Page 177 of Outlaws of Tulsa

“Safety?”

“Means to avenge.”

“You’ve been looking for Night Giant ever since?”

“When Dragon connected that Vidal and Collins were linked to Night Giant, he wanted to kill them but have them lead us to Night Giant first.”

Katana looks three seconds from passing out, so I give him a break. “Rest, man.”

“We have to find them,” he mutters. “I can’t lose my best friend.”

“We will,” I growl. “They’ve got my ol’ lady and my baby she’s carrying. You better fucking believe we’ll get them back.”

Katana smiles before he closes his eyes. I turn to find Filter standing in the doorway, listening like a fucking stalker. Shouldering past him, I ignore his furious glare. I get halfway down the hallway before he shoves me into a bedroom. My rage bubbles to the surface and I swing a fist at him. He barely ducks it.

“She’s pregnant?” he snarls. “You’re a real piece of work.”

I shove him against the wall, bringing my nose to his. “She’s pregnant with my baby. I’m going to move hell and earth to get them back. You don’t even want to know the lengths I would go to in order to destroy anything that stands in my way. Even you, Filter. I will cut your throat and step over your twitching body without even breaking a sweat. Brotherhood or not, your ass will be gutted and on the floor before I allow it to stop me. Are we clear?”

His nostrils flare and he bares his teeth. “Super fucking clear.”

“Good.” I step back and pat his chest. “Now do your job and let’s find these motherfuckers.”

Stormy

Someone screams, waking me from the fitful sleep I’d barely drifted into. My heart stutters in my chest as I quickly scan the dark room, still only illuminated by the bathroom light, looking for my siblings. Relief floods through me as I remember they’re with me. The twins are curled together like they’re in the womb beside me on one of the disgusting mattresses. I’m thankful the scream didn’t come from them. But when I see the dark figure dragging someone from the room, I realize the source.

Pete.

And now I know why Smelly Melly calls him PeePee Pete. The strong scent of piss permeates the air. Poor guy is so scared, he can’t control his urine.

He’s gone within minutes and the door locks into place. Still no Dragon. My heart aches at having witnessed what Night Giant made him do and then the way he brutalized him. After, I was sent back to the room, but Dragon stayed with Night Giant. Not knowing what he’s doing to him feels worse than actually seeing it.

An hour or so passes when another guy comes to extract Smelly Melly. She flirts with him and he fingers her a bit under her dress before he takes her away. Not long after, they take Crybaby Charlie and true to his name, he bawls. I want to help him, but I’m no match against these brutish men who are armedwith weapons. But, when they return for Erin, I can’t keep my mouth shut.

“Where are you taking her?” I demand.

The masked man turns to look at me. “None of your business, bitch.”

“It’s my business because she’s my friend.” I slide off the bed to my feet so I don’t feel at such a disadvantage. “You people are sick.”

The man chokes out a laugh. “There are sicker people out there who pay for what we offer. Shut your pretty mouth or I’ll find a way to shut it for you.”

I keep my mouth closed until he slams the door and locks it into place. A ragged, overwhelmed sigh escapes me. I don’t know what to do or how to save anyone. The thought is exhausting and defeating. It takes forever, but I manage to fall back asleep. The next time I’m awakened, it’s because someone is dragging me out of the bed by my hair.

“Time to go,” the man grunts.

Tears burn at my eyes by the hold he has on my hair. All the people in this room are being led out by the masked men in black. I fight against my captor’s hold, but he’s too strong. In the end, I give up and let him lead me back to the cage room with all the cameras. As soon as I see Dragon, relief floods through me. It’s brief, knowing he’s alive, but then dread consumes me.

He’s a maniac in the big cage—covered in blood and snarling. Several bodies litter the floor around him. My heart rate stutters in my chest with all-consuming worry. I’m no closer to escaping this place than I was yesterday when we arrived.

The men keep hold of us as we gather round the big cage, watching Dragon end junkie after junkie they send in there, staggering and shaking too hard to fight back. He’s in such a crazed state, there’s no stopping him. Night Giant barks outcommands that seem to get inside Dragon’s head each time, easily controlling him.

Eventually, Night Giant ends the show and gives Dragon a break. Other men clean out the corpses as Night Giant leads Dragon to a bench. Night Giant takes a seat and Dragon kneels in front of him, resting his head in his lap.

I want to whisper to the twins that everything will be all right, but I can’t lie to them. Not about this. There is nothing okay about this. We’re not going to leave this unscathed. I’m too weak to fight against these monsters.

“You’re up next, Tuna Terri,” one of the goons says, dragging the poor, sickly girl toward the cage.

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