Ice stared down at the Hello Kitty flash drive before giving it to Jackal. “Hide it where they can’t find it.”
Jackal left, going inside Ice’s office.
“Brothers, if you have anything in your rooms that needs to be gotten rid of, you better get rid of it.”
The clubroom cleared out in an instant.
“What are we going to do with her?” Max asked from behind her.
“Why was she here in the first place?”
“She was here with Stump, but when I came back from the strip club, she ended up in my bed. She must have sneaked out while I was sleeping.” Max’s voice was filled with disgust, making Casey lower her eyes to her lap.
“Get her out of here. Take her to the warehouse,” Ice ordered.
“I’m not going anywhere!” Casey shook her head.
“You don’t have a choice,” Max said grimly, coming around to the front of her chair and lifting her to her feet.
Jackal came out of the office as Max was carrying her toward the back door.
“Wait! She took some pictures with her phone. It’s in her back pocket.”
Max paused with her, coming to a stop. Reaching out, he jerked her phone out of her pocket then tossed it to Jackal.
“Buzzard, go with Max,” Ice commanded as he turned to look out the club door.
Casey fought against Max’s grip as he went to the back door. Ignoring her protests, he picked her up off her feet, carrying her outside to where a large black SUV was parked. Buzzard opened the backdoor, and Max lifted her up, tossing her into the backseat before getting in next to her.
Buzzard climbed into the front seat and started the vehicle, driving away from the clubhouse.
They were halfway down the street when Casey looked out the window to see a large number of police cars going in the direction of the clubhouse. She laid her head on the glass as they passed, knowing she stood no chance of them seeing her in the darkness.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?” Max’s voice was grim in the heavy silence.
“I know,” she answered softly.
“Why’d you do it?”
Casey remained silent. That was the one question she would never answer. Max didn’t ask again, and Casey kept looking out the window so that she could see where they were taking her. They drove back into the heavily populated city, going to an area Casey had stayed away from due the crime that was always reported there.
When Max reached over, pulling her closer to him then tying a black cloth around her eyes, she began gasping in fear.
“Calm down. It won’t have to stay on long.”
Inexplicably, Casey believed him.
Several minutes later, she felt the SUV slow then make a right turn. Then she heard the rattling of a gate and voices from the outside before the vehicle moved forward again.
Max took off the cloth around her eyes as Buzzard got out and opened her door. “Get out.”
Shakily, Casey stepped down into a large parking garage. With both men beside her, she was led to a large freight elevator. Max opened the door, pushing her inside, and she blinked back frightened tears as he closed the door and pushed a button, taking them downward.
She had a terrible feeling she wasn’t going to see daylight anytime soon.
Casey didn’t try to fight against Max. There wasn’t a chance of escape from them in the empty warehouse they led her through when they exited the elevator.
Finally, they stopped in front of a door, and Max unlocked it before motioning for her to go inside. Casey looked inside the small room, which only held a tiny bed. Although she didn’t want to go inside, she refused to plead with a stone-faced Max. Entering the room, she came to a stop when she heard the door close behind her.
At least there’s a light, and they aren’t going to leave me in the dark, she consoled herself.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook as the silent tears of fear coursed down her cheeks. Tiredness gradually replaced the fear, forcing her to lie down and close her eyes in exhaustion.
The adrenaline that had been carrying her through the past two weeks had deserted her, leaving her only the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.
She slept fitfully on the small mattress, her unconscious mind replaying getting caught by Jackal and facing Ice. She was unaware she was crying out in her sleep or of the door opening.
A hand shifted her, and Casey felt someone holding her close as she struggled to wake, but her mind was even more fearful of what was waiting. Ultimately, unconsciousness reigned until the soothing closeness of the body curled next to her allowed her to slip into an undisturbed sleep.
* * *
Casey woke with her ass pressed into someone’s stomach and her back against a chest. She tried to rise up, but an arm around her waist tightened.