Into the Dark: Royal Bastards MC: Liverpool Chapter, #3

By Jessica Ames

Enjoy this dark motorcycle club romance from USA Today Bestselling romance author Jessica Ames...

 

Marleigh

One night was enough to change my life. I was taken, plucked out of my life and forced into hell. Gaining my freedom didn't unshackle the chains around me. It made them tighten. I'm fuelled by my need to avenge the wrongs done to me and those I was forced to leave behind. I'll stop at nothing to achieve that.
I don't need a brave knight riding a motorcycle and wearing leather to save me. He doesn't agree. He thinks I'm a damsel in distress, but I'm focused on my task—destroying the man who ripped my world apart.

Machete

Marleigh needs to realise I'm not walking away and leaving her to face these demons alone. This fight is mine as much as it's hers. We've been tracking the men who are operating in our city without our permission and we're ready to bring them down. We'll stop at nothing to return safety to our streets, but Marleigh seems determined to get in my way at every turn. She needs to back off before she gets hurt. She's under my skin and as much as I want to deny it, I want to claim her as mine. The problem is she's walking into danger and I'm not sure if I can save her.

 

All books in this universe can be read as standalones, but are better enjoyed read in order. This is a dark romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. It does have some strong language, graphic violence and content that might be triggering.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Ames
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224798360

Book preview

ROYAL BASTARDS CODE

PROTECT: The club and your brothers come before anything else, and must be protected at all costs. CLUB is FAMILY.

RESPECT: Earn it & Give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.

HONOR: Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, and NEVER let them touch the ground.

OL’ LADIES: Never disrespect a member’s or brother’s Ol’Lady. PERIOD.

CHURCH is MANDATORY.

LOYALTY: Takes precedence over all, including well-being.

HONESTY: Never LIE, CHEAT, or STEAL from another member or the club.

TERRITORY: You are to respect your brother’s property and follow their Chapter’s club rules.

TRUST: Years to earn it...seconds to lose it.

NEVER RIDE OFF: Brothers do not abandon their family.

CHAPTER 1

MARLEIGH

PAST….

The chain around my ankle is heavy. It cuts into the circulation, making my foot feel numb. There are welts and bruises on my skin. Dried blood too. When we were first brought into this hell, I tried every way I could think of to get the cuff off, not caring if I hurt myself, but it’s impossible. The metal is clamped tight around me—a shackle keeping me prisoner and preventing me from returning to my old life.

I close my eyes, trying not to allow my emotions to pull me under the turbulent waters crashing against me. I’m drowning and there’s nothing I can do to stop it from happening. There is no one to toss me a life raft. There is no one to help me out of the murky depths threatening to drag me under.

All I can do is wait for the inevitable.

They don’t want to kill us.

Their plans are far more sinister than that.

Don’t do that. Ellie’s soft voice snaps through the darkness behind my lids. Hearing her voice soothes me, reminding me everything is not lost. Not yet. We still have each other—for now. Even so, I can’t bring myself to look at her. I failed us both. Her especially. Ellie is my best friend, but she’s always looked to me for direction. I led her down the wrong path this time.

It was my idea to go out. It was my idea to visit that bar.

This shit is my fault.

Don’t do what? I murmur, keeping my eyes closed, my head resting against the cold concrete wall behind me.

Give up.

It’s too late for that. I’m drowning in despair. I don’t see a way out of this. The men who took us are organised, and they are ruthless.

I hear the clinking of the chain around her ankle as she moves toward me, sensing her presence is close. She takes my hand in hers and rubs her thumb over my skin.

We can get through this, Marleigh, she says. But you can’t give up.

Finally, I open my eyes and meet Ellie’s wide ones. Her face is dirty, a dark smudge running down one cheek and mixing with the mottled colours of a bruise. They’d done that to her. They’d done the same to me. My face hurts, the skin tight across my cheekbones. We’d fought them. Well, we’d tried to. What could we do against grown men? Ellie is barely five feet tall. I am a few inches taller, but that hadn’t mattered.

They treated us like rag dolls.

We’re screwed, I say, my voice croaky. I’d screamed myself hoarse when we were first brought here, but it was fruitless. There is no one to hear us—no one who cares, anyway.

Ellie squeezes my hand, and I hate how small she looks in this moment. Her blonde hair is lank and needs washing. I’ve never seen her look so dishevelled. Ellie likes to look good. She’s always so put together.

I can only imagine how bad I smell. There is dirt smeared all over my naked skin. It feels like it’s been an eternity since I last showered. Sweat clings to my nose, making my nose wrinkle. It mixes with the scent of the dirty mattress beneath me. I have no idea how many girls have laid here, but I imagine there must be a long list of names and faces. That makes my blood boil. Who do these bastards think they are?

I realise Ellie hasn’t denied my words, and my gaze gravitates towards her. Does she think we’re screwed, too? She’s been so positive up until this point. A wave of guilt washes over me. I’ve taken her hope away, but truthfully, there is no hope left.

We’ve never been in any situation we couldn’t get out of, Ellie says, still clinging to that last piece. Have faith we’ll get out of this too.

She is going to have to have all the faith for the both of us. I can’t see a scenario in which we escape this fate.

I glance around the room.

There are six other women here, each on their own mattress, each naked, each chained to the ring in the middle of the floor. It’s immovable. I know because I tried to move it. For hours, I’d tugged and pulled at it, but the metal didn’t bend or bow. There is no way out. All we can do is take whatever they deliver.

You don’t understand, El. We’re not getting out of this.

I stare at the bruises marring her inner thighs. They match mine. They’d subdued us however they could, and that included using our bodies as they wanted.

Ellie’s brows draw together, but before she can argue, the sound of the lock sliding back has both our gazes shifting towards the door. The man who steps through is called Vadim—or that’s what the other men call him.

To me, he is the devil.

He has dark hair, dark eyes, and a scar down his cheek. I wonder if someone fought back against him and gave him that mark. What scares me most is the emptiness in his cold eyes as he takes us all in. There is no compassion for our situation. He doesn’t care that we’re naked, beaten, raped. There’s no remorse, either. There isn’t a woman in this room he hasn’t forced himself inside.

Even looking at him makes my skin crawl. He makes me feel like I’m swimming in filth. The things he’d done to me…

To Ellie…

No one escapes him.

I move, protecting Ellie with my body, though if he wants her it won’t matter. I can’t save her any more than I can save myself. These men take what they want, and we’re helpless against them. There’s no law. No order here. Vadim owns us and he knows it.

I grit my teeth and glance down at my bare thighs. I don’t bother to cover my pussy. Every person in this room has seen it, anyway. Instead, I focus on becoming insignificant. I don’t want to be on Vadim’s radar. I don’t want him to hurt any of the women in this room—they’re innocent victims, just as we are—but I don’t want him to come for me or Ellie, either.

Anyone but us.

I hate myself for thinking that.

What kind of person wishes for another to be raped?

I’m sick for thinking it, but as he steps into the room, my only thought is not me.

I close my eyes as filth worse than the dirt he’d covered me in crawls over me. I’m no better than him and his fucking friends.

Ellie’s grip on my hand tightens as Vadim starts to move. He’s coming towards us. I don’t need to see to know that. I can sense him getting closer, and then his boots enter my line of sight. Shit, shit, shit.

Bile climbs up my throat.

Up, he growls. His accent is thick. Eastern European, maybe? I don’t know exactly, but he sounds Russian. I swallow hard, realising he’s talking to me.

I pull free of Ellie’s grasp, though I can tell she doesn’t want me to let go by how reluctant she is to release me. Then, slowly, I stand, the chain rattling as I do. I can’t help from covering myself against his eyes, even though there’s no point. Vadim will take what he wants.

I want this nightmare to be over, but it’s only just beginning.

I meet his gaze. There’s no point in hiding anymore.

He stares at my tits for a moment before his eyes come to mine. You need to shower and get clean.

I frown. Why?

You’re being sold today. You all are. My stomach twists at his words, given so nonchalantly. I have a special buyer for you, he says, a dark look in his eyes.

You can’t do this, I hiss, helplessness and frustration making my words terse. I want to destroy him. I want to make him suffer how he’s made us suffer.

"That fire, little hell cat, is why I picked you." He breaks off into what I assume is Russian—and an insult. I hate the way he smirks at me as he reels the words off. As if he’s having some private joke.

Fuck you!

He laughs. I’m inconsequential to him. That makes a shiver run up my spine. How many women have disappeared into their clutches? How many innocents sold? How many lives ruined?

I’m getting tired of your attitude. He grabs my throat, and I gasp as his fingers tightened around it. Be a good girl. You won’t like me if you’re not. He dissolves into Russian again, but his tone tells me he isn’t being pleasant.

More men file into the room, and we are dragged off to get cleaned up. One by one, they force us under a lukewarm spray in a wet room. Once we’re done, they hand us each a dress. Mine is a soft peach colour. I hate it, but I pull it on all the same.

Ellie is standing in a pale yellow dress, her eyes wide as saucers as the men line us up. We’re being sold.

What does that even mean? Who is buying us?

I want to stay with Ellie, but she’s dragged away by two burly men. I try to fight to get to her, but I’m tugged back, too. Huge hands grip my arms, pulling me back as I scream and cry, reaching out for her. I didn’t think this nightmare could get worse. I am wrong. It can, and it is. What is going to happen to me? To Ellie?

My stomach rolls as I’m pulled out of the room and then out of the building. The fresh air hits me like a wrecking ball. It feels like an eternity since I last had the sun on my face, and I’m dismayed to find it’s dark outside, so I won’t even get that last moment. The fact they’re moving us under the cover of darkness tells me this is under the radar—not that I suspected otherwise—but nosy neighbours are far less likely to spot us being bundled into the back of a van at night.

Goosebumps race along my skin and I shiver against the cool wave of air as I’m pushed inside. I find myself sitting between two other women. Ellie is opposite me.

Her eyes are filled with fear.

I don’t blame her. I’m terrified, though I’m trying so hard to keep that fear locked down for her sake. She still has faith in a rescue. I know that isn’t going to happen. Real life isn’t a movie. There are no heroes to ride in and save the day. There is no last-minute reprieve.

I try to communicate to her that everything will be okay, but I don’t believe that myself. I don’t think anything will be okay ever again. This is our reality. We’re about to be sold to the highest bidder.

The van starts to move, and my stomach churns with every bump of the wheels. My lungs feel so tight I can hardly draw in a breath. I glance at the back doors, wondering if we can make a run for it, but there are two men sitting close to them. To get out, I’d have to get past them.

I try to breathe through the pain lancing my chest, and by the time the van comes to a stop, I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate.

The two men move to open the doors, and one by one we’re taken off the van. When I step down, rough and calloused hands grab me, dragging me to the ground a foot below. My bare feet are cold as the bruising grip on my arms forces me to move towards the building in front of us.

I scan the area, trying to work out where I am, but all I can see is the twinkling of lights in a darkened skyline. Using my other senses to gain my bearings, I inhale. The crisp, salty air of the sea infuses my nose.

They’d brought us to the seafront.

Why?

What’s here?

I try to keep track of Ellie, but she’s pushed forward, and I lose her amongst the other girls. Even if I want to run, I won’t go without her. I would never abandon her to this fate alone. I can’t save either of us, anyway. There are too many men surrounding us. Even if I got away, I wouldn’t get far—not without being chased down.

I can do nothing but follow as we’re hustled inside. The change from outside to inside is palpable. The chill in the air is still there, but now muted. It isn’t the type of cold that seeps into the bone, but it’s enough to make my teeth chatter together.

In truth, that chill could be caused by the fear rolling through me.

We’re hurried into the large, open room. It looks like some kind of conference room. There’s a platform in the middle, chairs lined up in front of it. We’re ushered onto the platform, and I glance down the line towards Ellie.

Her frightened eyes find mine before we’re both frozen in terror by the sound of the doors opening.

Men in suits pile into the room. There are at least ten of them. All are well dressed and put together. They examine us like we’re cows at a market. One man walks up to a girl and checks her teeth. I want to punch him in the face, but I don’t move. I’m too scared to do anything.

A man with dark hair moves in front of me. His eyes are cold as he appraises me. I’m clothed, but I feel naked again, as if this man has stripped me bare. I hate it. I want to spit in his face, but all I can do is tense my fists at my side. The lights are bright, and I squint against them.

The men continue to appraise us before they move to their seats. My heart is hammering so hard in my chest, it feels as if it's going to beat right out of my ribs. I try to see Ellie—to make eye contact with her—but she is focused on her feet. I return my gaze to the men before us. I don’t know what to expect, but when Vadim pulls the first girl forward and starts the bid at two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, I realise they are auctioning us off like objects.

I'm barely able to focus as the bidding concludes. Five hundred thousand pounds. That is all she is worth. That is the cost of her freedom and the life she once knew. Vadim's men pull her off the stage. She fights, screaming, scratching, biting, but it’s fruitless. She has no control here. None of us do.

Tears prick my eyes as I watch her new owner lead her from the room. This feels like a dream. No nightmare could compare to the terror I feel right now. I know it will soon be my turn, and then Ellie's.

I glance around the room, trying to find a way out. There is none. There are guards, Vadim's men, stationed at every wall and door. Even if I got out of this room, how far would I realistically get? And I can't leave without Ellie. I’d never leave her behind.

The girl next to me is dragged off of the stage, her bidding complete. I didn't even realise how far down the line they had come. I am next. What is going to happen to me? That question alone is terrifying.

I steel my spine, ready for what is about to happen. The shame and humiliation that washes through me as Vadim starts the bidding is unrivalled. How has a night out, one filled with fun and laughter, turned into this?

The bidding starts, and I try to block it out as each man pledges more and more. I curl my hands into fists to stop from lashing out. I want to murder every single person in this room. Fire burns through me, revenge churning in my gut. I will make every single man here pay for what they have done to me and these women. I don't know how. I don't know when, but I will get my vengeance.

It is that thought which keeps me grounded enough not to fall apart as they continue to bid on me. I'm so focused on my angry thoughts, I nearly miss who wins me. My eyes snap towards the man holding the plaque with a number on it. His dark hair is perfectly styled and his suit looks expensive. I find myself focusing on his shiny shoes. Dark brown leather, and high quality.

Rich. I already knew these men were from money. The amounts they are bidding are eye-watering. Rich men paying for women is something I've heard of, but I never expected to experience first-hand. Things like this don't happen to people like me. Rough hands grab my arms and drag me from the stage. I try to