"PP," I croak.

Oh G.o.d. Oh G.o.d. Oh G.o.d. This is so much worse than I'd thought.

"She's all yours, son." Snake chuckles, patting PP on the back before shutting the door behind him.

"Did I ever f.u.c.king tell you I hate that f.u.c.king name? I mean seriously, how non-creative could a person actually be," he says with a voice filled with hate.

I can't believe my eyes right now. This person helped me so much over the past week. A person I was starting to like. I realize now I should have stuck with my original a.s.sessment of him being a f.u.c.king pervert.

"You ready to play, Angel?"

Bile rises in my throat, and I gulp it back, refusing to let him see me upset. He called me Angel and that sickens me. He's doing it purposely.

"My good ol' daddy told me he already took your a.s.s and since I don't wanna get my d.i.c.k bit off that leaves only one hole. I do wish I could feel you bare, but my dad is going on and on about DNA, blah, blah, blah." He chuckles.

I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.

I wish I could pretend this was a nightmare, but nightmares don't leave you sore and in so much pain.

"Up you get," he growls, pulling me off the bed and standing me up. He reaches for a meat hook hanging from the ceiling of this bas.e.m.e.nt room. I don't dare look at him; I avert my eyes to the small rectangular window. He bends my bound hands and arms above my head forcing them to pop even more. My head drops to the floor as I grit my teeth from the pain in my shoulder blades.

"Look at me b.i.t.c.h." He chuckles.

I don't raise my head. I can't. If he looks me in the eyes, he'll be able to tell that I'm breaking down. My soul is shattering into a million pieces; my heart no longer feels any love for this world that I'm living and breathing in. How can it? This is a devil's act. I'm living in h.e.l.l.

"Fine, be a c.u.n.t while I take your c.u.n.t. Stupid b.i.t.c.hes, they never learn!"

I try closing my legs. I use every muscle I have to keep them clamped shut, but again my strength is no match. I could probably fight him off longer if I weren't so weak and weren't bound, but I can't. I'm exhausted, and every inch of me is aching.

His hand wraps around my throat as he enters me slowly. Oh G.o.d. Not slow, please not slow. Just do it fast and get it over with, please. He grips tighter, yanking my face up so he can watch. I don't wanna close my eyes, I wanna know what's coming and I don't want him to look at me and see it. I evoke every ounce of hate I've ever felt and store it in my gaze as his black eyes twinkle with satisfaction. His head swoops down, and his teeth bite my breast hard. I don't scream; I don't do anything. Not even flinch. He's entering me so fast with each thrust and no rhythm; it's straight mutilation to my soft tissue causing it to burn and itch. PP screams at me to make a sound and I refuse to. When his fist flies towards my face while his other hand is still tight around my neck, it's a straight shot to my right eye. My head pounds as my vision blurs to blackness. Oh G.o.d.

"Wake up b.i.t.c.h," someone growls, slapping my sore face.

I crack open my eye that's not swollen and regret waking up. I feel like the bottom half of me has been ripped to shreds. I'm still hanging from the ceiling, my feet barely touching the floor, and I can feel blood dripping down my body.

Who the h.e.l.l is this?

"Boss wants me to slice you open," he mocks, playing with a knife.

Oh, c.r.a.p!

He runs the blade across my chest back and forth until the tip digs into my flesh at the bottom of my shoulder blade. I bite my bottom lip, crying out as the blade makes its way down my chest in a zigzag motion. He's carving me. My cries are throaty and just when he's about to start another one, gun shots ring out.

"What the f.u.c.k?"

The stranger leaves me to bleed openly and freely as he flees the room. The sounds are almost too much. I can almost hear the bullets flying around in the distance. The sounds stop, and the door flings back open.

"Angel."

That voice is music to my ears and my eyes snap to his. It's a murderous the look I see on his face right now, and if I didn't know any better, I would be frightened of him too.

I'm squatting in this f.u.c.king bush watching and waiting for the moment where we rush in there and take back my Angel. I'm itchy and f.u.c.king sweating my a.s.s off from this heat, and my legs are bouncing up and down as if I'm hyped up on some seriously good speed. Our connections lead us to this d.a.m.n shack in the middle of f.u.c.king nowhere. I swear she had better be in there, or I might just lose my s.h.i.t. My body tenses up as we spot Snake walk out and climb into a silver van. I look over at Sniper and ZZ and nod. Sniper sends a text to Pyro and Smokey letting them know we're about to move. As the taillights from the van disappear, we creep out and surround the house. ZZ mouths two that he can see through the curtained window and Sniper mouths Christina. I want that b.i.t.c.h alive. Pyro moves to the floor and in one swift movement, he kicks the door open. Two shots ring out before they can even pull on Pyro. We move in as Christina starts screaming. ZZ holds the gun to her head shutting her up as the rest of us move through the abandoned house. We hear a door slam open and pounding footsteps coming up a stairwell. We don't know which door, so we silently pull back and wait to see which one of them opens. The shooter cracks the door open taking blind shots. I knock over a chair and fake groan. It works, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d flings open the door, and I pull my trigger putting a bullet straight in his heart. I watch as his body slumps then falls forward. I rush down the stairs flinging open the door and what I see rips through me like a tidal wave.

"Angel," I say.

Her eyes snap to mine. My blood runs cold when I see there is no life in her eyes. She's empty, and she looks just as murderous as I feel. She's naked, hanging from the ceiling, blood dripping from her face, her chest and between her legs. They've f.u.c.king carved her like a Thanksgiving turkey. My mind plays out millions of ways I want to kill Snake, but when Angel starts rambling on and on, I listen to her cracked voice and put my revenge on hold.

"You know they used a condom. They raped me, and they used a condom. How funny is that s.h.i.t? And what is up with this? They think I needed a matching scar or something. I guess even Angels can't be perfect, huh? I mean I never had one scar on my body. Pretty incredible to go twenty-two years without a scar, but here I am. Bleeding from every pore on my body. Oh yeah and PP raped me too. I don't know for how long because I was pa.s.sed out, but yeah he did. Oh and PP and Christina are brother and sister. Yep, that's right; they're Snake's sp.a.w.ns." She takes a deep breath, and I can tell she's done.

I take my knife and cut the ropes, catching her as she falls. I'm still trying to process this scene and the info she just rambled off no doubt from shock, but now I just wanna get her back to the clubhouse so Doc can take care of her. I also want to beat the s.h.i.t outta something and cry my f.u.c.king eyes out like a little f.u.c.king kid because my Angel was violated and it's all my fault. Yeah, I'm a grown man that wants to cry. That doesn't make me a p.u.s.s.y; that makes me f.u.c.king human. My woman was just beaten to within an inch of her life. Raped enough for me to see the damage just by one look and carved up like a d.a.m.n pumpkin. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I deserve a free pa.s.s, and I'm pretty sure my Angel deserves a medal because she's not even crying.

"Get me outta here, Brax," she mumbles into my chest.

"Let me find something to wrap you up in."

"No! I just wanna go," she whispers loudly.

"At least take my cut, Winter," I say leaning her body against mine as I slip my arms out. After I remove my cut, I slowly and carefully slip her arms through while she wobbles against me.

"Up you go, gorgeous," I mumble as I pick her up.

"They really screwed me up didn't they," she croaks as I walk her up the stairs.

I almost stumble up the last step when she asks that. It's as if she doesn't know how she's doing right now. And that both freaks me out and p.i.s.ses me off. I decide not to answer her. Because the truth is, they did a number on my Angel, and I don't want to remind her with words that they did. She has enough of a reminder.

"Prez, this b.i.t.c.h." ZZ motions his gun at Christina's head.

Winter lifts off my chest and looks at Christina. She holds out her hand, her gaze going to Snipers. Her weak arm moves around in the air until he sighs, handing her a gun. What the f.u.c.k does she think she's going to do with that? And how does he know what she wants?

Her fingers grip the gun, and she takes aim. "What were those words you said right before I was taken?" she croaks, and Christina's eyes widen. "Oh yeah. Goodbye b.i.t.c.h." She forces a laugh while pulling the trigger, splattering Christina's brains on the wall behind her.

"Thanks Sniper," she whispers handing the gun back.

"Burn this place to the ground," I say to Pyro and Smokey.

Winter didn't say a d.a.m.n thing on the way back to the club. I held her wrapped in my arms the whole way back. I tried not squeezing her tightly to me. I was afraid I might hurt her more than what she already was. I felt like growling when the Doc lifted her from my arms and took her up to my apartment. He brought along his son who was also a doctor, and because my Angel was so torn up, I allowed him to treat her. He's a good-looking dude, and he's about to clean up my Angel. It p.i.s.sed me off that I couldn't fix her myself, but I didn't know the first thing about medicine. For the first time, I didn't want to have the Doc under my payroll. I wanted to take Angel to the d.a.m.n hospital, but she's running from her father. The last thing she wanted was to reveal her last name. Lana is screaming at Pyro. The Doc won't let her up in the room, and Lana is p.i.s.sed. I give him a pointed look that he had better get her quieted because I just called a Chapel meeting. I need all my brothers right now. It's time for revenge.

I'm sitting at the head of the table bouncing my foot while I chain smoke, waiting for everyone to walk in. The last one to enter is Phil. The old slug. I would grin if I could, but I can't. I've never been so violently p.i.s.sed in all my life. I knock the gavel and blow out smoke.

"First order of business; Sniper, get rid of the gun Angel used to whack Christina with. No chances that the fire didn't do its job. I won't have this s.h.i.t ending back at our doorstep. She's been through enough."

I growl. "When I found Angel, she was spouting off. The only thing that worried her was making sure I knew who was behind this s.h.i.t. PP is a traitor. He's Snake's son."

The brothers start cursing and slamming their fists down. "That's not all. Christina was also Snake's daughter. So once he figures out she's dead... s.h.i.ts going to get going and fast. PP raped Angel; I don't know why we didn't see him. He must've left before we got there. I want that motherf.u.c.ker's head," I say seriously.

I take a deep breath. "Snake took... Jesus...." I rub my jaw. "Snake raped Angel's a.s.s."

I b.u.t.t my cigarette in the ashtray, lean my elbows on the table, and run my hands through my hair. f.u.c.k, I can't handle this s.h.i.t.

"I've had her for one f.u.c.king week. One week and I didn't protect her, brothers. This s.h.i.t is weighing on my mind. She was trying to stay away. Her father is a f.u.c.king Belov. I mean she knew she didn't wanna be in this world, and I f.u.c.king pushed her."

I'm a relentless f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d. That's what I am. I wanted her. I took her, and look what happened.

"Prez... this s.h.i.t isn't your fault. Christina and PP were here right under our noses. We'll get Angel's revenge. We will take it," Samuel growls.

"f.u.c.k," I roar. "Find PP first. After PP, we'll deal with Snake. I'm gonna gut that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, but unlike his two attempted fails, I'll succeed."

"She's not gonna be the woman that hooked you a week ago, not after this s.h.i.t. Prez, you need to deal with that right here," Pyro points to his chest.

"You think I don't f.u.c.king know that? She f.u.c.king murdered Christina in cold blood. Angel from last week wouldn't have done that s.h.i.t."

There's a knock on the door and Sniper gets up and cracks it open revealing the Doc. He opens the door all the way and motions for him to come in before he closes it.

"Braxxon... you want everyone to hear this?" he asks seriously.

"Yes."

"Alright then. She has multiple tears in her a.n.u.s. She needed eight st.i.tches on that wound. The v.a.g.i.n.al tears weren't as severe as the a.n.u.s, but she will have scar tissue. It'll be at least eight weeks until she's healed sufficiently enough for any s.e.xual intercourse, if she's willing to be touched. She's going to have severe mental damage from what she went through in those few hours, but she's a strong young woman, so she'll find a way to deal with it. The wound to her chest took twenty-nine st.i.tches. I was able to b.u.t.terfly the smallest of areas. She was told that condoms were used. She admitted to pa.s.sing out when one of your prospects knocked her out cold. After that, she doesn't know what happened. I gave her some antibiotics for the main STD's that usually occur from rape. I've also gave her an emergency contraceptive drug to prevent unwanted pregnancy. She's also on another antibiotic to prevent infection to her wounds. My son is up there now finishing the smallest tasks. Her collarbone was dislocated, so we popped it back into place. I've put Winter on morphine. I didn't want her on hydrocodone. I would rather she heal as comfortable as possible, so a stronger drug was needed. I've put her on Klonopin for the anxiety she will most likely experience. You need to watch her on all of these prescriptions. She mentioned that she can't pick up refills from a pharmacy."

Jesus f.u.c.king Christ! I don't even know what to say with all this s.h.i.t he's spewing out.

"Ah yeah, she's running from a bad past, Doc," Sniper answers for me.

"Well then. I'll be back in two weeks with some refills. I'm serious Braxxon; watch her usage with these drugs. If she doesn't feel like taking all of them, just make sure she takes the antibiotics. The rest is up to her. I'll do another exam to check out the healing progress when I return with the refills."

I trust Doc; he was a close friend of my pops. I get up, shake his hand, and pat him on the back before he excuses himself to check on Angel before he and his son leave.

"I'm so sorry, Prez," ZZ says, and the rest of the brothers follow.

"So there we have it, yeah? Find PP, I want his d.a.m.n head! Pyro deal with Lana; I want peace and quiet for Angel."

I walk over and slam the gavel down before I head out. I need to see my Angel. My need for revenge is off the charts f.u.c.king high, but Angel is at the top of my priority list.

When I open the door to my apartment, Doc and his son are walking to the door to leave.

"Take care of her," Doc says and I nod as he shuts the door behind them.

Winter is lying on her side, her arm in a sling from the dislocated collarbone. One of her eyes is still swollen, but the look in her undamaged eye is vacant. I walk slowly to the bed, drop to my knees, and wrap her hands in mine as I let my head drop to the bed. There are two emotions running high inside my chest right now. One I don't wanna talk about, and the other is guilt. It's the first time I've ever felt guilty about something. If I had just listened to her, and left her alone, she wouldn't be like this right now.

"Brax," she whispers. "Thank you for finding me. I'm gonna go to sleep now."

I suck in a breath. She's thanking me when it's all my fault in the first place, but here she is thanking me. Her breathing goes steady, and I pick up my head and just stare at her. She's so beautiful. I unlace my hands from hers and run my fingers across her swollen face. That morphine knocked her out cold. I lean up and press my lips gently to hers before I stand. I turn the fan on for her and walk to my bathroom. I lift the b.l.o.o.d.y shirt over my head and toss it in the wastebasket. I grip the sink hard, my knuckles turning white as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Today the scar that runs across my chest looks redder, and that day starts haunting me as it reflects back at me.

"Your father took everything from me," the stranger hisses at me before pulling out a long knife. "Now... I'm going to take everything from him"

I don't understand what this stranger is saying. What did my father do to him? Why does he want to hurt me?

"Has your father ever took you hunting boy?"

I gulp trying to figure out what's about to happen. One minute I'm riding my mini bike and the next I'm inside a truck bed.

"No sir," I stutter.

"Well that's a shame, son. I was hoping you knew what it was like to gut something." The stranger chuckles.

Oh, s.h.i.t. My eyes widen as he comes at me with the knife. I'm frozen. Paralyzed with fear as the blade inches closer. It digs into my skin and starts slicing through my flesh, and I scream. f.u.c.k do I scream.

I shake my head out of the past. f.u.c.k! I want to scream; I want to f.u.c.king kill something. I look out the doorway and peer at my sleeping Angel. I vow that I'll make this right for her, and I mean it this time. I take a quick shower drying off before climbing in bed careful not to wake her or disturb anything that might hurt.

I let the exhaustion take me, and I fall fast asleep after lightly wrap my feet with hers underneath the sheet. I need to feel her, and if this is the only way, I'll take it.

I wake feeling alone, and I reach over, touch the pillow where Angel's head was laying, and find it empty. I jump up and scramble putting jeans on almost falling over. I don't even b.u.t.ton them as I jog downstairs. I find her sitting in the community room next to a stunned Lana. Angel is bent over snorting a line. I breathe out relieved I've found her, but I gulp because Angel isn't a druggie. She's done a few lines, but she's not a drug fiend. I walk over and place my hand on her shoulder, and she flinches, and I jerk back cursing myself. s.h.i.t. When she looks up at me, I'm glad the swelling has gone down on her face, but the look her gold gaze is giving me seizes my entire body. It feels like forever goes by before she releases me, bends down, and snorts another. I look over at Lana and see tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Yeah, I feel you Lana. I feel it. I take a seat next to Angel, and she drops the straw and leans into my side.

"How you feeling, baby?" I ask her as I stroke her uninjured arm.

"Like I've been gutted alive," she murmurs, and that answer causes me to flinch. "I can't even wear a bra or panties. I'm so going commando." She tries to make a joke of it.

I don't find it funny at all, so I say absolutely nothing. Sniper, ZZ and Pyro walk into the room and nod. I kiss Angel's head, ease away from her, and stand.

"I'll be in the Chapel if you need me, baby."

"I'll always need you, Braxxon," she whispers.

Christ! I bend down and place both my hands on her cheeks softly as I stare into those beautiful gold eyes. "I'm glad to hear that, Angel." Then I press my lips to hers.

"I'm glad to hear that, Angel," he whispers before pressing his lips to mine. I wish I had both arms because I would wrap them around his neck and never let go. I should hate him for everything that happened, but I can't. It's not his fault. He didn't tell Snake, PP and the stranger to hurt me. I'll cope and deal with things in my own way. It's all I can do. Yeah, I'm even more screwed up in the head, but that's okay because I survived. He found me and life goes on.

"I'm gonna party with the m.u.f.fler bunnies," I say seriously as he pulls away. "I need to get f.u.c.ked up."

I look at him hoping he understands my need to do this to myself. I need an outlet. I need moments where everything disappears, and my mind is too foggy to remember.

"No morphine then."

"No morphine." I agree. He's worried about me mixing things.

Braxxon walks towards the Chapel, and I look over at Lana who has tears dripping out of her eyes.

"Lana, I'll be okay. I swear it." I try to rea.s.sure her.

"I know. I'm just gonna go to bed; it's getting late. You had a rough day, and you need more rest too; promise you'll get more?"

"I will."

"I'll be in that stupid slam room if you need me," she whispers standing up slowly. She's still healing from being shot.

"Not Pyro's room?"

"No," she yells. "Look I'm sorry. It's just this is all my fault and all because I wanted him. If I didn't ask you to do that stupid gig. This wouldn't have happened to you."