Chapter 38

*IRIS*

I had to stay strong. No tears and no fear. A few men were walking around outside of the door of the room I was locked inside. "I need to pee," I said loudly and even. I didn't want to show fear to these assholes. "That sucks. Maybe Claud would like to help you." Ivy said, walking to the door. "Ivy let the senorita use the restroom, damn." A petite man walked in behind her. He was a dark complected man with black hair. His face was Smooth like, and his eyes were hazel. If I didn't know he was a psychopath I would think he was attractive. He had a tattoo on the side of his neck, of something like a dragonfly. There were tattoos on his arms as well but were hidden by his sleeves. "I will take her, fucking move." He said shoving past her. "Hi, Iris, is it? I'm Theo." He said kneeling down in front of me. His face was friendly, and I could see how someone would be tricked into wanting to save him. I smiled, "thank you, Theo." I said softly, playing charming as well. Ivy stomped off like the toddler she was. "I am going to untie you, please don't try to escape. They will hurt you. You can trust me." He said weirdly, confusing me. He walked around the chair and ran his hands down my arms to unbind me from the chair. He leaned in and inhaled deeply by my neck, "Don't move. I am not going to hurt you. I am a UC, and I make sure you get out of here alive." I shook my head, confused again. Is he a cop? He kissed my neck gently and went back to my ear. "I'm sorry I have to act like I am doing something wrong here. Listen to what I tell you, okay. I will give you ways to stay alive, just read between the lines." He kissed me gently again. As much as I hated it, his kisses were leaving goosebumps on my skin. "I think she likes you Theo." Ivy giggled. I hadn't noticed she returned to the doorway. "I like her too. Shes pretty. I may have to taste her before she goes back to the law guy." He said grabbing my cheeks and planting his lips on mine. I sucked in air and tried to struggle. I thought of Ryker, but I couldn't deny the electricity Theo was causing with his tender touches. "Don't touch me." I said in a growl after he backed away. "This one might need an attitude adjustment" he said reaching for his belt loop. I ignored the urge to lick my lips. Why did he have such an effect on me? I had tears streaming down my cheeks. I was so confused. "Come darlin, let's go to the bathroom." He said lifting on my arm. "I will be right behind you." Ivy hissed, showing her jealousy loudly. "I can handle it." He snapped at her, but she stood her ground. "Boss told me to stay close to her." She said, "Don't you think we should follow his directions, rookie?" She said walking close to him. She was trying to get her to pay attention to her. It was sad really. "Fine. Don't touch me." He said walking around her at an exaggerated distance. She huffed and came up behind me, kicking the back of my knee. I managed to stay upright, but I had to support myself on Theo. He spun around quickly. "Stop being a stupid twat." He grabbed me around the waste continuing to walk me to the bathroom.

I looked around trying to take in as much as I could. About five men were staring towards me. With Claud, Theo, and Ivy, that makes eight people in the house. It looked like a house anyway. Nothing on the walls, or shelves. A couch and some metal chairs. I figured it was some sort of safe house. They were off the grid, and it would be hard to find me. I know Deacon and Ryker are trying their best though, I know they will save me. Hopefully, if Theo is being honest, I can keep him safe as well. I looked up at him and almost felt a sort of calm come over me. He made me feel safe, but I didn't know why. I think it was his eyes. They were soft and kind. How did the others not see the difference? He was clearly different than they are. What did he have to do to make them believe he was one of them? I didn't want to know. When we reached the bathroom, he walked me in and shut the door. I didn't even get nervous when he did. "Listen closely. I will keep you as safe as I can in this. I have been under a long time with these people. You should know Ryker isn't as innocent as you think he is. Neither is Deacon. If I have to take them down to get to the remaining mob members I will." He turned towards the door. " I won't look. When we get back out there, I will continue to make moves towards you. I won't cross the line. I need them to think I want you like that, so I can stay close. It took me a long time to convince them to let me come here and check on things. Do not talk back to Claud. He is a bad man. He will hurt you. Ivy is a sociopath. You have done well not showing her fear. She is challenged, but don't take it too far. She will kill you just to spite Lorcane. She wanted him to pine over her disappearance forever. She used him to bring her lover to the top. To get rid of the men who was stopping him from climbing the ranks. She is manipulative and evil. Pay attention to my words." He was talking so fast, but I was trying hard to keep up. Ivy pounded on the door. "No one pees that long." He turned to look at me. "I am going to push you into the wall when she opens the door. Fight me." He said when he helped me stand up. After I pulled up my pants, he unlocked the door slowly and grabbed me, shoving me into the wall. My heart started to pound, and a small moan escaped my lips. He heard me and his eyes blazed. He pushed into me, and when the door opened, I pushed him away, hard, before Ivy jerked him back. "What the fuck Theo?" She said slapping him, before turning to me. "Come on." She grabbed my arm and dragged me back towards the room. "What is it about you?" She said pacing around the chair as Theo tied me back up. I know he had to, but he didn't tie the knots as tight. "She is beautiful, and her body is so tight. I just wanted to loosen it up some." He said licking his lips. He was telling me he loosened my bondage. I forced myself to jerk away from him. He laughed. It was a wicked laugh, and now I could see how he made them believe.

Ivy looked at him, concentrating for a moment, then looked away. I saw it in her eyes, the expression on her face, she loved him. She wanted him to want her. He was acting like he wanted me to place her attention on him. It was genius. It was an ultimate strategy to keep me safe. The only thing was, what if she blamed me? What if it made her hate me more? "Why not take her to another room? Leave me the hell out of it?" I said to try his subliminal message routine. He looked at me, confused, but eventually responded. "I've road that ride before, it was surely interesting, but you're a new t-shirt." He said looking not at me but at her. "This ride is ready for you all the time Theo." She said almost forgetting I was in the room. What he was doing was working, he was taking the conversation away from her hate for me. Claud walked into the room, making my stomach turn as soon as he entered. "Are you trying to steal my trophy? Theo, Theo, Theo... Do you not know the rules? I claim it and it's mine." His voice was smooth, wicked. His rotten breath was filling the room causing me to hold my breath. "Claud, my man, why don't you take a ride on that one?" He pointed at Ivy. Claud looked at her from top to bottom, before laughing. "That ride has been broken for a long time." He said before turning to me again. "Are you giving all your love to Theo. First that wannabe God, Lorcane, and now this fool?" He scoffed, "You don't know a real man when you see one, do you doll?" That word made me shiver. "Don't call me that. I aint your doll." I said through gritted teeth. I watched Theo's eyes widen as Claud walked towards me. The sting on my face was instant, but the burning was going to last a while. "Watch your mouth Bitch." He said when Theo started laughing loudly. "You are a big dumb fuck aren't you, Claud? You are going to cause a problem for all of us with that ignorance." Theo knelt down in front of me, and I could see the pain hidden in his eyes. "Go get me some ice Ivy, maybe we can slow the swelling." He said smiling back at her. She did as she was told. "Get out of here Claud. I am glad the boss sent me. You neanderthals were going to make a goddamn mess of this. There is a goal, and more heat isn't one of them." Claud angrily stomped his way out of the room. "Stop doing that. You are going to get yourself hurt Iris." he said under his breath. I didn't speak. I just wanted to get back to Ryker.