Page 84 of Lawless

No fucking clue where she’d gone.

Until I unveiled my new wife to Harrow Creek and turned their evil eyes on us.

I knew what was coming. But I was also willing to take it.

I’d take anything if it meant she was okay.

I also knew that my punishment for betraying them was going to hurt.

So with her safe at home, I loyally followed orders to make it look like I was still on their side, that my sudden marriage to Alana had nothing to do with them and their treatment of her.

They knew, though. From the first moment I turned up at the warehouse they’d directed me to, I knew they knew.

We’ve danced the same dance for the past five years. Them knowing that I know everything and waiting to see what I’m going to do about it.

To start with, they watched me like… well, hawks. But as time went on and nothing happened, I can only assume they started believing that I was still on their side.

Fuck knows what they thought. I didn’t really give a fuck so long as they stayed away from my wife and I got to keep my position in the hope of getting intel to help her find Kristie.

It never happened though. They kept those secrets locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

If I knew that Reid was going to be the one to help unravel all of this, then maybe I’d have put my hatred of him aside in my quest for vengeance for Alana.

They strike me again. It’s so hard my feet slip on the blood-soaked floor when my back arches.

“Stop,” Alana cries, barely able to speak through her sobs.

I want to assure her that I’m okay, that I can handle this. But I can’t find any words.

Managing to find my footing again, I squeeze my eyes closed in an attempt to get myself together.

I can’t lose my shit yet. This is only the beginning.

But despite being ready for it, another strike never comes.

Instead, there is only silence. Well, a silence that is filled with my wife’s whimpers.

“You never were a fast learner, were you, boy?” Dad taunts from behind me. “We should have ended you the first time you were in this position.”

Alana gasps, the words hitting the mark my father intended.

“We knew you were up to something then. We just wanted to see what it was and watch you hang yourself. And if that happened in front of your pretty little wife then all the better. We all know that she needs teaching a lesson.” He tsks and all I want to do is run over to Alana and pull her into my arms, promising her that I won’t let them touch her.

But I can’t. I’m hanging from the fucking ceiling of whatever building they’ve brought us to.

They’ll come.

Reid and JD will come…

Probably not for me. But they’ll come for her.

JD won’t let her suffer, and Reid needs her.

They’ll come and then we’ll end this.

Once and for all.

A cell ringing rips through the air.