He’d gagged lots of men in his life (and women for that matter), but it somehow felt illicit to press on Dex’s cheeks and force his mouth open after the guy had so eagerly dropped to his knees to part his lips for other reasons. Would it feel different to get head from a man? He did have blond stubble, but his lips felt just as soft as any…
There was no time for stupid thoughts like that.
Once the gag was in, he looked around, trying to remember where Jag’s home was. There were three entry points to the junkyard, and if Jag really did take his partner to the movies behind Frank’s back, then the gate near his place might be safest to cross. With Dex out cold next to him, he didn’t have to deal with any additional bullshit, so he eventually found his way through the labyrinthine property and spotted the home built out of shipping containers. His stomach dropped for a moment as he considered whether it was wise to drive up without first making sure the coast was clear, but he knew what car Jag’s partner drove, and it was nowhere to be seen.
On a hunch, he retrieved his cell phone from the saddlebags and checked today’s movie times at the local cinema to find out that the evening’s single screening ofThe Jade Assassinwas about to start in fifteen minutes.
Which meant that the lovebirds were gone.
He parked in front of the gate, grabbed his sledgehammer, and slammed the padlock without trying to reduce the noise, because Frank’s house was far, far away, beyond mountains of junk.
Once that was out of the way, the gate opened to them with ease, and Hammer rushed onto the gravel road outside. To freedom. There likely were cameras around, but the chance of someone noticing their escape on live footage was slim. By the time someone noticed that the cell was empty, Hammer would be long gone. But he only had so much time to work out what to do with his newfound freedom.
Ryker wouldnotget away with the bullshit stunt he pulled, and Hammer was intent on making sure the fucker paid for this betrayal.
With fury making his heart pump faster, he decided to head straight for the fucker’s home. Lion might love his little brother too much to see some of his faults, but as a family man he loved his kids even more. If Hammer secured Ryker’s computer and presented its contents to the club, the bastard’s charade would be over. Nobody liked kid fiddlers, especially not one who spent lots of time around the prez’s children.
In comparison to that, Hammer’s notebook would be a fleeting issue, which could be resolved once he gets a chance to explain himself.
“Hnngg…” Dex moaned from the side, his head bobbing a little.
Great.
Hammer had hoped the guy would remain out a little longer, but it wasn’t like he could be too much of a problem cuffed and strapped in with the seatbelt.
He tried though, shifting about with growing panic as he woke. Dex’s eyes grew wider, and he faced Hammer with a deep frown. He mumbled as loudly as the gag allowed, but the words remained unintelligible. Based on their short acquaintance, Hammer guessed he was saying something along the lines of ‘What the fuck, man?’.
“What do you think?” Hammer snapped as they drove through the outskirts of the town, right past the local Walmart.
Dex’s scowl deepened, and he seemed set on making as much noise as possible while jerking around like a salmon caught in a bear’s claws. Hammer had never considered it before, but a seat belt could be used as a type of bondage. Not with Dex of course, but—
Hammer had clearly underestimated Dex’s flexibility, because seconds later, the kid’s seatbelt opened with a loud snap. And as soon as he was free to move, Dex faced Hammer so his cuffed hands could go for the door handle.
Was he brain-dead? If he fell out of the car at this speed, hewouldbe.
With a curse tying his mouth like a burning thread, Hammer grabbed Dex by the throat and pulled him away from the door, steering the vehicle with just one hand while the setting sun blinded him.
“Do you have a death wish? Stop fidgeting!”
The idiot whimpered, but he wasn’t going anywhere for as long as Hammer kept him in place. It took several furious huffs for Dex to make peace with that, but he eventually hummed in surrender and settled back into the seat as soon as Hammer let him go. Not wanting a reprisal of that performance, Hammer pressed the button that locked all the doors and clicked Dex’s seatbelt back in place.
But while the kid stopped fidgeting, he continued with the insistent noises that sounded like a bunch of dying puppies.
Fuck.As if Hammer didn’t have enough on his plate!
“I’m not gonna hurt you. I just need a bargaining chip so my club lets me explain myself, so it’s best for you to cooperate,” he said, taking a turn into the neighborhood of bungalows where Ryker lived.
Dex stayed put, but made a few insistent grunts. Of course, the motor mouth couldn’t bear dealing with a gag.
“Fine, I’ll take it out, but if you scream, I’ll cut your tongue out. Understood?”
Dex’s eyes went wide, but he nodded, and that twinkle of awe was back, as if the threat hadn’t been aimed at him. Itwasflattering, but Dex didn’t need to know that.
Hammer slowed the vehicle to a crawl when he wrestled with the damp bandana, but once it was out, Dex’s mouth acted as he predicted.
“That issonot on, man,” he moaned, staring at Hammer as if this turn of events couldn’t have been predicted.
“No? What would you have done in my place, huh? You seize any opportunity when life’s at stake. It’s not personal.”