Page 85 of Jack

The entire thirty-five minutes it takes to get to the location, my blood boils with each passing mile. My skin is on fire, and it itches to make the fucker hurt. Images of Lilith laying hurt on a floor, or tied to a chair, or like my mom, hanging from a chain in the ceiling, flash through my mind. I have heard all of the horror stories that my family have been through.

Following my club brothers, my brother in arms, my blood family, we come to a stop and cut the engines on our bikes, before dismounting and stepping together to hear what Pres has to say.

Even though Lilith is mine, we will all go on Pres, or Sarge’s orders, as he is our SAA. Sarge walks off to scope out the house, and we wait, my nerves firing on all cylinders, ready to strike this motherfucker down.

“The house is a detached house, nothing on either side of it. It has a basement, so if he has Lilith in there, I have no doubt she is kept down there,” Sarge says once he walks back to us. “We do not know if his wife is a part of this; the windows are boarded up, we also have no fucking clue if Lilith is actually in there. We need a distraction to get him out of there and know for sure.”

“Throw a stone at the windows,” Slide suggests. “Childish, I know, but effective.” He shrugs.

I move my gaze to the house, looking around to see how we can find out if the fucker is in there and if Lilith and her cousinare in there also. It is like I can feel her, I sense that she is in there.

“Oh fuck,” is called out. “MOVE.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

LILITH

I sigh, letting my head fall back against the concrete wall behind me. According to the small window at the top of the wall that shows some daylight, I have been here for over a day. Both Vanessa and I did get some sleep, but it was cold, so we huddled together for some extra warmth.

Her head is resting on my thigh, my fingers gently brushing through her matted hair.

Christopher really did a number on her.

“I was horrible to you growing up. I was wrong in so many things, and I was a bitch to you. I know that you will never forgive me, and I would never expect you to, but if we ever get out of here, I would love to build a new relationship with you. One where I am away from the high-society pricks of the world,” she murmurs.

“Shh, just rest. We can talk when we get out of here,” I soothe her.

Turning her head to look up at me, fresh tears fill her eyes, and it brings on my own.

“Do you really think we will get out of here?”

I nod. “I do. The Rugged Skulls MC will come and save us. My man will stop at nothing to bring me home and by extension, you. The club will keep you safe,” I tell her honestly.

“I bet you hate me, don’t you?” she cries softly.

I think back to all of the terrible things that her and her friends did to me. Even my own sister Cherie was a bitch to me. She was petty more than anything, making sure that no one saw or suspected that it was her hurting me.

“Hate is a strong word, Vanessa, but yes, I have hated you for a long time, but even so, you did not deserve this. No woman deserves to be hit by a man. No one should ever lay their hands on someone they claim to love.”

She scoffs, then coughs. “Christopher can’t love. He is incapable of it.”

I think over her words, and I have to agree with her; seeing a different side to him only shows that he is cold and devious. He deserves everything that the club will do to him, because I know that even with Cal involved in the club, Christopher will never see the inside of a jail cell.

“I have to believe you.”

We are both silent for a time. Maybe both thinking over the time we both wasted on a man like Christopher.

“This new man of yours. Is he good to you, Lilith?”

“He is. He treats me like a queen. He is sweet and gentle with me but hard and dirty other times,” I confess.

She giggles as she slowly moves to sit up. Leaning against the wall next to me, her face is still battered and bruised, and I wince seeing the damage.

“Christopher said that he is a part of a motorcycle club that does illegal things. Is that true?” I see the worry etched on her face, so I take her hand and tell her.

“It is true. Well, about the motorcycle part, but not the illegal things.” I do not tell her some of the things I have seen or heard that the club does when they are on a hunt.

She doesn’t need to know any of that stuff. That is for club ears only. Thinking that I am now a part of the club makes my heart soar and feel settled. Jack has helped me find something that I have been looking for for so long. Tree, Kady, and my aunt and uncle could only offer so much, but I love them for everything they have done.

---