the car in front of an old run-down trailer.
“Where’s here, exactly?” I ask. I don’t know what my future holds but I plan to gather every bit of information along the way.
“Your home for the next couple of weeks,” he answers. “You remember Antonio and Frankie, right? Roman told me all about your meeting.”
“My meeting?” I ask, angry. “They raped me.”
“They were just having a little fun,” he chuckles.
I watch as the two men exit the trailer and head right towards us. My heart beats faster with every step closer. I want to beg for Carlos to start the car and drive away. But, rationally, I know that being with Carlos is no safer than being stuck with these two.
“You will obey them,” Carlos tells me. “You will be a good girl and do what you’re told, or I can make life so much worse for you.”
“Whatever you say,” I bravely reply. All bravado I thought I had earlier flew out the window the second one of the men opened the door. It’s the man who held me down.
“Well, hey there little slut, you ready to spend some time with us?”
“Antonio, take the girl inside and show her to her room.”
So, the man who held me down is Antonio. Which means the one who raped me is Frankie.
“Sure thing, tío,” Antonio says. “So, you still can’t walk, huh?”
“Of course, I can walk, you idiot,” I lie. “I just choose not to.”
Antonio stares at me with wide eyes and a slack jaw.
Moron.
“She’s teasing,” Carlos chuckles. “You must carry her, Sobrino.”
“No puedo esperar a mi turno. Mi polla le enseñará modales a esta puta.”
Crap. Now he’s speaking Spanish. I really should have paid closer attention in high school Spanish class.
“It’s not nice to call women, whores, Antonio,” Carlos says. “Take her inside. And keep your dick in your pants.”
“Esto es una mierda,” he says, lifting me roughly and tossing me over his shoulder.
“Bullshit or not, do as I fucking say.”
Carlos may be an evil man, but I appreciate his last order. Not that it would stop these men if they really wanted to rape me again.
I won’t let it come to that.
“I’ll be back in a few hours,” Carlos says from beside the car. “If I find out that either of you has laid a single finger on her when I get back, I’ll fucking kill you.”
It’s extremely dark outside, so all I see as he drives away are the red taillights.
“I’m not worried,” Frankie says. “He wouldn’t kill us, we’re family.”
I’m tossed onto a hard couch, hitting my head on the wooden armrest.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I say, wincing when I feel the new bump rising up on my head. “He killed Roman right before tossing me in his car and driving here.”
I look around the room. The walls are covered in a yellowed flower wallpaper, the carpet is stained a dark brown and everything is filthy. There’s trash all over the coffee table and the floor.
“She’s lying, Antonio,” Frankie finally says. “Carlos wouldn’t kill his own son.”
“Why would I lie?” I ask. “Obviously your uncle doesn’t hold family at a level you thought he did.”
I scoot my body until I’m against the back of the couch. The room is starting to blur, and it feels like I could pass out at any second.
“Damnit, Tonio, how hard did you throw her on the couch?”
I miss whatever it is they say next because the room goes black and I fade away into a less frightening world.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ink
The sun came up a few hours ago and we are no closer to finding Rachel. I know that Slim is working tirelessly trying to find even the smallest bit of information, but I can’t help but feel fucking pissed.
“Bud, I need you to relax or go take a walk,” Slim tells me, not taking his attention from his screens.
“I’m not going to take a fucking walk, Slim,” I growl.
Hawk gives me a warning look. It isn’t the first time I’ve taken my anger out on Slim and it appears my brother is about had it.
“One more time, brother,” Hawk tells me calmly. “I understand that you’re scared and stressed but if you talk to my man with anything other than respect one more time then you and I are going to have problems.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, Slim,” I say. I walk over and rest my forehead on top of Slim’s head. “Please, don’t be mad at