Page 44 of Loch
His repulsive cologne filled my nose as I tried to push myself up. His hand wrapped around my throat and he slid my body up the wall like I was a limp ragdoll. I tried to scream but it came out as a strangled squeak. My legs dangled below me, the tips of my toes brushing over the carpet.
His dark eyes glared into mine. They were black and void of any kind of life. I gasped for air and he tightened his grip on my throat for a second. He was letting me know he had all the control and power. Without releasing my neck, he set me down so my feet were planted on the floor. Then he kicked my legs open and stood between them. I had no chance of kneeing him this time, even if I could get my legs to work.
I felt something warm trickle down the side of my face and I wondered if I was bleeding. His hand reared back and he punched me, hard, on the side of my face. The crunching sound and pain made my stomach tighten and I swallowed hard to keep the bile from coming up. Then he punched me again and again; landing hits to my face, ribs, and stomach. An evil glint appeared in his eyes as he worked me over. My body tried to curl inward but he firmly held me upright.
“Please,” I whispered. My throat felt raw like I had swallowed sandpaper. Unstoppable tears ran down my face. I knew my plea was useless. The sinister smirk that spread across his face told me so. I knew I was going to die. I was going to end up just like Liz.
“Liz…” Her name spilled from my lips as I thought about her.
“She didn’t die that night. I know you thought she was dead when you interrupted us, but she wasn’t just yet.” He laughed and it sounded like the Devil himself. “That was going to be your birthday gift, but you ran away before I could give it to you. I even tried to save her death for you to watch, but I guess the Texas heat was just too much. Maybe I shouldn’t have left her tied and gagged in the trunk for so long.” He paused and his eyes focused on me again.
“But, in my defense,” he continued, “I didn’t plan on being in that whore’s club that long. You know, the one you used to work at. There was this little peach of a girl that looked just like you and I ended up taking her in one of the rooms. Poor thing didn’t even look like herself when I was done.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “I’m glad you weren’t like one of them. Not that being a cocktail waitress is any better. Anyway, Liz is still in the trunk of her car. I’m sure she’s smelling pretty ripe by now. It’s not far. I left it off the side of the road along the highway. I tucked it away so it’s not noticeable from the road.”
The thought of Liz suffocating and suffering like that broke my heart. I felt like it was all my fault. If I hadn’t left her there. If I hadn’t been her roommate. Too many things flowed through my head. I felt dizzy and woozy. My legs trembled. Then I felt the cold sharp blade of a knife skim over the thin flesh right below his hand on my throat.
Nate. Thoughts of him flooded my mind. I wished I could’ve had one more night with him. I wished I had told him I loved him and that nothing had ever compared to the way he made me feel. I wished I’d found the courage to tell him I wanted forever with him. I wondered if he would miss me when I was gone.
Before I could think anymore, the knife sliced through the top of my shirt. He gripped it with one hand and ripped it apart. It hung open, still held together at the bottom. Then he sliced through the left cup of my bra. He pulled my breast out after sliding the knife back into the side of his pants. He twisted my nipple so hard I cried out.
“Shut up, bitch!” he roared, spittle flying from his mouth and landing on my cheek.
His hand snaked down the bare skin of my stomach. I closed my eyes and tried to go somewhere else. He reached my pants and roughly slid his hand into my panties. I coughed and swallowed the bile back down. It burned my throat and nose. He roughly shoved his finger inside of me. I cried out in pain and fear. It only seemed to egg him on. He leaned in and licked up my neck, leaving a hot and sticky trail that made me feel dirty through to my soul. I was dry and it felt like he was scratching me as he continued to thrust his finger in and out. I felt his teeth sink into my shoulder so hard I knew I would bleed.
“What, you can get wet for that trash biker, but not for me?” His words like a slap to the face. How did he know about Nate? How long had he been watching me? “I’m going to teach you a lesson. If I feel teeth, I will kill him and your grandma. I’ll kill that other trash you hang out with, too. Filthy fucking bikers. Maybe you are just a stupid whore.”
He slapped me hard and my face whipped to the side. I was drenched in cold sweat. He let go of my neck and I fell into a limp pile on the ground. My body shook. He pulled the top of my hair until I was on my knees. Then his free hand released his zipper and he pulled out his dick. A putrid funk wafted into my nose and this time I did vomit. Chunks stuck to my chin and hair. He grabbed my jaw and shoved his dick in my mouth. He crammed it down my throat and I couldn’t breathe. My head shook back and forth trying to free my mouth but his grip tightened on my hair and face, holding me still. His hold on me so hard it felt like my jaw was going to break.
“Fuck yeah, you like it little bitch.” He laughed and pulled back a little. I sucked in as much air through my nose as my lungs would allow. My throat was raw. He rammed forward again. I gagged and tried to cough around him, but he shoved it in further. Snot poured out of my nose and my eyes burned with tears. I felt like my throat was ripping apart. “I’d love to kill you this way. Watch you die choking on my cock. Feel that? Just the thought it is making me harder.”
I was fading. My body was shutting down. My vision was blurry. He kept going over and over. I was finding it harder to inhale a fresh lungful of air every time he pulled back and I felt my body giving up. I was angry and sad. I feared I would pass out and he would kill me. I was going to slip away and miss my last few moments on earth.
With the last ounce of energy I had, I brought my hands up and pushed at his thighs with all my might. It was a dumb move. I was too weak and he didn’t even budge. Fear shot through me and I scratched at the flesh on his arms. At least I would die knowing I tried. With all the strength I could muster, I attempted one last fight. I balled up my fists and hit his hips as hard as I could. Then my arms fell slack and useless at my sides. I started to slip into the darkness.
There was a noise somewhere off in the distance, but my brain couldn’t process what it was. Without warning, Lance pulled away from me and I was being held against his body. His chest heaving against my back and his arm wrapped around my neck. Then I felt the sharp prick of his blade against my neck. I realized he was using me as a shield, but my eyes couldn’t focus on who else was there.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Loch
I pulled into the driveway to my house. With everything that was going on with the club, I’d been staying there more than at my house. I decided I needed a break from the tense atmosphere of the compound. I was going to sleep in my own bed and take time in the quiet to clear my head.
I glanced over and saw Reagan’s car parked in Ethel’s driveway. More than anything I wanted to go over there. I had a need deep inside me to see her. The simple thought of wrapping her in my arms calmed me like nothing else.
As much as I wanted to, I willed myself against it. There were things we needed to talk about, but I wanted my head on straight before I sat down with her. I felt like an asshole. I missed the hell out of her but I needed to deal with one thing at a time, and right now the club was number one. Besides, keeping Reagan as far away as possible was for the best. I would never be able to live with myself if something happened to her. Everything was so fucked up and I cursed the timing of it all.
As I got out my truck I noticed Ethel’s porch light was out. I knew she was at bingo and I didn’t want her to trip on the stairs coming home. I went into my garage and grabbed a new bulb before I climbed up her stairs. I changed the light and the new bulb didn’t light up. Ethel never forgot to turn the light on. My brow knitted and I wondered if it was simply a faulty new bulb. I grabbed another one and it didn’t work either. I walked around the back of the house to check the breakers. Maybe something had tripped and it would be a simple fix.
An eerie feeling crept over me as I rounded the back of the house. I looked around and didn’t see anything. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I figured I would call them back when I finished. I opened the box and saw the main power appeared to have been cut. That was when I heard a muffled cry from inside the house. I ran up the back steps and peered through the window on the back door. My eyes tried to focus through the darkness. Then I saw a tall male figure on the stairs. A pale, lifeless arm swung beside his legs.
My blood boiled and the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears became deafening. I kicked the door in, splintering the frame around it. The guy turned around as I approached. That was when I noticed how fucked up the situation was. His dick hung out over his opened pants and a thick line of drool connected to Reagan’s busted mouth. Her body sagged and the only reason she was still upright was that he had a firm grip on her hair.
I snapped, losing every ounce of control as I reached for my gun tucked behind my back. I whipped it around and pointed it at him without hesitation. But I was too late. He already had her semi-conscious body pinned in front of him. Fucking coward. I couldn’t risk taking a shot and hitting Reagan, even if I was a good shot. His knife pressed hard enough into her neck to cut the skin. Blood welled up around the edge of the knife. She let out a little whimper at the contact of the blade.
“Back the fuck up, trash,” he spat, disgust dripping in his tone. I recognized him from the pictures Bocca showed me.Lance. The whole scene played out in front of me like a horror movie. I felt helpless. He shifted and started to walk backward to the front door, my gun trained on him the whole time. “Don’t be stupid, I will kill her.”
“Rea, look at me, baby,” I said low and deep, and almost too calm to be normal.
Her eyes shot open as she tried to focus on me. Tears ran down her face as her eyes slowly blinked a few times. I swallowed hard trying my best to reign in my fury. I took a step forward as he reached behind him and opened the front door. I scrutinized his every movement, waiting for some kind of opening. All I needed was a split second. He grabbed the keys off the hook, a smirk on his face like he knew right where they were. Reagan’s eyes closed and more tears fell.
