“No! Please don’t!” I screamed, trying to get away, my chains holding me.
He walked toward me with a sickening, evil look. “You ruined everything, you stupid worthless piece of ass!” He grabbed my shoulder. His fingers bit into my skin.
I screamed at him as I fought. “This can’t be. Dom said you were dead!”
He yanked me to my feet. “I’ll show you dead, you stupid bitch.”
He raised his hand to slap me, but I was being jerked back. Kicking and screaming, I fought as thick arms wrapped around me, holding on tight. The cellar began to fade around me.
“Baby! Baby, wake up.” The arms shook me gently. “Jules, honey, please wake up!” The voice kept shouting.
I jerked free and sat up, sweat pouring down my face and shaking. Looking around the room, realization dawned. It was only a nightmare. I turned to find Dom. Pain and remorse filled his eyes. He had an idea what I’d dreamt about. I launched myself at him. Encased in his arms, I immediately started to calm.
He gently placed his hand under my chin and tilted my head back, then wiped the tears from my eyes. My breathing slowed a little more. “Baby, it’ll be okay. I promise. You want to tell me about it?” he asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “Not yet. I need a minute,” I whispered.
He kissed my temple. “How about a drink?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
Dom left the room for just a minute, then came back and handed me a glass full of amber liquid. Eyeing the glass with the mysterious liquid in it, I raised my brow. He nodded. I downed the glass. I swore my eyes almost bugged out as my throat burned.
I coughed. “What was that? It feels like acid on my throat.”
Dom chuckled as warmth settled in my belly and my nerves calmed. “No, baby. That wasn’t acid.” He took a swig from a green bottle. “That, my love, is Jameson. The cure for everything.” He gave me a sly smile and a wink. Then he got serious. “You ready?”
I nodded and took one more burning drink. Dom took the glass from me and sat on the bed, pulling me into his arms. Taking a deep breath, I recapped my nightmare to him. By the time I was done, I was shaking again, and Dom’s face was red.
He kissed my head. “I’ll never let him get you again. I swear.”
I snuggled closer into safety. “I know.”
I knew he’d try his best. But John was a sneaky fucker. If he wanted me, there was a chance even Dom couldn’t stop him.
27
Dom
After Jules told me about her nightmare, I suggested maybe going back to her therapy sessions. Not necessarily group, but at least individual sessions a couple times a week. Thankfully, she agreed. And since she couldn’t go back to her self-defense classes right now, I’d take care of that too. For all the girls.
“I’ll work with you on self-defense, okay? We can start tomorrow.” She nodded and smiled. I knew she felt more in control when she felt like she could protect herself. “I promise, baby. You will be safe. I will protect you with my life.” Kissing her forehead, I climbed out of the bed. “I have some things to go take care of. Will you be okay for about an hour? I won’t be leaving the compound.”
Jules sat up and fixed her ponytail. “Yes, of course, I’ll be fine.”
I shot a text out to the guys to meet me downstairs. Kissing her gently one more time, I moved to pull away and she twined her hands in my shirt. She yanked me back and crushed her mouth to mine. She deepened the kiss for a second. I felt her lips turn up into a smile. Then she released me. When I turned to leave, I smiled and threw her a wink. I didn’t want to leave her, but there was shit to do.
Heading downstairs, I met up with Axel, Viper, Ezra, and Mac. Locke was on the phone, so we waited until he was finished. He faced me when he hung up. “You tell her?”
I nodded as the anger I’d shoved down to take care of Jules rose back up. “Shit yeah. And she freaked out, crying herself to sleep in my lap. She woke up screaming and thrashing around. She almost killed me in her sleep.” The memory of her pain tore at my guts.
“If she wasn’t a President’s daughter, I’d be more worried,” Locke said. “But I think she can handle it.”
I shook my head. “The problem is this whole damn situation is draining her. Just one hit right after the other, between the kidnapping, the letters, and photos. Now Ernie. She needs a break.” Locke just tilted his chin. I decide to cut to the chase. “Speaking of Ernie, have we heard anything from John?”
“Nope. He’s been radio silent since I sent him the photo.”
“Makes me nervous. I wonder what he’s planning,” Axel said.
Locke’s eyes narrowed. “Ezra, go tell Tech to step up whatever shit he’s pulling to find this guy. I want eyes on him. I want his every move watched. I mean everything he does. I want to know when he shits, how many times a day, and I even want to know the damn color. We need him nailed down.”
Ezra saluted. “On it, Prez.” He headed out.
I cleared my throat. “So, Prez, about Ezra. Are we planning to patch him in anytime soon? I mean, we treat him like a brother, but it’s not official.” Locke watched me with his head tilted. I went on. “Ezra is different from the other prospects. That kid has practically been raised in this club his whole life. Plus, he has a stake in this whole shit storm. I see the way he looks at Grace.” Viper and Mac nodded.
Locke laughed. “You all are a bunch of pussies,” he joked.
“You say that now, but one day,
