At the sound of Torben’s voice giving Jackal the go-ahead, the blood in my veins turns to ice. This can’t be happening. I’ve fought too hard to keep Luca and Corinne safe. I tried my hardest to get up, but my movement only gained me another kick before Jackal straddled me. “I don’t know what these men see in you. You're nothing but a whore like that momma who gave birth to you. If you weren’t my sister, I think I might have fucked you myself. But I’m not sick enough for some backwoods shit like that,” he said as his spit hit my face with each word.
As he stood back up, Jackal ordered someone to go grab my babies. “No, please don’t,” I’d pleaded, only to be silenced by a kick to the head. I fought against the stars swirling in my vision yet I wasn’t strong enough to deal with the pain.
By the time I woke up hours later, I found myself in a hospital bed, hooked to an IV, and my leg in a cast. Nerd sits in the chair next to my bed, bouncing his leg as he braces his head on his clasped hands.
“Where’s Stoney? Luca? Corinne?” I croak, causing Nerd’s head to shoot up. The grimace on Nerd’s face answered my question as it registers in his mind.
“Stoney’s gone after them, Rachel. Trust me when I say he’ll get them back,” Nerd says.
Nodding, I’d asked him if everyone else was okay. When he said Momma B was a room down the hall from me, I felt tears sliding down my cheeks. This is all my fault. If not for me, she'd never been hurt, and my babies wouldn’t be gone.
“I need to talk to Stoney. Please call him,” I plead.
Nerd pulls his phone out without hesitation and dials Stoney’s number, putting the phone on speaker, but it went straight to voicemail instead of ringing. Hanging up, he dialed another number. On the third ring, Shadow's voice fills the line.
“Shadow, Rachel’s awake and wants to talk to Prez,” Nerd says.
“Alright, hang on a minute,” Shadow responds. Muffled voices can be heard through the line before Stoney’s voice comes through.
“Hey, Doll,” he says. As much as I want to be mad at him, I can’t right now.
“Please, Stoney. Please get them back,” I say immediately upon hearing his voice. Getting Luca and Corinne back is all that matters right now.
“I’m working on getting them both now, Doll, swear to fuck I am.” He sounds so confident that he’ll get them back, but he needs to know what Jackal said.
“That man named Jackal, h–he said Torben had plans for Corinne once she got into his hands. He’s gonna sell her, I just know it, Stoney,” I say, closing my eyes to block out the rest of what he said. That man is not my brother. How would that be possible anyway? He has to be like ten years older than me. And my mom had me when she was nineteen. I don’t get it.
“Torben will be a dead man before the sun comes up, I can promise you that, same as I promise to bring our kids home,” Stoney growls.
“Okay, I k–know we aren’t on good terms right now but if you care about me at all you’ll get them home,” I murmur.
“Rachel, I fuckin’ love you and I’m not giving you up, so get that shit running around in your head out. Yeah, we got things to deal with between us, but it’s going on the back burner for now. Got me?” A shiver runs down my spine at the authoritative tone he uses as he tells me he loves me, which I know has to be true. That’s not something he’d say without meaning it. But he gives his promise we’ll work everything out.
“I get you, and love you too,” I say, wincing in pain as I lift my free hand and wipe the tears away. If he can be strong, then so can I.
“Good. Now, I’ve gotta go, but I’ll let you know the moment I’ve got them both, okay?” he states
“Okay, Stoney,” I say right before the phone goes dead. Of course, he wouldn’t let me say bye to him.
“I’m sorry, Rachel,” Nerd mutters as he puts his phone back in his pocket.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do this to me or Momma B. You didn’t kidnap my kids or rape those women at the clubhouse. Those assholes who came in shooting, they’re the ones responsible,” I declare.
“Yeah, but we should have protected you better,” he grumbles, leaning back in his seat.
“Nerd— nope, I can’t sit here and call you that. What the hell is your name? I feel like I’m picking on you like the jocks in high school call anyone who has their nose in a book,” I state.
Nerd throws his head back in a fit of laughter. “Yeah, Ray, you’ll fit in around here. And as for my name, it’s Nick,” he chuckles.
“Nick, I like it. Why do they call you Nerd anyway? Were you one of those kids who got picked on?” I ask.
“No, I wasn’t. I actually was one of those jocks as you mention, but I didn’t pick on anyone. I’ve never condoned bullying and actually defended the nerds,” he smiles.
“Then how did you get your name?” I push.
“When I was prospecting, your uncle gave me my road name. Said I was a ‘know it all’ when it came to facts and finding anything out using my computer,” he says.
“Interesting,” I giggle and groan as pain radiates through my body.
“Why don’t you get some rest, Ray? I’ll wake you soon as I know anything, okay?” he suggests.
“That’s a good idea. I’m really tired and my body feels like I was run over by a train,” I mutter as I close my eyes.
“Stoney will get them for you” are the last words I hear before passing out.
30
