Page 55 of Stray
He pulled me back around so I faced Noah and Codie again. Blood streamed down her face from a cut on her cheek. Seeing that enraged me bad enough to make my temples pound. Holding back hurt. I needed to find out which one of these fuckers did that and slice his fucking balls off.
“Now get on your knees.” Noah used his gun to motion for me to get on the floor. He waited until I’d knelt down to add, “You’re going to do a little favor for us, Stray.”
“And what might that be?” I spoke through clenched teeth.
My gaze darted to Codie. She’d been tied to a chair. Her lipstick was smeared, her face bloody. There was a haunted void in her eyes that I would never forget. This was all because of me. If I hadn’t formed such an interest in her, if I hadn’t inserted myself into her world, Venom never would have thought to use her as a target.
Her lower lip trembled. That alone was enough to make me burn this place to the ground. I held her gaze, hoping she saw the unspoken promise in my eyes. I would get her out of here if it was the last thing I did.
“You’re going to call Rebel and tell him to meet you here. He will come alone or you and Codie both die.” Noah shoved thebarrel of his gun against Codie’s temple hard enough to make her wince.
“So that’s what this is about.” I nodded knowingly. “You want payback against Rebel because of River. You’re really willing to put your own life on the line for a dead man?”
Colt slammed his gun into the side of my head, knocking me sideways. “Consider yourself lucky we haven’t already killed you, asshole. Every single one of you deserves it.”
Something warm and wet trickled down the side of my face. Once I got my moment, I was going to make this fucker sorry.
“Go ahead. Take out your phone and make the call.” Noah grabbed Codie’s face, squeezing her cheeks. “Do it or I let Colt play with your toy.”
I was blinded by the fury that overtook me. I saw through a red haze. My hands shook with the effort it took to restrain myself as I pulled my phone slowly from my pocket. The thought of Colt putting his hands on Codie stripped away any remaining sanity I possessed.
While Noah watched intently, I called Rebel. “He might not answer. He’s at the graveyard. It’s loud there. Everyone is partying.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to keep calling until he answers. Neither one of you is getting out of here alive if Rebel doesn’t show tonight.” Noah shrugged, not giving a shit about either of us.
I knew that if I were in his position, I would feel the same way, and I would probably do the same thing. However, that didn’t mean jack shit right now. These pieces of shit touched my girl. They would be sorry.
Rebel answered on my first call. “What’s up? Why do I have a feeling there’s trouble?”
“I need you to come to the Venom warehouse,” I said, keeping my tone even and calm. “You know the one where they hold the raves. You have to come alone.”
Rebel chuckled, a sound filled with violence. “So this is it, huh? Their big revenge plan. Let me guess. They have you and Codie held at gunpoint or something equally dramatic.”
“Something like that.” Even though Colt stood over me with a weapon, it was Noah I watched. I didn’t trust that fucker.
“All right, I’m on my way. Hang tight.” Rebel ended the call. I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“He’s coming,” I said. “There. Now let Codie go.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “What kind of an idiot do you take me for? I’m not letting go of my bargaining chip. She’s the only thing keeping you on a leash.”
“I’d say we have a good fifteen minutes or more before Rebel gets here. Might as well spend the time wisely.” Colt’s fist was heavy against the side of my head as he punched me.
I had no choice but to endure the abuse he dished out. Obviously, someone like him only felt powerful when he had others at a disadvantage. He took his time. Punching me. Kicking me in the kidneys and the ribs. My fucking ribs were still sore from the accident they’d caused. I did my best to protect myself. That only encouraged him.
“Please stop,” Codie shouted, breaking her silence. “You don’t need to hurt him. Haven’t you already done enough?”
“Are you kidding?” Noah laughed. “We’re just getting started. Does it hurt you to watch? I guess he does mean something to you after all.”
“Maybe Codie wants to have some fun too. I would love to make Stray watch while I fuck her.” Colt ambled over to where Codie sat tied to the chair. Grabbing her by the throat, he forced a nasty kiss on her.
The only thing keeping me on my knees was Noah who had trained his gun on me now. I was forced to sit there and watch as Codie squirmed and shouted while Colt groped her tits. He was a fucking dead man.
“Get off me, you sick fuck. It’s no surprise the only way you can touch a woman is by force. No one would ever willingly touch a scumbag like you.” Codie wasn’t willing to sit there and take it. My girl was ready to go down fighting.
That was the moment I knew that I loved her. The moment there was no doubt left in my mind.
When Colt slapped her across the face, she fiercely glared up at him. Despite the fear that gleamed in her eyes, she refused to become his victim.
