Nordic Lessons (24 page)

I turn away and cry harder, unable to deny my terror. He runs his hand across my hair once; then I hear him leave, the metal door slamming shut behind him. I curl into a tight ball. My wrists are pulsing with pain as I plead quietly into the silence of the room, “Someone, please save me.”

* * *

I roll the truck to a slow stop. Their warehouse compound is a dark shape set against the driving snow.

“We’re stopping here. If they spot an unfamiliar vehicle approaching, we’ll never get in. The only advantage we have is the element of surprise.”

“Do you think they’ll be armed?”

Alreck and I stare at each other in disbelief at Alexander’s naïve question.

I turn and say quickly, “Do yourself a favor and keep your fucking trap shut. Gonna give you a rifle. You see trouble, you point and shoot, that’s it. Got it?”

He blanches at me but says, “Yes, of course.”

“You’re gonna freeze your balls off without a coat. Reach in the back. Think there’s a spare fleece somewhere.”

A second later he says, “Got it.”

Alreck speaks up, his voice thick with anger, “We’d do best splitting up. I’ll take the front with Bern. Most of their brothers should be in the front area if the layout is a typical biker club. Let the Brit flank the left. Hopefully he can provide cover from low windows. Mikkel, you can go around back. Should be some kind of back entrance with a building this large. He most likely has her in a back room or some shit.”

My head nearly explodes at the thought of Dag’s hands on my delicate cousin. I’m concerned that Bern might not keep his shit together. He’s been silent the entire ride, too silent. He looks as if he’s prepared to commit mass murder.

Agreeing with Alreck’s plan, I say, “Got it. Let’s grab the guns and roll. Gotta stay inside this tree line as we make our way closer. When we’re close enough, we’ll make a dash for the doors.”

Alreck nods and Alexander says, “Agreed.”

A deep growl echoes from the back, “Let’s fucking move!” Bern grates out.

As we step out of the shelter of the truck, the snow begins its steady assault, dumping down so hard that it covers us instantly. I open up the back and lift up the dark gray carpet to reveal a hidden compartment containing my steel gun case. I have a Browning .22 takedown rifle and two Walther P 22’s. I quickly assemble and load the detachable rifle and hand it over to Alexander. Alreck is already shoving the magazine into one of the handguns. He stows an extra magazine in his front jeans pocket and tosses one over to me so I can do the same.

Should’ve stored more ammo. Too fucking late to sweat it now.

My eyes flick over to Bern’s. “You packin’?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

I know he has a gun that he keeps in the office of the garage. He often works late into the night on his designs and takes necessary precautions because of it.

With all emotions wiped aside we creep through the trees, working our way ever closer to the compound. Because they have the motorcycles in a garage for protection against the weather, there’s no way of knowing how many members are inside. Parked alongside the building is a black van, an older blue pick-up truck, and a black-on-black Volkswagen Touareg.

Once we’re parallel to the structure, we halt.

I look them each in the eye. “All right, we’ve got to move quickly. I’m busting in the minute I reach the back door. Alreck, you and Bern take down the front and just maybe with the confusion we’ll be able to force our way in. It’s still early, so most likely there won’t be too many of them here yet. Everyone good?”

Alexander’s eyes tighten as he says sternly, “Let’s go.”

We jog swiftly down the white incline of the small embankment and split apart the minute we hit flat ground. I crouch low and wind my way around the vehicles in an attempt to get right up against the building and away from the windows.

To my relief there’s a receiving dock with a metal door at the end of it. I check the handle. Locked, of course. I draw in a deep breath, feeling the sting of the bitter cold air enter my lungs right before I level the muzzle and fire at the lock. Thankfully it’s old and brittle and the thing shatters instantly. I lift my right knee, pull it back and kick hard as it bursts open, revealing a darkened back hall that’s hazy with cigarette smoke. I race in, reaching the end of it in eight strides. My gun is clutched in both hands straight out in front of me. Three things happen simultaneously. Sansa, of all fucking people, jumps up from her prone position on a big biker’s lap; the shock of my fury has her scrambling for cover. Another shot rings out just before my guys bust through the front door, and a prolonged, terrified scream comes from behind a closed door, so frantic that it turns my blood to ice.
Lisetta ….

Have to get to her ….

The bearded biker closest to me has a gun leveled directly at my head. I give him a stern warning, “Take a shot and the guy behind you will take your head off. We’re only here for the girl, that’s it. Don’t be fucking stupid.”

The odds of us all surviving a gunfight aren’t favorable. The guy glances back to see the second gun on him then takes my measure for a long moment. Finally he lowers his gun and cocks his head at a closed door. “You’re not gonna get away with this,” he says menacingly. “You know he’s got it out for you.”

I ignore him and flick my eyes to Alreck, then to Bern. “You both keep everything out here tight.”

Only Alreck replies, “Yeah, brother.” Bern’s inched forward and has his gun against the other guy’s temple.
Fuck … don’t let him do anything stupid!

My feet feel like sandbags are tied to them, I can’t move fast enough to reach her. I wind my way around a steel post toward the shadowed right corner and just as I reach out for it—my gun clutched tight in my right hand—her voice cuts through the air like a blade, this time in pain, so tortured that the hairs on my neck stand at full attention. I burst in and come close to passing out at the sight before me. Inside of an instant, blind rage takes over and I’m swept away.

* * *

The door opens once again. Dag smiles cruelly down at me and I leap away to huddle in a corner, as far away from him as humanly possible.

Just think of Bern, remember your closeness, his love for you.
I’ve heard of abuse victims tuning out to deal with the trauma; however, I never really understood it. Now, huddled into myself in a freezing room, I’m only a fraction away from unraveling as I tug at the hem of my Polartec running top, desperate to shield myself from the hungry gaze that is devouring me like prey.

He casually leans back against the closed door and folds his arms across his black thermal, watching me carefully. Eyes glittering with excitement, he says in a measured voice, “Stand and turn around for me, nice and slow my sweet. Wanna see that fine ass in those tight pants.”

Something about the creepiness of his voice breaks through my fear. Deep within, a voice speaks to me,
Delay what you know is coming. Stall him. Even if it hurts, don’t give in to him easily. You’ll hate yourself.

I stand up, square my shoulders and do my best to speak in a cold, level tone, “Make me.”

If I can just get through that door ….

His teeth flash into a brilliant smile as he pushes away from the door. “Oh, you’ll pay for that one, Lisetta.”

He stalks toward me in measured, even steps, as if he’s calculating every move I might make against him. I know he’s uncommonly smart, always has been. Mikkel’s never kept stupid company. My fear is my Achilles heel in this situation. If only I had a way out, a plan, a weapon …
something
, damn it! My blood thunders in my body but I manage to lash out in a hiss, “Oh yeah? That’s doubtful. Men who threaten often lack in other departments, if you know what I mean.”

My new goal, my last resort—as crazy as it might seem—is to enrage him so he’ll slip up somehow.

“You’ll get no mercy now.” His voice is different, menacing and low.

Keep it together, time your strike, get him where he’s vulnerable. In the eyes or crotch might work.

The moment he closes in on me I attempt to knee him in the balls, but he shifts away quickly and grabs a fistful of my long hair. Twining it roughly around his clenched fist, he drags me up against his powerful body.

“Stop!” I start to writhe like a hellcat, kicking out with my bare feet. It’s pointless. He’s so strong, and his free hand closes around my throat and squeezes. Panic explodes within me as my air is cut off. A strained gurgling sound is all that comes out of my mouth as he shoves me hard against the freezing wall, his body pinned tightly against mine. His face is so close that I can feel the hot air from his nostrils puffing like an infuriated animal’s against my cheeks. His head tilts in question, “What was that? Nothing to say now, Lisetta? You’ll learn to behave, girl. Your pussy-whipped boyfriend might let you get away with that bitch attitude, but I can assure you I am far less tolerant.”

His face is blurring out. Black spots and stars are crowding my vision as I waver on the edge of consciousness. I will my body to go limp.
He expects a struggle. If he thinks I’m out, maybe he’ll release me
.

Finally, his fingers slowly open and I gasp and choke, involuntarily falling forward and clutching at him. I suck in massive gulps of air, never so relieved to be experiencing the simple act of breathing. His body is pressing against mine and I’m too frightened to fight. He’ll choke me out and rape me while I’m unconscious.

His large hands cup the sides of my face as he whispers, “I’ve thought long and hard about how to get back at you, Lisetta, did you know that? I wanted you, so badly, almost had you too. You would’ve loved it, and we could’ve been happy together. But Mikkel was too controlling, too protective of his little baby cousin. I regret that he was able to stop me, but I was younger then. Do you know how frustrating it was, being kept from you all these years? I fucking adore you. I’ve tried to take you before but that asshole boyfriend of yours is always hovering, watching. But now, Lisetta, I have you. Nobody can tear us apart.”

I whisper, disgust lacing my voice, “You’re delusional, Dag.”

“Perhaps to you, but I see the whole picture. You’re mine, willing or not, and you’re gonna meet my every desire. Fuck knows I’ve waited long enough for you. And the best part is, I know what you mean to Mikkel. I’ve finally located a weakness in the invincible Mikkel Torvik, and I’m going to destroy him by mutilating his sweet cousin. But not before I have my fill. Now, let’s have a look at that addictive little snatch of yours, shall we?”

A wild scream involuntarily rips out of my chest as he tears my running pants and panties off of me with one forceful, downward tug. I shove against his chest, but can’t get enough leverage to have any impact.

A loud, cracking sound like a shot comes from the other side of the door. For a second I cling to hope that it’s Bern or Mikkel. He shakes his head in annoyance as he mutters, “Fucking guys are always getting hammered and discharging their guns.”

My heart sinks.

His fingers roughly reach between my legs and spread me as I try in vain to squeeze my legs shut. It’s no use; his boots and powerful legs are wedged between mine, forcing them open. A finger roughly shoves into me and I lose it. In utter desperation I do the only thing I can: I thrust my head forward and bite down hard on his cheek.

“You fucking cunt!” he howls out in pain and steps back, momentarily in shock. Then he backhands me with such force that I’m flung down onto all fours, instantly seeing stars and struggling to hold onto consciousness from the cruel blow.

I crawl slowly away, not sure which direction I’m headed because I’m so disoriented. Through it I hear the zipper of his jeans right before he descends on me from behind, grasping my hair and pulling my head back. Using every ounce of strength I have left, I writhe and push, but his weight and strength is tremendous and I’m clearly no match for him. He shoves my face down into the cold concrete and growls, “Get used to this, baby, ’cause this is how you’re gonna get it until you beg me to put you out of your misery.”

Nausea washes over me as the hot, broad head of his cock begins to nudge urgently against my tightly squeezed sex, trying to breach me. I cry out, screaming in agony for all I’m worth, not wanting to give in, to let myself be violated on this stone floor by a maniac. Terror courses through me, the likes of which I never knew existed.

Then a miracle happens. He suddenly jerks away, and I lift my face up to see what has stopped him. Through a cloud of tears, I see Mikkel. His stunned look is swiftly replaced by a ferocity that is so intense I’m shaken to the core. The only thing I can do is crawl away into the far corner, pulling at the shreds of my running pants, trying to get away from the colossal violence that is about to be unleashed.

* * *

Seeing her on her knees, trapped beneath him, ass bare, about to be fucking
raped,
snaps my calculated control inside of an instant, and black rage rips through me with the force of a tornado. Letting loose a primal roar, I gun straight for him, reaching him in three long strides. He whips his head around to look at me, his face a mask of twisted lust. He has no choice but to release her and is struggling to get back up to his feet as I reach him.
He won’t get the chance.
I shove my gun down into the back part of my waistband and grab for the front of his shirt, hauling him up to within inches of my face. I yank my right arm back and start pounding away, driven to make him pay. He takes three brutal blows, howling in outrage as the third crunches into his nose. He butts me squarely in the forehead with his head, and I stagger back, his blood spray momentarily clouding my vision. But I’ve still got him tethered, my fist clamped down on his shirt. I’m vaguely aware of Alreck behind me, his gun leveled outward, a crystal clear threat to anyone dumb enough to try for a challenge. No matter, ’cause nothing is gonna stop me this time around.