Page 8 of Shadow's Heart
“Thank you.” I say sincerely.
I know I should probably be more bothered about my brother involving himself in what is essentially a relationship problem, but maybe an outside force pointing out just how selfish Megan is acting will cause her to stop being that way. Even if it’s only until we find Wreck, I’ll fucking take it. It’s not like I plan on our relationship lasting any longer than that anyway. Wreck’s where my priority lies right now, and that’s not going to change. Megan either needs to accept that or leave me alone because no matter what she says or does, that isn’t going to change.
I turn my attention to Flash now that Wrath has updated me all he can. I need a little bit of good news right now, and I’m hoping his being here means Jake is well and truly on the way to being healed and healthy. I can’t imagine, even with everything that’s happened, that he’d leave Jake if he was still in a bad way. The smile Flash gives when I ask about Jake seems so out of place with the somber mood in the air, but it’s nice to see. The update on how well Jake is recovering is good to hear too; wecould all do with something good right now. Even feeling the way I do, I can’t help but laugh when he tells us about the way Jake’s brothers are treating him. Apparently they’re a little but over the top when it comes to their youngest brother’s recovery. It doesn’t matter how many times Jake tells them he’s healing and can get back to normal; they aren’t letting up on making him rest until he’s back to 100%. I think I’d go out of my mind if I had to deal with that. I don’t envy him at all.
Chapter Eleven
Wreck
Ihave no idea how long I’ve been here. Time means nothing to me anymore. All I know is beatings, torture, and pain. This guy isn’t fucking messing about; he’s fucking good at what he does, and if I had anything to confess, I’d have fucking done it by now, but unfortunately for me, I’ve got nothing to confess. So instead I’m stuck in an endless cycle of pain that, if it doesn’t stop soon, will eventually kill me. The body can only take so much before it gives out.
I don’t think I’ve ever been in as much pain as I am right now; breathing hurts. Pretty sure I’ve got some damage to my ribs. They’ve got to be either bruised, cracked, or broken; I just can’t tell because of the level of pain my body is currently in. My arms, legs, and torso are covered in cuts, all of which are different lengths, depths, and widths. He certainly had a good time trying out the damage various types of knives and other sharp instruments can do to the human body. I’ve taken so many hits to the head I’m surprised my brain is even still functioning. I definitely have a concussion, that much I can tell. Even with the pain I’m in. I’m hoping that’s the extent of the damage in my skull.
The last time he left, after another round of beating me until I could no longer hold my head up, he informed me that I had a couple of days reprieve from him as he was leaving on a job he couldn’t turn down, as much as he wanted to stay and make me suffer. I’m so fucking relieved he’s gone for now; hopefully some of my injuries will start to heal before I once again am at his mercy. He was rather excited about having me here to come back and torture, saying something about how he’ll take pleasure in eventually breaking me because of how well I’ve held out. Yeah, well, I’ve held out because I have nothing to fucking confess too. Not like that matters though. He doesn’t believe me for one minute.
I’ve given up all hope of being found and going home. I’m going to be this guy’s prisoner until I die. He’s going to carry on torturing me until my body finally gives out because I can’t give him what he wants. I can’t help the tears that start to flow down my face; as much as I physically hurt, it’s the emotional turmoil that’s going to be my downfall. The fact I’m never going to see Shadow again is soul-destroying. Never getting to witness his stupid antics that never fail to make me smile. Never seeing his smile that lights up whatever room he’s in. Never feeling his arms wrap around me in one of his amazing hugs. Never seeing his beautiful face again. The torture might be what will eventually kill me, but my soul will be destroyed well and truly before that happens.
Then there’s the thoughts of Dre. I’m never going to find out what happened to my brother. He may have been missing for longer than I ever expected, but I have never given up hope that I’d find him. That’s not going to happen when I die here, though; instead, my MC family is going to be the ones who eventually find him and have to tell him I’m gone. I know they’ll continue my search for him even with me dead; that’s just the type ofpeople they are, and eventually I’ve got to believe they will find him and bring him home.
Staring at the ceiling, feeling nothing but hopelessness and so fucking alone. I give into the darkness that’s threatening to swallow me whole because at least in my sleep I can dream of better times, times I spent with Shadow, Dre, and everyone else I care about. Times where I was happy and didn’t have my impending death hanging over my head.
Chapter Twelve
Jake
Three days ago, I sent Flash to help with the search for Wreck. It was certainly a fucking shock when he got the text message telling him what had happened. I feel so fucking useless, stuck here in my family home under my brother’s watchful eyes instead of out there helping search for the missing member of my MC.
Recovering from the gut shot that almost killed me fucking stinks. I’m so much fucking stronger than I was months ago when it happened, but I’m not at 100% yet, which means my overprotective brothers won’t let me fucking leave and return to my life. I get it; they almost lost me, but this is getting fucking ridiculous now. I have a life I’d very much like to return to sooner rather than later.
Rolling out of bed, I check my phone, seeing a message from Flash. It’s not good news though; they’ve still got nothing on Wreck, and Shadow has gone from an emotional wreck to a careless ball of anger in his search for answers. It’s taking everyone to keep him from doing something downright stupid that will either land him in jail or dead. I can’t even imagine what Shadow is going through; his friendship with Wreck is fucking goals. Everyone deserves a friendship like theirs. The one personwho will always be there, who will never judge and just makes life so much better.
Shuffling out of my room, after pulling on a pair of black sweatpants, a loose-fitting blue t-shirt, and my trusty sneakers, I start to make my way downstairs to see what my brothers are doing, wondering if I can finally convince them to let me go back to my life, but I come to a halt when I hear Seth and Austin talking.
“What the fuck is Rex thinking?” Seth hisses at Austin quietly, obviously not wanting to be overheard.
“How the fuck am I meant to know what’s going on in the morons mind?” Austin gripes back just as quietly.
God, what’s going on with my brothers this time? I swear they’re always butting heads for one reason or another. They drive me insane. They wonder why I chose to not go into the family business and join Devil’s Inferno instead. This right here is why. I can still help people by being a part of Devil’s Inferno, but I’m far away from my brother’s squabbles, which nine times out of ten are over the most ridiculous things you can imagine. The way they act, it’s very easy to forget I’m the youngest out of the four of us.
“I don’t know, but we need to fucking do something before he gets back from this job. Not only has he gone off book, but if Jake finds out what he’s done. Yeah, I’m not even going to speculate. We both know it’ll be bad.”
Now I’m fucking intrigued. What the fuck has my oldest brother done that has my other brother’s in such a fucking tizzy? And why would I even care? So many questions, and unless they carry on talking, I’m not going to get any answers. Unless I confront them.
“You think I don’t know that? Rex has had the poor guy for three fucking days and we’ve only just found out. Fucking hell, us even finding out was pure fucking luck on our part. I don’teven want to think about the state that man is going to be in now after Rex has had him this long.”
Three. Days. Three fucking days. Please be fucking wrong. Please. Please. Please. I don’t stick around to hear anything else they have to say. I need to go and see with my own eyes that it’s him. It’s the only fucking thing that makes sense with what I just overheard. It would also answer why the fuck everyone in Devil’s Inferno has had zero luck finding him.
I take off full speed down the rest of the stairs and towards the back door, which leads to the building out back, which is used as a holding space for The Khaos Group. There’s many buildings like this located all around the world, but we have one here in our backyard because of who our family is. The Knightlye family is, after all, one of the founding families of the organization. So it does sort of make sense that one’s located in our backyard.
I can hear both Seth and Austin shouting my name, no doubt my descent down the stairs and out the house, causing them to realize I overheard them talking, but I don’t give a shit what they have to say right now. If I’m right and the person Rex has been holding is Wreck, shit is about to get fucking messy. Really fucking messy. Don’t get me wrong, I love each and every one of my brother’s, but I know for a fact that Wreck has done nothing to deserve whatever Rex has done to him. Wreck is a great fucking person with a moral code that should, in theory, make him a potential friend to my brother, not a fucking victim.
Slamming my palm down on the scanner on the outside of the building. I wait until I hear the click of the door locks releasing and yank it open fast. I may not have become a member of The Khaos Group, but that was my choice. It’s not one I regret in the slightest, but I can’t say I’m not fucking happy I still have access to this fucking building. It makes this so mucheasier. Thank you, Mom, for ensuring I’d still have access even though I’m not a part of The Khaos Group.
Rounding the corner to the holding rooms, I see a young man, whose name I don’t know, standing outside the room that’s assigned to Rex. As soon as I’m in front of him, I say one word. “Move.” I’m not exactly in the mood for polite conversation. I need to know if my hunch is right and that Wreck is inside that room.
“Sorry, I can’t do that. I’m under strict instructions not to let anyone inside.” He says, staring me dead in the eye. Trying to look intimidating.
Yeah, that’s not going to work for me. Without a second thought, I strike out, jabbing the guy in the throat, following it up with a punch to his stomach. He immediately drops to his knees, his hands going to his throat as he struggles. I don’t even feel bad for him; he should have fucking moved out of my way like I asked instead of trying to be the big man. With him now no longer in my way, I release the locks on the door and push my way inside.
