Stolen By Raze (Grabbed Book 4) Read online

  The truck bumped along the road for a long time. Dread settled into the pit of her stomach. Suddenly, Danny’s warning seemed prescient. Was she being carted away to one of the camps that everyone whispered about but no one had seen? Would she be thrown into jail? Held for weeks? Months?

  Stomach pitching violently, Ella refused to cry. It wasn’t going to help her situation at all. No, she had to think. Whatever it took, she would get out of this.

  Just as she started to struggle breathing, the truck screeched to an unexpected stop. Ella’s body rolled sideways and she finally managed to drag a full breath into her smashed lungs. Legs cramping and shoulders aching, she wondered why the vehicle had halted so unexpected. Shouting, angry voices filled her in very quickly.

  “Find her. I want Elladee Brandt.”

  Recognizing that nasal voice, she swallowed hard. George. No, please no. Anyone but him…

  Hands snatched her out of the cargo area of the oversized vehicle. She was roughly handed down to another man and then another. Someone cut the ties binding her ankles, and Ella’s legs dropped to the ground. Woozy, she tottered on her feet but a tightly gripping hand kept her from falling. The hood was lifted but lowered again so fast that she didn’t have time to clear her vision.

  Eyes still burning and throat irritated, Ella didn’t put up a fight as she was dragged away from the noisy truck to a different vehicle. This one had a quieter engine and an air-conditioned interior. She didn’t have to see it to know this was the sort of expensive, exclusive contraption only someone very wealthy or very highly positioned in the government could afford. Someone like George. The head of the secret police. A man who controlled huge swaths of real estate and construction and imports.

  Thrust onto a seat, Ella winced as her poor shackled wrists were pressed together and into the small of her back. She didn’t dare move to adjust her position. Afraid to even breathe now, she waited for him to speak.

  “Well, well, well, pet, look at the mess we’ve made tonight.” George cupped her nape with his cold, bony fingers and applied just enough pressure to remind her what those brutal hands of his could do. His voice and touch spurred memories—agonizingly painful memories she had scorched and buried and refused to even think about again—that made her gut twist. “I thought for sure Dankirk would convince you toe the line, but I see that even his control over you has faded.”

  Certain he didn’t want her to speak yet, she gulped down her fear and wondered what would happen now.

  “They’re waiting for me to decide what I’m going to do with you. It’s up to me, you see, whether you disappear up north or…”

  She realized he was waiting for her to say something. Voice groggy and thick, she asked weakly, “Or what, sir?”

  “Or whether I have them lock you up in jail until after the election and negotiate your release in exchange for a public apology for your indecency.”

  His shocking act of generosity stunned and terrified her. Unable to see him because of the hood and her watering eyes, she asked, “Why?”

  His fingers drew worryingly gentle marks on her neck. “I suppose I still have a soft spot for you, sweetness. You always were my very favorite girl. If I could have kept you…”

  She thanked the stars he hadn’t. She had been a teenager at rock bottom, a suspect in a factory fire she hadn’t started, when George had first offered his devilish bargain. Desperate, she had accepted his offer of protection and security. Too soon, she had learned the true costs of such an agreement. In the blink of an eye, she was the kept teenaged mistress of a powerful man who possessed a cruel, sadistic streak. In the blink of an eye, she was owned and controlled by a monster.

  Escaping his clutches had taken every ounce of her willpower and courage. She couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t.

  “The real question is what should I do with that pink-haired freak you call a friend.”

  The tone of his voice sent chills racing down her spine. Stomach flip-flopping, Ella bit back the sob of horror that threatened to escape her throat. George was in one of his bargaining moods, and she had a very good and very frightening idea of what he would ask of her.

  But she couldn’t abandon Hopper to the cruel fate that awaited her.

  Gulping down her fear, she asked bravely, “Tell me what you want…sir.”

  He exhaled a pent-up sigh. “If you only knew how long I’ve waited for you to call me that again!” The fingers on the back of her neck bit into her skin. “It won’t be easy, Ella. I warn you now. This will be even worse than the night I let you leave me.”

  Of that, Ella had no doubt. She felt that old familiar numbness throbbing from her core and spreading slowly through her body. She had survived so much in her life. She could survive whatever agonizing tortures George had planned for her.

  Because there was no other choice. If she had only one night left on this planet, she had to save Hopper.

  Cold and dead inside, Ella found her voice again. “I’m all yours, Sir.”

  Chapter Three

  His grip tight on his weapon, Raze crept toward the idling trucks packed with hogtied and hooded prisoners. His feet carried him closer to the two rear vehicles belonging to the secret police. It took every single drop of self-control he could muster not to rush the one Ella had been forced into only moments earlier. His patience had been sorely tested watching from their position in the stealth ship.

  On edge and feeling trigger-happy, he silently counted backward from twenty and inhaled steady, deep breaths. With Fierce on his left and Torment to his right, he reminded himself that these men were counting on him to keep cool. He couldn’t allow his personal feelings to influence his actions.

  Vicious and Orion’s orders before departure rang in his ears. Rescue the women without incident—or feel the wrath of the disciplinary board. The message had come through loud and clear. Although General Thorn would provide some coverage for doing a solid favor for his daughter, there would be consequences if an intergalactic incident kicked off over this illicit mission.

  Hidden by the shadows and trees along the muddy road, Raze glanced at the upper right corner of his combat glasses to make sure the rest of the team had stopped at their pre-planned points. As always, his team stood in perfect formation. Torment took point tonight. He had some professional dealings with the head of the secret police and hoped to prevail upon that working relationship to smooth things over tonight. If that failed, Raze’s team was prepared to launch a full assault.

  “Contact in five, four, three…” Cipher’s whisper-soft voice filtered across the earbuds they all wore as he counted down the moment until Torment came into view of the guards and secret police.

  A dozen guns snapped right toward Torment who continued to walk coolly toward the vehicle where Ella had been taken. The guards and secret police glanced toward the trees and seemed to understand they were surrounded even before Raze gave the signal for half of the team to make themselves known. He kept his gaze trained on Torment, ready to fire and defend the Shadow Force operative at the first hint of a twitchy finger from the other side.

  “Penetrating scan detects two life signs inside target vehicle. Repeat two life signs inside target vehicle.”

  With Cipher’s assurance that there were only two people in the vehicle—Ella and the secret policeman—Torment tapped the business end of his rifle against the window of the vehicle before stepping back. “George, we need to talk. Come out with your hands up and my friends will play nicely.”

  Heartbeat steady, Raze watched the door open slowly and the government man step out to meet his Harcos counterpart. Like Torment, this George character had the same expressionless face. Even from this distance, Raze could see the cold, calculating glare in the other man’s eyes. He was dangerous and cruel—and Raze wanted to know exactly why this man had taken Ella into his private vehicle.

  “Should I be flattered that I warranted an entire SRU team?” George glanced around the shadowy roadway.

  �
�It’s professional respect. You know I’m dangerous. I know you’re dangerous. Now we’re on an even playing field.” Torment lowered his weapon and gestured to the trucks. “Busy night?”

  George glanced at the truck stuffed with bound and hooded prisoners. “This is a political and criminal matter for The City. These dissidents have nothing to do with the treaties between our two races.”

  “That’s a matter for the lawyers to decide. I’m here on the authority of the war council of the Alliance. Give me my two prisoners and we’ll be on our way.”

  “And what two prisoners are those?”

  “Elladee Brandt and a woman called Hopper.”

  George’s eyes narrowed. “We didn’t catch the skinny little tunnel rat. She managed to escape with most of the crowd. We only collected these five dozen or so high-value targets.”

  “And Elladee Brandt?”

  “Is none of your concern,” the man harshly replied. “She belongs to me.”

  Like. Fucking. Hell. Raze gritted his teeth as a possessive urge blazed through him. He consciously maintained trigger discipline, keeping his finger straight and ignoring the urge to let loose a burst of high-energy that would end the secret policeman in less than a heartbeat. Easy. Breathe.

  Torment sighed dramatically before whistling sharply. Upon his signal, the rest of the team emerged from the shadows, their powerful weapons and laser sights no match for the guards and secret police. Swift decloaked his hovering ship and made it perfectly clear that their force controlled the skies.

  “Are we done with the pissing contest?” Torment lifted his weapon to his shoulder, fully prepared to fire.

  George didn’t say a single word or move. He seemed to be weighing his options. What was it about Ella that left this man ready to risk his life? Surely, he wouldn’t have been willing to face the full might of the SRU for a stranger. An unwanted idea began to form in Raze’s mind but he batted it away.

  “Raze, get her.”

  Without hesitation, Raze strode forward and crossed to the door on the far side of the vehicle. He shifted the muzzle of his weapon toward the ground and jerked open the heavy metal door. Immediately, the acrid, irritating scent of riot gas punched him in the nose. Infuriated by the thought of her soft skin being burned by the lingering chemicals, he hurriedly assessed the situation before him, thankful for the combat glasses that allowed him to see the dimly lit interior perfectly.

  The discovery of a hooded, cuffed and shivering Ella slashed at him. Every protective instinct within him flared to life. He reached out and gently lifted the hood from her face, careful not to pull those long strands of dark hair that he had dreamed about wrapping around his fingers. Her shoulders tight and tense, she kept her face turned down and seemed to be anticipating a painful blow. Hating to see her so afraid, he cautiously cupped the back of her head in one gloved hand and tipped her chin with the other.

  She blinked rapidly, her watery eyes showing signs of contamination. Despite her blurred vision, she recognized him instantly, her tense and fearful expression going slack with shock before turning nearly ecstatic. Before he could speak her name, she exhaled a shuddery breath and sagged toward him with apparent relief. Her cheek touched the front of his combat vest and she pressed into him, as if seeking his warmth and protection. “Raze.”

  Hearing his name escape her lips on a sob nearly broke his control. The way she burrowed into him ignited the feelings he had suppressed and snuffed. Smoothing his hand along her hair, he embraced her. “It’s all right, Ella. I’ve got you.”

  “Please don’t let go.”

  “I won’t.” If she only knew what that entreaty did to him…

  Gathering her composure, she sniffed and cleared her throat. “They have Hopper. We have to save her.”

  “She’s not here. She escaped with many others.”

  Ella jerked back and peered up at him. “You’re sure?”

  “George, the secret police captain, said—”

  “Don’t ever believe a word out of his mouth.” She swallowed and shook her head. “Please check the truck.”

  “We will.” He wanted to ask her what the story was with that man but didn’t. He had a feeling it was a tale he wouldn’t enjoy hearing. Instead he tugged free the knife sheathed at his waist and cut the cuffs squeezing her wrists. Jamming the blade back into place, he reached in and gathered Ella in his arms. Ignoring her gasp of protest, he cradled her to his chest and stepped away from the vehicle.

  Immediately, Cipher and Fierce surrounded him, both men ready to provide covering fire as he dashed toward the tree line. He passed two more of the team and called out his orders. “Threat, Harm—get in those trucks and look for the other target.”

  The men hurried to do as ordered while Torment and the rest of the team continued to keep George and the others locked tight. Raze got Ella into the safety of the shadows and called up to Swift. “Skyhawk Five, this is SRU One. We need medics on standby for decon.”

  “Skyhawk Five to SRU One. Read you loud and clear. Medics on standby. Ready to extract on your mark.”

  “Boss?” Threat called to him over the radio.

  “Yes?”

  “She’s not here. We count fifty-seven prisoners. Twenty to thirty of them are likely underage, boss. Most of them are girls.” Threat’s concern about leaving the young adults in the transport truck came through loud and clear in his radio transmission.

  “Cut them loose.” He gave the order half expecting Torment to override him but the operative said nothing. “Get them into the woods and point them toward The City.”

  Ella tugged on his vest. “Raze, what about the others?”

  Holding her a little closer, he avoided her hopeful gaze. “We can’t help them.”

  “But—”

  “I am sorry, Ella, but these are our orders.”

  “Screw your orders.” She shocked him with her vehement outburst and shoved so hard against his chest that he lost his grip.

  Desperate not to drop her, he managed to catch her again but she squirmed free and darted back toward the roadway. He caught up with her easily, wound an arm around her waist and swung her up off the ground, clamping her smaller body to his chest. “Stop, Ella!”

  “No! We have to save them.”

  “We can’t save everyone.” It was a harsh truth but one she needed to learn. “Be glad that we were able to save some of them—and you.”

  “I was negotiating my release.” She threw back her elbows, fighting like a damn hellcat to get free, but he held tight. “Let me go, Raze. Let me talk to George. He’ll negotiate with me.”

  “It’s not happening. You’re not negotiating anything with that man.”

  “I have before, and I know how to win with him.”

  Hearing confirmation of what he had suspected of her history with George caused a stab of jealousy in his gut. “You can’t win this one, Ella. It’s over. It’s done.”

  She clasped his face, forcing him to meet her desperate gaze. “You know what will happen to them. If the rumors are true, they’re going to torture them at the work camp. You have guns. You have ships. Save them!”

  “Ella—”

  The whining pops of weapons discharging and the hissing blast of tires exploding interrupted their argument. Metal clanged as the engines were taken out too. None of this had been part of the mission parameters but Torment obviously had other plans.

  Glancing back, Raze used the zoom function on his combat glasses and spotted a line of cuffed and bound secret policemen and guards. The Shadow Force interrogation specialist had climbed up into the truck and cut free four of the prisoners. He gave the men he had freed knives and seemed to be giving them instructions on helping the others escape.

  “If you are a single woman who wants a better life, you have thirty seconds to make a decision that will change your future. Follow me—and I’ll take you to the Valiant where good men are waiting for wives. Pilots. Airmen. Officers.”

  Raze’s ja
w actually dropped. Tapping his throat mic, he snarled at the operative. “Tor! What the hell are you doing?”

  “Following orders,” Torment snapped back. Turning his attention to the men and women filing out of the trucks, he repeated his offer. “Single women only. You must be of legal age and free of criminal records. If not, we’ll just drop you right back here in the morning.”

  Ella tugged on his shirt. “What’s happening? I can’t see.”

  Frowning at Torment’s dramatic change of plans, he grumbled, “We’re provoking an intergalactic incident.”

  “What?”

  The rest of the team was falling back now with about nine women in tow. Not having time to answer her, he contacted Swift and let him know they were ready to be retrieved. “We’ve got nine—ten,” he corrected, thinking of Ella, “new passengers.”

  “Just pack ’em in there,” Swift replied. “I’ll make adjustments.”

  Shifting Ella’s slight weight in his arms, he reached for his extra duty pistol to be sure he could fire if necessary. With Ella safe in his grasp, Raze hurried forward to the rendezvous point. “Keep your head down and hold still.”

  She gripped his vest and did as instructed while he carried her to the waiting aircraft. When she was safely stowed inside, he moved to the open loading ramp, holstered his pistol, raised his rifle and covered the team rushing toward him. Boots slammed against metal as the men piled into the ship, all of them hustling along the women who had chosen to accept Torment’s offer.

  The Shadow Force operative brought up the rear and slapped the button to close the door. Raze whacked Torment on the chest to get his attention. “Don’t ever pull a stunt like this with my team again. You blindsided my men and could have gotten them killed. You give us all the facts or don’t bother asking us to help you. Understand?”