I immediately began hyperventilating, drawing in very fast and deep breaths as the cold water surrounded me. William watched with smug satisfaction as I fought for air. My body was going into shock. I knew the process because he’d subjected me to it many times. I just had to get through these first few minutes, get my breathing under control and then last until he pulled me out of the water.

Easier said than fucking done.

“You think this is going to be a walk in the fucking park, Rhys?”

My teeth chattered as I stared up at him, still struggling for breath. I couldn’t reply, but then, he wasn’t looking for a reply. He was simply trying to strike fear.

Crouching, he said, “It’s been a good nineteen years since I’ve had the pleasure of training you. My program has evolved and this is just the beginning, soldier.”

I sucked air in as deep as I could. And I went to battle with my mind. He would never break me again. Never. As my muscles grew weak the longer he left me in there, and the pain in my body increased, I attempted to focus on Tatum. I imagined her smile, her eyes, her laugh, her fight. God, how I loved her fight. I’d never met a woman with the spirit she had. My thoughts drifted to the future. I wanted one with her. I knew that. When I escaped this hell, I would make it happen. I’d give her everything she’d never had before. Starting off with space in my fucking wardrobe.

“Almost five minutes, Rhys. You ready to fall at my feet again?”

I blinked slowly as I processed his words. Five minutes was a long time to be in icy water. Almost too long. I knew that. Hypothermia could kill me if I didn’t get out soon. And yet I refused to give in to William.

I waited it out. And eventually he was the one to crack. But not before my muscles became so weak I couldn’t walk when he dragged me from the bath. My coordination took a hit, too. After he had pulled me out, he left me on the ground and organised for the Jeep to be brought over. He and the driver managed to get me into the back seat. William yanked my clothes off and wrapped me in a light blanket he had stashed in the back as the driver sped all the way back to the warehouse.

I drifted in and out of consciousness.

So cold.

So fucking cold.

 

 

42

 

 

Tatum

 

 

“XO” by Beyonce

 

I lay on my hospital bed, drugged up on heavy-duty painkillers the doctor had me taking for all the injuries Joseph had inflicted on me and watched as Monroe walked into the room.

Meeting my eyes with a small smile, she said, “She’s safe.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled, ignoring the pain in my face as I did that. Opening them again, I asked, “Dustin?”

She nodded. “He’s safe, too. And Renee assured me her mother is okay in the hospital. Renee has moved into Nitro’s house to be with Dustin until Nitro comes home.”

I stared at her in silence while tears filled my eyes and fear clogged my throat. “What if he doesn’t come home?” I whispered. My throat was scratchy and sore, which made it difficult to talk.

I’d been in hospital for two days after being treated for multiple injuries including fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. Monroe hadn’t left my side until today when I’d been conscious enough to ask her to check on Nitro’s family. I was relieved to know they were safe.

Monroe took hold of my hand. Gently, because it hurt, too. Every inch of me did. “Your guy is tough, babe. He’s going to get through whatever he has to and then he’s going to come home. King was here yesterday, and the club is looking for him. They’ll find him. You can’t keep much hidden from bikers.”

She was right. But a lot could have happened in two days. The longer he was gone, the more concerned I grew. I just prayed that when they did find him, he was alive. My heart hurt worse than my entire body when I thought about him not making it out of that hellhole.

My phone rang and Monroe released my hand so she could answer it. After working out it was Billy, she held it up to my ear.

“Hey,” I croaked.

“Fuck, Tatum,” he said, pausing for a moment. I was fairly sure I heard devastation in his voice. “Thank fuck you’re awake.” His voice broke then. “When I saw you lying in that hospital bed last night with all those tubes in you and those fucking bruises and all that swelling….” He cleared his throat. “This shit has to stop. I swear to fucking God if anyone touches you again I will personally kill them.”

A torrent of emotions flooded me, his agony my undoing. Tears streamed down my cheeks, which was a bloody nightmare because it fucking hurt to wipe them from my face. So I let them fall and just waited for them to dry. “I’m done with being beaten up, too, Billy.” A little humour always helped. Especially with men who didn’t know what to do with their emotions.

“Yeah,” he said gruffly and then he added quietly, “Any news on Nitro?”

“No,” I whispered, unable to speak any louder. I knew if I did, the tears would flow harder than they already were.

“Okay,” he said. “You rest. I’ve been in touch with King and will help them find the motherfucking cunt who did this to you.”

“Thanks, Billy.” I jerked my head at Monroe to let her know I was done. Thank God Billy didn’t have it in him to talk about shit, because I couldn’t have handled any more. It hurt both my body and my soul to discuss this entire situation.

Monroe placed my phone down and picked up hers. Swiping it, she brought the Internet up as she settled into the seat next to the bed. Giving me a cheeky grin, she said, “Right, because you’re going to be in here for days according to the doctor, and we need things to keep us occupied, we’re going to surf this new singles site I found that has a lot of pierced cock on it.” Her eyes lit up. “And when I say a lot, I mean a fuckload.”

If I could have smiled without it hurting, I would have. Monroe knew me so well. She understood that I just didn’t have it in me to acknowledge my feelings. She knew when to push me and when to distract me. And it seemed her preferred way for the next few days was going to be with pierced cock.

“Okay, hit me. Show me what they’ve got,” I whispered.

She grinned. “I knew I could count on you to help a sister out.”

We’d been scrolling for a good fifteen minutes when King entered my room. I met his gaze and was taken aback at what I saw there. So much anguish. Something I never imagined King feeling.