Page 49

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Rory

“Well, this is a fine kettle of fish you’ve got yourself into,” I rasp out. While Patrick ranted and raved about all the money I cost him, thanks to my ‘worthless grandfather’ stealing his shit, I managed to get my gun out of my holster, then shoot him.

The downside is, I was at an awkward angle, so I didn’t hit him where I wanted, which was between the eyes. The upside is, he’s now writhing on the disgusting, dirty floor of the house, and I’m currently outside trying to figure out what to do.

Normally, I’d hop in the van and drive myself to safety, then figure out how to get in touch with Banshee. However, I can barely walk thanks to the many kicks and blows my body sustained. I’m pretty sure my ribs are definitely broken this time seeing as each breath feels as though fire is coursing through me. One eye is completely swollen shut and the other is almost in the same condition, thanks to the slaps and punches I took.

“Well, you can’t crawl your way to freedom, Rory, so you better figure something out,” I mutter. “Because you don’t have your phone, so you can’t call for help. Plus, you don’t know where the hell you’re at, so even if you did have it, you wouldn’t be able to tell them how to find you.”

I suspect I’m off the beaten path, which likely has more to do with the dirt driveway and overgrown, unused look about the place than any real knowledge. Sighing, I crawl over to a huge tree then maneuver myself so I’m sitting against it because it’s easier for me to breathe when I’m upright. With nothing but time on my hands, I allow the darkness to consume me once again, praying that when I wake up, I’ll have a solution to my current predicament.

“Sassy, you sure are louder than normal,” I mumble, sleepiness still clouding my mind. “You’ve never sounded like this, are you okay?”

After struggling for a few minutes against the weight on my legs, I manage to pry my one eye open and nearly scream as I come face to face with a mountain lion. It’s sitting across my legs, keeping me warm I might add, and purring loudly as if to comfort me. “Well, you’re gorgeous, but you’re definitely not Sassy,” I say, slowly reaching my hand out. “Never been this close to a mountain lion, were you trying to wake me up so you could eat me? I’m kinda scrawny, you know.”

The mountain lion huffs out something that almost sounds like a laugh, and I glance even closer because there’s something familiar about him. Not that I know whether it’s a male or female, it’s just easier for me to use a male pronoun, I guess. Shaking my head, I moan as pain seizes me at the movement, earning a glare from the big cat.

Yes, a fucking glare. As if he’s human or something. Which is pure fantasy because shifters aren’t real, although right about now, I sure the hell wish they were. “You wouldn’t happen to know how I can get back to the Royal Bastards’ clubhouse, would ya?” I ask, before snorting at the absurdity of my question. “Never mind, I’m an idiot and must have taken more blows to my head than I realized. Just so you know, I talk a lot to my cat, Sassy, so whether or not you can understand me, makes no difference to me at all. I don’t know how to get help, although I did manage to get away from the fucking asshole who took me. He’s my ex, by the way, and he’s the worst human being in the world. Do you know what he did?”

He growls low in his throat as if to say, “Carry on,” so I do. I tell him everything starting from the first time I met Patrick, and ending with what happened today.

“Now what do I do?” I ask, tears steadily dripping down my face. I hear a noise from overhead and look up to see a huge hawk flying above us. “He’s kind of low to the ground seeing as neither of us are small enough to capture for a meal.”

He stares up at the hawk and I swear I’m losing my mind because it seems as though they communicate something, which isn’t possible. The hawk screeches once again then flies off as Mr. Mountain Lion settles his head down on his paws once again, his eyes never leaving my face.

Giggling, aware that I’m probably on the edge of hysterics, I say, “Maybe he went to get help.”

Then I promptly pass out once again, the pain overwhelming me.

I wake up again to voices and struggle to clear my dry throat. “Here! I’m over here!” I yell, which is barely more than a whisper.

Yet, suddenly, Banshee is filling my limited view as he drops to the ground. Uncaring about how filthy and bloody I am, he gently gathers me into his arms, and I break, my sobs shaking me so hard, I can feel pain radiating through every injury. “Shhh, minx, I’ve got you and nobody will ever hurt you again,” he murmurs.

“D-d-did I kill him?” I ask.

“No, but he’s in a world of hurt right now, that’s for damn sure,” Banshee growls out. Now wide awake, I can hear ungodly screams coming from the house and cringe.

He may be an abusing asshole, but the terror-filled sounds have me staring at Banshee in horror. “What’s going on?”

“The mountain lion is showing him the error of his ways,” he finally says after a long silence.

“The mountain lion?” I’m confused as hell right now and worry that I’ve slipped over the edge into insanity. I remember talking to a mountain lion earlier, one who seemed as though he understood every word I spoke.

“Maybe the hawk too, not totally sure because when I heard you, I came running out,” he admits.

“Banshee, what you’re saying doesn’t make any sense at all,” I reply, wincing when he carefully stands with me in his arms.

“Some things are best left undiscussed,” he says, walking toward the club’s SUV. “Because it defies reality. Now, let’s get you back to their clubhouse so I can get you checked out.”

“What about Patrick?” I ask once I’m inside the SUV and he’s behind the wheel.

“My brothers are going to take out the trash,” he replies. “Did he tell you why he took you?”

“Yeah. I guess the RV my grandfather bought for me was originally his or something. He said he had stuff hidden in it, but Grampy and I went over it with a fine-tooth comb and didn’t find anything at all, so I think he’s mistaken.”

“He wasn’t, sweetheart. We found a shit ton of drugs in a hidden compartment that was just below the engine block.”

“Drugs?” I whisper. “I’ve been hauling drugs around? Jesus Christ.”

“They’ve been disposed of,” he says, reaching over and taking my hand in his. “Except for the day my little sister was taken from us, I’ve never been more scared in my life when that phone call came in from the ol’ ladies.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur.

“Not your fault, Rory. The blame is solely on that fucker’s head. How did he find you?”

I laugh but there’s a bitterness to it that I don’t bother hiding. “He saw my breakdown on the side of the road. Turned around but y’all were there by then so he said he waited then followed us to the clubhouse. He then kept watch until we left today and tracked us to the mall. From there, he waited for the perfect opportunity.”

He squeezes my hand lightly then says, “Again, none of it is on you, babe. We’ll get back, get you cleaned up, then allow a doctor they know to examine you to make sure you don’t need further care.”

“Think my ribs are broken this time,” I admit. “It hurts to take a deep breath, feels like my chest is on fire.”

“I’m going to help you, Rory,” he says. “You can barely lift your arms, how are you going to get the blood out of your hair?”

“I’ll manage,” I reply, tears hovering once again. “Please, Banshee?”

He cups my face in his hands and kisses my forehead. “I need this, Rory. I need to take care of you, please don’t take that from me.”

Dammit. I can see the sincerity in his eyes and while I don’t know all the particulars of his sister’s situation, I know it left an impact on him because he’s been touching me in some way, shape, or form since he picked me up. And not in a sexual way, but in a ‘I need to reassure myself you’re okay’ manner, which endears him to me a little bit more.

“Okay, but I’m not up for what happened during our last shower,” I warn him, causing him to chuckle.

“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t be the man my father raised if I tried to take advantage of you when you were hurt. He may have died before I reached adulthood, but there’s no way I’ll ever force myself on you when you’re in obvious pain. Doesn’t mean I won’t be hard as a rock because that’s the effect you have on me, but I’m able to control myself. Although, I might take care of it while we’re in there so the sheets don’t get messy.”

Despite the pain wracking my body, I giggle, knowing he’ll do as he says. Reaching up, I pull his face closer to mine and kiss his lips. “Thank you for finding me, Banshee.”

“Any time, Rory, and twice on Sundays.”

I giggle again before he captures my lips in a gentle yet thorough kiss. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“You’re the boss.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

“While you’re being checked out, I’m going to head into Church, babe,” he says. “Then I need to get in touch with my president and let him know what’s happened, okay?”

“Okay, Ban,” I reply. I love his name, but have heard Scythe and Kracken both call him that, and with the doctor now poking and prodding, I’m trying not to expend too much energy.

He grins, leans down and kisses me, then glares at the doctor as if to tell him to be careful. My giggles follow him out the door, and once it’s closed behind him, I let out the pain-filled breath I’d been holding.

“Now that he’s gone, tell me everywhere you’re hurting,” the doctor commands. He’s older with a kind look on his face, but I know right now, he means business. I was trying to downplay all the places I was hurting because each bruise Banshee uncovered before we got into the shower had him wincing while grinding his teeth. I was at the point where I feared he was going to crack a few molars.