Page 71 of Wicked Oath

“Aww. Listen to her trying to buy her way out,” the first man laughs. “Fucking pathetic.”

“No! Stop. Please, stop,” I beg as hands grab me and I am flipped to my back with my hands under me. They grab hold of my legs and force them apart.

“Remember, son,” the first man says. “She is to blame for your brother’s death.”

“If only Fang could see me now,” the second man laughs as he leans into my body. “This one’s for you, little bro.”

The second man surges into me with as much force as he can, ripping a shrill and deafening scream from me as he instantly starts to thrust as hard as he can. The friction feels like firespreading through my belly and I can’t stop screaming as I thrash. They all keep a tight hold on me, but I don’t stop trying to get away. The longer he goes, the more this feeling sinks in.

I’m never going to see any of my men again.

Chapter Seventeen

Talon

“I think she willlove it,” Jude says with a smile.

“You think so? Is it not too flashy? She’s not the flashy type,” I question as I look at the ring that I have picked out for Delaney. We have been married for four months now, and I think it’s time we made this real. So much has happened, and I have yet to take the time to slow down and show her just how much she means to me. To all of us. The ring that we all have collectively picked out has five stones in it, one for each of us. Our rings will be simple bands, but we all want to make real vows to her. She is much more than just my wife. She is a wife to all of us and even though they share a different dynamic with her than I do, she deserves all the love we have to offer. I can’t deny that it’s hard at times sharing her, but the guys are incredibly patient with me.

“She will love it,” Chris says reassuringly. “She might kick our asses for lying and saying you were going to work, though.”

“Yeah, she won’t like that,” Tony chuckles. “But… I think leaving her at home to relax so we could plan all of this will be worth it.”

“She’s probably worn a ditch in the floor from pacing,” I say. “We’ll take this.”

“I’ll get it boxed up for you,” the salesman says with a smile. I follow him over to the register and quickly pay, eager to get home to Delaney. Once we are done, we start walking back toward the truck.

“I have a voicemail from Laney,” Jude says as we get in. “It never even rang through.”

“Well, play it,” I say as I disconnect my phone from the Bluetooth so his can connect. She is probably scolding him for keeping me out of the house. We told her we’d be home at two, and it’s two right now. I procrastinated for so long with choosing the right ring that it made us late.

“Cheryl called. I am on my way,” Delaney says on the voicemail with absolute panic in her voice. “I know you’re with Talon right now, but I don’t’ know what’s going on or how bad it is. Cheryl said to meet her in the parking garage by the ICU, so… I’m coming…. Okay? Fuck, I wish you had answered. He has to be okay. She said you guys hit a tree? I don’t know. Just don’t let Talon die. Please. I can’t lose him. I am holding on by a thread and I just knew something bad was going to happen today. I love you guys so fucking much. Please tell Talon I love him, even ifyou think he can’t hear you. He has to know I love him… I’ll see you soon, baby… Bye.”

“Goddamn it,” I scream as I hit the steering wheel. No one says anything as I stomp on the gas and speed toward the hospital. I can see Jude on his phone checking the cameras at the house so if she is there, he will know soon. I glance over at him and he just sighs, at a loss for words.

When we get to the hospital, I follow the signs for the parking garage by the ICU, and I spot a cop I recognize outside of Delaney’s car. Beside her car is Cheryl’s with her body on the ground beside her. “Uh oh,” Adam says. I say nothing as I stop and get out.

“Ned,” I say. Ned Hammond looks up and sighs, telling me what I already knew. “She’s gone. Isn’t she?”

“What do you know?” he asks. I could be a dick, but it won’t help anything. I need to find my wife and if he is questioning me, he is trying to do that. How is it that I am rational when I feel like falling apart? Delaney would have an answer for me. She always has a way of explaining things in a way that makes me feel normal. Is this what my life will become? Consumed by the memory of her?”

“She called Jude and left a message. Apparently, she thought I was dying in the hospital. Cheryl called her and told her to meet here. I assume that’s Cheryl?”

“Yeah. Blunt force trauma,” Ned says. “Where have you been today?”

“Planning a wedding,” I say. “We wanted to give her a real wedding. When did this happen?”

“When did you get the voicemail?” Ned asks Jude.

“About two hours ago. My phone never even rang. I didn’t know she called,” Jude explains. “We have receipts to back up everywhere we’ve been, by the way.”

“I’m telling you this because I know you’ll just get someone to break in and get the information anyway,” Ned says to me. “Security cameras caught it. She got here and got out. Black van pulls up and Delaney snapped and bashed Cheryl’s face in until someone pulled her into the van. She fought hard but there was a bunch of them. Then the van got on the interstate. We have a BOLO out for them, but these guys know what they’re doing. They get away unnoticed all the time.”

“So what? My wife is just gone?” I snap.

“Yes,” Ned says. “Grim’s guys grabbed her so…”

“She’ll get auctioned off,” I say when he won’t.

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