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 of
RYKER I looked up at Deacon, still stuck in fear in my mind. "Who? What?" I asked, trying to take in the words he was saying to me. "Claud, we know who he is. The man Ivy mentioned on the phone. He was one of the men, that followed the mob guys around back at the Punisher. He was a tag along of sorts back then. It sounds like he has made it up in ranks since then." Deacon said slowly trying to get the words to sink in. "Wasn't he older? Kind of a sad case. Wanted to be bigger than he was?" I asked, realizing who he was talking about. At the point, I was more worried than before. Claud was a follower, a showoff, he wanted someone to pay attention to him. He would be extra loud, a showboat, more arrogant. In a situation like this, that is dangerous. Especially if he feels he has something to prove. I found myself hoping he had proved himself somehow already. Picturing his face close to Iris made me almost double over. "He's dangerous. We have to find her." My words came out more lik
IRIS It was quiet for a while. I sat in the room alone. All I could think about was Ryker. I know he is losing his mind trying to find me. Deacon is probably using all his resources to find me. I just hope no one gets hurt coming for me. I looked around, finally able to see if there were any ways for me to escape. I couldn't really see anything promising. A window in the distance, but they would catch me before I made it there. Thats if I could even get out of the ties on the chair. Theo seems to be an ally, but I don't know if he is legit. Is he trying to trick me? I tried to relax my arms and pull them backwards out of the ropes. I could fight my way out. I am a pretty good fighter. I have always had to be. I know they have weapons. It couldn't be that easy. My hands wouldn't go through the ropes completely. They were still tight. Obviously, Theo loosened the ropes for comfort. He must know I would be killed if I tried to escape. He knew I would try. He was going to try to keep m
RYKER "How are you Rkyer? You don't sound good!" Ivy had called me again. At one time her voice sounded like morning birds chirping or church bells to me. Now it makes my skin crawl. "Where are you, Ivy?" I said not returning her pleasantries. "Temper temper. I can't tell you where I am, that's not how this game is played. I wouldn't worry, our friend Theo is taking great care of your girl. Well, she seems to have become his girl. She likes him an awful lot. Just this morning I came, and he was sleeping right on her lap. She was sleeping comfortably like that. I think they are falling in love." Her words tore through me, but I assume that was her intent. I hadn't slept all night, and my nerves were raw, so I wasn't thinking clearly to begin with. "Where are you, Ivy?" I asked again. "I can't tell you that daddy" She sounded pouty. She didn't like that I didn't respond to her taunt. "Don't call me that." I growled. I could hear someone talking in the background. It was a different m
IRIS Ivy laughed hysterically after hanging up the phone. Why was she enjoying torturing Ryker so much? I know he was always good to her. He searched for her till it made him dark, from what I understand. I get what Theo said about whatever these mob men did to her, but why torture Ryker. It wasn't his fault. "What are you staring at?" She said after the laughter stopped. I shook my head, "nothing." She walked closer to me. "Are you worried about Lorcane, I assure you baby girl, he will get over it." Her words were sharp edged. She was trying to stab me through with them. "I am sure he will." I smiled at her; I wasn't going to let her upset me. She didn't deserve that. "Oh, Ivy, why are you so dramatic?" Theo said laughing at her and walking around my chair. I slowly tried to pull on my restraints, trying not to gain attention. "Tell me Theo," She walked to him placing herself right in front of his face, "what is it about this little twat that makes you men all weak in the knees?"
RYKER I watched as she fell to the floor, the color leaving her face almost instantly. I heard someone scream but it sounded as if it was coming through a tunnel. Echoed, and mumbled. Deacon ran to her as I stood frozen. My side burned some, but I couldn't pay attention to that. What was probably only a few seconds felt like hours while I waited for her to open her eyes. “Iris? Keep your eyes open.” Deacon talked to her calmly. I stood there willing my legs to move. “Ryker, call an ambulance.” He yelled at me; I knew what he was saying but I still couldn't budge. He stood up, walking towards me, the closer he got the blurrier he was. He hit me hard, open handed across the face. “Ryker, snap the fuck out of it! I need your help.” He begged. He was shaken, but still calm. Deacon was great under high pressure. I usually was too. I don't know what has happened to me. This woman has changed my whole being. I walked over, suddenly more conscious, but still panicked. I kneeled down beside I
IRIS The lights burned my eyes, bright and surprising as I tried to open my eyes. I closed them multiple times trying to adjust to the lights. I couldn't hear anything but machines running around me. The sound of air blasting somewhere and beeping, so much beeping. My head felt like it was going to explode. I heard mumbling, angry mumbling, in weirdly hushed voices. I tried to speak but felt like something was choking me. I tried to move my arms, but someone was holding them down. Tears started to sting my already burning eyes. I started to breathe harder, and the beeping got louder. I felt a hand on mine, and I slightly turned my head. “Iris, calm down. Please, baby, you have to calm down.” Ryker was talking to me softly, bending over now to look into my eyes. He wiped a tear away from my eyes. I blinked twice, like I had seen on television medical shows, to let him know I couldn't calm down. I needed to know what was going on. I needed to be able to speak. “Iris, you were sho
DeaconHe didn’t speak all the way back to the city. He didn’t want to. He decided to leave Iris at Ayden’s clinic, and not give her a chance to say anything. He wants to keep her safe. I disagree with him, horribly, but he will not listen to me. I can't say anything. It isn't my place to do so. He went straight to his house shutting the door behind him. The lights were still off. He hadn’t even turned on a lamp. I knew he was sitting in the dark, drinking his whiskey, and sulking in there all alone. I stood outside the security building and stared towards the house. Part of me wanted to go check on him, but part of me knew better. He wouldn’t even answer the door, I am sure. I stood there, leaning against the brick, watching for any movement. My phone dinged taking my attention away from the front door. I reached in my pocket and pulled it out. Check on her. Make sure she is okay. Let me know. -LorcaneHe hadn’t addressed himself as Lorcane in a long time. He was in a very dark plac
IRIS I swallowed deeply when I heard the name. That man was terrifying. Claud. Flashes of the wicked smile he had on his face when abusing me were stuck in my mind. He wanted to hurt me. I looked from face to face, looking for answers in their eyes. No one said anything. Theo reached over for my hand, and I saw Ryker flinch when I took it. I was terrified. I didn’t care whose hand I held if someone was keeping me safe. Deacon was on the phone immediately asking the guys in security to trace and follow the call. Theo pulled out his phone as well, calling his contact to find out what he could do from his side. I closed my eyes. “Tell me where you are mother fucker, don’t be afraid, I wanna chat.” Ryker sounded murderous. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I felt tears burning in my eyes, but I wasn’t sure if it was from fear, anger, or sadness. I had a mixture of them brewing inside of me. “Ryk?” I said softly looking up at him. He calmed. Instead of cursing into the phone he
IrisThe darkness in his eyes when I asked him about his name told me more than his words did. “Its my last name.” He was short and stern with his response, but his eyes told me the most. Lorcane was like his shadow person, the darkness inside of him. The person they all see as dangerous. The one who was violent and cold. Lorcane was someone I have only seen pieces of. He is a prosecutor, but I am starting to think at this point he also played executioner. What I wasn’t sure of was if he still played that role. A lot of what I knew about him, the powerful, well managed, prosecutor turned professor was not who I thought he was. Not as disciplined. Not as in control. “I am not an idiot Ryker.” I said winching as I tried to sit up straight. “I know you aren’t Iris, but I also know I don’t know everything about your past.” His words burned some. His emotional state when he walked in had now turned. He was now defensive and guarded. I am sure he has questions about me, I know he is wonderin
RykerI listened as Deacon talked but the world was spinning around me. I had downed more of that whiskey bottle, and the last one, than he knew. Way more than I was willing to admit to. “Ill drive.” I said, grabbing my keys, knowing inside that I shouldn’t do that. That was the good thing about Deacon. He worked for me, yes, but he also knew how to stand up to me. Not a lot of people did that. He was one of the very few that was permitted to do so. I shook my head when he reached for my keys. “I want her to know that it is me coming for her.” I said in a drunken stupor. I sounded like an idiot. Emotional and irrational. I didn’t know what real love looked like, not loving a woman like this. I believe I have loved before. I thought I loved Ivy at one point. I know I love Deacon, like family. This love was messy, hard, and could destroy me in an instant. It made me open, raw, and vulnerable. Deacon was looking at me differently. I don’t think he was losing respect for me; I think he was
DeaconHe didn’t speak all the way back to the city. He didn’t want to. He decided to leave Iris at Ayden’s clinic, and not give her a chance to say anything. He wants to keep her safe. I disagree with him, horribly, but he will not listen to me. I can't say anything. It isn't my place to do so. He went straight to his house shutting the door behind him. The lights were still off. He hadn’t even turned on a lamp. I knew he was sitting in the dark, drinking his whiskey, and sulking in there all alone. I stood outside the security building and stared towards the house. Part of me wanted to go check on him, but part of me knew better. He wouldn’t even answer the door, I am sure. I stood there, leaning against the brick, watching for any movement. My phone dinged taking my attention away from the front door. I reached in my pocket and pulled it out. Check on her. Make sure she is okay. Let me know. -LorcaneHe hadn’t addressed himself as Lorcane in a long time. He was in a very dark plac
IRIS The lights burned my eyes, bright and surprising as I tried to open my eyes. I closed them multiple times trying to adjust to the lights. I couldn't hear anything but machines running around me. The sound of air blasting somewhere and beeping, so much beeping. My head felt like it was going to explode. I heard mumbling, angry mumbling, in weirdly hushed voices. I tried to speak but felt like something was choking me. I tried to move my arms, but someone was holding them down. Tears started to sting my already burning eyes. I started to breathe harder, and the beeping got louder. I felt a hand on mine, and I slightly turned my head. “Iris, calm down. Please, baby, you have to calm down.” Ryker was talking to me softly, bending over now to look into my eyes. He wiped a tear away from my eyes. I blinked twice, like I had seen on television medical shows, to let him know I couldn't calm down. I needed to know what was going on. I needed to be able to speak. “Iris, you were sho
RYKER I watched as she fell to the floor, the color leaving her face almost instantly. I heard someone scream but it sounded as if it was coming through a tunnel. Echoed, and mumbled. Deacon ran to her as I stood frozen. My side burned some, but I couldn't pay attention to that. What was probably only a few seconds felt like hours while I waited for her to open her eyes. “Iris? Keep your eyes open.” Deacon talked to her calmly. I stood there willing my legs to move. “Ryker, call an ambulance.” He yelled at me; I knew what he was saying but I still couldn't budge. He stood up, walking towards me, the closer he got the blurrier he was. He hit me hard, open handed across the face. “Ryker, snap the fuck out of it! I need your help.” He begged. He was shaken, but still calm. Deacon was great under high pressure. I usually was too. I don't know what has happened to me. This woman has changed my whole being. I walked over, suddenly more conscious, but still panicked. I kneeled down beside I
IRIS Ivy laughed hysterically after hanging up the phone. Why was she enjoying torturing Ryker so much? I know he was always good to her. He searched for her till it made him dark, from what I understand. I get what Theo said about whatever these mob men did to her, but why torture Ryker. It wasn't his fault. "What are you staring at?" She said after the laughter stopped. I shook my head, "nothing." She walked closer to me. "Are you worried about Lorcane, I assure you baby girl, he will get over it." Her words were sharp edged. She was trying to stab me through with them. "I am sure he will." I smiled at her; I wasn't going to let her upset me. She didn't deserve that. "Oh, Ivy, why are you so dramatic?" Theo said laughing at her and walking around my chair. I slowly tried to pull on my restraints, trying not to gain attention. "Tell me Theo," She walked to him placing herself right in front of his face, "what is it about this little twat that makes you men all weak in the knees?"
RYKER "How are you Rkyer? You don't sound good!" Ivy had called me again. At one time her voice sounded like morning birds chirping or church bells to me. Now it makes my skin crawl. "Where are you, Ivy?" I said not returning her pleasantries. "Temper temper. I can't tell you where I am, that's not how this game is played. I wouldn't worry, our friend Theo is taking great care of your girl. Well, she seems to have become his girl. She likes him an awful lot. Just this morning I came, and he was sleeping right on her lap. She was sleeping comfortably like that. I think they are falling in love." Her words tore through me, but I assume that was her intent. I hadn't slept all night, and my nerves were raw, so I wasn't thinking clearly to begin with. "Where are you, Ivy?" I asked again. "I can't tell you that daddy" She sounded pouty. She didn't like that I didn't respond to her taunt. "Don't call me that." I growled. I could hear someone talking in the background. It was a different m
IRIS It was quiet for a while. I sat in the room alone. All I could think about was Ryker. I know he is losing his mind trying to find me. Deacon is probably using all his resources to find me. I just hope no one gets hurt coming for me. I looked around, finally able to see if there were any ways for me to escape. I couldn't really see anything promising. A window in the distance, but they would catch me before I made it there. Thats if I could even get out of the ties on the chair. Theo seems to be an ally, but I don't know if he is legit. Is he trying to trick me? I tried to relax my arms and pull them backwards out of the ropes. I could fight my way out. I am a pretty good fighter. I have always had to be. I know they have weapons. It couldn't be that easy. My hands wouldn't go through the ropes completely. They were still tight. Obviously, Theo loosened the ropes for comfort. He must know I would be killed if I tried to escape. He knew I would try. He was going to try to keep m