The untamed, p.19
The Untamed, page 19
“She’s been through a horrific trauma,” Dad snaps back. “You will not beat your wife in my goddamn yard.”
Logan stalks up to Dad, eyes on Kristen. This isn’t going to end well. Both men are big, fearless, and strong.
I frantically look around for my brothers because I feel the need to break this up but can’t do it on my own. Rowdy is trotting our way with Mage and Spirit on his heels while Ryder and Raegan burst in through the gate. Thank God.
“What’s going on?” Rowdy booms as he enters the circle.
“Hand over my wife,” Logan barks at Dad, taking another menacing step toward them. “Now.”
Rowdy picks up the discarded gun, which causes the other men in the camp to tense up. CJ and Jace both jolt to their feet, drawing their own weapons. Holy shit, this is escalating fast.
“Stand down,” Michael commands, lifting a hand toward CJ and Jace. “You’ll only make this worse.” Then, to his son, he says, “Logan, that’s enough.”
Logan ignores him, glowering at Dad. “Wife. Now.”
Kristen whimpers and cowers behind my father. Mom enters the fray with Declan on her hip, frowning hard at the situation. Dad grunts Rowdy’s name and then nods toward Mom. My brother strides over to Kristen to guide her over to where Mom is standing.
“Take her back to the big house,” Dad instructs. “Get the girls out of here too.”
Michael slowly makes his way over to where Dad and Logan are facing off like one might approach two dogs who are fighting and doesn’t want to get bitten.
Dad is protecting the innocent.
Logan is the predator here.
I’m struck with the sudden realization of how terrifying he is. There’s always been something too intense about him. Now I’m understanding it’s because this violent man lurks beneath.
He hit his wife.
He almost punched her.
My stomach roils painfully, threatening to rid me of my breakfast. I can’t believe I was ever interested in this man. I’d fallen helplessly for his charms. And when I backed off, he was so cold to me. It’s because this cruel man is hidden under the façade.
“Let’s all just simmer down a minute,” Michael urges as he comes to stand beside his son. “Logan just lost his cool. He’s sorry. Right, Son?”
Logan transforms before our eyes. The tension bleeds out of him as he falls into a relaxed stance. Fury melts from his features and is replaced with an impassive expression. The abrupt change in him is almost as frightening as the monster he’d unleashed moments before. How can someone turn it on and off so easily?
“I apologize,” Logan mutters. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
Dad scoffs. “You beat your wife in front of my fucking family.”
Logan’s nostrils flare, the anger peeking back through, but he quickly pushes it away as he opts for a look of chagrin.
“It was inappropriate,” Michael agrees. “It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right about that,” Dad says, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. “Because you’re leaving. All of you.”
Silence falls over the camp as everyone digests his words. Despite my earlier feelings about this group, I can’t help but feel relief now. I’m thankful Dad is sending them away.
“Now, Reed,” Michael starts, but Dad cuts him off with a sharp shake of his head.
“Tomorrow morning. Gone. You can stay the night and get some good rest, but tomorrow, after breakfast, I want you long gone from here.” Dad gestures toward the wilderness beyond the fence. “I don’t care where as long as we never have to see you again.”
Ryder approaches and steps in beside me. “Ro and I will help them pack up so all that’s left for them is to dismantle their tents in the morning.”
Logan doesn’t look at me and I’m glad. This entire situation has become incredibly awkward.
“What about Stacey?” Michael asks Dad. “You’re going to put out a woman who’s about to give birth any day now?”
Dad chuckles, but it’s not humorous. It’s dark and sinister. “You bring a wife beater into my home and you expect me to be sympathetic? You take care of your own…out there.” He stabs a finger in the air toward the gate. “I’ll take care of mine in here.”
And with those final words, Dad has spoken.
Tomorrow, they’ll be gone.
I haven’t seen Raegan all day and it’s eating at me. We never finished our conversation since we were interrupted, which means she’ll stay pissed at me until I can make things right.
I will make things right.
Raegan is my best friend.
Fighting just isn’t something we do.
She said Mom and Dad were the hypocrites, but I’m one too. I was so angry with Ryder for not telling me Dad planned to send him away. And when Raegan was mad I hadn’t told her about it, it annoyed me.
I should have told her the second I found out.
She’s right. Ryder should have told us together.
I’m sitting on the couch in Ryder’s cabin, feeling quite miserable as I watch Chet wave while telling a clearly over-exaggerated story. Ryder and Wild both crack up laughing. I’m not in a laughing mood. In fact, I’m feeling rather depressed.
Ryder is leaving us.
I watch my brother with sick, sad longing. I’m such an idiot. I’d been so desperate for his touch and attention that I never considered he was feeling the pressure to please me. I’m still messed up in the head over him pretending to want me earlier just to distract me.
Does he have to be so damn good-looking?
I can’t help but stare at the way his T-shirt stretches over his bulging biceps or the sexy upward curl of his lips on one side. Even his dark eyelashes are mesmerizing—thick and framing his intense eyes.
“I’m going next door,” I grunt out. Not that those three even care. “Probably going to sleep over, too.”
Ryder’s lips tug into a disappointed frown that makes my stomach twist. I hate feeling like the asshole here, but I can’t sit and watch him all night. Not after what all went down today. No, I need Raegan. I need my confidant and best friend.
“Don’t fuck my sister,” Chet calls out unhelpfully as I stuff my feet into my boots. “I’ll have to kill you.”
A harsh laugh barks out of me. “Don’t worry.”
Chet tells me to fuck off, clearly misinterpreting my words. I don’t think Sadie is some troll. Plus, not only does she lack the proper equipment to interest me, she’s also just not Ryder.
As I make it over to the door, I turn once more to get a quick look at Ryder. He’s still wearing a pensive expression and he’s coiled tight like he might bound over to me to keep me from leaving.
I linger for a long second, giving him the chance if it’s what he really wants.
Then, without a word, he turns back to Wild, effectively dismissing me.
Ouch.
Swallowing down the pain that’s clawing its way up my throat, I rush out of his cabin and into mine next door. Music is playing on the battery-operated stereo I got one year from Uncle Atticus on my birthday. Sadie is sitting on the floor beside Destiny and is painting her toenails a bright orange color. I flash them a smile before making my way over to the bed where Raegan is sprawled out.
“Hey,” I say, voice soft and unsure as I approach.
She bites down on her bottom lip like she wants to keep her expression angry, but a smile peeks through. I let out a swoosh of relieved breath as I lose the boots and climb into bed next to her. Neither of us speaks, but she does snuggle up to me like usual. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer. Sadie glances over at us, smirks, and then goes back to her task.
Again, wrong equipment.
Not going to fuck my sister.
I wish I could tell her about earlier. When Ryder got so close we almost kissed again and it might’ve been with tongue had I let it go on. I want to explain to her that he was playing a game and it hurt so damn much when I realized it. Our brother hurt me and now he’ll leave us too, which means the hurt will never go away.
Even though she was upset with me for holding back what Ryder told me, and then my snapping at her, she appears to be over it.
Unusual.
Raegan is a master grudge holder.
“What are you so happy about?” I grumble, playfully tickling her side.
She laughs, her warm breath tickling over me. “That Mya bitch will be gone soon. We should have a party to celebrate.”
“I’ll bake a cake,” Destiny offers.
“I’ll bring the booze,” Sadie chimes in.
“It’ll be a go away party,” I offer, “instead of a going away party.”
All three girls crack up laughing. When it settles and Destiny and Sadie go back to their quiet conversation, I turn my attention back to Raegan.
“I’m sorry for being a dick earlier.” I kiss the top of her head. “You forgive me?”
“Meh,” she teases, “I think you could grovel a little more.”
I smile up at the ceiling with Raegan glued to my side, listening to the sound of rock music and the giggles come from across the room. Today has gotten significantly better now that I’m here.
Tomorrow, everything will be even better.
Everyone will be gone, and maybe just maybe, we can convince Dad to let Ryder stay.
Then, finally, everything can get back to normal.
* * *
* * *
Screaming haunts my dreams.
I can’t seem to get Kristen’s crazed yelling out of my head no matter how much booze I downed last night. All it succeeded in doing was give me a migraine along with my nightmares.
Chet or Wild coughs loudly and then begins their usual snoring.
Sleeping, apparently, isn’t in the cards for me.
My mind is a mess. Knowing I have to leave soon to go back to town with Wild’s family is absolute torture.
I don’t want to go.
I don’t want to leave my people…especially Ronan and Raegan.
But maybe Dad is smart about some things. Left to my own devices and I’ve managed to kiss both my siblings. I’ve touched them both in places no brother should.
I know what it feels like to have Ronan’s hard cock pressing against my palm or the soft, smooth skin of Raegan’s perky breast. And fuck if I don’t commit both those memories into my brain forever.
I’ll need it to get through the next few months or years.
Alone.
On the hunt for a wife I don’t even want.
My thoughts drift back to the pantry. When I’d wanted to distract Ronan from me telling him the truth. He’d accused me of playing him, but I was a hundred percent on board with the idea of capturing his mouth with mine, kissing away all the questions he’d had.
And then what?
Would he have let me touch his cock again?
Could it have gone further?
The thought of someone catching us like that in the pantry, particularly Mom or Dad, has bile creeping up my throat. Nausea hits me in a wave. I pull the pillow tight over my face, hoping to get lost again in the replays of the day.
Which brings my thoughts to Rae.
Holy fuck had that been intense.
She attacked me and cut my damn chin, but then she let me turn the tables. I kissed her like I was starved for her taste. My dick ground against her, aching for relief. The best part was, I pinched her hard nipple and would have found a way to get it into my mouth had Kristen not screamed.
Again.
As though that memory is on repeat, I hear it again. Far away. Repeated several times.
Chet has a coughing fit. And then, so does Wild.
What the hell?
I jerk my pillow off my face and am met with the smell of smoke wafting through the air. At first I think it’s a nightmare come to life, but then I quickly realize it’s not a dream.
“Wake up!” I yell, my voice croaking with sleep. “Wild, there’s smoke!”
Wild curses and then shoves his foot into Chet’s side. “Dude, wake up. Fire.”
Chet scrambles up quickly but then has a coughing fit. While he tries to catch his breath, I shove on my boots and burst out of the cabin. Thick smoke covers everything around me, limiting visibility to barely an arm’s length in front of me.
What the hell happened?
Through the orange hazy smoke, I realize the fire is coming from the big house. As I race toward it, I discover nearly half of the home is on fire.
“Mom!” I yell into the house, shying away from the immense heat of it. “Fuck, Dad!”
Nothing.
And then I hear it.
The screams I’d heard before. Not my dreams. Real life.
Dawson.
He’s not even a year old. If something happened to Mom and Dad, he’d never be able to get out on his own. Cursing at what I have to do, I rush around to a part of the house that’s not quickly burning to the ground. With my elbow, I bash in the glass and then jerk the window up so I can crawl through it. A burst of heat surges out the window, causing me to groan.
This is going to suck so bad.
Dawson’s howl of terror has me hoisting myself through the window without further thought. The smoke is thicker inside and the heat is fucking unbearable. I’m instantly drenched in sweat and overcome with a coughing fit that makes me dizzy. Blindly, I stumble through the house in an effort to steer clear of the kitchen and dining room area that seem to be where the fire started.
I make it to Declan and Kota’s room first. When I burst inside, I’m happy to see both their beds are empty. Maybe Dad grabbed them and got them out of here already. Next, I fling open the door to Destiny and Raegan’s room that’s our current infirmary. Kristen is gone, of course, but now, so is Stacey. The only one remaining is Carter.
“Carter, man, we have to get you out of here,” I boom, rushing over to him. “What the fuck?”
A knife is planted deep in the center of his chest.
He’s dead.
Someone stabbed him.
Panic swells up inside of me and I race down to my parents’ room. Their bedroom is closer to the living room that’s quickly being overtaken by the inferno, so when I touch their doorknob, it burns the hell out of my palm.
With several hard kicks, I knock the door in and it flings out of my way.
“Mom! Dawson!”
My baby brother wails from the other side of the bed. The bed that’s empty. Where the hell are my parents? I practically hurdle myself over the bed in an effort to find my brother. What I discover has me freezing in terror.
“Mom?”
She’s covered in blood and has Dawson in her tight grip. Her eyes are wide and her lips are curled into a vicious sneer. When I go to reach for my brother, she swipes at me with a knife, tearing through the fabric of my T-shirt. A fucking knife!
“Mom! Stop!”
“You can’t take my baby!” she screams at me. “You can’t take my baby!”
This time, I anticipate the knife swipe and grab hold of her arm. Easily, I wrench it away from her and throw it out of her reach. Then, I scoop them both up together.
Dawson’s screaming is interrupted by a coughing fit that has him gagging. And all the blood that’s on Mom appears to be hers based on the moans of pain that escape her as I move.
I have to get them out of here.
Stepping into the doorway, I feel the intense heat of the flames inching closer. Thankfully, I can head back the way I came from without running into any fires. I run as fast as my legs will carry me while holding two people, and eventually make it back to the window at the end of the hall.
“Here!” a deep, familiar voice barks. “Hand her to me.”
I feed Mom and Dawson through the window into the arms of…Rowdy. As soon as I see my older brother’s familiar face, I choke out a relieved sob. He takes over the physically demanding task of getting Mom and Dawson away from the house that’s perishing quicker than ever.
As soon as I’m out of the house, I quickly scan the smoky yard, looking for the others. I need to find Dad and Kota and Declan. I scramble all over the place, searching by the campfire and then where the tents were erected.
Nothing.
The tents are gone and so are the people.
Wild and Chet show up to where Rowdy is kneeling to look at Mom’s wounds. Wild crouches to pick up Dawson. Both guys are wide-eyed and wearing matching bewildered expressions.
“We have to find Dad and the other kids,” I tell them, voice nearly gone from all the smoke. “I’m going to grab Ronan and Raegan to help. Meet me by the gate.”
“I got this,” Rowdy assures me. “Find our family.”
I take off in a sprint back toward the cabins, choking on the thick clouds of pungent smoke. Finally, I reach Ronan’s cabin and burst through the door.
“Wake up,” I holler at them. “Everything’s on fire, Mom’s been stabbed, Carter’s dead, and half our family is missing!”
Nothing.
A poisonous seed of dread takes root in the pit of my stomach.
“Raegan! Destiny! Sadie!”
Still nothing.
If I find my sisters and brothers stabbed like Carter, I’ll fucking die.
I scramble over to Ronan’s solar-powered lamp and twist the knob. Yellow light illuminates the space. No dead bodies. Thank fuck.
But that means they’re missing too.
Based on the way the blankets have been dragged off the bed, shoes scattered, and furniture sitting crooked, I’d say there was a struggle. I notice Ronan’s glasses sitting on the wood floor, smashed to pieces, as if someone crushed them under their heavy boot. Panic seizes my chest. I yank open his side table drawer to find his three extra pairs sitting neatly and untouched.
He wouldn’t willingly leave his glasses behind.
Oh God.
“Wild sent me—” Chet starts and then says, “Where the fuck is Sadie?”
“My siblings are gone too,” I hiss out. “Something bad has happened. Something really bad.”
“Maybe they went to get fresh air,” Chet suggests, fighting another cough. “Like we should be doing.”
