Nova - The Kings of Retribution MC, Louisiana - Chapter 22

Sunlight filtering through the window wakes me from sleep, and I snuggle closer to the warm body wrapped around me from behind like a blanket. It’s been a couple of weeks since Cain and I discovered I’m pregnant.

 

It’s also been the same amount of time since I officially moved in with him and Piper. Although I kind of didn’t have much choice in the matter.

 

I came home from a trip to the grocery store last week to find all my belongings unpacked and put away, hanging in the closet, and a few knick-knacks and pictures of my mom and me strewn about the house.

 

Mine and my mom’s photos sitting on top of the mantle in the living room, amongst pictures of Piper, Cain’s brothers, his grandfather, and grandmother, is the first thing I noticed when I walked through the door that day.

 

Cain was in the kitchen standing over the sink, washing his grease-covered hands.

 

”Uh, honey.” I eyed the photos and then Cain.

 

I was about to question why my photos were out when Cain gave me a look that said he dared me to say anything. Apparently, he took it upon himself to make my stay official without consulting me.

 

And apparently, I had no problem with it because all I did was smile and say, ”Okay.” We are getting married and having a baby so me moving in was our last step in making everything official.

 

After getting over the initial shock of being pregnant, I have been riding cloud nine. I have fully embraced the idea of being a mother and can’t wait to welcome mine and Cain’s baby into the world.

 

On that thought, my mind drifts to thoughts of my mother, and a sense of sadness washes over me. I would give anything in the world to have been able to share this moment with her. To be able to ask her advice and to have her pass along her wisdom on raising a child. But I’ll never have that.

 

”What are you thinkin’ about so hard, Sugar?” Cain’s sleep-filled voice fills the room.

 

I sigh. ”How do you know I’m thinking about anything?”

 

”I know you, Promise. I felt you tense up about five seconds ago. Now tell me.”

 

Careful of my wrist, I turn to face Cain. His hazel eyes meet mine. The man doesn’t miss a thing when it comes to me.

 

”I was thinking about my mom and how much I miss her. Especially now. She would have been the best grandmother,” I choke out, and Cain pulls me in closer to him until my head rests against his chest.

 

”I wish there was something I could do or say to take that hurt from you, babe. But I can say that just because she’s not here, doesn’t mean she’s not with you. She’s still going to be our baby’s grandmother. Because all the things your mom taught you, you will teach our kid.”

 

“The wisdom and life lessons your mom passed down to you; you will pass down to our son or daughter. That’s how we keep those we have lost alive. That is how their memories live on. Your mom is not with you physically, Promise, but she is with you spiritually.”

 

“She lives inside you, babe. By us going on with our lives and living, that’s the best way we honor our loved ones who are no longer on this earth.”

 

I suck in a deep breath as I raise on my elbow to look at Cain.

 

He continues. ”My grandmother taught me glassblowing. I know with every piece I make, she is with me. For me, that is how I keep her alive.” Cain places his hand on my chest over my beating heart. ”In here. I keep her here just as you do your mom. Never forget that, babe.”

 

By the time Cain is finished speaking, I’m a blubbering mess. I don’t know if it’s because of his words or because of my crazy hormones. Maybe it’s a little of both.

 

”Thank you for saying that, honey.” I lay my head back on his chest and get lost in the rhythm of his heartbeat. ”You always know what I need, and I needed that,” I whisper.

 

”Always, Sugar.” The last thing I remember before falling back to sleep is Cain stroking my hair.

 

THE NEXT DAY I’m down at the office with London. A new client of mine just left, and London is gathering her things to go since she has court in an hour.

 

”Want me to bring you some lunch when I finish with court? Or we can go to Maggie’s and see what her special is today.”

 

I look up from my computer, my mouth salivating at the thought of Maggie’s gumbo. ”Let’s hit up Maggie’s. I haven’t been there in weeks.” I smile.

 

”Great.” London slings her bag over her shoulder. ”I’m out.”

 

”Knock ’em dead, girl.”

 

Thirty minutes later, I close my laptop and stretch my arm above my head, working out the kinks in my back.

 

I have been working hard on a case involving a young woman whose boss made a pass at her, and when she declined his advance and called him out for inappropriate work behavior, she found herself fired two days later without cause.

 

She came to London and me, asking for help. I’m going to enjoy nailing that jackass’ balls to the wall.

 

A moment later, my tummy lets out a loud rumble. Knowing London won’t be back for at least another hour, I decide to have a little snack to tide me over until lunch.

 

Standing from my desk, I make my way to the back of the office to the small break room we have. In there is a refrigerator, a kitchenette, and a four-seater table.

 

Opening the fridge, I snag a cup of yogurt and a bottle of water, taking them to the front of the office in the little waiting area where we have a comfortable sofa that sits in front of a large window.

 

The warm sun is shining through, and it feels good on my face. While enjoying my snack, I take the time to admire mine and London’s finished office.

 

The waiting area has grey walls that look fantastic with the exposed brick. The room has a sofa, four chairs, and a coffee station equipped with a mini-fridge with bottled water and juice.

 

London and I both wanted a place where our potential clients could feel relaxed. Down the short hallway is where two rooms are located. One is my office—the other London’s.

 

The space is not grand, but it is perfect for us.

 

Remembering the framed artwork in the trunk of my car I bought over the weekend to hang in my office, I stand from the sofa and toss the empty yogurt cup in the trash.

 

Once I grab my car keys from my purse, I make my way outside to the parking lot. Using my key fob, I pop the trunk. Just as I lean over to grab the canvas, I hear a noise behind me.

 

Looking over my shoulder, I’m startled by a large man in a suit with buzzed hair and a menacing scowl on his face. I have no time to react before a burning sensation takes over my entire body, then everything goes black.

 

I SLOWLY COME to sometime later, disoriented. It takes several seconds for my memory to come flooding back to me, and when it does, I panic.

 

Lurching forward into a seated position, the first thing I note is I’m on a bed in a bedroom. My eyes dart around the room. I take in my surroundings.

 

Dark walls with stained molding. The place is enormous. There is a large black oak dresser directly in front of the king-size bed I’m lying on.

 

Hanging on the wall above it is a flat-screen tv. The floor to ceiling window to my right is draped in charcoal grey curtains. On either side of the bed are tables that match the dresser. And directly above me is an extravagant chandelier.

 

”Good, you’re awake,” a familiar voice calls out from the bedroom door. I snap my head in that direction and suck in a sharp breath when Leon Velasco strolls in.

 

He steps inside the room, and I take in his usual power suit, slicked-back hair, and dark empty eyes. He takes several steps in my direction, causing me to jerk back. And when I try jumping off the bed, I’m halted by a pair of steel handcuffs around my uninjured wrist.

 

”What am I doing here? Let me go.” My voice shakes as a sudden bout of nausea threatens to take over. It’s also then I remember being knocked unconscious. My first thought is of the baby. ”What did you do to me? Did you give me something?”

 

”You weren’t injected with anything. Harvey only tasered you. The shock was harmless.”

 

”Harmless? Please, you have to let me go,” I plead. ”I’m pregnant. I have to make sure my baby…” I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence because the next thing I know Leon is in my face with his fist in my hair, wrenching my head back.

 

”You let that piece of shit biker defile you!” he roars, his face turning red.

 

I cry out in pain as he continues. ”You had to make me do this the hard way. You couldn’t just accept that you were supposed to belong to me. Instead, you opened your legs to a King. Now, look what’s happened. Now I’m forced to get rid of it.”

 

At his words, my stomach sinks, and I swallow down the bile that rises in my throat. He can’t mean what I think he means.

 

”Please,” I plead again. ”Let me go.” I try jerking away from Leon’s grasp; only he’s too strong.

 

”You’re not going anywhere. First, I’m going to deal with your little mistake. Then I’m going to work on bringing you to heal. It’s time you face the fact you belong to me now, Promise.”

 

”You’re crazy. When Cain finds me, he’s going to kill you.” This time when I speak, my tone is steady and confident.

 

Leon tugs on my hair again, making me wince. ”Repeat his name and you will suffer the consequences.”

 

He lets me go and makes his way back across the room. Just as he reaches the door, he turns back. ”We can do things the easy way or the hard way. I’ll give you some time to decide.”

 

Hours have passed, and I’m still alone in the room, cuffed to the bed, my bladder on the verge of exploding.

 

I spent an hour trying to wiggle free of the handcuffs with no avail. All I managed to do was rub the skin around my wrist raw, to the point, it’s starting to bleed.

 

Cain has to know by now I’m missing. I’m sure London suspected something was wrong as soon as she got back to the office. I should have taken Leon’s advances over the last few months more seriously.

 

At first, I thought it was harmless. Creepy, but nothing to be concerned about. I knew from representing him he was a dangerous man, but I never expected he would go as far as to kidnap me.

 

Cain said if Leon were a smart man, he would heed his warning to stay away. Leon has proven he is not very smart. Men like Velasco think they’re untouchable.

 

The problem with thinking you are untouchable is you underestimate certain people. In Leon’s case, he underestimated Cain and The Kings.

 

The click of the lock on the bedroom door causes me to tense. Leon’s earlier threat has me sick with fear and on high alert. But it is not Leon who enters the room.

 

It is the man who tasered and kidnapped me. He doesn’t speak as he advances toward the bed. I squirm and hug my body as close to the headboard as possible. ”What are you going to do?”

 

‘The man doesn’t speak as he reaches into his pocket, producing a key. When he grabs my arm, I begin to struggle. ”Don’t touch me.”

 

The guy’s vice-like grip tightens. ”Stop,” he spits as he uncuffs me from the bed.

 

”Let’s go.” The man tugs on the end of the cuffs, and I have no choice but to climb off the bed and follow him. He leads me to the other side of the room to the bathroom. Walking inside, he stops next to the toilet, and he jerks his chin. ”Go.”

 

Mortification sets in as I realize he expects me to pee in front of him. He can’t be serious.

 

”I don’t need a babysitter.”

 

”You either squat and piss now or hold it until morning. Your choice but I’m not waitin’ all day for you to make it. I have better things to do than deal with Leon’s latest whore. Now fuckin’ go.”

 

”Can you at least turn around?”

 

When the guy doesn’t answer and continues to stare at me, I decide I have to swallow my embarrassment. Or rather, my bladder decides for me.

 

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I wiggle my pants, along with my underwear down my thighs. I try not to flash the asshole in front of me. By the hungry look on his face and the way he licks his lips, I’d say he’s enjoying the view.

 

”I think I’m going to ask the boss if I can have a little taste. He’s had no problems sharing his whores in the past.”

 

The guy’s vile comments make my skin crawl. I do my best to ignore him as I finish my business.

 

Once I’m done, he tugs me back over to the bed where he cuffs me to the headboard once again. ”Be a good little whore.” He gets one last dig in before he exits the room, locking it behind him.

 

More time passes, and soon I’m no longer able to fight off the sleep that is hell bent on taking me.

 

My last thoughts before darkness takes over are of Cain as I send up a silent prayer hoping he finds me.

 

Sometime later, I’m jarred awake by the bedroom door bursting open. Leon walks in stone-faced with his lackey trailing behind. ”It’s time, Promise.”

 

For some reason, those three words out of Leon’s mouth sends a chill down my spine. He and his goon advance in my direction. My eyes dart between him and Leon.

 

”What’s going on? What are you doing?” I start to panic as Leon’s goon grabs hold of me and presses my body into the bed. ”Get the hell off me!” I start flailing and kicking my legs.

 

”This is for the best, Promise. We can’t start our new life with you carrying that scum’s baby,”

 

Leon sneers as he stands back in the shadows.

 

”You can’t do this! You can’t take my baby! Please! Please don’t do this!” I continue to struggle.

 

My attempts to free myself get me nowhere. And I’m proven right when another zap of liquid heat takes over my body, and I’m forced into darkness once again.

 

The next time I wake, my body is freezing. My eyes flutter open, and I note I’m no longer in the bedroom. My vision is blurry, and the only thing I can make out are the concrete walls that surround me. I blink my eyes several more times, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to focus. I’m cold.

 

Why am I so cold?

 

”Relax. This will all be over soon.”

 

I blink my eyes again and try to focus on where that voice is coming from. ”What’s happening?” I try lifting my arm to my face, but it feels like lead. Twisting my neck, I look down at my arm to see an IV in it. Oh, God! My baby!

 

”Please,” my words slur. ”Don’t take my baby.”