Page 45 of Loch
My heart broke. I couldn’t protect her. This should have never happened. A paralyzing fear of losing her hit me deep in my chest. I took another step forward, pushing through all of the emotions clouding me.
“Don’t!” Lance growled as his hand twitched making the blade of the knife slide across the delicate skin of her neck. A thin line of blood made its way down and another whimper escaped her lips. “If I see you leave this house I will kill her.”
“Never again,” I said to her. I’d made a vow when I first met her. Part of me broke that moment I realized I hadn’t been able to keep it. But now I was reminding her and I was letting her know it wasn’t over. I was going to kill that fucking son of a bitch if it was the last thing I would ever do.
He pulled her out the door. I watched afraid to move. His eyes trained on me the whole time. He opened the driver’s side door and crawled in pulling her in with him, like the fucking coward he was.
My phone vibrated in my pocket again but I continued to ignore it. He slapped Reagan and my grip tightened on my gun. When she didn’t move, he hit her again. She snapped out of the daze she was in and started the car. Through the opened doorway, I watched as the car backed out of the driveway. The car swerved and I could tell she was having trouble staying focused. I didn’t take my eyes off of him until they drove off. As the car lurched forward, I took note that she was taking the back way out of town. For a brief moment, I was proud of her. Even in her messed up state, she knew to drive by the clubhouse. I only hoped we could get her in time.
My phone vibrated again. I pulled it out while running across the yard to my bike. I hopped on as I answered.
“Loch, the fuck man? I’ve been trying to call you,” Bocca’s voice roared through the phone. “That car they found—”
“Was Liz’s,” I said, taking a guess as I remembered the car that they towed in yesterday thinking it was abandoned. I was pissed the moment it all clicked in my brain. I should have seen it sooner.
“Yeah, and her body’s in the trunk.”
“He’s got Reagan.” I started up my bike. “He’s got a knife. Not sure anythin’ else. He took her in her car. Headed the back way out of town. Go now!” I shoved my phone back into my pocket and took off like the devil was chasing me.
The stupid fuck was heading right by the compound. We would get him, just had to make sure we did it right. I sped off in that direction feeling like I had wasted too much time already. I knew there was no way to be quiet on my bike. I only needed one opening, one shot.
I heard the rumble of bikes ahead of me as I neared the end of town. He was already on the highway. Fuck. I wanted to get him before he hit the open road.
I picked up speed, the wind ferociously whipping around me. Minutes later, blue lights flashed behind me. I didn’t give a fuck, I kept going. I wasn’t going to lose her. I watched as my brothers surrounded the car. I was almost there. The car swerved violently to the left, then right. Lance’s body jerked and I saw his hand that held the knife fly up. I pulled out my gun and took a shot. The bullet went straight through the back glass, shattering it into a million tiny cracks. A second later I saw his body slump forward. The car pulled off the side of the road and screeched to a halt as I caught up. I hopped off my bike, not even caring if I left it upright as I ran to the driver’s side.
I ripped the door open and pulled Reagan’s trembling body into mine. Wrapping my arms tight around her, I gently lifted her up and carried her away from the scene. The sheriff’s car pulled in behind us and I let out a relieved sigh when I saw it was Marshall from town. He would help keep this contained, and if that fucker was still alive, he would let us take Lance. Part of me hoped he was. I wasn’t anywhere near being done with him. He needed to die a slow and painful death for what he put her through.
With her still in my arms, my knees hit the soft, damp grass beside the car. She didn’t move and I started to worry that I was too late. Smoothing her hair back away from her face, I begged her to look at me. I felt the trail of hot wetness run down my face. My voice shook as I pleaded over and over for her to come back to me.
“Get her to county.” Marshall’s voice broke through my breakdown. “I’ll stay here, with him.”
I looked up to see Diesel and Brand dragging Lance’s body over to Marshall’s cruiser. Lance groaned as he tried to free himself, but he was no match for them. I lifted her delicate body up and placed her in the passenger’s side of the car. There was a small pool of blood on the back of the seat from where I’d shot Lance. But I couldn’t think about that now. I had to get her help.
I stood and saw Brand standing in front of the car, staring in at Reagan’s slumped over body. He looked as broken and angry as I was. His jaw clenched and a rage that I had no idea he has inside of him boiled to the surface. I had never seen him look so menacing, and I’d often wondered if the kid had it in him to deal with this type of shit. His eyes met mine and the light of the headlights showed me they were black at night. I sent him a knowing chin lift. I understood all the thoughts that were running through his head. It was the same that filled mine. We would make Lance suffer for what he’d done.
I ran around and hopped into the driver’s seat, then took off for the county hospital without a second thought. I made the twenty-minute drive in ten. Some of the brothers followed me. I didn’t even take the time to see who had pulled up as I jumped out of the car. I left the door wide open and the car running as I rushed to the other side. I didn’t give a fuck about the car. She would never be driving it again, anyway. I pulled her out as carefully as I could. I ran inside with her limp body cradled in my arms.
“I need a doctor now!” I roared. Several nurses that were standing behind the check-in counter came running. Someone wheeled over a gurney and I placed Reagan down. I grabbed her hand and held on. I started to speak before anyone asked what was going on. “She was attacked. She passed out about fifteen minutes ago. I want her in a private room.”
“Do you know her blood type?” I shook my head. “Okay, let us take her back and I can get you to fill out some paperwork.”
“No, I’m not leaving her side.” I kept pace as they wheeled her through a long hall and into a room at the end. A doctor rushed in shoving gloves on her hands.
“Sir, please.” The nurse was sympathetic but stern as she tried to hold me back.
“Loch.” I felt a hand firmly clamp down on my shoulder as Bocca spoke.
I clenched my jaw and took one last look at Reagan’s broken and mangled face. Her hair was a matted mess of tangles and clumps of dried blood. Her lips were swollen and split. Her eyes were puffy and already black and blue with bruises. I could see where his fingers gripped her jaw and throat. I nodded and took a step back, knowing it was what was best for her. The sooner I moved out of the way, the sooner they could put all of their focus onto her. It was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do. Her fingers twitched against my hand as she slipped away from me and my legs jolted with the urge to take a step forward.
“I’ll come get you when we know something,” the nurse said as she pointed back down the hall to the waiting room.
Bocca followed only a step behind me. I dropped into the first seat I saw. My head fell into my hands as I leaned forward. The room was too quiet. I knew I was surrounded by several of my brothers. Yet the only thing making noise was the news broadcasting from the TV in the corner.
I took a deep breath through my nose. I had to get my shit together. I lifted my head and surveyed who was around me.
“Bocca, call Cal. Fill him in on everythin’. Lake, go back and get Ethel. You’ll need to drive her car here. Tank, call Diesel. Tell him to keep the fucker alive. Then call Stone and fill him in. Crow, call in Patch.Hewill not die until I’m ready.” They headed outside to make their calls and take care of business. Lake jumped up and walked out, his keys hanging from his hand.
I toyed with my phone. I wanted to reach out to Brand, but I didn’t want to call him without any news. I opted to send him a text letting him know she was in the room and I would update him as soon as I knew something. When I didn’t get a response back from him, I wondered if that meant he was busy or losing his shit. I knew he was a smart enough kid not to do anything stupid. But then again, sometimes when you care about someone, all your sense goes out the window. I knew the feeling at that moment, and I was glad I had a chance to calm down before I had a go at that shithead. I needed to take my time. If I was with him now it would be over too soon.
