SWNOVELS Runner: Chapter 46
Fear shot down my spine, and my mouth went dry when the voice from my nightmares echoed through the room. My heart seized, terror sinking into my bones. Even if Liam’s hand wasn’t on me, I couldn’t move if I tried. Someone came up beside me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, praying this wasn’t fucking real life. Fingers grasped my chin, yanking my head up, forcing me to confront my own personal hell.
“Open your eyes, Lina. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment?”
I didn’t listen, not having the courage to look at him. I should have let the crew kill me. It would have been better than this because now I knew I’d survive the night. Trapped in a life that was worse than death. I cried out as pain exploded across my jaw when he hit me. Shouting filled the room, but I was only focused on the hand that grabbed my face again.
“Open your fucking eyes,” he growled. “You know I don’t like asking twice.”
I swallowed thickly, forcing my eyes open. He came into focus, and I choked down my sob when I met his gaze. It had been nearly six years since I’d seen him, but he looked almost the same. His hair had a few silver strands throughout the brown, but it was still long on one side. New tattoos crawled up his neck, but his cruel smirk was the same as all those years ago. His eyes blazed with both anger and smugness as I stared at him.
“Still so beautiful.” He released my face, running his fingers down the cheek he’d just hit. “But you’ve changed. You’ve got an attitude…and fight. I don’t fucking like it.”
“Joel, I’m sorry,” I breathed out hoarsely. “I never should have done it—”
“Done what?” he asked, acting genuinely curious. “Tried burning down my fucking empire before trapping me in a hellhole of a prison? Everyone thought I was dead. But don’t worry, I’m fixing it. And now you’re back where you belong.”
“I betrayed you. Just kill me.” I bit back my whimper when his hold on my face turned painful.
“Oh no,” he murmured. “You know I could never do that, Lina. You’re mine.”
“You need to leave our club,” Kade spoke up, his voice nearly shaking with rage. I couldn’t see him past Joel, but no one in the room was moving. Guns were still raised in a standoff that I knew the crew had no chance at winning.
“We’re leaving,” Joel answered, his eyes gleaming dangerously as he hauled me to my feet.
“Not with her.” Gray stepped closer, making everyone shift with tension.
Joel laughed, shooting ice down my spine. “Oh right. Liam, make sure these men get the money—”
“We don’t want your money,” Kade snapped. “We have a deal with her to work a job. It’s not finished yet.”
“I’ll work with you,” Joel said, annoyance crawling into his voice.
“We don’t know who the fuck you are,” Gray said as he crept even closer.
Joel watched him curiously. “I thought you wanted to work with Sapphire.”
My chest tightened, the world I’d built in the last five years shattering under me. I stumbled when Joel yanked me in front of him. Gray’s jaw clenched as he watched, his hand tightening on his gun.
“Mmm,” Joel hummed out. “You’ve fooled all of them, Lina. What a naughty little liar you are.”
“Lying about what?” Vic asked stiffly.
“She didn’t just fuck me over. She stole from me.” Joel’s fingers stayed wrapped around my arm. “My money. My name.”
The air in here seemed stifling as everyone stared at me. Kade and Gray had questions in their gazes, and I looked back at the floor, refusing to let them see my face. My eyes brimmed with tears, and I sucked in a breath, forcing them away.
“She locked me away and then took the Sapphire name,” Joel murmured. “As if she didn’t know my men would figure it out.”
“You were Sapphire?” Juan asked, shock in his voice.
Joel’s nails dug into my arm. “I am fucking Sapphire. I’m not dead. And now I get to reclaim what she took.”
I could feel Kade’s and Gray’s stares, but I kept my gaze on my cuffed wrists. Caleb was right. I never should have started working as Sapphire. But I couldn’t stop myself once I started. It made me strong. The power. The jobs. I craved it—needed it.
“I don’t give a shit who she is or isn’t,” Gray growled. “You’re not taking her.”
“If it’s not about working with her, then it’s something else…” He trailed off, and my stomach plummeted, knowing what he was going to ask next. “It’s more than just business. Were you fucking him?”
He twisted me around, fisting my hair until he could study my face. “I know that’s not possible.”
A lump grew in my throat. “Joel—”
“What self-respecting man would touch a woman who is clearly owned by someone else?” His hand slipped under my shirt, and I cringed as he dragged his fingers over my lower back.
Gray was now close enough that he could almost reach out and touch me, but he stayed still as Joel lifted my shirt, a snarl vibrating his chest when he saw my tattoo.
“You covered my artwork,” he said, his voice full of venom. “Why? So you could whore out while I was gone? Did you really think I wouldn’t come back?”
“I’d rather die than be yours again,” I exploded, unable to take it anymore. I was struggling to breathe, suffocating from the life I couldn’t escape.
He raised his arm to hit me, but another hand grabbed me, pulling me from Joel. I slammed into Gray’s chest, his arm going around my waist. I froze when Joel pulled his gun out, pressing it against Gray’s forehead.
“You don’t touch what’s mine.” Joel’s eyes filled with threat.
“You heard her—she doesn’t want to be yours,” Gray shot back.
“Gray, let go,” I said under my breath, knowing Joel would shoot him in a heartbeat.
“She’ll always be mine.” Joel looked at me. “Sapphire wasn’t the only name she took.”
“What are you talking about?” Kade snapped, and I heard his steps halt when Joel’s finger went to the trigger.
“As my wife, she has my last name.”
Gray’s heart raced against my back, and I bit my tongue as they heard all of my secrets. In name, I was Joel’s. I’d gotten married at nineteen. Not because I wanted it. But I went along with it because by then I was already stuck with him and I saw no escape. What did it matter if he forced me to marry him when he’d already had me trapped anyway?
“Now, let her go so we can leave,” Joel demanded.
“This is our city. Our club. And now you’re threatening my men,” Vic roared from somewhere behind me. “Put the gun down, or you and your men won’t leave alive.”
As Joel responded to Vic, Gray leaned down, his lips brushing my ear.
“You survived him,” he whispered. “I see you shutting down. Don’t. You’re strong. You have a voice now. Use it, Rebel. Don’t fucking let him take that from you again. You won’t leave with him.”
Joel’s eyes dropped to my face, scowling when he saw how close Gray was to me. Fear paralyzed me as I stood there. Joel had ingrained in me that I was weak. Nothing but an object to him. And I’d believed that for years until I snapped. Was I strong enough to finally fight back? Or just stupid now that the devil was staring me in the face? I failed at escaping him. And if I thought life was bad before, I knew it would only be worse now.
But as I watched Joel, I came to a decision. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing because every instinct screamed that he was about to pull the trigger. I ripped out of Gray’s grip, my cuffed hands grabbing Joel’s wrist and pushing his arm up so the gun was pointing at the ceiling. The shock in his eyes terrified and satisfied me at the same time. I’d never fought back against him.
“That was a mistake,” he spat out, trying to shake off my grip.
“Wait. Joel, I’ll go with you.” I let my voice tremble while I let go of his arm to grab the collar of his shirt. “I’m sorry.”
Before he responded, I smashed my head into his face. He choked out a curse, his eyes watering as blood gushed from his nose. I threw my knee into his balls before going for his gun again. It only took a second to wrestle it from his grip, and a rush shot through me, knowing I could finish him right now. My gut twisted because I wouldn’t. There was a reason he was still alive. Why I sent him to prison instead of killing him. Gritting my teeth, I kicked his ankle out from under him before ducking when shots rang out.
“No one fucking shoot her,” Joel bellowed through his pain. “She’s mine to deal with.”
I crawled away, climbing to my feet and seeing Liam out of the corner of my eye. I raised my gun, and he must have realized my zero hesitation because he launched himself behind the couch when I shot at him. I ran toward the door, shooting anyone who tried to grab me. I didn’t know whether they were Joel’s men or part of the crew—and I didn’t care. I was getting out.
I made it to the door and bounded down the stairs, taking two and three at a time. Someone was at my back, but I didn’t take the time to see who it was. I raced through the empty club, still hearing shots from above. I slammed into the doors, my breath hitching when I found them locked.
Someone ran into me, and I raised my gun until I saw Gray. I looked behind him, my heart lurching when Joel’s men came from the stairwell. But that wasn’t the reason panic had a hold on me.
“Kade—”
“He’s fine,” Gray ground out. “Don’t worry about him. Get out of here, Mili. And don’t fucking look back.”
He opened his hand, revealing a set of keys. I looked over his shoulder, my warning catching in my throat when one of the men raised his pistol and shot. Gray stumbled into me when it hit him in the back. His eyes widened as his breath left him.
“No!” I screamed. “Gray. You’re okay. I’ll get you out.”
I aimed, shooting the guy in the heart, not sparing him another glance while I focused on Gray. He fell to his knees, and I grabbed under his arm with my hands still cuffed, trying to lift him back up. I could barely hold his weight, and he shook his head, groaning.
“Go, Mili,” he demanded, his voice laced with pain. Raising his arm, he grabbed my wrist and pressed the keys into my palm. “There’s a car down the street. Go left when you get out the doors.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I cried, my body shaking. “This is my fault.”
“Go,” he nearly yelled, shoving me off him as he fell back to his knees. “Run. And don’t look back.”
“No—”
One of the men got closer, and I shot him in the shoulder before aiming again and getting him in the head. I was only using one hand since the keys were in my other. Having the cuffs on made it even more difficult. There were two more, but they halted, hearing Joel yelling upstairs. When they turned to go back toward the stairs, I fumbled with the keys, finding the one that fit the lock. The door swung open, and I moved to grab Gray again, but he pushed me away.
“Leave,” he grated out. “I know you’ll get out. I need to find Kade.”
My stomach sank, not having the heart to tell him that he wasn’t moving after the bullet he took. He was lying on his back, and I went to roll him over to see the wound, but he shoved me again.
“I’m not running to leave you here to die,” I screamed, trying to make him see sense.
“You’re running to survive,” he told me as he jerked a nod to the open door. “Go.”
I raised my eyes to see Joel, his murderous gaze set on me. My stomach dropped, and I gripped the gun tighter as some of his men appeared behind him.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out, squeezing Gray’s hand. “I never should have come to Ridgewood—”
“Don’t fucking say that,” he growled. “You heard what Kade said. It was fate, Mili.”
Tears flowed, and I shook my head. “No—”
“Come here, Lina,” Joel sang out, striding across the bar floor as if he had all the time in the world. “You really don’t want to upset me any more than you already have.”
Gray let go of my hand, meeting my eyes. “Go, Rebel.”
Choking back a sob, I scrambled to my feet and raced out the door. I turned left, hitting the alarm on the set of keys Gray had given me. I kept hitting the button as I ran until the car started beeping when I was halfway down the block. Footsteps were clamoring behind me, and I ran to the car, jumping into the driver seat. It was a red Mustang, and I shifted it into gear as I flew down the road. Headlights were behind me, proving Joel’s men had seen me get into the car.
I whipped around a corner, trying to remember any good side streets I could disappear on. I doubted Joel had changed his taste in cars over the years, and that meant whatever he and his men were driving probably outmatched even this Mustang. I needed to lose them before they gained on me.
I glanced at the gas gauge, cursing when I saw it had under a quarter of a tank. But that was a problem for later. Pressing down on the pedal, I pushed the car, barely slowing when I took another turn. I fishtailed, quickly getting back under control as I got to an open stretch of road. Headlights blinded me in my rearview mirror, and my grip tightened on the wheel. My wrists were raw and aching from the cuffs, but I pushed that away as I decided which way to go.
The car jerked when one of the two vehicles chasing me hit my back bumper. I swerved over the line as I tried to stay steady. With the speed I was going, they only needed one good hit to send me off the road. But Joel didn’t want me dead, so he wouldn’t do that. I shifted gears again, the pedal on the floor as I shot forward. A Porsche flew past me, and I bit my tongue, staring at the car that would beat mine in any fucking race. I shifted the wheel, moving to the other side of the road, but it did the same, keeping me behind it.
“Fuck,” I muttered, attempting to get past it again. I saw a side road coming up, and I braked hard, my seat belt locking as I turned the corner. The road was narrow, and I was driving right along the highway. Headlights followed behind me, and I screamed when another car suddenly pulled beside me from another street. I glanced over, seeing Liam in the driver seat once we went under a streetlight. He matched my speed, staying inches from the Mustang. The road was barely big enough for us to be side by side, and buildings lined the street, making it impossible for me to widen the distance between us.
The other car stayed behind me, and I grinned when I saw a wide intersection coming up. The second the road got larger, I moved away from him while keeping the same speed. He had to know what I was planning, but he didn’t accelerate or brake. Bracing myself, I jerked the wheel to the right, slamming into his car. My head hit the seat, making my teeth slam together, and I spun around, stopping in time to see his car hit a pole. The other car screeched to a halt next to me, and I barely glanced at it. It was some type of sedan that I could lose the second I hit open road.
Which was what I planned to do next.
I stepped on the gas, going back the way I came. The sedan followed, and I veered onto the entrance ramp of the highway. I dodged cars, staying in the fast lane of the three-lane road. Weaving in and out of the midnight traffic, I hoped there were no cops out. I’d run, but there was no promise I’d get away. Soon, the headlights that were following me disappeared, and I finally let out a long breath. I didn’t slow down, not wanting to chance that they were still close enough to see my taillights.
I unclenched my fingers, which were stiff from gripping the wheel, and slowed to a speed that wouldn’t be considered a felony if I got caught. My eyes darted between the road and the rearview mirror as I drove, and even though I was almost positive I’d lost them, I was still a ball of nerves.
Gray’s face flashed in my mind, and I swallowed thickly, scared to even wonder if he was alive. Or Kade. What if they were both dead because of me? At first, I’d thought they were part of the reason that Joel had found me. But Gray helped me leave. He wouldn’t have done that if he’d been in on the planning, would he? Or maybe they were, and then changed their minds. I didn’t fucking know. All I knew was that I didn’t want them dead, even if there was a possibility that they’d betrayed me.
My harrowing thoughts were interrupted when, a half hour later, the gas light turned on. I frowned, knowing I had less than fifty miles until the car died. I had no money on me. No phone. Nothing. I hadn’t even stopped to take off the handcuffs yet. I drove another twenty minutes before getting off the highway and going into a city I’d never been in before. I passed the gas stations, tapping my fingers on the wheel. There were cameras everywhere. It would be stupid to steal gas. I’d just have to switch out cars.
I drove around the city until finally finding the beach. A few scattered cars were parked, and I glanced toward the sand, seeing people swimming and partying near a bonfire. Their laughs drifted through the open window, and it made my jealousy soar. A life of fun was something I hadn’t had in a long fucking time. I circled around again, seeing a truck parked away from the other cars. Anticipation spread through me when I realized the windows were down. Parking far enough away, I slipped my hands into my shirt, pulling the wire from my bra. Once I picked the handcuff locks, I rubbed my sore wrists before taking the time to slide the wire back into place. I hopped out and locked the car, scanning the huge beach parking lot.
I stayed back, watching and making sure I was alone before walking briskly to the driver-side door. Going on my tiptoes, I reached through the window, hitting the unlock button to find out it wasn’t locked. I frowned, wondering if the person who owned it was drunk. Who kept their windows down?
I climbed in, looking around before focusing on the interior. I blew out a frustrated breath, seeing it was a push button start. No key needed. I wouldn’t be able to hot-wire this without tools. Newer vehicles made it a lot more difficult to boost if I didn’t have the key. I turned, looking in the back seat for a toolbox. There was a small duffel bag, but it only had clothes in it. Reaching across the center console, I opened the glove box, freezing when my gaze landed on a handgun. I shot up, peering through the windshield. Maybe the guy didn’t leave his truck unlocked because he was drunk. Maybe he left it because he knew people wouldn’t fuck with his car.
I pursed my lips, debating for a quick second before grabbing the gun and putting it in my waistband. I pushed papers aside, seeing if there was anything else. Lifting the center console cover, I found ten dollars, and I snatched that too, shoving it in my bra. If I couldn’t take the truck, at least I could use the money to gas up the Mustang until I found another car.
Pushing the door open, I jumped out, and my breath hitched when I got slammed into the side panel. I went for the gun, but the person grabbed my arm, shoving it into the truck door and holding it there.
“What the hell were you doing in my truck?”
I raised my head, looking at the guy who had me pinned. His hair was a dark brown and a bit longer on the top than the sides. He was wearing a tank top, and his arms were covered in ink. He looked more confused than angry as he took me in. My gaze went over his shoulder, seeing a blond guy staring at me.
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. “I got into the wrong car. I might have had too much to drink.”
“If that were true, then what were you reaching for?”
“My phone.”
His hand released my arm, and I stayed still when his eyes trailed down my face. I tilted my head to the side, but he’d already seen the bloody lip that Joel had given me.
“Are you running from someone?” he asked, his voice softer.
“Her wrists are cut up too,” the blond guy muttered.
“I—I got into a fight with my ex, and he wasn’t happy I was leaving him,” I mumbled, surprisingly telling the truth.
A third guy appeared out of the darkness, and when he came under the light, I tensed. He had a tattoo on his neck that I recognized. They were in a gang. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the name, but I did not need to be around anyone in the life right now. Not when I had Joel after me, and possibly the crew. I didn’t know who their allies were.
“I’m fine,” I stuttered out. “I just want to go home.”
“You live around here?” the guy in front of me asked.
“I have family that I can walk to. I’m sorry about touching your truck.”
He released me, stepping away. My heart pounded, and I shuffled back, only for the blond to get in my way.
“I’ll drive you,” he said, his voice gentle.
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
I began walking away, hearing the truck door open. Upping my speed, I began jogging, needing to get back to the Mustang before they realized I’d stolen from them.
“She took my fucking gun,” the guy roared from behind me.
Fuck me. I bolted forward, full-blown running now. They chased after me, and I made it to the Mustang, only to be slammed into it. I reached behind me, grabbing the gun before he could get my arms. Raising it, I jammed it into the blond guy’s chest, making his eyes bulge.
“Get the fuck back,” I snarled.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I don’t want trouble,” I stated, hearing one of the others chuckle. “I’ll give the gun back. Just let me leave.”
“Not until we know who you are,” the guy grated out, staying still as I kept the gun on him.
“I’m no one. I’ll leave your city.”
My mouth went dry when something pressed against the side of my skull. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the neck tattoo guy standing next to me with his arm up. His own gun stayed on me as the blond ripped the weapon from my hand. My jaw clenched when the guy kept his gun on me while grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the car.
“Make it easier on yourself and tell us what you’re doing here,” the blond guy said as they forced me to walk back toward the other vehicles.
“Nothing. I got in a bit of trouble, and I needed a car.”
The brown-haired guy walked next to me. “You were going to steal my truck?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t.”
“You with a gang or MC?” he asked tightly.
“No.”
The other guy scoffed. “Then why did you react to my tattoo? You spying on us?”
“Holy shit. No. I had no fucking idea whose truck that was.”
“Sorry if we don’t take your word for it,” the blond guy said as we stopped behind a small car.
“She might have tats,” one of the others said.
“Touch me, and there’re going to be problems,” I hissed, my pulse spiking.
They all exchanged a look before the trunk lid popped open. I began struggling, realizing what they planned on doing.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I screamed when two of them picked me up and pushed me into the trunk.
“We just have to make sure you’re not here to hurt us, and we’ll let you go,” the brown-haired guy said. He seemed to be the one in charge.
“I’m not. I don’t know who the hell you are.”
“We’ll find that out.”
All three of them stared at me for a moment, and I thought maybe they’d changed their minds. Until the lid slammed down on me, and muffled words came through the trunk.
“Welcome to Suncrest.”