old friends. Then there's that new vest you're wearing . . . "

He shakes his head violently. "I was just playing nice, hoping to get close to them so I could help Kat."

"Save it, shithead," Jesse bellows. "We saw you. Heard you. Turns out, until recently, you were a prospect for the Bastards. Now, you've got a nice new member patch. How's that serving you?"

Martin's face pales as he drops his head. His shoulders begin to shake in what I think is an attempt to gain sympathy. When I hear his dark laughter, I know he's given up the game. "Jesus, I can't with you fuckers anymore."

He looks me dead in my eyes as he continues, "I really wished it was you, Nix. Tried to find my way in that day in the library, but Viper's treasurer already had his hooks in you." His eyes drift to Mason. "Lucky bastard."

We let him talk, let him dig his own grave as we listen with difficulty. "You know, they said if I found a way in with you—if I'd taken you in Kat's place—they would have made me an officer. Too bad your entourage was always six feet away. We could have had so much fun."

I'm seething when I speak, so angry at Martin and the Bastards and myself. How could I have been so stupid? How did I not see through him this whole time? "So, this was all so you could join them? You wanted to prove yourself to those sadistic assholes?"

Maniacal laughter echoes through the room. "I'm shocked you believed a word of my bullshit, Nix. They told me you were smart, that I'd have to be careful if I went after you. Guess they were wrong. You're just a naive, weak little girl. So easy to pull the leather over your eyes."

He smirks at Mason. "Isn't that right, Raptor?She's theeasytwin?"

With a guttural growl, Mason lashes out, crashing his fist against Martin's jaw. Blood spatters the plastic below him as he cackles. "Too bad I never got a taste."

Mason moves to strike again, but I stop him. "You may be right. I was naive and weak then." I take a step closer. "But now, I'll never let myself be those things again." I inch closer. "Where are they? Where do those fuckers have Raven and Kat?"

A bloody smile curls over his lips. "Mmmmm, Kat . . . She's probably sleeping off our last session. I wore her out pretty good."

My stomach curdles at his implication. "Where are they?" I demand.

He licks his lips, smearing the blood as he watches me. "I bet your sister is under my brothers right now. Being taught how to take it rough," he laughs again, and my anger boils over.

Without a second thought, my arm strikes. Lightning fast, my fist connects with his nose. The crunch of bone beneath my knuckles is more satisfying than I imagined it would be. And his howl of pain is my prize.

Jesse watches in amazement and Mason with pride as I lean close to my sister's captor. I know he won't tell me what I want to know, not like this. It's time to let the Sons take over. "I hope they tear you limb from limb."

As I back away, I see a flash of fear in his eyes as Jesse and the two Devils close in. I turn for the door, unsure I can stomach watching what the men will do to him. Mason is right on my heels as I walk back to my room.

The world I knew has changed drastically since leaving New Mexico. I always knew it would, but I had no clue how much I'd change with it . . .

Everything I knew about right and wrong has been questioned. The lines between morality and depravity have started to blur, and the girl I used to be has been left behind. Somewhere along the way, she lost her innocence, her unending optimism.

I don't mourn her like I expected I would. Instead, I resolve to rise from her ashes better and stronger. Gone is the weakling who ignored her instincts and let everyone else make decisions for her. Here to stay is the Phoenix I've always been destined to become.

Part of me will always be kind and fair, like my mother, but right now, I need to be strong and resilient, like my dad. Like Raven. I know what has to be done to save Kat and my sister. I've already accepted it.

Touching Mason's arm, I tell him, "Do whatever it takes to get our answers. Whatever you have to do to make him talk, do it."

He eyes me for a minute before nodding and kissing my swollen knuckles. "Stay here with Lace and the others. I'll be back when this is done."

The door snicks shut, and silence stands in his wake.

Hours seem to pass as time crawls forward. Since Mason left, every minute seems to stretch to eternity as we wait for answers.

It should scare me. It should make my skin crawl and my heart ache, knowing what's being done in the other room, but the only thing I can feel anymore is resolution. The idea of Mason beating someone to a pulp for information should be sickening. Yet every second that passes is another that Rae and Kat are in the hands of rapists and murderers.

The Bastards had this coming—Martinhad this coming after what he'd done. It's only fair. It's what he deserves.

For Kat.

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