Page 13

Dana

I gazed in horror at what was left of my home. The Fire Chief, Bill Hawthorne, had met us there and was explaining something to Ezra. But the shock of my house being burned down was immense. It was eight hours after the attack on Marissa and the offices. I’d been giving statements for several hours, and Ezra had driven me back to Rage and forced me to have a nap and a shower. Then, Ezra ordered pizza before he told me about the vandalism and the fire.

At first I’d misunderstood what he was saying and said that it was fine. Everything could be repaired or repainted. Then Ezra’s words sank in. Fire. Burned. Severe damage. When I’d got over the initial shock, Ezra explained that Bill would be waiting for us. As we closed on the house, I saw grey wisps of smoke in the air, but it hadn’t prepared me for what awaited me.

One side of the house was fully gone, and it was a miracle the other half remained standing, as smoke and water had severely damaged it. I could see into my bedroom and living room and knew I’d just lost almost everything I owned.

“Dana, do you have insurance?” Bill asked gently.

“Yes.”

“Honey, you’ll need to give them a call,” Ezra said.

“Yeah.”

“The arson investigators are pretty sure it was deliberate,” Bill explained.

“Any idea who?” Ezra questioned.

“Not yet. RCPD is collecting footage from cameras down the street. We’re hoping they caught a strange car or something. Whoever did this meant for everything to burn. The house was doused in gasoline.”

“Anything else going to happen?” I asked no one in particular.

Bill Hawthorne’s face creased in sympathy. “You’ve had a rough few weeks, sweetheart.”

“Tell me about it. Is it safe to collect any items?”

“No. We think it will collapse in on itself. We’re leaving a couple of people here in case it does. Plus, making sure nobody tries to steal anything either,” Bill said.

“Ain’t much left worth stealing,” I commented.

Sadly, my gaze caught on something in my bedroom, and a wounded sound escaped.

“Baby?” Ezra asked, squeezing me tightly.

“That’s Grandma’s blanket, the only thing I have of her,” I choked out.

“Bill, can we…?”

“No, Ezra, I’m sorry. I’m one hundred per cent certain the building isn’t stable,” Bill answered regretfully.

Numbed, I turned to face Ezra. “Could you take me home? Or wherever, as I don’t have a home. I can’t deal with this on top of everything else.”

Ezra swooped and wrapped his arm around me.

“Bill, we’ll be at the clubhouse if anyone wants us,” Ezra said to Bill, who nodded.

“Dana, I’m sorry,” Bill muttered.

“So am I,” I replied and tore my gaze away from the wreck of my house.

◆◆◆

Three days later, I stared at my phone as an unknown number rang for the third time this morning. Today was Sunday, so I knew it wouldn’t be the office, and Ezra had left an hour ago to head to church. He’d offered to take me with him, but I had shopping to do. I was currently in Windfells, buying some clothes. Some of the old ladies had volunteered to come too, but I’d convinced them I wanted alone time. The last two weeks had done me in, and I needed some quiet time.

“Hello?” I answered warily.

“Oh, thank God, Dana, I wasn’t sure you would ever answer,” Shania exclaimed down the phone.

“What do you want, Shania?” I demanded.

I had nothing to say to Shania and wondered why the hell she was phoning and sounding so friendly.

“Look, we’ve had our differences, but I’ve learned a lot, and I’m trying to grow,” Shania said, and a disbelieving noise escaped me.

“No, Dana, it’s true. The damage to our relationship was caused by me. I understand now. Honestly, I was a jealous, selfish twat, to be blunt. But seeing what’s happened to our family has made me wake up.”

“Okay,” I replied, drawing out the word.

No way did I believe her. Shania was after something. There’s no chance she’d changed.

“Dana, I have Grandma’s bracelet. The one you always liked, and Mom told you it was lost. The truth was, I took it. It was meant to go to you, but I wanted it, so took it. I’m moving away. The uproar is beyond belief, and I can’t even go out anymore. But I understand I did you wrong and want to make up for it. Please, take Grandma’s bracelet back.”

To say I was shellshocked was an understatement. Shania had never been so nice. Even though I’d guessed Shania had stolen the bracelet, there’d been no evidence, and Mom had backed Shania. A little part of me yelled, ‘Watch out, this is a trap’, but I pushed it aside.

“Why are you giving me it back? What do you want in return?” I demanded, suspicious as a cat.

“Because I’d like a fresh start, Dana. Seriously, I want away from Rapid City and all the crap that goes with it. But before I leave, I want to make amends. I’ve been told I’m looking at community service, which is fine if that is what it takes to right the record. But the most important thing is making sure we remain sisters. But I’ve been a terrible sister to you. And I am so sorry,” Shania ended on a wail.

Wow, you could knock me down with a feather right now. I was beyond shocked at what Shania was saying.

“Shania, I’m not sure what to say,” I finally replied.

“It’s worse because you lost a lot of your stuff a few days ago when the house burned down. And you’ve nothing of grandma, so I thought this would help a little.”

“This is very kind, Shania. It would help a lot. And also, maybe a couple of keepsakes of yours?” I suggested awkwardly.

Shania sniffed down the phone.

“You really want something of mine?”

“Yes. At the end of the day, we’re sisters, and if you’re being truthful about making amends, then I’d love to have a couple of keepsakes of yours. However, I have nothing to give in return.”

“Dana, I want nothing. Just a second chance is perfect,” Shania replied, and she did sound genuine for once.

“Tell me where to meet.”

Shania rattled off an address and said she’d text me it in case I forgot. She sounded so excited to be meeting, but something in my gut warned me to be careful. Shania had only ever looked after herself. But I was going to give her the benefit of the doubt. I wasn’t expected back on Rage for a couple of hours, so I decided to end the shopping trip now and go and meet Shania. Perhaps good will arise from this angst.

◆◆◆

Confused, I pulled up on the street and checked the number of the house again. The neighbourhood wasn’t great, but not terrible either. The house looked neat and tidy and nothing like Shania’s home with Patrick. It was far smaller and less grand than Shania was used to. I wondered why she was here and not at home. Still wary, I glanced at my phone for a message from Ezra. The fact he hadn’t replied must mean he was still in church.

The front door opened, and Shania stepped out with a bright smile on her face.

“Are you coming in?”

On guard, I unlocked the car door and climbed out.

“It just hit me. This isn’t your home address,” I said as I approached.

“No, Patrick threw me out and served divorce papers. To be honest, I’m rather relieved; the whole situation was toxic.”

Shania hugged me tightly and moved aside for me to enter. I paused a second and gazed at Shania’s face. She appeared happy I was there, and with a mental shrug, I entered the house.

“Sorry to hear about you and Patrick,” I said as Shania walked down a hallway and into a cosy kitchen.

“Don’t be. Patrick was always a spineless idiot,” Shania replied, and the nastiness in her tone caught me by surprise.

“Yet you married him.”

“Not my finest hour. Would you like a coffee?”

“Please,” I answered, looking around. I didn’t see any signs of a jewellery box, but that didn’t mean anything.

“You know, I hated you,” Shania announced. Her face twisted with ugliness and then cleared.

“Oh, I know.”

“Nothing fazed you. It didn’t matter who did what, you kept ploughing on and doing your thing. I wanted to provoke you, but your response disappointed me.” Shania’s voice held an off note, which put me on guard.

“Shania, I don’t like confrontations.”

“No, it wasn’t that, Dana. I think you thought you were above us. Even when I stole Patrick from you, you merely walked away like it meant nothing,” Shania explained as she handed me a mug.

“If you wanna know if you hurt me, you did. Eventually, I realised Patrick’s true nature. I wish you had, too.”

“What did you notice?” Shania asked curiously.

“Patrick was a social climber and a user. He’s all about money and power and who he can use to make it to the top. The only person Patrick cares about is himself. I never mattered to him,” I said, careful not to mention her.

“And neither did I,” Shania mused.

Shania cupped a mug, and I noted how her nails were painted a bright scarlet. It was her go-to colour when she was plotting something. That one little sign alerted me to be very careful.

“You landed on your feet with Hawthorne’s and the friends you made. That night at the bar, I was extremely irritated. All I could see was you’d got your way yet again and beaten me,” Shania drawled, watching me carefully.

“Shania, it was never about beating you. There was never a competition. All I ever wanted was to be a little sister, and it felt like you never wanted one,” I said honestly.

“No, I didn’t. The whole world should revolve around me,” Shania replied. Should. That word tipped me off that whatever this was, wasn’t what I thought.

Anxiously, I rose to my feet and faced her.

“Shania, I don’t have long. Ezra is meeting me, and he hates people being late. Could you please fetch the keepsakes and include something from yourself as well?”

I recognised the mood sweeping over Shania. She wanted a confrontation, but I refused to participate.

“Oh, I’m not giving you anything, but you, Dana, are about to give me my freedom,” Shania said.

“Seriously, I might have guessed,” I replied, disgusted. Annoyed now, I began moving towards the door when a man appeared. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into a living room.

“Let me go!” I demanded, incensed.

“You’re going nowhere,” he snarled. “You’re our meal ticket out of here.”

“Shania! What the hell is going on?” I snapped, turning to face her even as I put space between me and the guy.

“This is Duke. He’s my new beau. And sorry, Dana, what Duke said was true. See, I’ve got a problem, and you’re going to help me out. I’m not facing community service. I’m going to do jail time and at least ten years. There’s no way I could survive in prison. Can you imagine those horrendous uniforms?” “Shania, whatever plan you have, it won’t work,” I warned. I eyed the door, but Duke was blocking it.

“Oh, it will. Duke and I plan to escape to a country without extradition. But to do that, we need money. Lots of it. You ain’t the only one who can do research, sis. I know Ezra’s sister is filthy rich, and he has plenty put away as well. And then there’s Dylan. He’s super loaded, too. I thought, why not take advantage?

“I saw how they swarmed to protect you, so you’re going to be a guest for a few days. Just enough to worry them, and then, once we get the cash, we’ll leave you somewhere for them to find. While Duke and I head off to the life we deserve,” Shania explained.

Disbelief must have been written all over my face because I certainly felt it.

“Are you seriously saying you intend to hold me prisoner while you extort money from Ezra and Dylan?”

“Yup. Now, if you play nicely, it won’t hurt much. Just be a good girl, and it will soon be over. Trust me, you don’t want to upset Duke,” Shania said.

“Fuck Duke, and fuck you!” I exploded.

Shania was beyond belief. There was no doubt that Dylan and Ezra would come for me. But they wouldn’t be bringing a ransom. No, they’d come with all guns firing.

“That’s enough!” Duke growled out.

“Really? You do know who you’re messing with? Dylan and Ezra won’t bow to any blackmail or ransom demand. They’ll come for me and kill you. Rage doesn’t take prisoners, Shania; you know their reputation. Feel free to mess with the boys, including Dylan. But when they’re making sure you disappear, regrets will be too late. Now I’m leaving, and I suggest you do the same. I won’t tell anyone until tonight about your stupid plan. I’ll give you and Duke here time to run,” I snarled and moved towards the door.

Duke’s fist snapped out and hit me on the cheek before I even saw him raise it.

A cry left my lips, and I held a hand to my face. My shoulder screamed at the jolt I’d been given.

Shania stared, uninterested.

“Dana, you had a chance to be a good girl, and I hoped you wouldn’t play ball. In fact, I knew you wouldn’t. This, I’m going to enjoy,” Shania said.

Duke lashed out again, not holding back, and knocked me to the floor. The blow had dazed me, and then a kick to my stomach made me scream. Punches rained down, and I curled into a ball like Dylan had often told me to if I was attacked. I hooked a hand behind my neck and buried my face between my elbows. It didn’t stop Duke in the slightest. He kicked my wounded shoulder so many times, I vomited from the pain.

He launched punches and kicks like he was a pro kick boxer.

Finally, a blow to the head made black spots appear, and the cries and screams I’d uttered faded.

Duke bent down and grabbed my hair, dragging my battered body up. He sneered into my face and then literally threw me across the room.

My head hit the wall hard, and I sank willingly into the approaching darkness. Despite my efforts, Duke continued to punch me, landing blows now on my unprotected face and body.

◆◆◆

“I didn’t say to kill her,” Shania whined from somewhere. The darkness was hard to fight as it kept swirling around me.

“Bitch is breathing, ain’t she?” Duke replied.

“Hawthorne’s will want proof of life!” Shania snapped.

“So put a sheet of paper over her mouth, and when it flutters, they’ll get it. State she is in now, they’ll move quick to get the ten million,” Duke answered, not bothered.

Ten million? For me? They’d never get that money, but Shania and Duke would soon pay for their crime. Dylan and Ezra would come for me like they had Marissa. I just had to hold on.

Ezra

He was beginning to get worried. Dana should have been back three hours ago, and not wanting to be clingy after he’d held off calling her. But now Ezra was pacing as he dialled Dana’s number. Phoe and Marsha had run to Windfells, but Dana wasn’t there. Ezra had sent the prospects out to search for her, but there was no news. His head snapped up as Dana’s phone was finally answered.

“Baby, where the hell are you, and why have you been ignoring my calls?” Ezra demanded as Drake and Ace closed in. Fish stood at his side.

“Awwww, sorry. Was you expecting sister dearest?” Shania purred.

Ezra straightened. “Where the fuck is Dana?” he bellowed.

His phone beeped.

“You may want to look at the text I just sent you,” Shania twittered and then giggled.

Ezra swapped screens, opened the message, and nearly heaved.

It was a picture of Dana, and she was beaten black and blue. Fish cursed as they took in Dana’s battered, swollen face, bruises and cuts marring her perfect skin. She wore a tank top and shorts, and Ezra could see the bruises on her arms and legs. He’d no doubt Dana’s stomach was similarly marked, too. Blood matted her hair and stained her skin.

“What the fuck did you do?” Ezra bellowed as fear rose inside.

“We want ten million dollars in money, and you can have Dana back,” Shania said, laughing.

Ezra found himself lost for words. Dana’s own sister was ransoming her? Was he hearing right?

“Say what?” he croaked as he stared at the image of Dana lying there unconscious.

“Ten million dollars for Dana. Between you, your sister, and Hawthorne, you’ll come up with that money,” Shania said.

“Want proof of life,” Drake bit out.

“I’ll send another message. This will have a video, but do consider Dana hasn’t regained consciousness in a few hours. She might have brain damage. But then again, you bikers don’t give a fuck if your women are awake or not, right? If you want Dana back alive, get me my ten million. I’ll phone later to discuss where to drop it off,” Shania said and cut the call.

Ezra’s phone pinged, and he opened the video to see Dana laying dangerously still. A piece of paper had been placed under her nose, and it fluttered. What frightened Ezra more was the sound of her breathing. Dana was wheezing, and it sounded like she was struggling for breath. She must have cracked ribs or damage to her lungs, he realised.

“Fuck!” Ezra roared and dialled Dana’s number. It went straight to voice mail, and he guessed that Shania had switched it off.

“I’ll get you the money,” Lindsey said.

He turned and saw his sister looking like she’d seen a ghost. He guessed that Dana’s injuries must have triggered Lindsey’s own memories, and he reached out and dragged her into his arms.

“No, we’ll find her,” he muttered.

Behind Ezra, Drake was on the phone, and judging by the furious noise coming from it, Drake was speaking to Hawthorne.

“It’s Sunday. No banks are open. Where does that bitch think we’re going to get ten million from?” Fish asked.

“Fuck knows. It is not like we carry it on us,” Ace snarled.

“None of us can make a bank open to withdraw ten million,” Phoe said.

“Banks don’t carry that amount now. It has to be ordered,” Silvie interrupted. “Even if you could get a bank to open its doors, they wouldn’t have enough cash in them to pay Dana’s ransom.”

“Ezra, did you get this text?” Drake questioned, handing him his mobile back and pointing at the screen. “Everyone on your bikes!”

“What is it?” Phoe asked.

“That’s my girl,” Ezra murmured. Dana had sent him a text message several hours ago, but he’d not seen it or checked because he’d not heard his phone go off. She said that Shania wanted to meet up and had given Ezra the address.

Ezra hugged Lindsey tight against him and kissed her head. “Phoe, can you watch over her?”

“Go, we’ve got Lindsey,” Phoe assured him.

Lindsey looked at him with huge, sad eyes. “Bring Dana back, Ezra. Bring your woman home.”

“I will,” he promised and raced for his bike.

He was shocked to see Axel on his trike and knew this was the big man’s way of supporting him. Ezra rode out first. He knew where the address was. Fuck protocol, he thought as he shot past Drake. He needed his girl, and Ezra knew she was in a serious condition. A beating like that could kill her. Dana was so slight.

Anger rose inside, overwhelming his fear. Ezra wasn’t one to hit a woman, but Shania had it coming. He’d put her down for good. But not before Shania paid in her own blood for what she had done to Dana.

◆◆◆

They reached the house in record time, and Ezra spotted Dana’s car sitting outside. This was confirmation she’d been here, and Ezra stormed up the path and kicked the door in. He wasn’t messing around. He’d expected shrieks, but the home was deathly silent. His brothers swarmed it, but there was no sign of Dana.

Drake found Ezra standing at the entrance of the living room.

“This is where it happened. That’s Dana’s blood,” Ezra said.

He saw Drake wince out of the corner of his eye. Dana’s blood was everywhere. Sprayed up the walls in small shallow pools and covering the furniture. She’d bled a lot, and now Ezra added that to his list of worries. Could Dana be bleeding out?

“There a man involved,” Mac announced, appearing with a bag. Inside were some jeans and tees, all belonging to a guy.

“Makes sense. Shania couldn’t have beaten Dana like that,” Ghost added.

“Any clue who he is?” Drake asked with his hand on Ezra’s shoulder.

“No. But we’ll find out. We’ll start going door to door,” Fish stated, and a stampede of boots left the house.

“Dana’s in deep shit, Drake,” Ezra murmured.

“Yeah.”

“Dana could be bleeding out, have internal injuries. Did you hear her breathing? I reckon her ribs are broken,” Ezra continued.

“Yeah.”

“Fuck!” Ezra exploded, feeling helpless. His beautiful woman was somewhere out there, and he couldn’t help her. He needed to track Dana now.

Tyres screeched as a car pulled up, and then Ezra sensed Hawthorne at his back.

“Shit.”

“We’ll find her. You need to keep your heads straight until we do,” Drake said to him and Hawthorne.

“Will she be alive when we do?” Ezra hated the words that came from his mouth. But nobody had the answer to his question.