The Biker's Fate Chapter 454

Finch

Remington was still distant with me as I took her hand toward the end of Michelle's memorial service. We'd made a tentative truce on Friday after she'd given me the silent treatment for over twenty-four hours, but I could still feel her shutting down and I hated it.

She let me take her hand but pulled away when the pastor ended the service and she hugged Michelle's family. Even though I offered my hand again, she didn't take it as we walked out of the little chapel Michelle had been dedicated in when she was a baby. The whole thing was sad as fuck and I was surprised Remington didn't completely break down on me. I figured that would probably come later.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she said to no one in particular, so I moved to follow.

"Do you need to watch me pee, Merrick, or am I allowed to do that on my own?" she snarled.

I sighed. "I'll wait for you here."

"Thank you, gracious and benevolent one."

I rolled my eyes. Apparently, the truce was over.

"Hey." I took her hand pulled her against me. "I love you."

She stared over me. "Hmm-mm."

I kissed her gently, but she didn't kiss me back, so I watched her walk through the ladies' door then pulled out my phone to check messages. I had to meet with a client on Tuesday, which meant a long day of travel tomorrow to get back to Portland in time, but at least, Remington would be with me and I'd know she was safe.

"Where's Remi?" Kennedy asked.

I lifted my chin toward the bathroom.

Kennedy nodded and walked inside, stepping out again within seconds. "Finch, she's not in there."

"Come again?"

"The bathroom's empty. No Remington."

I shoved past her and pushed into the bathroom, checking every stall, and Kennedy was right. She'd disappeared. I saw a window at the back of the room was open, and my blood ran cold. "Fuck," I snapped, and grabbed my phone, texting Alamo.

"She's probably back inside," Kennedy said. "You just didn't see her leave the bathroom."

"I would have seen her, Kennedy."

"Let me go look."

Mouse was heading our way and I gave him a chin lift. "You stay here, babe."

"What's up?" Mouse asked.

"Remington's missing, lock Kennedy down. Eyes on her at all times."

"No problem," Mouse said, although Kennedy wasn't too happy with my edict.

I didn't give a fuck as I headed outside and tried to figure out where the hell she was, calling Booker on the way.

"Hey, Finch."

"Need you to track Remington's phone."

"Shit, she okay?"

I filled him in on what I knew, hanging up just as the sound of pipes roared around me. Alamo, along with three other Dogs, rode into the parking lot and I walked toward them.

"What do we know?" Alamo asked.

"Rem was in the bathroom, then she wasn't. I think she got out through the window at the back, but there's no sign of her." I dragged my hands through my hair. "I have no idea if she left on her own or someone took her. Booker's tracking her phone."

"Okay. Get Kennedy to give you a list of where she might go to be alone. We'll start—"

"Finch!" Kennedy called, rushing toward me, Mouse hot on her heels. "Remington dropped her grandma's ring." She handed it to me. "She would never let that out of her sight. She always used to joke that the only way anyone would get it was off her cold, dead body."

I hissed out a breath and Kennedy shook her head. "Not that I think she's dead. Far from it. She would have dropped it to let you know she didn't go of her own free will."

I stroked the platinum band with a nod, then slid it onto my pinky finger. It would stay there until I found her.

Remington

My head felt like a vise grip was squeezing it and my mouth was as dry as wallpaper…I figured out pretty quickly it was dry because I had a gag over it. I also discovered my hands and feet were tied…tight. I glanced down my body and bit back tears. Cable ties. Not easy to work your way out of.

I forced a deep breath through my nose, trying not to panic. I was horribly claustrophobic and suffocating to death was my biggest fear, so a gag in the mouth was not conducive to me not panicking. I looked around the room, trying to determine where I was, but it was dark, other than a little light coming through a transom window above me. I was on a mattress with no bedding, and I was freezing.

The sound of a door slamming and footsteps on wooden stairs had me closing my eyes and trying to relax my body enough to pretend like I was still out.

A feminine voice was whispering in Russian, but I could only make out a couple of words…they weren't nice, which indicated to me this person wasn't happy.

"No one saw me, brat," she snapped, switching to English.

Brother. She was speaking to her brother.

"The medicine will take a little while to wear off. You have time to get here."

Shit. Get where?

"No, she's out cold. Da. So easy. Okay."

The woman shuffled closer to me and I felt her breath on my cheek. "I don't understand what is so special about you," she whispered. "But I suppose we'll soon find out, won't we?"

I forced myself not to react, and it was hard when she touched my face, but I kept my breathing even and when I heard her footsteps move away from me, I waited a few minutes before opening my eyes again.

Rubbing my face against the mattress, I managed to slide the fabric tied around my mouth down, letting it settle around my neck. I took a couple of deep breaths, reminding myself I was still alive. I maneuvered my body in a way to slide my feet behind me and through my arms, tugging at the bindings around my wrists. Thank the lord for ballet, because I could pretty much contort any part of myself in any direction, so I was now able to sit up with my hands in front of me. The plastic was too tight to worm my way out of, so unless there was a knife somewhere around, I wouldn't be able to break the hold.

The dress I was wearing had pockets, but my phone had been removed, leaving me with a Chapstick and tissues. My purse was also nowhere near me. I wish I hadn't given Merrick the cold shoulder. He'd tried to apologize, and I'd still given him monosyllabic conversation. God damn my ability to hold a grudge. It got me nowhere and I still held onto my anger. Merrick was going to think I ran away again and that was on me.

Shit! I was on my own here. I mean, what were the odds they'd find my grandmother's ring? I did have a modicum of hope that Merrick would at least look for me, but he was in an unfamiliar city, so his chances of finding me quickly were slim.

Plus, I had to pee.

I heard the door again, so I pulled my gag back up and contorted my body back the way it was, laying back down on the mattress. Unfortunately, the bedframe squeaked, so I couldn't continue to feign being unconscious.

"You are awake," a deep voice observed, and I froze. "Good."

Vitaly.