Page 278 of Outlaws of Tulsa

Mitch.

I creep forward, making sure to keep Cove protected at my back. Cove and I aren’t stupid and came strapped with weapons. I’m sure Night Giant will force me to give them up, but right now, I’m hanging onto them like a lifeline.

A whimper.

Closer.

My heart is hammering inside my chest, pumping blood furiously to my ears, making it nearly impossible to hear.

Cove grips the back of my leather cut, stopping me. We wait in silence until my heart isn’t racing like it was. It’s then I hear it too. Footsteps on a dirty floor.

“Shhh, princess. Your savior will be here soon.”

Boiling rage surges up inside me, singing all rational thoughts. I charge toward Night Giant’s voice, ignoring the hisses of Cove behind me. When I step into Night Giant’s “room,” I don’t see him sprawled out on the bed naked like I expect. For some reason, this startles me into confusion.

So many times, I’d been dragged into this room from my makeshift cell to please the motherfucker. I spent so much time on my knees in this room.

But he’s not naked and waiting.

He’s fully dressed, standing behind my brother, a Glock digging into his temple. Mitch is in nothing but a pair of black boxers. He’s shivering and his green eyes are wild with fear. A strip of duct tape over his mouth prevents him from speaking. When his gaze flickers to me, another wave of terror makes him tremble. Since I haven’t seen my brother since he was like in the first grade or some shit, he probably doesn’t even recognize me.

Sickness roils in my gut.

Does he think I’m one of them? A sicko like Night Giant?

“It’s okay, bubba,” I say in a tone I hope he remembers. “I’m gonna get you out of here.”

Recognition flickers in his eyes and he starts sobbing. This sends Night Giant into a fit of creepy laughter. It makes every hair on my arms stand on end.

“We had a deal,” Cove growls from behind me. “Us for him. Let him go.”

Night Giant’s grin is cruel. “But what fun this could be. I’ve always thought Mitch here looked just like his brother did at this age.” He roves a free hand over Mitch’s bare stomach. “The training would have to start all over again and I’ve just put too much time into my little pet. Right, Caught?”

A full-bodied shudder quakes through me. “Let him go.”

“Sorry,” Night Giant says, “I couldn’t hear you. Your whispers don’t do shit for me, Caught. You know I prefer your screams.”

I struggle to breathe. If it weren’t for Cove’s fierce presence, I’d probably pass out. Sweat trickles over my brow and the knife in my slick hand feels slippery.

“Let Mitch go,” Cove growls. “You want Dragon, so take him. Let the kid go.”

Night Giant digs his grip into Mitch’s ribs, wrenching a pained howl from him that’s smothered by the tape. “Someone grew some balls since he last got on his knees for me. Tell me, little shit starter, do I need to cut them off to make you behave?”

Bile claws up my throat, burning me in the process. I wish I really were a dragon so I could breathe the fire out of me and burn the motherfucker who has my brother in his wicked talons.

“What we’re going to do,” Night Giant says in a commanding voice that makes my skin crawl, “is we’re going to take a walk. Outside.”

Outside is good.

There’s a slew of badass bikers in hiding out there.

Copper or Filter could probably blow Night Giant’s big head off his shoulders if given a fraction of a second.

“Fine,” I grit out. “Let Mitch go and we’ll go with you.”

“Not yet,” Night Giant barks out. “Move your asses and stay where I can see you.”

Cove tugs on the sleeve of my shirt. “Come on.”

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