The ties that bind 2, p.32
The Ties That Bind 2, page 32
part #2 of The Ties That Bind Series
Once she regained her balance, Billy spun around, adrenaline pumping and a battle cry on her lips. She halted at discovering Pitch lying inert against the rocks, cradling his bloodied arm and staring over her shoulder.
“Are you okay, Billy?”
Pivoting in the opposite direction, she tried not to let her emotions get the best of her as an older Native American man holding a shotgun cautiously approached her. Behind him were two more men who also armed. Silent, they assessed Billy and nodded respectfully at her.
“H-How do you know my name?!” she cried, tears of relief streaming down her face. She was shocked at the scales being tipped in her favor. “Who are you?”
He rewarded her with kind, generous smile. “Ah, yes. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jacy. I’m a friend of your Ransom. He said to tell you he’s on his way with your father, and that he loves you very much.”
Billy’s knees buckled, and she slumped forward, overwhelmed with relief, Jacy caught her with one arm. He passed his gun to one of his companions and held Billy, allowing her to have a well-deserved cry on his shoulder.
“Thank you, as always, for your family’s generous hospitality and support, Jacy,” Ransom spoke with great feeling. “I don’t think I can ever repay you. It was too close a fucking call.”
The call he’d made in Rage’s truck was to Jacy. Farmington was thirty-five miles from the San Juan Basins. Accompanied by his cousins, Jacy headed to the Badlands. They saw the empty truck that fit Ransom’s description and followed the trail of footprints, arriving just in time to find Billy fleeing from Pitch. On Ransom’s orders, they brought Billy and Pitch back to Jacy’s house but not before his cousin brushed away Pitch’s tracks. The official story was that Pitch abandoned Billy and Digger to go his own way after leaving the airport. She and Digger struggled in the cave before she killed him in self-defense.
“It was an honor to help your woman, Ransom. She’s a good soul, and it was the least that I could do after all you’ve done for my family. Rozene is back to working with our youth, and she’s renewed her old friendships and dropped the negative ones. That boy and his friends have given us no more trouble.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Are you sure you’re fine with this?”
They walked side-by-side to the shed, a mile back from the house. “It’s the best place to do it. Are you sure about proceeding with a federal agent sitting in my house?”
Ransom laughed. “I got the green light to do as I see fit, provided justice is served. Besides, he’s too busy stuffing himself full of Adsila’s Christmas tamales to move anyway. You’d best go back and keep an eye on him, or there’ll be none left for the holiday.”
They reached the door and Jacy stopped and spoke solemnly. “This is where we part ways, and I allow you your privacy.”
He handed the biker the item he’d requested and left.
Ransom opened the door and slipped inside to find Pitch how he’d left him earlier—shivering, gagged, stripped down to his boxers, and staked to the floor with metal hooks. With perverse pleasure, Ransom noted that Pitch’s injured arm was still bent back awkwardly as he’d purposefully pinned it. His fingers and toes were inflamed and bloated from the pliers Ransom had broken each one with and his body a mosaic of bruises. Copious amounts of sweat rolled off his flesh, and his blue eyes were bright and feverish. Pitch licked his dry, split lips nervously, his eyes darting about, blinking rapidly, avoiding Ransom’s predatory stare as he set his supplies on the table.
“I’m back. Did you miss me? Sorry to keep you waiting. Billy was just catching me up to speed on your and Harley’s hobbies.”
Pitch started mumbling, the muffled noises increasing when Ransom pulled his sleeves up on his thermal, crouched over him and removed his gag. “What was that?”
Gasping for air, Pitch snarled, “Everything I did was to protect everyone from Harley! All you ever did was use him and make him feel inferior to you! That fed his madness! You should be thanking me that I was able to keep him on a leash!”
Pitch coughed and wheezed as his organs rattled around from the weight Ransom put behind the blow to his stomach. “Should I also thank you for feeding his cocaine addiction? He’s in the hospital now, fighting for his life because he overdosed on the drugs you provided!”
He closed his eyes at the pain the truth brought. All he’d wanted to do was provide the dumb bastard with some comfort. He was going to die here; of that, he was sure. Ransom planned to drag out his torture, just like he would have done with Billy. That cunt. She’d seen right through him to the insecurities Pitch tried to hide from the world. How easily she’d played him! It was because of her that Ransom was going to prolong his misery.
Well, not if he could help it.
“No, what you should be thanking me for is how I saved your bitch from him!” Pitch’s words were like a thousand needles pricking Ransom’s skin. “You have no clue how he lusts for her, do you? The night you brought her to the compound, we ran a train on some newbie whore.”
Pitch’s breathless laugh was full of admiration. “I don’t think she was ready for everything she got that night. Your brother, your twin, bit her everywhere, choked her, and laughed as her cries turned to screams. Harley couldn’t slake his lust that night. You should have seen her, brother. She was terrified and begging for her freedom.”
His eyes twinkled with glee. “Do you want to take a guess what he called her the entire time?”
Ransom remained silent, repulsed by this bastard and his twin’s nefarious ways.
Pitch laughed maniacally at him. “You know, don’t you? Even if you won’t say it, Ransom. You know. Do you also know that he wanted to pay her a visit the night of her play? Harley wanted to be inside of her bedroom waiting for her to come home and celebrate her success with him.
What do you think would have happened then? Don’t even get me started on what he did to that college student I substituted for Billy. You know. There were others in addition to those two. We went on a shopping spree, searching for women, not just for ourselves, but for Gualtierro Barrera who paid us all that money your greedy bastard of a father accepted.”
Focus.
Don’t think about it. Not now. Billy was safe inside.
Focus.
Ransom willed his hands not to wrap around Pitch’s neck and squeeze until the blood vessels in his eyeballs popped. He could stomach plenty but this…Ransom thought he was going to be physically ill.
“What I know is that you enabled him. You encouraged his deviant behavior in order to give in to your own. You think you’re better than Harley because you can control yourself, but you couldn’t today. Billy won. She sees you for what you are. You know.” Ransom mocked.
“You think you’ve won?!” Pitch hissed, spittle flying everywhere, face twisted with fiery hatred. “You have no idea what’s coming next!”
“But you do. This is where it ends for your sorry ass.” Ransom twisted Pitch’s broken thumb. He screamed and Ransom shoved a small block of wood between his teeth, keeping his mouth wedged open.“You speak ugly words.”
He picked up the compact blowtorch Jacy lent him. Shoving it down Pitch’s throat, he fired it up. The bastard went berserk, trying to break free.
The grotesque, garbled sound Pitch made spurred Ransom on. “You see ugly situations and manipulate them to your advantage instead of preventing them.”
He picked up Billy’s knife that she was kind enough to lend him and stretched Pitch’s eyelid open wide. Carefully, he punctured the center of it. It reminded Ransom of cutting into the runny part of a sunny-side up egg and watching the yolk ooze out. Jerking and twitching, Pitch was a man possessed by the hell Ransom was inflicting upon him. Ransom leaned over him to speak so Pitch could see him through his good eye.
“You do ugly things without thinking of the consequences to your victims.”
Ransom yanked his boxers down, held the blowtorch up for Pitch to see, and let that bitch rip until the putrid stench of burnt flesh filled the shack and the fight left Pitch’s body. Then he opened the door to air the shack out, allowing the frigid air to touch Pitch’s body until gradually it took on a bluish hue. He stayed, watching and waiting until Pitch released his last, reedy exhale.
Ransom wrapped the body in tarp, put it in the garbage bin, per Jacy’s instructions, and scrubbed the evidence away. Once finished, he went back to the house to awaken Billy.
His heart broke observing his injuries and what she’d suffered at Pitch’s hands. Ransom held Billy close to him, embracing the warmth of her supple body. It was his affirmation that she was alive and safe. She pressed a kiss to his lips, and Ransom felt grateful that her feelings for him were still the same. They hadn’t had a chance to really talk and wouldn’t until after Ransom visited Harley and checked on Claudia.
“Come outside with me, fancypants.”
“I saw the photography you did of their family. You’re brilliant, babe.” Ransom had shot the images in a cohesive style, depth of field, color, and tones showing his dedication to his craft and subjects.
He grinned full of pure pleasure at her praise and was glad for the darkness that hid his blush. “I’m glad you like them.”
Ransom held the passenger door open for Billy. He held onto her hand for the fifteen minute drive to the ravine. Upon arriving, Billy wound her window down and peered out of it. “Wow! What is this place?”
He kissed her fingers. “This is the Navajo side of the Badlands. You needed to see this place the correct way, love. Hopefully, it will diminish your bad experience.”
She grimaced when his hand crushed hers. Billy knew he was reliving her kidnapping and that the gesture was unintentional. When her father and Ransom arrived at Jacy’s, she’d been smothered in hugs and tears as they passed her back and forth. Eventually Adsilla intervened with a gentle lecture regarding Billy’s bandages. They got out of the truck and walked, their boots crunching in the still of the night, until they reached the edge. Billy tipped her head back, drinking in the brilliance of the star-kissed canopy guarding the mystical natural wonder. They appeared close enough to touch, twinkling as if only for her, a luminous window to the universe.
“This is surreal!” she breathed in complete awe of the infinite beauty surrounding her. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Me either,” Ransom agreed quietly, his attention focused solely on her. He was amused by the childlike wonder on Billy’s face. Ransom knew that if he told her they paled in comparison to her, she’d be embarrassed and laugh it off. Yet, it was true. Even bandaged up, Billy wasn’t just the stars but the sun and the moon too. Most importantly, she was Ransom’s entire world.
His rage still burned white-hot for what Pitch attempted to take from him, how he’d hurt his baby, and Ransom regretted his swift retaliation. Vengeance was a dish best savored. Somehow, he’d have to be content with the memory of Pitch’s tortured screams.
“You’re too quiet, Ransom Lawson. What are you thinking about?” Billy refused to look at him. She was anxious, hoping he wasn’t still dwelling on what happened.
Instead of answering honestly, Ransom replied with, “I’m thinking that every star in the sky came out tonight to recognize and accept your truth. I hope they take it and run with it too. That they spread the word through the entire fucking galaxy, so a motherfucker never questions it—or you again.”
“My truth?” Attention momentarily diverted from the sky, Billy glanced up at him, puzzled.
Ransom lowered his head until his lips hovered directly above hers. “That you’re mine, fancypants.”
His kiss was a fleeting brush against her lips, but it packed enough of a punch that Billy was left reeling and starving for more. It reminded her of what she loved most about Ransom, the contrast of his hardened exterior, dripping testosterone and yet, a gentle giant with those he loved. “Always have been. Always will be. The stars have written it so, babe.”
“And?” Billy teased archly.
“And I’m yours,” Ransom amended before capturing her lips again, drawing her flush against him, careful of her injuries as he buried his hand in her braids. “Always have been. Always will be.”
Reciprocity.
It was so damn essential.
Reluctantly, they came up for air and Ransom smoothed her hair back in place. “You didn’t tell me about Rage being an agent.”
Instantly, she was contrite.
“No, I didn’t. I should have, but I was trying not to think about that. I love you and am loyal to you both, Ransom. I hope you can understand and respect that I was between a rock and a hard place. Believe me, when I say it was to torturous,” Billy finished miserably.
“I would never jeopardize our relationship nor put you in a position where you felt like you were betraying either of us and had to pick, fancypants.”
They stayed in the truck, content to just stargaze, absorbing the tranquil beauty and simply being in the moment until the ribbons of dawn’s early light chased the stars away. They returned to the Martinez home to pick Rage up. He greeted Ransom with a brusque, “Did you make it count?”
“And then some,” Ransom answered respectfully. Their relationship had shifted into something more solid and comfortable on their quest to save Billy, the most important person in their lives.
“Good man.”
They thanked the Martinez family for their hospitality and headed back to Albuquerque.
“Where’s Ransom?”
It was the first time Harley had spoken since being admitted to the hospital. He watched his mother yawn then stretch sleepily from the chair next to his bed. She’d hardly left his bedside except to eat in the cafeteria and shower in their hotel room.
“He’ll be here soon. There was a problem that he had to take care of,” Claudia replied evasively, pouring him a small cup of water. It was an awful feeling, not being able to trust your own child. Unfortunately, Harley left her no other choice. “Are you hungry? I could get you some soup and crackers?”
“No. I’m ready to go now,” he grumbled petulantly. “Can they check me out?”
“Did you forget the reason you’re here?” Claudia snapped back waspishly. “The coke you snorted? You’re not getting out of shit so easily this time. The police will want to speak with you.”
“I can check myself out!” Harley tried sitting up, determined to leave on his own accord, but Claudia shoved him back down.
“Do it and they’ll be here faster than you can set one foot on the floor,” she threatened, putting her finger on the call button.
Exhausted by that failed effort, Harley whined, “You’re supposed to be on my side! Why are you being such a bit-”
Claudia slapped him. “Cállate! I was on your side until you stopped being on your own damn side! How could you do that to yourself, mijo? Why would you put that shit in your body? I was driving next to you, singing fucking “Joy to the World” while you were overdosing!”
She raised her hand again; however, the fight left her when Harley braced himself to accept her wrath. Disgusted, with him and herself for him turning out this way, Claudia’s arm fell limply to her side. “You’ll never know how terrified I was to see you like that! Pitch gave you the drugs, didn’t he?”
Harley could feel the walls closing in on him. If she knew that, it meant Ransom did also.
What else did his brother know???
The door opened and Ransom entered the room. Claudia abandoned her interrogation and ran to him, relieved that she wouldn’t have to confront Harley on her own. “Thank God you’re back! Is she okay?”
“She’s a little bruised but fine, Ma. Let’s take a walk.”
Over her petite frame, Ransom locked eyes with his twin who regarded him with trepidation. Harley flinched at the unbridled rage blazing in his brother’s eyes.
Shit.
Ransom knew everything.
Claudia wept softly into her handkerchief as she finished reading the article about Carmelita Wilson for the fifth time. She thrust the papers against Ransom’s chest in denial.
“Are you sure that it was Harley and Pitch? There has to be a mistake!” Her heart was shattering under the impact of this agonizing truth battering full force at her.
Frustrated with her unwillingness to see the detrimental issue at hand, Ransom shoved them back at her. “Wake the fuck up, Ma! There’s no mistake! Pitch confirmed it to Billy! I saw with my own eyes what he was capable of the day I met Billy! I was on my way to returning Angela to her family after Harley and Digger held her hostage all night, raping her!”
“That’s not who he is, Ransom! My Harley is sweet!” Claudia moaned, gripping the park bench she sat on. Vehemently, she shook her head. “He’s kind and caring to me! He’s—”
“He’s a serial rapist and a murderer! Ted Bundy was also known for being charming and handsome, and he killed more than twenty women! Harley is all of those things!” Ransom argued. “He’s not a baby and I won’t let you defend or protect him. He’s going to be held accountable for his actions. I’ll see to it and don’t even think of interfering.”
“This is all my fault!” Claudia wailed. “I should have left Slade long ago and took you both with me. I did this to Harley with my babying and trying to clean up his messes to protect him.”
“We both did.” Weary from the enormity of it all, Ransom rose to his feet. He could never tell her or Rage whom Harley’s sinister thoughts were centrally focused on. Ransom would take that disturbing secret to his grave, and Billy swore not to disclose it either. Harley had to die. Not just because of the shit he was knee deep in, but also because it was the only way to guarantee Billy’s safety from him.
“I should have done something after rescuing Angela. How many more girls would be safe where they belonged if I had? Are the cops still coming to talk to him?”
“Yes. He’s conscious so I don’t think we should prolong this any longer.” Full of sorrow and heart heavy with despair, Claudia also stood, leaning into her son and trying to draw strength from him.
