Page 14

Jaelynn

O kay… I couldn’t get a phone signal, and I had no way to communicate with the outside. There were disconnected wires where the voice box was. Which meant I was screwed.

How long should I wait before opening the door?

Could it be opened from out there?

People would know I was in here. I’d seen a dancer, and there was obviously security, too, because they’d called Slate. I needed to ensure that when I opened the door, Wade was gone.

Two hours. That was plenty of time for Wade to disappear and Rage to arrive. Would it be too long? I wavered back and forth before gritting my teeth and steeling myself to wait.

In the meantime, I would arm myself and then read a book I’d downloaded to my phone.

Slate

Slate’s head lifted as a clank sounded. Blaze and Hunter were sitting with him, watching the door while the police interviewed people downstairs. Slate could not identify either of the men caught on the scant coverage they had, but Jaelynn had clearly recognised the one in here. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have run. Slate had viewed the man’s image but was unfamiliar with his identity.

The door shoved open, and Jaelynn peered out, holding the leg of a table. Slate blinked as he looked past her and saw she had dismantled the table. He was on his feet just as fast, though, and rushing towards her.

Jaelynn dropped the weapon and let Slate swallow her in his embrace.

“What the hell happened?” he demanded.

Slate already knew, but he needed to hear it from her.

Instead, Jaelynn seemed distracted. “Fuck,” she murmured.

Slate followed her gaze and stared at the doorjamb of the panic room. There were red smears and flesh-coloured… gunk on it.

“Jaelynn?”

“Shit,” she repeated and began to giggle.

Slate frowned at the mess as Ramirez approached.

“That’s… fingers!” Jaelynn cried, somewhat hysterically.

“Huh?” Slate said.

“That is what’s left of…” Jaelynn tilted her head, “two of Wade’s fingers. Oh!”

“Baby, did you slam the door on someone’s hand?” Slate asked, suddenly grasping what Jaelynn was saying.

Ramirez peered from Jaelynn to the gloopy mess and back again.

“Yeah.”

“Damn! It smushed… three fingers? It must have torn them clean off,” Slate explained, and Ramirez looked green.

“At least we’ve got DNA evidence,” Ben deadpanned.

“No shit,” Slate replied, amused.

“We should be disturbed,” Jaelynn murmured. “But I’m more than delighted.”

“Not surprised. Wade? You know who it was?” Ramirez inquired, glancing away from the smear.

“I’ll get forensics up here,” Ben mumbled and disappeared.

“Yeah, that was Wade Winslow. He’s Damien’s best friend,” Jaelynn explained.

Slate stiffened. “That was a cop?”

“Yes,” Jaelynn confirmed.

“He shot Sindy,” Slate muttered, and he and Ramirez swapped a look.

“What?” Jaelynn cried, alarmed.

“Sindy’s alive. Winslow got her in the shoulder, but Sindy managed to escape,” Slate added quickly before Jaelynn could feel guilty.

“Are they close?” Ramirez questioned.

“Very. Wade was always at our house for dinner. Damien even invited him on vacations,” Jaelynn replied.

“You thinking what I am?” Slate asked Ramirez, who nodded.

“Jaelynn, I hate to ask you this, but do you know this woman?” Ramirez said, pulling his phone.

He showed her a picture of the unidentified girl who was dumped outside the bar.

“That’s Lucy Rogers! Is that…?” Jaelynn’s voice trailed off. “Lucy was having an affair with Damien, but I heard she was getting pushy. Damien and Wade killed her, didn’t they? And the other women… They’ve known all along where I was.” “I’m starting to believe so. When does Jaelynn get on that plane?”

“Three days from tomorrow,” Slate said.

“Keep Jaelynn under lock and key. I’m going to speak to Howser. This is bad,” Ramirez stated.

“They’re both lieutenants, they’ve got power,” Jaelynn added.

“Is Barclay out?” Slate asked.

“Yes. His captain contacted Howser and tried to throw his weight around. Howser bit back and forced both to apologise. We agreed not to press charges as long as Barclay left. The captain had drunk the Kool-Aid and claimed Jaelynn was unstable,” Ramirez replied.

“We’ve got medical evidence to the contrary,” Slate announced. He still held Jaelynn close and bent his head. “I’m going to take you home, babe, and we ain’t leaving until I put you on that plane,” Slate said to Jaelynn, who nodded.

Before anyone else could say a word, Slate marched Jaelynn down the stairs and out to his bike. Slate sensed shock setting in and guessed Jaelynn needed her family around her. What a fuckin’ shitshow this was fast becoming.

Jaelynn

Dorothy and Aunt Elsie were appalled at what we’d learned. The local police had put out an APB for Wade and Damien, especially as Wade was no doubt badly injured. Today appeared to be the day that kept on giving, and it was only four o’clock.

I was sitting in the rocker on the rear porch when yelling disturbed my peace, and Dorothy and I glanced up.

Slate had gone to pick up food from a restaurant, and Aunt Elsie had been inside. Clearly, we had visitors.

Alert to trouble, I grabbed the handgun that was on the table next to me, and Dorothy picked up the shotgun that she’d purloined from Slate.

To my ultimate surprise, Lewis walked through the French doors with Lacey beside him. Dorothy trained the shotgun on him, and I snapped my own firearm up.

“Woah!” Lewis shouted, holding up his hands. “Ladies, let’s put those aside.”

“Aunt Elsie hit the panic buttons,” I ordered, keeping my weapon up.

“Jaelynn, honey, we’re your friends. Put the guns down,” Lacey exclaimed, looking scared.

“Judge, please. I don’t know what Jaelynn’s been saying, but let’s put them down before there’s an accident,” Lewis remarked to Dorothy.

“Trust me, you son of a bitch, if this shotgun fires, it won’t be no mistake,” Dorothy said calmly.

“How did you find me?” I demanded, keeping my weapon trained on them.

“Jaelynn. Honey, please. It’s us. We don’t mean you any harm.” Lacey spoke to me like I was a dimwit. In slow, soft tones.

I snorted.

“Get your hands above your heads now,” Dorothy ordered.

“For fuck’s sake, Judge. Jaelynn is seriously sick. She has Munchausen’s Syndrome, and she’s mentally unstable,” Lewis said.

“Bullshit. There’s nothing wrong with my niece apart from her gaslighting, woman-beating fucking ex,” Aunt Elsie spat.

“That is bull! Damien never touched her!” Lewis cried.

“That’s why RCPD has an arrest warrant out for him?” I demanded.

“Jesus, Jaelynn. You’ve got to stop this. You’re going to ruin his career,” Lacey scolded.

I snorted in disgust again. “Damien really has you snowed. Shut the fuck up until the real police arrive.”

“Jaelynn, stop!” Lacey demanded.

Dorothy primed the shotgun, and they both fell silent. Minutes ticked past as they stared at me, but I didn’t waver. They were no longer my friends.

“Jaelynn!” Slate yelled as he raced through the house. “I got the—what the fuck?” Slate skidded to a halt and yanked his own weapon out.

“Slate, Damien or Wade might be out front. If these are here…”

“On it, Drake, did you hear that?” Slate asked.

“Loud and clear. We’ll search the neighbourhood,” Drake replied from somewhere behind him.

“Listen, dude, I’m a state trooper. You’re holding a cop hostage,” Lewis said to Slate.

“Do you think I look bothered, asshole?” Slate retorted.

“Jaelynn is ill! For fuck’s sake!” Lacey cried.

“No, she’s not! Because we had two doctors and a therapist check her over. There’s nothing wrong with Jaelynn,” Slate replied.

“Is that what she is telling you?” Lewis asked.

“We’ve also the medical records and police reports that were buried that prove domestic violence. There’s a warrant out for that motherfucker’s arrest,” Slate continued.

“Actually, there’re now two, and Damien’s been handed over to the Feds. Howser called Willow, and she’s taken the case. Keep your hands up where I can see them. I’m Detective Antonio Ramirez, and this is my partner, Eric Benjamin. Detective Benjamin is going to pat you down and cuff you,” Ramirez announced, appearing from around the side of the house with his own weapon drawn.

“Look. This is getting out of hand. We came here to take Jaelynn home. Damien hoped she’d trust us because we’re friends,” Lewis said.

“You call yourself friends when you believed Damien over her?” Slate sneered. “The asshole manipulated everyone around him. The truth is out: he tortured and abused Jaelynn.”

“Jaelynn…” Lacey exclaimed.

“Keep your damn hands up,” Ramirez snapped as Lewis began to lower them.

Lewis put them back up, and Ben patted him down, removed a handgun, which he handed to Slate, and then cuffed Lewis. Lewis was starting to get angry.

“Jaelynn, stop this bullshit now!” he spat.

“Shut the fuck up,” I retorted and sat down once Lacey was arrested.

“What’re the charges?” Lewis snapped.

“Trespassing, aiding and abetting, and hiding a criminal for a start,” Ben replied.

“Who?” Lacey cried.

“Damien Barclay and Wade Winslow. If you know where they are, you better say,” Ben ordered as Ramirez spoke into a radio.

“They’re not criminals! They are good men,” Lewis bellowed.

“That have so far been implicated in four murders,” Ramirez snapped.

“What?” Lacey gasped.

“Remember that whore Lucy Rogers? The one Damien was having an affair with… oh yeah, Lewis, the one you said was all in my head? She’s dead. Lucy’s body was dumped here,” I interrupted.

“What the fuck. No… you’re mistaken,” Lewis exclaimed, paling.

“No, dude. You are. You fuckin’ trusted a guy you barely knew over your good friend. He beat Jaelynn black and blue. Damien gaslit her and lied to everyone about her supposed illness. Did anyone bother to check to see if she’d actually been diagnosed with Munchausen?

“When a doctor tried to get help, he was threatened until he left the state. We have evidence. And now Barclay and Winslow are implicated in four local murders. The FBI has taken the case because Lucy Rogers had been dead for five days before they dumped her here. Which means she was transported across state lines,” Ramirez said.

“And no, Jaelynn didn’t kill her and set Damien up. Because we have a very solid alibi for her. Barclay and Winslow lied about Jaelynn and everything else, and now their house of cards is crumbling. The Feds have even taken over Jaelynn’s case, and IA is about to crawl all over your asses. Fuckin’ assholes,” Ben hissed. “Nothing I hate more than a dirty cop!”

“Jaelynn, is this true?” Lewis gasped, looking at me.

“Don’t talk to her,” Slate ordered.

But I had something to say that I’d been bottling up.

“Yeah. You two let me rot. How many times did I plead for help, and what was your response? To send me back. And Damien beat me black and blue. I didn’t have food poisoning for a week. I couldn’t fuckin’ move because I was a mass of bruises because you failed me. That wasn’t your only time of ignoring my pleas. You’re not friends. Believe me. Friends don’t turn on me like you did.” I spat at Lacey’s feet as she cried out and looked guilty as hell.

“Jaelynn—”

“You don’t exist. You’re nothing to me. Take them away. After Wade shooting Sindy today and trying to kidnap me… which is on camera… in case you think I’m imagining shit.” I stared at Lewis and Lacey so they knew I meant them. “I’ve had enough. Can I just have one quiet night?”

“We’ll take them,” Ramirez said as Ben grabbed Lewis’s arm.

“Find out how they found me, please,” I asked and closed my eyes. “I’m going to eat dinner and relax.”

Slate

Slate picked his laptop up and carried it over to the sofa. Jaelynn looked tired, and he guessed she’d not slept well last night. Dorothy and Aunt Elsie had stayed, and everyone was quiet. The joy the morning had brought had disappeared under the weight of the day’s events. He had today and two more days before he flew Jaelynn out, and he wanted to give her something to look forward to.

“What’s up?” she asked tiredly.

“I’ve got something to show you. It’s a surprise,” Slate said, and Jaelynn eyed him warily.

“We’ve had enough surprises, I think,” she retorted, and Slate laughed.

“Probably, but this is a good one." Slate opened the laptop and brought up the tab he’d been looking at.

“That’s a cabin on a lake,” Jaelynn replied, confused.

“This is a cabin close to Rage’s. It’s up for sale and comes with a massive plot of land. Molly and Roscoe would be safe to run around freely.”

Jaelynn sat up and began flicking through the pictures. Slate could tell she was falling in love by the expression on her face.

“We’ve got an appointment in two hours if you want to go view it,” Slate offered.

Jaelynn lit up, and then her happiness crashed. “I can’t afford it.”

“Good job I can. I’ll buy this in cash,” Slate replied.

“Slate, that is one hefty price tag,” Jaelynn stated, looking bemused.

“Babe, until a couple of years ago, I stayed in my bunk at the clubhouse. Then, I rented with several other prospects. I put my house up for sale last week, and I’ve got two offers. I’ve got money. As soon as you fell in love with that lake, I knew I’d break my back to get you a home there,” Slate said.

Jaelynn looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Fuck, I love you!” she exclaimed and flung her arms around him.

Slate grinned just as Jaelynn’s mouth found his, and she kissed him deeply. His cock perked up instantly, and Jaelynn let out a muffled giggle.

“And there’re two cockblockers in the house,” Jaelynn muttered as Aunt Elsie raised her voice.

“Let’s go see the damn cabin,” Slate complained, resigned. His hand still held a handful of Jaelynn’s ass. At this rate, he wouldn’t last a minute once he got inside of her. Blue balls were a bastard.

Jaelynn

I walked down the carved steps to the dock, which stood over the lake. The entire thing was perfect. The only things that worried me were hunters and the dogs; because of their fluffy coats, they might be mistaken for prey. But Slate promised he’d have our land fenced in so Molly and Roscoe could run free but not get hurt.

And with water so close, we’d never get Roscoe out. Molly liked swimming, but Roscoe lived for it.

I took in the view, including the cabin. It was stunning. Somebody had cleared the trees, so the front looked directly over the lake without impediment. There was a lot of wood, naturally, and glass. And I was in love.

In all honesty, it was bigger than I’d expected. The main door led into a huge room that acted as a living and dining area. A side door opened to a galley kitchen running the cabin’s length. A pantry and utility room lay beyond a second door, and I was ecstatic; I’d always wanted one of them.

Another exit led to a hallway with three rooms. There was a bathroom and flight of stairs, which led to a family bathroom and four bedrooms.

There was a wet room downstairs too; it would be perfect for cleaning the dogs after a muddy walk. And finally, there was a sunroom designed to entrap maximum sunlight. The doors folded back and led to a porch and a fenced-in rear yard. It looked like the previous owners had already owned dogs.

I turned to Slate with a grin as he waved from the top of the steps. The entire thing was perfect. Hell, I’d never want to leave. I jogged up the stairs and joined Slate at the front. He wrapped his arms around me as I took in the view.

“Well?”

“It’s stunning,” I exclaimed.

“Good job that my offer was accepted. I’m paying cash, and in forty-eight hours, this’ll be ours. I’m providing an incentive for it to be rushed through. If anything happens to me—”

“No!” I snapped.

“Jaelynn, I’ve updated my will. Everything comes to you. Baby, I need to know you are okay. You and the dogs need to move in here should I not make it,” Slate insisted.

“This wouldn’t be the same without you,” I replied, choking back tears.

“I love you. If I hadn’t secured your future, I’d be distracted in the upcoming fight. This way, I know you’re looked after if anything happens to me,” Slate stated, squeezing me and resting his chin on my head.

“How sweet,” a voice sneered, and I stiffened. Damien came waltzing out of the trees, holding a gun on us.

“Damien!” I cried and grabbed Slate’s tee.

Slate slipped something into my pocket.

“He’s going to separate us. You get a chance, gouge his eyes out,” Slate murmured, and I realised he’d put his bike keys in my pocket.

“Move away from my woman,” Damien said, motioning with the weapon.

I clutched Slate tighter, and Damien cocked the gun. Instantly, I released Slate and stepped aside.

“Come here, Jaelynn,” Damien ordered.

“No! I left you. Why can’t you leave me alone!?” I screamed. Tension built inside of me, and I was scared.

“You belong to me. You don’t leave me! I say when we’re done,” Damien yelled.

“Nobody owns a person, Damien. Not now. All you did was make my life a misery, I don’t love you,” I shouted.

“I don’t give a fuck if you love me or not. You’re mine, Jaelynn, and not this biker’s,” Damien yelled. “Get your ass here before I shoot him.”

“Don’t!” I cried, leaping down the steps.

Damien looked triumphant. “Get here. We’re going home,” Damien said to me.

“My home is here. This is kidnapping and abuse. Whatever you intend to do won’t work,” I hissed.

Damien fired his gun, and I screamed as I turned to Slate. That put me within reach of Damien.

Slate remained standing, and I guessed Damien had discharged a warning bullet.

“You can’t hold Jaelynn, Barclay. The truth is out there. Same as those murders. The Feds are looking for you,” Slate called. “Let Jaelynn go, man, and give yourself in peacefully.”

“What fuckin’ murders?” Damien yelled.

I grabbed Slate’s key as Damien hauled me in close.

Damien pulled me backwards, and that was when I acted.

I elbowed Damien in the gut and lashed out with the keys in my hand. Damien shouted and let go of me, and I kicked his shin.

“Run!” Slate yelled as he leapt off the porch and headed for Damien.

I took to my heels and ran for the Harley. If I could get it started, then Slate could hop on, and we could escape.

Reaching the bike, I inserted the keys and turned it on. The engine ticked over but didn’t start. Forcing myself to calm down, I recalled how Slate would turn it on. Repeating his actions, the Harley roared to life. I was shorter than Slate and could barely reach the ground, and the damn thing was heavier than I assumed. I nearly toppled off it as the Hog rumbled under my thighs.

Two gunshots rang out, and I screamed.

“Go!” Slate called out, weaker this time.

Damien burst around the corner, looking wild-eyed.

Fear choking me, I grasped the handlebars and not knowing what the hell I was doing, I rode off. Damien shrieked as I wobbled down the road, but I wasn’t stopping for anything. Slate needed help, and he only had me!