Page 103 of Jake's Angel
“What?”Jameson snaps, confused. I’m no happier about it than he is.
“Let him finish!” Gabe shouts, slamming the gavel. “I want to knoweverything. Then we go on the hunt. Now spit it the fuck out.”
“The others were hiding behind masks. The one in charge wanted her to see who he was and remember every detail. He didn’t rape her, but he did enough.” All eyes snap to me, mirroring my own with the promise of what’s coming when we do find them.
“He was planning to do more, the sick fuck. Thankfully, he was interrupted.” I take a deep breath, remembering the tremble in her body as she sobbed through the retelling of her story and the fear those fuckers instilled in her.
“He promised her he would return to finish what he started.”
“Has he? Has he been back since?” Pop’s up pacing.
“No. From what Sadie tells me, this bastard told Avery he owned her.Bought herfrom someone.”
Gabe’s fists slam into the table at the same time Pop throws his coffee cup across the room, smashing it into the wall. “Motherfucker!” They both roar. Everyone else’s faces match their sentiments around the table. We are all ready to find these assholes and make each one pay.
“Did either of the girls give you a name?” Declan asks. All eyes are on me again in hopeful anticipation.
“No.”
“But they know who did it?” Hawk has his laptop open and ready.
I nod. “Avery knows, but she’s terrified to tell anyone who he is. She wouldn’t tell Sadie because she knew Sadie would work her magic and probably get herself caught up in this shit, too.” Hawk glances up at me and smirks mischievously, then quickly drops his chin to hide his pride. He knows damn well what she’d do if she knew.
“That’s not all.” Pop stops pacing. Everyone is so emotionally charged, ready to snap. I have to take a few deep breaths to steady myself. “Sadie says whoever this is, he has something on Russ. He threatened to ruin him if Avery told anyone anything. Says he could take everything, including his freedom, if she didn’t keep her mouth shut and do as she’s told.”
“That’s why they lied and said she was mugged.” Pop sighs, rubbing his hand down his face. “She was protecting Russ.”
“It’s also the reason Avery ran away. She thought it was the only way to keep them both safe.” Hawk suggests.
“No. There was more to it. Sadie said Avery went through a lot of shit in their house. She doesn’t believe Russ had anything to do with it, but she hinted about those marks on her arm not being the first set of bruises she’s seen on Avery over the last few years. She implied Chuck had something to do with it.”
“Motherfucker!” Pop is going to explode. He’s dragging his hands through his hair, pulling. He chose Chuck to be their security while he was away with Russ. The man he trusted to protect her could possibly be the one who’s been hurting her. I can see the guilt and frustration he’s wrestling with.
Gabe drops his body back into his chair, glancing around at each one of us. “She was abused?” I shrug and give a slight nod.
“I can’t say exactly what happened because Sadie couldn’t tell me. She only hinted at the fact Avery had been marked before,hurt, and Sadie made it her mission to help her get away from all of it.”
Hawk turns his chair toward me, focusing in on the details, as usual, and says, “Wait a minute. You said he was interrupted, right? By what? The cameras for the studio didn’t show anyone coming or going.”
“Yeah, you can thank Sadie Jay and her hacking skills. She made it look like the camera was on the fritz, but before she did, she said they showed nothing of value.”
“Fuuuuck,” Hawk drawls. “That girl. I have the right mind to take her over my knee and…” Hawk stops mid-sentence when the low growling sound from Pop is heard from over his shoulder. Hawk chuckles, but says nothing further.
Dumbass.
“Avery said the guy he had playing lookout got a phone call, said something about there being a problem and the boss needing them back.”
“So, he works for someone else? Then he’s notthe one in charge. He was just the one sent to send a message.” Jameson chimes in.
“Did she hear anything about who his boss is?” Declan asks. “Any other information that might help us find this guy?”
“No.” I look around at each one of my brother’s faces. They’re as pissed as I am, but I need them to understand what this fucker is capable of. What he planned to do to my Angel.
“There’s more. I need you all to know, so you understand why I’m going to kill this motherfucker as slowly and painfully as I possibly can. He isn’t getting a bullet to the head until he suffers foreverythinghe put Avery through.”
The room falls silent. All eyes are on me.
“He had every intention of raping Avery. He was disappointed when he had gotten interrupted, but he left her a few parting gifts. His promise to return, if you will, and to makesure she wouldn’t forget his threat. He left scars and burn marks on her body. He branded her in places no one could see unless she chose to show them. Ensuring she wouldn’t get naked for anyone else.”