“Then we start from your house and move outwards,” Chance said. “Kelly, you’re driving the women. Hellfire will cover you.” Kelly had no idea what covering meant, but he nodded.
“Can we get going?” Kelly demanded. Chance nodded, and, in a rush for the doors, people ran out. Rain hesitated.
“You coming? It’s a chance to learn your back story and meet your sisters,” Kelly asked him. Rain didn’t hesitate and jogged out the door to the rental car, which already had his sisters in it. Rain slammed into the passenger side as Kelly hopped in the driver’s seat, and pipes roared as Hellfire pulled out.
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My throat was hoarse from screaming, and the pain in my hand furiously blew through me. I stared with hatred in my eyes at the silent man standing in front of me. He grinned, and it chilled me. It was an action. There was no mirth, just the promise of further pain. Hurry Bear, I begged silently as the man approached me again.
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“This is home,” Rain said three hours later as they pulled up outside his house in the early hours of the morning. Bikes parked around the car and took over his drive as Rain hopped out and walked towards the dark house. Several lights flicked on in neighbouring houses, but Rain paid them no attention as he approached his front door and stopped. Sat on his doorstep was a small box.
“What is it?” Kelly asked, approaching.
“That,” Rain said, pointing, and Chance swept past them and picked up the box.
“Everyone inside now,” Chance ordered. His phone beeped with a message from Hawthorne, who was looking into Dean and Robespierre. Ignoring it, Chance entered the house first, his gun sweeping the hallway and lounge. Brothers filed past, conducting their own sweep before calls of all clear echoed through the house.
“What’s that?” Kelly asked, pointing at the box. Chance put it on a table and lifted the lid off carefully. Inside was another box with a note. Chance put the message to one side and opened the box, and closed his eyes. Kelly let out a hoarse cry as Rain stumbled back.
“You do not need to see this,” Chance ordered as Clio and Callie stepped forward.
“What is it?” Callie asked, fear in her voice.
“Thalia’s little finger,” Kelly said, tears in his voice. Clio gave a muted cry, and Polly looked grim. Callie’s legs gave way, and Shotgun caught her and walked her to a sofa.
“Are you sure?” Clio asked, shaking.
“Yes,” Chance said. Bear gazed at the box and closed his eyes. The edges of the wound were ragged, and the finger hadn’t been cut cleanly. By the condition of the finger, it had been cut while Thalia was still alive, which was cold comfort.
“Open the note,” Kelly said. Chance opened it and read aloud.
“Price is now one million, or the patent. Fetch me what I want before we send more pieces of your sister,” Chance growled.
“I don’t have one million,” Rain said pale.
“We do,” Callie said, looking at Clio.
“We’ll pay,” Clio said. Rain shook his head.
“Dean wants the patent and formulas and plans. One million is a scare tactic. They are worth one thousand times that amount. Dean wants to torture Thalia and us with this. It’s Robespierre’s way. They won’t hand Thalia back,” Rain said.
“Then give them the damn patent!” Polly demanded.
“I can’t because it’s a medical breakthrough, and if I hand it to someone like Dean, he’ll sell to the highest bidder. Innocents will die before we can repurchase it from another country or some shit like that. We can’t hand it over,” Rain said furiously.
“Then what do we do?” Clio asked helplessly.
“Find Thalia before this asshole sends more of her,” Chance said coldly. “Both Hawthornes are working on this. Get out and connect with local clubs; see what you can discover.” Chance said, turning to the watching brothers. They filed out one by one.
“We’ll find Thalia,” Chance said reassuringly. The question was, who was Chance trying to reassure? Himself, Kelly or Clio? And would they find Thalia in time?
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I screamed, tearing my throat as the clamp burnt through my bra and scalded my nipple. Tears of pain streamed down my cheeks as the man twisted and let go with a grin. Another man stood watching, and I prayed Bear would come for me soon. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on, and pain was in every part of my body. The man torturing me was getting off on my pain. And it didn’t matter how many times I promised not to cry out; I always did. Instead, now I cried and prayed for deliverance.
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