Nolan by Lane Hart, D.B. West

Chapter Thirty

Rita

There are several more turns onto a gravel road, and then, finally, Leroy stops the truck right outside of an old, rundown one-story house.

As soon as the engine dies, he drags me out the driver side with his arm around my neck like a child carrying a teddy bear around under their arm. He picks me up once I fall out of the cab and then carries me inside.

I hear another door inside unlock, and then we’re descending a set of stairs into what I’m guessing is a dark basement.

With a click of an old-fashioned pull string, a soft light comes on, revealing cinderblock walls in an open space stinking of mildew.

“Welcome home, Rita,” Leroy says before he tosses me down. My back lands on something sort of soft. It’s an uncovered mattress on the floor with visible stains. I think I would rather be on the hard floor, but I don’t dare move with the giant towering above me.

A second later, he kneels down on the mattress and crawls up it, then grabs my face to try and kiss me before I turn away, causing his lips to land on my cheek instead.

“Take your clothes off and get comfortable,” his voice rumbles.

“No thanks.”

“You will. Eventually. They always say no at first,” the insane man tells me as he rolls to his back with his hands propped up behind his head. “But after a few days of no food or water, you’ll cave.”

Great, so this obviously isn’t the first time he’s held a woman here against her will. Why am I not all that surprised?

“I don’t think so,” I tell him as I scoot away.

“Just wait and see. You’re lucky I haven’t hurt you yet for lying about being married and for fucking all of my friends.”

“They, um, didn’t give me much of a choice,” I tell him, avoiding getting into the lie about Nolan and how we almost made it true.

“In that case, I’m glad I killed them.”

“You…you killed them?” I ask in confusion.

“That’s right. Every single one of them after they told me you weren’t worth the trouble, not worth a war with the Savage Kings. But don’t worry, I’m not like them. I’ll wait until you’re ready to fuck me. And you will eventually give in if you want to live.”

Oh, great.

“You better not have wanted them or liked it!”

“I didn’t!” I assure him.

“Good. Because you’re mine now. No one else’s.”

I start to argue that I’m Nolan’s, but it’s best to not remind him of the man I love in case he decides to go after him.

“I would rather die than be with you,” I tell him before I scramble off the mattress and take off running for the stairs.

I don’t have to look over my shoulder to know he’s following me. I just hope I can run a little faster than the giant. I’m in such a hurry that one of my feet slips on a step, but finally I reach the door at the top. It’s so dark I have to slap my hands around on it to feel for the knob that’s, of course, locked when I do find it. I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy if he’s kidnapped someone like this before.

“Damn it!” I yell as I slam my fists against the door.

And then my disappointment is suddenly swept away as both of my legs are jerked backward. My head slams into the top step and then every other one as he drags me down each and every one like a caveman before I’m flung back to the dirty mattress.

“Now look what you made me do!” he roars. “You’re bleeding!”

I hurt so badly all over that I can’t move when he crawls on top of me. Tears pour down my face in pain and fear, and what does Leroy do? His tongue shoots out and he licks them from my cheeks!

“Stop! Stop it!” I yell as I try and push him away.

But it’s no use. His tongue just keeps moving all over my face before it starts heading lower.

* * *

Nolan

The moodin the hospital waiting room turns somber as more time passes. There’s no pacing or yelling as we all just sit still like statues waiting for updates.

So far, all we know is that Jake and Lucas are both still in surgery.

Nothing else.

And it’s so fucking frustrating.

I feel like I’m going to explode as we wait for Reece to do his IT magic to try and locate Leroy on a security camera in the area, any camera, to figure out what kind of vehicle they’re in and hopefully what direction he drove. Reece is also looking for possible properties while some of the other Emerald Isle Kings ride around Cape Cartwright searching the area. Some are sitting on every highway in the city, waiting to see if he’ll show up with the women.

Roman’s phone rings, the tone jarring in the otherwise silent room.

“Unknown number,” he mutters before answering in a cold, dejected tone. “Roman here.” His eyes suddenly widen before he pops up from his seat. “Charlotte! Where are you? Are you safe?”

Cannon and I both jump to our feet to get closer, hoping to hear something about Madison and Rita.

“You did what?” he asks. “Why haven’t you called? Okay, just stay right there and wait for us,” he tells her. “They’re both in surgery. That’s all we really know right now.”

He says a few more words before pulling the phone away from his ear.

“They’re okay?” Cannon asks based on what we can hear from the one side of the phone call.

“Leroy took Rita from the café. Charlotte and Madison are fine,” Roman explains. “The crazy women decided to flag a man down in a car at the scene and follow the truck Leroy stole, keeping back far enough that he wouldn’t notice them on the highway. They didn’t have their purses or cell phones with them and didn’t want to stop until he did. Once he pulled down a dead-end road, they parked on the shoulder and waited to see if he would come back out. When he didn’t, they found a nearby gas station, and that’s where she was calling from.”

“So, they’re safe, and they know where Rita is?” I ask to be sure.

“Yes. Charlotte said they knew he could take her anywhere, and the only way to find them was to follow, even knowing how dangerous that would be. Madison did what she could for the prospects while she flagged down a witness, who called the police and paramedics.”

“Then let’s fucking go!”

“You, me, Cannon, Conrad, Hugo and Abel will go find them,” Roman says. “Marcus, Winston, and Verek, you three stay here and wait for news on Leo, Jake, and Lucas. Call me when you know more. I’ll reach out to the Emerald Isle crew and ask them to send some guys with their sniper to the address. Maybe we can sneak up and Miles can find a shot. Sound good?”

“Yeah, now, where the hell are they?” Cannon asks.

“Roseboro. It’s in the middle of nowhere and about two hours from here.”

I’m already pulling it up on the GPS on my phone. “Got it. Let’s ride.”

As we start toward the parking lot at a jog, Roman says, “Nolan, you know we can’t just go in there guns blazing. He’ll just turn his gun on her, use her as a hostage.”

“I know that. I’ll try and wait, but I won’t do it forever.”

* * *

Rita

I’m trappedin Leroy’s arms as the little spoon. He said he would wait until I wanted him, and so far, so good other than the tongue bath he gave my face and neck. I’m just not sure how long it will be before his patience runs out.

His breath becomes more even, the warmth of it blowing on the back of my neck before the snores start up.

My body is tense as I try to move a limb at a time slowly to try and slip out of his grip. It’s not easy since I still ache all over from the bruises of being dragged down a flight of stairs. I bite my lip so hard I taste blood to keep from making even the slightest whimpering sound.

And then, on top of everything else, I hear the creak of floorboards right above us.

Someone else is in the house?

One of the Rebel Henchmen?

That’s doubtful since Leroy claimed to have killed them all. I don’t think he would lie about something like that. And I can’t say I’ll shed a tear or grieve for those perverted bastards either.

Which means, someone else is upstairs.

Nolan?

That’s impossible, no matter how much I wish it were true. I know he would do everything in his power to try and find me, but it would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack out here in the middle of nowhere!

Still, a tiny part of me prays it’s him while the other hopes it’s not. If by some small miracle Nolan did find me, it’s too dangerous for him to be here. Doesn’t he know Leroy has a gun and isn’t shy about using it after how easily he took out the prospects?

Oh God. Those poor boys. They were so young, and they’re either dead or hanging by a thread right now, all because of me.

I thought Nolan was being overly protective and paranoid, and that Leroy’s crush on me would fizzle out eventually. I had no idea he would go to these lengths to be with me.

I wonder if his gun is still on him. Probably. I roll over to face him, ducking my head away from his foul-smelling breath and then peek inside of his leather cut. There doesn’t seem to be a shoulder holster. So, he probably stuffs the gun behind him like Nolan, using his cut to hide it and allow easy access. I rub my hand along Leroy’s hip before reaching around to his back.

“Getting frisky already?” his deep voice asks without his eyes opening. “I knew it wouldn’t take long.”

His arms become steel bars around me as his face nuzzles my chest.

“I, um, I think I am ready. Just let me go upstairs and get a shower, brush my teeth to freshen up for you, and then we’ll…” I trail off.

His lower body rocks against mine, making me realize another part of him is also wide awake.

“You can’t get out of the bathroom window,” he tells me. “So we may as well just stay and make love down here.”

My shirt is yanked over my head a second later, which is when I have enough and push his face away. “No! I, ah, I feel so gross. Let me take a quick shower? You’ve waited this long, right? What’s a few more minutes?”

He sighs heavily before he lifts his head. “You do still smell like him. Go wash him off of you.”

“O-kay,” I agree and hold my breath until he finally lets go of me. I scramble off the mattress as fast I can with my aches and pains to start up the stairs with Leroy right behind me.

Please, don’t let this decision get Nolan killed if it is him upstairs.

And if it’s not Nolan…well, my bluff is going to wear out soon.

“We’ll shower together,” Leroy announces, making me nearly trip up the damn dark steps again.

“What? No!”

“Yes!” he shouts, making me jump.

“If you shower with me, it’ll lead to…other things. Shouldn’t our first time be in a bed? A real bed?”

When he doesn’t say anything, I reach behind me and grab him through the front of his jeans, making him hiss.

“It’ll be better in a…clean bed with sheets. I’ll enjoy myself more, and so will you.”

“Fine,” he huffs. His big hands both reach around to grope me like I’m being inappropriately frisked, all greedy and no gentleness before they, thankfully, disappear and I hear the jingle of his keyring. He pushes me aside to unlock the door, and then finally there’s daylight again, shining through the windows of the rundown home.

“Just be patient!” I say to Leroy, and to Nolan if he’s inside before the basement door closes behind Leroy. “I’ll make it worth the wait, I promise,” I assure him before I spot the bathroom and hurry inside, locking the door behind me with trembling hands. Once it’s done, I lean my back against the wood and try to calm down my racing heart. At least I’m safe for a few more minutes.

Before Leroy grows suspicious, I turn on the shower. That’s when I get close enough to the small window to see the metal bars over it. Jesus. He wasn’t kidding about not being able to get out. Even if I did get out, there’s nothing but flat lands with few trees that goes on for what looks like miles and miles, no other houses in sight.

Something in the yard moves behind the gas tank, catching my eye. A dark head pops up, one that’s familiar!

Hugo!

Oh, I want to scream in relief and in concern, but I don’t make a sound. As if sensing my emotions, Hugo puts a finger to his lips in the universal sign of keep quiet. I nod my head in agreement and then wait.

This may not be the first time that Leroy has brought a woman back here to hold against her will, but with a little luck, hopefully it will be the last. I just hope the psychotic giant is the only one who gets hurt.

A scream rips from my throat when the unforgettable sound of a gun being fired again and again goes off in the house before I slap my palm over my mouth.

Oh God. This is it!

One thing is for certain — Leroy will die. I just pray the Savage Kings take him out before he shoots Nolan or anyone else.