Blyssfully Undone: The Blyss Trilogy - book 3 (6 page)

A grin forms across my lips as I taunt Nick again. “Mmmm…you can’t put a price on her pussy. It tastes too sweet to give back or sell. Not to mention, her pussy has been molded to fit my dick perfectly now, just like a glove.” Then I hang up on him abruptly, happy I was the one to get in the last word. He would’ve only had a string of curse words for me after that anyway.

The sardonic smile dissolves from my lips as I look at Quinn in all seriousness. “Well, I stirred up the hive for us. We’ll be drawing them out now, ‘cause he’s madder than a nest of wet hornets, and after that, I have a feeling he is going to unleash every last resource he has on us.”

Quinn leans back in his chair and runs his fingers through his hair, and then interlocks his fingers, holding his hands at the back of his head. I can tell he’s formulating something in his brain as he stares at the ceiling. Since I’ve pissed Nick off, I feel a little better now and can think clearer.

Quinn speaks toward the ceiling as he tells me, “We need to get back to my house.”

I shake my head at him. “Negatory, man. It’s not safe to go to your place just yet. We have to find out how they found us first. Otherwise, it will be like leading a kid to candy again.” Quinn’s house is north of Raleigh, a little ways outside of the city limits. He lives on a few acres of land in a rural area, with a shitload of armory. Plus, he has more electronic resources there than the government. “I say we head into the city first, stay in plain sight. We need to be around a mass number of people and try to mingle in until we can figure out how he’s tracking us.”

Quinn drops his gaze from the ceiling to mine, and then wrinkles his forehead in thought. “Yeah, let me make some phone calls and get some backup in place. I know a hotel we can hunker down in for a day or two until we get this figured out.”

“Do you think we got them all?”

“As soon as you texted me from the cabin, I made my way toward the front drive and saw there was only one vehicle. Figured on three men. So yeah, we got them all. I took down one man who was standing guard at the vehicle, and of course I got Mitchell, and then you took the other.”

“Correction, Jules took that man out all by herself.”

Quinn’s neck snaps back in surprise with both eyebrows lifted high. “Damn. That’s one hell of a woman.”

I give him a sly grin. “That’s why I told you not to piss her off.” Now that I’ve calmed down some, I can see it was best to have sedated her. What she just went through was some serious action. “It’s probably for the best you knocked her out. I think she was on the hard and fast road to a major meltdown.”

Quinn opens his eyes wide in mock surprise as he sarcastically comments, “You think?”

“My concern is when she wakes up.” I pause, shaking my head, and let out a sigh. “She's never killed anyone before, and I’m seriously worried how she’s going to process all of this. This whole scenario is going to change her, Quinn. We all know she’ll never be the same after this, and she won’t want to hear that.”

Quinn's lips form a thin line before he speaks. “That it does, my friend. That is does.” He quietly contemplates his thoughts for a minute before he speaks again, and when he does, his eyes pierce mine with utter resolution. “We have your back on this, you know? All of us will do what it takes to help pull her through the aftermath.”

“Thanks, man,” I say, looking at Quinn through the eyes of Jules. The corners of my lips lift in a smirk as I eye him up and down. I guess he does look like Rambo, in all his getup and gear with war paint on. It’s something I’m so used to seeing, so I’ve never thought twice about it. I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through her head at the first sight of him. The thought strikes me funny, and I start to chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?” he asks skeptically.

I shake my head at him and tease, “Rambo. Of all the names for someone to come up with, she comes up with Rambo.”

He chuckles himself, and then shrugs. “Hey, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“So what’s next?”

“Given the fact they know where our vicinity is, they’re probably sending out more men as we speak. Once Stryker and Chase get here, we can head out. Chances are excellent we won’t have a tail,” he pauses, “for now anyway. At least we’ll have a head start. I’m parked about a quarter mile out.” He jerks his chin up and to the left, as if I know where he’s indicating.

“Lovely…just fucking lovely.” Sarcasm drips from my voice as I think about having to carry a very sedated Jules for a quarter mile. “You just had to drug her, didn’t you?”

He holds his hands up in the air in protest. “You just agreed it was a good idea.”

“Mmmm, I think we all need to see what this Rambo is made of. I believe you should be the one to carry her ass out to the truck,” I stand up and reach across the table to give his arm muscle a manly squeeze, “since you’re the one who drugged her and all.”

A smooth smile spreads across Quinn’s lips as he rags on me. “Why, Travis, I do believe you’re getting old and feeble on me. Why don’t you just admit it; you’ve gone soft and can’t handle carrying the extra baggage.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I let go of his shoulder and he starts to laugh.

Jules

My eyes flutter open, and confusion overcomes me.
Where in the hell am I?
I rub the sleep from my eyes, narrowing them to focus, and I realize I’m in another friggin’ hotel room. A cold chill runs down my spine as bad memories roll through me, my pulse picking up speed. I catch the scent of Travis and my stomach dips. I’m not caught; I’m with Travis. A huge gust of air leaves my lungs in relief.

When I peel the blankets back, I raise a brow. My legs are bare. Looks like Travis had put me in one of his oversized t-shirts, and thank God I’m in my panties. The clock illuminating on the nightstand reads seven.
Is it morning or night? I can’t tell.
The curtains are drawn shut, and I’m not about to look behind them and tempt fate.

I make my way to the bedroom door, still in a disoriented stupor, and step out into the carpeted hallway. The sound of men’s voices carries from down the hall. It looks as if I’m in a large hotel suite. I follow the voices and find myself in front of a table full of men. I stop in my tracks. I don’t recognize any of them except for Stryker and Quinn.

All of the men abruptly stop talking, turning around to look at me as if I just interrupted a secret meeting. I spy a huge spread of breakfast food stretched out across the table, and at that moment, I know I’ve slept into the following day. Quinn is sitting off to the right, and I narrow my eyes on the bastard for drugging me like that.

Someone clears their throat, and out of the corner of my eye I see Travis scooting his chair away from the table. He hastily makes his way toward me as he speaks in a gruff voice, “Guys, give me a few minutes. I’ll be right back.” He reaches out and gently takes me by the elbow, and leans in to whisper in my ear, “Babe, you can’t come out dressed like that.” Oh, crap, I didn’t even realize that. Thank goodness his shirt comes down to my knees.

He ushers me quickly back down the hallway, out of sight. When we reach the bedroom door, he pauses to ask, “Can I get you some coffee or something to eat?” I look into his eyes and they seem a little off, like he’s hiding something.

“I am thirsty,” I softly reply.

He leans his head out the bedroom door, then shouts out toward the dining room, “Stryker, need you to bring Jules some OJ.”

He guides me into the bedroom, and sits down on the edge of the bed. He pats the empty space beside him, silently telling me to have a seat. I sit down on the edge of the bed with him, and for some reason, I feel unsettled. Maybe because there is an army of men out there and we’re on the run, but Travis is acting different.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“I’m doing fine,” I respond flatly, staring at the floor.

“I hate that answer, you know that? Fine means you’re doing shitty,” he retorts, leaning in close to me.

I pull away and turn to look at him with a scowl on my face. “What do you want me to say, Travis? Too many things have unfolded in the past twenty-four hours for me to process anything. Not to mention, I was knocked out with God knows what drug since noon yesterday.”

He looks away from me, and hopefully it’s shame that fills him. “I’m sorr—”

“Save it.” I hold my hand up, interrupting him. “I want answers, and I want a phone call,” I demand.

He narrows his eyes, looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “Yeah, I can’t let you have either,” he says sternly.

“No? What the hell, Travis? No?!” My voice escalates with indignation as he raises an eyebrow at my outburst. “I can’t believe you’re going to deny me.” My throat constricts, and my upper lip snarls. “You’re a real bastard.”

At that very second, Stryker loudly clears his throat, purposely interrupting, and we both turn to look at him as he stands in the doorway holding my glass of orange juice.

I give him the evil eye, and at least he has the regard to act a little penitent for being part of Travis’ game. He walks into the room and hands the orange juice to Travis, which is a smart move. I have the desire to toss the drink in their faces. It’s a coin toss at the moment as to which one.

I turn to face Travis with a heated scowl. “My father needs to know I’m safe. This is
my life
we’re talking about here, my own flesh and blood, and you won’t even give me the courtesy of a phone call?”

Stryker’s lips thin as if he wants to say something, but he holds back, letting Travis handle the situation. Travis grabs my hands and looks at me with pleading eyes, which is odd. Since we had been invaded, he’s been in warrior-mode the entire time, not showing a speck of his soft side.

“Nothing is safe right now, Jules,” he explains. “The only safe place for you right now is here with me, by my side 24/7.”

I scoff and jerk my hands out from under his. “Is that so? How convenient,” I mock. “I’m surprised you’re not drugging me with more Blyss right now…or did you forget to put that in your backpack?” I hiss. I look at my wrists and make another snide remark. “What? No restraints? You’re slipping, Travis. I’m surprised there’s not a dead bolt on the door, too.”

Stryker steps in front of me, coming to Travis’ rescue, and interrupts, “Jules, you’re not being fair here.”

I raise both brows, staring indignantly at Stryker and his audacity.
Who the hell does he think he is?
I cross my arms over my chest defensively. “Well, do tell then, Stryker. I’d seriously like to know what you think is fair. How about I rip
you
apart from everything you’ve ever known and loved, and then drug you. Oh, yeah, then let’s top that scenario off by having you shoot and kill another man, all for a criminal you already know is going to keep holding you hostage.”

He bites at the inside of his cheek, his lips puckering off to the side as he keeps his mouth shut, not having a decent retort.

My bare foot begins tapping on the carpeted floor, with my lips pursed while I stare Stryker down with a heated glare.
Is what I’m asking for really that unreasonable?
Maybe I shouldn’t be so obstinate, but nobody is giving me answers, and it’s like the minute I got my memory back, Travis has been the very man I knew him to be at the facility, and I don’t like it. He’s played me for a fool the entire time. Now I know how Nick felt when I did it to him.

Travis’ deep voice breaks through the silence in the room. “Stryke, I got this. Just shut the door on your way out,” he commands in a low and ominous tone as he jerks his chin toward the door. I don’t like where this is going. I watch in silence as Travis bends down to put the juice on the floor. His jaw muscles are taut, and as he sits upright, the look in his eyes has me holding my breath.
Uh-oh.

Once the bedroom door clicks shut, Travis clenches his fists tightly, and then spreads his fingers out wide, releasing obvious, pent-up tension. Frustration is evident as he leans forward, mere inches from my face, and grits out through clenched teeth, “When I say no, I mean fuckin’ no. I’m not going to deal with your tirades of childish behavior. Not now, not ever. My patience is hanging on by a thread here, and I don’t think you want to push me over that edge, do you?” His steely words cut through my soul like a sharp knife as his eyes flare at mine. “So tell me, Jules, just what the fuck don’t you understand about the word
no
? Or do you need a lesson in the meaning?”

The blood drains from my face. The icy tone in his voice emits the same viciousness as when I was captive at the facility. I remember this Travis all too well. Now that the jig is up and my memory is back, there’s no need for him to play nice. Every one of his words from not too long ago comes back to haunt me. “
This is where the shit gets real, Princess. No one is going to hold your hand anymore, especially me.”
And the worst one, “
That’s none of your concern; you’re a slave. How’s that for a different perspective?”

I don’t know what the hell he wants from me, but I’m not going to take it from him.
I just saved his ass, and this is how he treats me?
I haul my hand back, getting ready to slap him across the face, but he catches my wrist.