Envy (19 page)

I don’t know what to do with myself. My best friend has been captured by the evil that ironically brought us together. I didn’t sleep last night, don’t get me wrong I’m so fucking tired but I can’t rest my head on a pillow when Natasha is out there with Strike.

I feel really bad for Devlin. He’s walking around with a dangerous pissed off vibe. Even I haven’t approached him yet. He’s better off left alone right now, Brandon has even warned me to give him space and I’ve taken it on board.

Drew looks even worse. She’s feeling guilty as hell and I feel so bad for her. She had no choice but to do what Strike ordered. I would have done the same in her position.

“How are you holding up?” Elise quietly sits beside me as I brush through Lorena’s hair.

She loves her hair being brushed, I remember Marie telling us all and Lorena really does. In fact, I don’t know how long I’ve been sat with her. I don’t mind though, she seem happy enough and it’s also helping me. I’ve been doing a lot of daydreaming whist running the brush through her silky smooth hair.

“About as good as you.” I answer not taking my eyes from Brandon across the room.

“We will get her back right?” I ask her quietly so Lorena doesn’t hear me. “They got you back.”

Elise hangs her head down and I know she doesn’t want to say what she’s been thinking.

“They knew where I was being kept, we don’t know where Natasha is.” I see some tears drip down onto her knees. “I hope they find her Lauren.”

“You will get her back.” I whisper and Elise frowns up at me. “We will get her back.”

“Lauren?” She asks suspiciously.

“Say hi to Elise.” I pick up Lorena and sit her on my knee.

“Lissy!” Lorena holds her arms out to her.

“Hello gorgeous girl.” Elise fusses her.

“You wanna brush my hair?” She asks her.

“Sure.” Elise takes the pink hair brush from me and sits Lorena on a chair in front of her.

“Church!” Shouts Franky from the other room. The doors are shut that connect this room to the bar room, but I suspect we would hear him from outside. He’s that freaking loud.

Brandon rushes up to me and grabs me in a tight hold. “We’ll find her.” He says before kissing me and putting me back down.

I watch him walk into church, my heart beating heavy in my chest.

“Lauren.” Spliff runs up to me.

“Hey.” I smile as Lorena jumps up into his arms.

He gives her a sweet kiss on the forehead, closing his eyes and breathing her in. It’s a sad and intimate moment between a father and his child.

“You good to watch Lorena?” He asks.

“Of course!” I take Lorena from his arms and she giggles as I tickle her. “We can have some more fun right gorgeous?”

“I love Lauren Daddy.” Lorena giggles as she wraps her arms around my neck.

Spliff watches us with tears in his eyes. “Thank you.” He whispers, winking at Elise and walking with the other brothers to church.

“That poor man.” Elise watches him go from her seat.

“Too much has happened to this club.” I grumble, settling Lorena down and getting out her books and colours for her to play.

“Lauren, you’re not going to do anything stupid are you?” She asks with those suspicious eyes of hers again.

“I will try to do whatever is in my power to get Natasha back.” I answer honestly.

“Lauren.” She warns.

“Don’t worry Elise.” I sit down beside Lorena and join her with colouring.

She doesn’t need to worry herself about what I’m planning to do. It will only warn Brandon and the rest of the club as to what I’m doing. I will not let Strike have Natasha. I know he means to kill her that was plain to see in the letter he had left her and I will not allow him to do that.

Besides, my plan won’t work anyway. No matter how much I would love to save Natasha, I don’t know where she is, just like everyone else.

An hour later and the men are still busy in Church. It has to be about Natasha, there’s no doubt and I’m itching to know what they’re discussing. I tried to sneak closer to the door to listen in, I know I shouldn’t but I really want to know. Unfortunately for me, Franky had thought of this and had Prospects stood outside so I couldn’t get anywhere near.

Unless Brandon wants to tell him himself, I will never know. A Kings member rule, tell your old lady how much you want, just not too much. Brandon lets me know little things, just not the big deals going down or violence. I don’t want to know any of that.

However, now that my best friend is in the hands of Strike, one of the most evil men I’ve ever know, I need to know the whole truth. I want to know where The Kings are at in getting Natasha back because I have to have her back here with me, with Devlin and her family.

Lorena is busy playing with Nelly and her two year old son Bobby. I watch Lorena laughing as she plays with the little boy and I spot Drew through the door sat at a table in the bar.

I get up and quickly make my way over to her. I haven’t spoken to her since she told us what Strike had said and done. She wouldn’t open her door to me or anyone else so seeing her sat here shocks me. She doesn’t see me approach until I’m right in front of her. She jumps and her eyes widen.

“Shit Lauren you scared me.” She gasps.

“Sorry.” I sit beside her and look her over. She doesn’t look great. Thankfully the dirt that covered her last night has been washed away but the bruises have darkened on her face. She has that lost look in her eyes that I’m all too familiar with.

“I’m so sorry Lauren.” It’s sad that she still doesn’t understand that none of this is her fault.

“Drew, stop doing this to yourself.” I insist.

She shakes her head. “I watched her being thrown to the floor, knocked out cold and I couldn’t do anything. A man held me so tight, I could even feel how excited he was Lauren. Those men are monsters and I let them take Natasha.”

Tears gather in her eyes and she shakes her head. It’s clear to see that she’s disgusted in herself and that saddens me.

“Believe me Drew, if you had tried anything Strike would have hurt you further or even killed you.” I nod when she widens her eyes. “He doesn’t think things through, he would‘ve got angry and done something.”

“What’s going to happen to her?” She asks after a few minutes silence.

“I don’t know but Strike has this weird obsession with her. Unlike mine, he loves to torture Natasha.” Flashes from our shared time with The Devils invades my memory.

“Yeah he said something about that last night.” Drew admits.

I quickly close the distance between us. “What did he say?”

Drew looks around and then back to me. “He said he wanted to hurt her so bad.”

I lean back in the chair and exhale. I desperately hope she’s ok.

“Lauren,” Drew adds quietly. “Strike told me to tell you something.”

“What?” I ask in urgency.

Instead of saying anything, she reaches under her jeans and tucked in the waist band is a piece of paper. Her eyes dart around and she quickly hands it over.

“What is this?” I ask, holding it up.

Drew lowers my hand under the table. “It’s an address.”

My heart speeds. “This is where Natasha is?”

“I don’t know.” Drew whispers back. “Strike gave it to me and told me to give it to you and only you.”

I open the folded paper and read the address. I know where she is! This has to be the place Strike has taken Natasha.

“Why didn’t you tell Devlin or your dad last night?” I ask, a little angry that she has known this all this time while Strike is doing god knows what to Natasha.

“He told me, if any man goes to this address, they will be shot dead. If any women who aren’t you turn up, then they’re officially his property.” She cries. “Lauren he said if you don’t go he will come back here and kill anyone who gets in his way until he gets to you, me, Elise and any other women belonging to this club.”

“The children.” I whimper, looking around at the many families filling the clubhouse.

Drew sadly nods. “He said he’d give you two days.”

“That’s tomorrow.” I clarify and Drew nods again.

“I’m so sorry Lauren.” Drew sobs and I hold her in my arms.

“This isn’t your fault. We all knew it would come down to this, I’m just happy that I got to have some happiness for a while.” I admit, my own tears dropping from my face.

Drew and I cry together, and I don’t even realise that Church has ended until strong arms surround me and pull me from Drew. I look up to see Brandon’s concerned eyes looking down at me.

“I think we found her baby.” He whispers to me.

“What?” I gasp.

“I think we know where Tasha is. We’re going tonight.” He smiles down at me, but I’m not happy at all. If they know where Natasha truly is being kept, then I have to get there before they do. I don’t want any of my family getting hurt.

I look over Brandon’s shoulder to see Drew wrapped up in her father’s arms, looking as shocked as I am. She must have heard the news too. With the paper scrunched in my hands, I nod to Drew confirming my decision and she cries harder in Franky’s arms.

I looked through the magazines but I wasn’t interested in them. My mind kept wondering over what’s happened and where I am. I couldn’t just sit down and relax. I’m stressed, upset and pissed about this whole thing! Lauren and I were finally settled in our new family. How dare Strike take us away from all of that!

I’m sat on the bed when the door suddenly opens and I jump in shock. I back up against the wall when Strike strolls in, a huge fucking smile mocking me. He looks like he has the whole world at his feet, I hate that this all seems to be coming together for him.

“Silver.” He greets but I don’t bother saying anything. Instead I frown over at him, hating him more and more the longer I look at him.

“I can see you’re doing great.” He laughs, mocking me.

I wish I had a gun, I’d shoot the fucker down and enjoy watching his bright red blood splatter on the white wall behind him.

He looks down to the magazines splatted on the floor and a smug smile spreads across his face. I fucking hate that he knows I’ve even looked at them, never mind read them! I’m so annoyed with myself right now.

“The plan is in motion.” He claps his hands together, walking further into the room.

“What plan?” I ask.

“Oh yes I remember, you were knocked out when we discussing that part with your little friend.” He mimics’.

“Where’s Drew?” I demand to know.

“Relax!” He shouts, frowning over at me. “She’s still with the King scum.”

He spits onto the floor disrespecting my family and I want to hurt him so badly for doing so.

“If you must know, Drew has been given instructions to get Raven to me.” Strike announces proudly.

“Why would you do that?” I ask. “Drew is probably in bits.”

“Boo fucking hoo.” Strike moans. “Relax, I’m sure Daddy is looking after her.”

“You don’t give a fucking shit!” I stand as I shout. “That’s my family!”

Strike laughs and pushed me back down on the bed. “Watch it bitch.”

He stares down at me for a couple of seconds, I can see him calming himself down.

“All Drew has to do is give Raven a piece of paper. That will tell her where to go and I’ll be there waiting for her.” Strike grins dangerously.

“Leave Lauren alone please!” I shout, standing again. “She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Her name is Raven.” Strike shouts in my face. “Say it!”

I shake my head, I will not call her that. Strike roars as he slaps me across the face. I gasp and hold my face, shit that hurt.

“You need to remember your place Silver.” Strike stands over me. “Your time with The Kings has made you forget.”

“I don’t want Lauren anywhere near you again.” I stand tall. “She’s not yours, she’s Grim’s.”

This earns me another hit, one much harder and I fall to the floor. My head spins slightly and I see a blurry Strike leaning over me.

“You haven’t recovered enough from you head injury, so be careful Silver.” He warns.

I lie still not able to move my head from the spinning.

“So, do you really have a biker boyfriend?” He asks and I decide not to answer him. I’m fucking done with his games.

“I’m surprised he even finds you attractive.” He laughs. “Scars and all.”

Even in my dizzy state, I feel guilt and shame at not trusting Devlin with my secrets. At seeing my face change, Strike laughs loudly.

“He hasn’t seen your scars?”

“Yes he has.” I answer getting angrier by the second.

“But he hasn’t seen all of them has he Silver?” He asks, getting in my face. “He hasn’t fucked you!”

This is hilarious to him, the fact that a man hasn’t had sex with me yet.

“Don’t worry, I love all your scars Silver. You know I do.” He grabs my face in his hands. I look up to his still blurry face. “I created them after all.”

Suddenly, the top of my dress is torn and exposes my bra. Strike caresses my skin and lingers on the scars he has given me.

“Does he not like my artwork?” He asks, deadly serious.

“You’re a twisted fuck.” I snap and his fingers stop. “You’re an evil, sick man Strike. You don’t deserve anyone. The Kings will make sure you don’t get Lauren and they will kill you.”

I get a slap across the face and I laugh. I don’t know why, maybe I’m losing my mind but I laugh anyway.

“Know who you’re talking to!” Strike shouts and punches me square in the face.

My eyes close and are so heavy that I don’t think I can open them again but I feel Strike bring my hands over my head. He secures them with one his hands, not that I seem to be conscious enough to fight him.

“You fucking belong to me now.” He growls into my ear and squeezes one of my breasts.

He begins to squeeze so hard I scream from the pain. Laughing, he begins to lift my dress and I begin to fight him off. I kick and wriggle but this only angers him. Strike slaps me over and over. I can’t believe I’m back here. I might not be back in the Devil’s clubhouse, but I don’t need to be when Strike’s here.

“Strike.” Comes a voice I slightly recognise.

“What?” Strike snaps.

“He’s here.”

Strike stops what he’s doing. “Get the fuck out Venom!”

I remember Venom, he’s Strike younger and quieter brother. I never spent any time with him, never really saw much of him. What I learnt about Venom was that he has an evil streak but he’s nowhere near as bad as Strike. Whenever I did see him, he was always being belittled by Strike.

I manage to open my eyes and see Strike lean over me. I feel searing pain as his teeth dig into my bottom lip and bite hard. I scream and try to push him away which only makes Strike bite harder. I taste my own blood and when he eventually breaks away, I see my blood dripping down his chin.

“I’ll be back to finish this.” He warns. “I have a certain Kings member to talk to.”

“No!” I scream, panicking at who it could be. I hold my mouth as blood runs down my chin.

“Don’t worry.” Strike turns his back. “This one works with me.”

I frown. What is he saying?

“Oh didn’t you know?” He teases me, standing at the door. “Your boys have a rat problem and they don’t even fucking know.”

With that, he slams the door and I get to listen to him laughing as he walks away. I look down at my hand and see blood covering my skin. I hope that Lauren doesn’t act the hero and fall right into Strike’s plan.