Chapter Text
Two Days Later
Ben had made her prison a bit larger. She’d been switched to a leg chain that stretched through the room and into the cramped adjoining bathroom. The windows were all boarded up and she couldn’t get the chain undone from the heavy bed frame. But at least she was no longer handcuffed. It felt too much like being attached to Rafe.
Trina was still weak and had to be careful not to rip her still-healing stitches. No super human escape attempts were possible yet. Not that it kept her from dreaming. Especially dreaming about home and Sam. She just wanted to go home to her family.
She wasn’t going to die in this prison. She was going to break out one way or another. She was going home.
She’d survived Rafe. Survived Asav. She’d survive Sara and Ben.
Her “competition”. As if Sam gave two shits about his psycho ex. No, Sara had a crazy idea that she’d win him back. Sam wasn’t a prize to be won. He chose her. He loved her. They’d defied Rafe. They always came back to each other. That wasn’t about to change.
“Rise and shine, Princess. Time to hit the road,” Ben called as he entered the room.
“Go where?”
“Doesn’t matter. Freshen up. Quickly.”
“Is Sam—?”
“Only if you’re a good girl. Then I’ll let you give him a call. We’ve got quite a journey ahead so hurry it up.”
“But—“
“Now.” He pulled a syringe out of his pocket. “It’s nap time. If you want fresh clothes, it’s now or never.”
“Okay, okay!”
She slipped into the bathroom and shut the door with a fresh pair of leggings and a shirt in hand. She looked in the mirror at her ragged and worn-down self.
“I’m coming, Sam. I promise.”
New Orleans
“C’mon, kiddo.”
Sam picked up Henry from the pack and play as he squealed in delight while yelling “Papa up!”
“Yeah, papa gotcha.”
“Mama?”
It felt like an anvil caved his chest in. Such an innocent question and yet it drove home the pain of Trina’s absence. He knew Henry didn’t understand. He was too young to realize she was gone. Even if it was only for a short time. His son liked his routines and that usually included Trina getting him out of bed in the morning.
“Soon, bud, soon.”
“Mama! Mama!”
He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Elena approaching.
“There’s my favorite guy!” she called with a warm smile.
“Up! Up!” Henry leaned forward, reaching for her.
“Not yet. In a little bit. Daddy misses you,” she said, giving Sam a small smile. “Up later.”
Sam looked down as his son pouted. He really did enjoy spending time with Elena, Nate, and even Victor. Already he’d swayed Chloe to his side as well and Nadine at least no longer tried to run away from him like he was a grenade if he crawled her way.
“Ah, there’s that handsome devil! Morning, Henry. Mwha,” Chloe said, kissing his forehead as he giggled.
“Got ‘em all eating out of your hand, don’t cha? A real ladies’ man already,” Sam mused, ruffling his hair. “Yeah, everyone’s just here to see you.”
“Mama?”
“Soon.” Hail Mary, full of grace…
Sam and Trina’s
Chloe whistled as they stepped in the foyer. “Nice place, Sam. Really.”
He snorted. “This is pretty much all Trina. All that decorating stuff is lost on me.”
“It’s hard isn’t it? Being here without her?”
“Excruciating.”
She nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Don’t forget, I’ve seen you both in the field. I’ve seen Nate and Elena. I get it. Don’t be afraid to be emotional. It’s okay to miss her.”
Sam nodded as they entered the kitchen and he leaned against the island counter, still littered with half-drunk coffee mugs and pieces of baby bottles.
Three Months Ago
Her back to the foyer, Trina restocked and reset bottles on the island while trying to wipe the countertop. Chaos reigned in their house with Henry about but she still tried. Especially when she had a few spare minutes.
“Mmm, hi,” Sam breathed into her neck from behind, his hands on her hips.
She reached back to touch his cheek. “Hi, stranger.”
“Yeah, he’s stubborn, that kid.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
His right hand slipped down her hip and thigh to push up the hem of the shirt she was wearing. She couldn’t help the little moan in her throat.
“Huh, not ringing any bells here.”
Trina turned and kissed him on the lips before he could say anything else. He pulled her close, his tongue probing at her mouth.
Sam lifted her up on the counter as she pulled at his belt and zipper. He pushed her nightgown up around her hips—which today happened to be one of his worn t-shirts from Madagascar—with a groan himself. He had her panties off in an instant as he kissed down her legs.
Trina moaned, already aching and needy. Everyone around her talked about their sex drives often decreased with pregnancy or even post-partum. If anything, Henry spiced up their lives. There was almost as much spontaneity currently as there was back in Scotland, when they were going behind Rafe’s back.
They were both well-matched. They always had been.
With her legs around his waist and her mouth pressed into his shoulder to quiet her own cries of pleasure, she clung to her husband as he thrusted inside her.
I’ll never get sick of this—of us. God, I’m so fucking lucky…
“Fuck, babe,” he groaned in her ear, gripping her hips and alternately squeezing her ass. She’d have bruises later but it didn’t matter.
There was a true passion in their lives. They thrived together, socialite and thief. As much as she hated Rafe, he’d brought them together. He just didn’t know it until the end in Madagascar. Until he tried to hurt Sam. Until he used her as a pawn to control Sam.
Sam’s shoulder absorbed her cry of relief and pleasure as she clenched around him, her body a trembling mess as she came. As she said his name over and over.
Her husband grinned and proceeded to ensure another round that left her a quivery, blissed out mess on the counter before finally coming himself.
She let go of his neck. There would be small crescent marks on his shoulder later from her nails she imagined. She laid back across the cool granite counter, it supporting her and also helping her come down from her high.
“You okay there, babe?”
She nodded at him. “Yeah, better than okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Sam picked her up without any warning into a bridal carry and headed for the stairs.
“I think it’s bedtime for my beautiful, sexy wife.”
“You do know I still need to clean the kitchen eventually.”
“Meh. Future problems.”
He helped her into their bed before taking off his own shirt and pants. She shimmied out of his shirt as she laid there.
And then, almost like magic, he was ready for round two. An earth shattering one that left her crying into a pillow happily. Bliss. Joy. No one else would ever come close to how Sam made her feel.
His enthusiasm was catching, his mouth delightfully dirty, and he always impressed her with how strong he was.
No chiseled granite abs here, but damn if he wasn’t in shape. He never struggled to pick her up or to try new more athletic positions. Treasuring hunting required more physical strength than one would think. And Sam had a rigorous schedule he followed.
Tangled together in the sheets, sweaty and sated, she looked over at him and smiled.
I’m so lucky you picked me. That you love me.
Present
“Last time I was here, I thought she was dead. But then I got the call and there she was—alive. Hurt, yes, but alive. But, Chloe, that look on her face? She’s in hell. And it’s my fault.”
“Hell?”
“She hasn’t looked like that since Rafe. Like even against Asav…it wasn’t this bad. It’s killing me knowing I can’t do anything. She’s out there, hurting, and I’m not there. And she’s only in danger because of me. Because she loves me. It’s killing me, Chloe,” he admitted softly, the counter the only thing keeping him upright.
He was tired. So fucking tired.
“We all fuck things up. All of us.”
“I did this.”
Chloe grabbed him by the shoulders, practically shaking him. “This is not your fault. It’s his. He took her. He threatened your family. You didn’t do this, Sam. We’re gonna get her back.”
“I hope you’re right. I do.”
“We’re bringing her back alive. Got it?”
He nodded slowly and she gave him a half-smile. “Now, let me go pick something more appropriate for this gala we’re crashing.”
Sam led the way upstairs and to the master closet. “Anything except—“
“—green dresses, got it. Why green?”
“She favors those. So…sentimental…”
“Got it. No worries. Now shoo.”
“Chloe—“
“Shoo.”
Shaking his head, Sam walked out of their bedroom and back downstairs. It was as good a time as any to take a smoke break. He had a cigarette in his lips before he even reached for his lighter.
Cigarette lit, he stepped out onto the back porch and took a deep drag. It helped calm his nerves some. But he knew it wouldn’t be really good until he had her back in his arms.
In his front jeans pocket, his phone buzzed. He grabbed for it, not even bothering to look at the caller id before answering.
“Hello?”
“Oh, Sam, thank God you answered!”
“Sara? What’s going on?”
“I need you right now. He… he took our son!”
“Who? Jonathan?”
“Yes, yes, he took John. I’m so scared, Sam, I don’t… I don’t know what to do!”
“Who took him?”
“I don’t know… some guy… Ben something? I can’t remember. Sam, please, I need you. I can’t… he’s all I’ve got. Please, you have to help me get him back. He’s our son.”
“He leave a note? Anything?”
“Yes, yes it says ‘Tell Samuel he has 48 hours for progress or I kill one of them’. What is he talking about?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself. To not panic. But damn was it hard.
“Sara, where are you right now?”
“Hotel where we’ve been staying. I’m scared, Sam. He’s my everything. I can’t lose him.”
“We’ll get them both back, I promise. Ben is really pushing heavy on this.”
“Who the fuck is Ben? Is that who took my baby?” she asked, a hint of panic very evident in her voice.
He sighed deeply. “Umm, ex-partner with a grudge. He stabbed Trina.”
“Samuel, please… I need your help. Do you really want to bury your son?”
His free hand was in a fist. He hit the wall, then his hand flattened out, the drywall cracking some. “No, I don’t want to bury anyone else. I’ll have Nathan meet you.”
“You’re not coming? It’s our son, Samuel! Our son!” she practically screeched.
“I have a lead. I can’t get to you for a few more hours. If I don’t get the next clues, I won’t be able to save either of them.”
“Either of them? Sam, what—“
“Trina’s alive,” he said quietly. “Ben has both Trina and John. Ok? I’d go to you but it’s the best lead forward I have and I’m running out of time. Just… send me the address and wait for Nathan, ok?”
“If anything happens to him, Sam—“
“I know. I’m gonna find a way to bring them both home.”
Unknown Location
Sara huffed and slapped her cell down on the table.
From the floor, her hands cuffed up over her head to a radiator, Trina glared at the other woman, a thick rag stuffed in her mouth and tied in place with another one as a gag. She’d woken up in the new hell hole a few hours ago. It was the second stop for them since they left the first mostly abandoned home. This one was furnished, while sparsely, and the windows were boarded and covered with sheets. She hadn’t seen anything aside from the living room and the bathroom yet.
“What are you looking at, whore?” Sara snapped at her.
Trina narrowed her eyes at the other woman. She had a litany of curses she’d love to unleash on Sam’s ex. None of them pleasant. All were well deserved.
“Ben, why the fuck does Sam think she’s still alive?”
The other man looked up from the couch. “What?”
“Why does Sam think she’s alive? There was a body to bury. Medical records and everything. Why would he think she’s alive—and that YOU have her?”
He sighed. “He wasn’t getting shit done moping around about her. So a quickie phone call, a bit of face to face, and now Samuel is cooperating again. What? I got results.”
“You went off book!”
He stood up. “I know you have jealousy issues but using her as bait gets results from Samuel. He doesn’t give two shits about you or your kid. He never has. I told you the kidnapping story was a stupid plan.”
“At least I have a plan!” she snapped.
Trina flinched at the resounding slap. She curled up tighter on the floor, pulling her knees up to block her face.
“You stupid bitch!”
Rafe’s hand hit her so hard it nearly knocked her off her feet. But he’d dug his nails into her shoulder and kept her standing.
“I’m sorry… I’ll do better…”
She hunched over some, shrinking into herself. He slammed her against the wall, his right hand around her throat. It drew a yelp which resulted in a gut punch that left her gasping for air.
“You fucking will or next time you’ll get more than a warning. Now, go clean up your mess.”
“I…I promise, Rafe. I’ll be better.”
“Is that all it takes to shut you up and cooperate?” Sara sneered, yanking on her hair. She cried out into the gag and tried to pull away from the other woman. “Just slap you around?”
The blonde’s slap with her clunky rings cut just under her right eye and stung her cheek.
Tears fell down her face, the gag muffling every sound. She tried again to pull her legs up for protection, only for Sara to grab her ankles and yank them down. Trina struggled but with the other woman sitting on her lower legs she couldn’t protect herself.
“Sara, what the fuck are you doing?”
“Making it clear who’s in charge.” She held Trina’s chin still in her viselike grasp. She knew the blonde was enjoying herself. She wanted to torture Trina, like how Rafe had. He was always looking for buttons to push. Reasons to hurt her. Sadistic, really.
“She’s already pretty banged up,” Ben said, standing a few feet away, watching with an unsure look.
“She doesn’t care. Do you, you little slut? I think you like it. Getting hit.”
Trina tried to shake her head no.
Sara turned it into a nod. “Yeah, you do. It gets you off.”
“Sara.”
“What?” she scowled at him.
“Stop it. Look, she’s bleeding again. Leave her alone. She’s half-dead already.”
Trina squeezed her eyes closed as the t-shirt dampened and darkened with her own blood. She’d been so caught up in the past she hadn’t noticed the stitches pulling at the skin.
“She’ll be fully dead soon. Remember our deal?”
“Yeah, well I need the Jewel first. And Samuel is our best chance at finding it. Sets us both up for life,” he reminded her, gently, his hand on Sara’s back. “Go meet with Nathan. I’ll clean her up before she bleeds everywhere.”
In a loud huff, Sara stormed out. Ben counted to five aloud before undoing the gag. Trina coughed, her throat dry from it.
“Don’t bother yelling,” he warned.
She nodded. Her voice would be too weak to make a difference anyway.