The Break (Unbroken Raine Falling 2)

“Why would Raine go to Beck?” Liam questioned. “A month ago, he scared the piss out of her. He bruised her with that fucking rubber paddle. Why would she run to that bastard instead of talking to me? I know she’s got a terrible habit of not saying how she feels. But hell, if not to me, why didn’t she go to you, then?”

“I could guess…” Hammer sighed and pressed the button to connect the call to Beck. “She must know I’d help her, but she’s distressed and thinking with her emotions.”

“I suppose she believes she’s only ‘making things worse’ or whatever else runs through her head. Both of us have set her aside in one way or another. But how could she think we don’t care?”

Hammer sighed. “She’s probably embarrassed about being released or she thinks I would chide her for her behavior. I don’t know. Goddamn it, answer,” he growled into the phone as they tore out of the building.

In the anemic sunlight, they made their way to Hammer’s car and peeled away. Liam didn’t know where they were going. He didn’t think Hammer did either, but Raine wasn’t at the hospital. The cafeteria where she’d given her credit card was closed for now. When they’d checked, only an employee inhabited the gift shop. Raine hadn’t been injured, so why would she stay here? More to the point, Beck had gone as well.

The car’s Bluetooth system kicked in, and the ringing phone carried over the sound system. Anxiety charged his veins. If voice mail picked up instead of Beck, Liam wondered if he’d bloody lose it.

“Where are you going?” he asked Hammer. “Where would Beck take her? His house? Another office?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.”

Liam heard a click and tensed.

“Well, it’s about time you called, Hammer. I’ve been waiting,” Beck baited on the other end of the phone.

“Where the hell is she, you fucking bastard? Where did you take her?” Liam wanted to charge through the phone and strangle Beck.

Hammer cut him a glare as the doctor laughed.

It took everything Liam had not to pick up Hammer’s phone and smash it on the dash. If he didn’t need answers so badly, he might. He opened his mouth to say something, not caring much if he insulted the wanker.

Hammer slapped an arm across his chest. “Shut the fuck up and let me talk.”

There was little love lost between he and Beck, and Hammer stood a better chance of getting answers. Breathing hard, Liam swallowed down his impatience. “Get some answers.”

“Where is she, Beck?” Hammer demanded. “Where did you take her after you left the hospital? And don’t give me the bullshit that you don’t know.”

Beck laughed again. “It’s hard to tell which of you has their dick in more of a twist.”

Liam stared out the window and tried to block out Beck’s mocking tone. His only consolation was that he felt anger pouring off Hammer, too.

“I’m glad we’re so amusing,” Hammer grated out. “We’re not feeling very jovial at the moment since we’re worried out of our fucking minds because Raine is missing. So maybe you could pull your head out of your ass and help us?”

With another chuckle that made Liam want to punch the arse, he sank deeper into the luxurious leather seat. He could only hope that he’d have Beck by the balls someday and could repay the favor.

“Oh, put your panties back on. Raine is in one piece and perfectly safe. I made sure of it.”

“Where?” Hammer growled.

Liam wanted to add his two cents, and it only infuriated him more that every time he talked to Beck, the doctor took delight in poking at him. He’d love to tell Beck exactly where he could go, but that wouldn’t help them find Raine. He had to swallow it back—again. He was beginning to feel like his balls were stuck in a bloody vise.

“If she wanted you to know, she would have told you herself, wouldn’t she?” Beck heaved a sigh. “She’s thinking with the help of Jose Cuervo, and I expect I’ll have to check on her in a bit to help her hang her head over the toilet. But otherwise, she just needs space.”

“You’re letting her drink tequila in the middle of the day?” Hammer demanded.

“You think she’s still a minor, scout?” Beck sounded somewhere between amused and exasperated.

“She can’t hold her liquor, you stupid motherfucker.” Hammer looked like he might grind his teeth into dust. “And you know it.”

“Look on the bright side. She’s usually a happy drunk, so tequila might improve her mood.”

The mock chipper attitude crawled up Liam’s back. That vise around his balls tightened.

“Hey,” Beck added like he had a grand idea. “Is she a horny drunk, too?”

“Don’t you touch her, you fucking wankstain!” Liam railed. “If you lay a single finger on her, I swear to god I’ll kill you in the bloodiest way possible and I’ll enjoy every moment of it.”