Thumper (Cerberus MC)

Shadows cross in front of my face, but my level of concern is too small to register even on the smallest scale.

“You’ll talk the second he gets in here,” the man growls in my ear, his fingers tangled in my hair.

I know the grip is bruising, one last shot to hurt me, but once again, I feel nothing. Honestly, I’m grateful for the help as he pulls my head back so I can watch with one eye as Ernesto approaches. Of course, he’s showered, the blood splashed on him yesterday washed away. I get the feeling that he’s as over dealing with me as the man standing near me because he’s wearing a business suit nice enough to convince people he’s a true businessman rather than an evil bastard who rapes women and kills people for fun.

“Did Antonio tell you that today was your last day on earth?” Ernesto sneers.

My lips are thick and cracked as I smile at the man. I can’t even guarantee it looks as taunting as I want, but it’s all I have.

The tip of his gun lifts my chin a little higher.

“Tell me where Juan is, and I’ll put an end to your pain and—”

“What the fuck?” Antonio yells, but his release of my hair forces my head forward once again.

Sounds register. I know I’m hearing things, but my brain is too sluggish too separate them in order to understand what’s going on. One second, Ernesto’s shadow is there and then it’s gone.

But how is that possible? Someone is lifting my chin again and—

“Jinx?” I hiss when his face comes into view.

For not having felt the pain of my injuries, my body chooses now to go back online, and as tears clog my throat, I feel the burn of them behind my eyes.

“Brother, please make it quick. That’s all I ask.”

His eyes widen as shots ring out, and instead of him pulling the trigger on his gun, he slumps against me.

“No, no, no,” I chant as his weight causes the chair I’m tied on to fall backward.

The commotion around us is loud—more shots being fired, people yelling, baritone voices echoing all around the small room. I shift my weight, moving Jinx to the side before using the minimal power I have left in my body to turn and cover him as best as I can. I know it won’t prevent someone with any amount of skill from shooting him again, but I’m doing the best I can with what I have to work with.

After a handful of breaths, silence falls over the room, my ability to breathe nearly impossible with the position I’m in and the injuries I’ve sustained. Maybe this is for the best. My eyes flutter closed, and I begin to really accept my fate.

“Jesus, fuck, man. You’re goddamn heavy.”

A groan slips past my lips, not one of pain but a plead to just let me die in peace as my body is moved. I don’t have the strength to open my eyes, but I don’t really care to see what’s coming.

“Hey. Stop that shit. Open your eyes.”

The familiar voice has the power to make me obey, and when my unswollen eye flickers open, I’m looking up at that single stupid light hanging from the ceiling, but one blink is all it takes for darkness to take over again.

“You’re not dying today motherfucker. Keep your eyes open.” I’m shaken, and I open my mouth to tell him that he’s wasting his time.

Or maybe that’s his plan all along. Ernesto spent days torturing me, but maybe the Cerberus men that I betrayed want their turn. Maybe I don’t die today but meet my end tomorrow or the next day or however long they have before my body finally gives up.

“Sosa! Look at me.” Even the call of my real name no longer carries any power. “Thumper!”

I feel the hot trail of tears running to my temples as I finally let go.

Chapter 25

Cara

“You didn’t have to do that, but thank you,” I whisper as I take the plate from Cannon’s hands and place it on the table in front of me.

He shrugs. “No big deal. I was already standing up.”

Kincaid told the truth; all of the Cerberus men are gone. They disappeared like smoke shortly after the meeting I had with him in the conference room two days ago.

“It’s so quiet around here,” Emmalyn says as she walks into the kitchen.

I give her a small smile when she looks at me. “Good morning.”

“Careful with those eggs if Cannon made them.” She points to the untouched plate sitting in front of me. “He likes really spicy foods.”

“Noted,” I respond. “I like spicy foods, too. Have you heard anything?”

Emmalyn’s smile falters a fraction before she can put it back in place as she walks to the coffee pot. “I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”