The Hunter laughed again, but the fool didn’t know she was trying to help us. Madeline didn’t have allergies.
I played along. “Hay fever does it to you every year, makes you grouchy.”
“Shows how much you know, asshole… it’s grains, not hay.”
I cut my eyes to Grizzly. He nodded his head rapidly, tapping away on his laptop.
“None of this would’ve happened if you’d stayed home instead of pigging out on burgers and Blizzards.” Ouch. I may have taken it too far.
She gasped, appearing hurt by my words. It only took her a second to recover. “Shut up! I went out for comfort food with my girlfriends while you were fucking a kitten!”
“Enough!” The Hunter’s prez was back. “I’m tired of your lover’s quarrel. You ready for the show, Storm? I sure am.”
Show? Was he going to kill her in front of me? I stood from my chair. Track grabbed my wrist. I glared at him, but I knew he was trying to help me stay in control.
“What show?” I did my best to hide the fear in my voice.
“Your woman’s going to strip for us. It was part of the deal we made, so the other girl kept her clothes on. Your woman needs to take italloff.”
I faintly heard angry grunting in the background. When Madeline turned her head, I knew it had to be Hero. He was with her, but it sounded like he was gagged and restrained.
“Fuck, no! She better not!” I was about to have a heart attack. Sweat beaded on my forehead, my pulse thumping in my ears, chest squeezing like a vice.
The fucker laughed. “You don’t really get a say, Prez.”
“I’ll kill you if you touch her. What the fuck do you want?”
“I won’t touch her if you move out of Winters and agree to a truce. You stay out of my territory. I’ll stay out of yours.” He was full of shit.
“Winters is my territory! Look at a fuckin’ map. Draw a line from the center of Bastion out forty miles and make a circle. Everything within it is mine. Winters included.”
“Well, I want Winters. If you don’t agree, I’ll sell the women to the highest bidder. I might keep one, but I can’t decide between the girl or your woman.” His fingers glided down Madeline’s arm. She jerked away as I bit down on my molars, nearly cracking them. “Or that redhead, but she’s too much of a fighter for my taste. Already had to show her who’s boss.”
What’d the fuck did that mean?
“It’d take too much to break her in, but I know plenty of men would enjoy the challenge. They like a woman who fights back.”
Shit. It sounded like he had hurt Madeline’s best friend.
“Don’t do it, Storm,” Madeline yelled. “Just find these assholes and take them down. Avenge me!”
She did not fuckin’ say that.
“Shut up, bitch!” The motherfucker backhanded her. And again. Madeline’s head went back, bobbing like a doll. I clawed my nails into the wooden table in front of me.
“I told you to keep your smartass mouth shut!” A third fuckin’ time, he hit her.
Madeline didn’t cry as blood dripped from her mouth. Goddamn, I hurt for my sweet Angel.
“Storm. I know this is a big decision. Your woman or your territory, so I’m giving you thirty-six hours to decide. After that, I’m putting the women on the dark web.” He pulled Madeline’s hair, forcing her head back, and kissed her neck.
I will kill him.
“Take it off,Mujer,” he ordered through gritted teeth. “That meanswomanif you forgot, Storm.”
I shook my head, fisting my hands. Glaring at my brothers seated at the table, they all turned toward me, taking their eyes off Madeline. When they hung their heads out of respect for her, I nearly broke.
I couldn’t breathe as rage rushed through my veins and tears welled behind my eyes. My pulse whooshed violently in my ears, watching Angel take her bra off, then panties.