Piston (Iron Reapers MC #2)

Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

JENNY

Back and forth, back and forth. I pace the living room like a caged animal, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Late period. Possible baby growing inside me. Piston's stern warning echoing in my head.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Things with Piston were just starting to get good.

I glanced at the clock. The drugstore would be closing soon. If I hurried, I could make it there and back before Piston knew I was gone. He'd be pissed if he found out I left, but I had to know. The uncertainty was eating me alive.

My hand hesitated on my keys. Piston's gravelly voice played in my mind: "Stay put, Jenny. It ain't safe out there right now."

I shook my head. Screw that. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

Snatching the keys, I marched to the front door, my jaw set with determination. Piston would just have to deal. This was my body, my life. I couldn't sit around waiting for his permission.

I locked the deadbolt behind me and hurried to my car. The night air felt heavy, oppressive. An uneasy feeling prickled the back of my neck as I slid behind the wheel.

"Stop being paranoid," I chide myself, jamming the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life.

I backed out of the driveway, tires squealing, and pointed my car toward town. My heart raced as I pressed down on the gas.

No turning back now. I had to know the truth, no matter what the consequences might be.

The drive to the market was a blur. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, my eyes constantly flicking to the rearview mirror. Every set of headlights made my heart skip a beat, wondering if it was one of Piston's boys tailing me.

"Get it together, Jenny," I muttered, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. "You're just being paranoid."

I pulled into the parking lot, the fluorescent lights casting an eerie glow. The market was nearly empty, just a few stragglers doing their last-minute shopping. I found a spot near the entrance and cut the engine.

For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the storefront. My stomach churned with a mixture of anxiety and defiance. I knew I was going against Piston's orders, but I couldn't let him control every aspect of my life.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my purse and stepped out of the car. The automatic doors whooshed open as I approached, the cool air conditioning hitting my face.

I navigated the aisles quickly, my senses on high alert. The bright packaging and cheery music felt surreal, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. I found the pregnancy tests and grabbed one, my hands trembling slightly.

As I made my way to the checkout, I couldn't help but feel like everyone was staring at me. The cashier, a bored-looking teenage girl, barely glanced at the test as she rang it up.

"That'll be $8.99," she said, popping her gum.

I fumbled with my wallet, my fingers clumsy as I pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill.

"Keep the change," I mumbled, shoving the test into my purse.

The girl shrugged, handing me the receipt. "Have a nice night."

I managed a tight smile before hurrying out of the store. The night air felt even more oppressive than before, the weight of what I'd just done settling heavily on my shoulders.

As I stepped out of the market, a sudden chill ran down my spine. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me, their eyes boring into the back of my head. I glanced around the parking lot, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary, but everything seemed normal.

"Get a grip, Jenny," I muttered to myself, adjusting my purse on my shoulder. "You're just being paranoid. No one's following you."

But the unease refused to dissipate. I quickened my pace, my sneakers slapping against the pavement as I headed towards my car. The lamposts cast eerie shadows across the lot, making every movement seem sinister.

I fumbled with my keys, my hands shaking as I tried to unlock the door. "Come on, come on," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

The cold blade of a knife pressed against my throat, and a rough hand clamped over my mouth. I froze, my scream dying in my throat.

"Don't make a sound, or I'll cut you," a gruff voice hissed in my ear. "Do exactly as I say, and you might live through this."

My mind raced with thoughts of Piston, of the danger he warned me about. I should've listened, should've stayed home. But it was too late for regrets now.

The man shoved me forward, the knife never leaving my skin. "Drop your shit and get in the van."

A beat-up van idled nearby, its side door open like a gaping maw. Every instinct screamed at me to fight back, to run, but the cold steel against my neck reminded me of the consequences.

With shaking hands, I let my purse and the pregnancy test fall to the ground. The man kicked them aside, pressing me forward.

"P-Please," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to do this."

He laughed, a harsh, mirthless sound. "Shut up and get in."

I climbed into the van, my legs trembling beneath me. The interior was dark, the windows blacked out. The door slammed shut behind me, and the man shoved me onto the floor.

As the van lurched forward, I huddled in the corner, my arms wrapped around my knees. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. All I could think about was Piston, and how desperately I needed him now.

I didn't know where they were taking me, or what they planned to do. But one thing was certain - I was in more danger than I ever could have imagined. And this time, I wasn't sure if Piston would be able to save me.

A figure looms in the shadows, his presence filling the cramped space. He was big, his broad shoulders straining against his leather jacket.

"Tie her up," he grunted, his voice low and menacing.

Rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking them behind my back. The zip ties cut into my wrists as they were pulled tight, the plastic biting into my skin.

I thrashed against my bonds, a scream building in my throat. But before I could make a sound, a thick cloth sack was forced over my head, plunging me into suffocating darkness.

"No! Please!" I begged, my words muffled by the heavy fabric.

My heart raced, pounding against my ribs like a caged animal. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All I could do was feel the terror coursing through my veins, the sickening realization that I was completely at their mercy.

A hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my cries. The sharp rip of duct tape echoed in my ears as they sealed my lips shut, silencing me.

I writhed on the floor, my legs kicking out blindly. But it was useless. They were too strong, too prepared.

As the zip ties tightened around my ankles, immobilizing me, I felt a wave of despair wash over me. This couldn't be happening. Not to me. Not like this.

But it was happening, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was trapped, bound and gagged in the back of a van, hurtling towards an unknown fate. And for the first time since I'd met Piston, I wasn't sure if I'd make it out alive.

Tears soak the fabric pressed against my face as Piston's warnings echoed in my mind. He'd told me to stay put, to trust him. But I didn't listen. I just had to know if I was pregnant, consequences be damned. Now, I was paying the price for my stubborn pride.

The van lurched forward, the sudden movement sending me rolling across the floor. My shoulder slammed into the side panel, pain exploding through my body. I whimpered, the sound barely audible through the duct tape.

"Shut up back there," one of the men growled, his voice cold and menacing. "Or I'll give you something to really cry about."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The reality of my situation crashed over me like a tidal wave. These men weren't playing around. They meant business, and I was completely at their mercy.

The vibrations of the engine filled the cramped space, each bump and turn a reminder of how far I was from safety. From Piston. God, what he must be thinking right now. I pictured him pacing in the clubhouse, his jaw clenched with worry and anger.

"Please let me be okay," I prayed silently, my tears soaking the sack. "I need to make it back to him."

But even as the words formed in my mind, I knew they were little more than a desperate plea. The odds were stacked against me, and I had no one to blame but myself.

Taking a shaky breath, I forced myself to focus. I couldn't give up, not now. I had to stay alert, to look for any opportunity to escape. It was my only chance at survival.

As the van sped into the unknown, I clung to that thin thread of hope, my determination the only weapon I had left. I would make it out of this. I had to. For Piston. For our future. And for the tiny life that might be growing inside me.

My mind raced, searching for any weakness in my captors' plan. The zip ties bit into my wrists, a constant reminder of my helplessness. But I couldn't let that stop me. I had to keep my wits about me, to be ready for anything.

I strained my ears, trying to catch any hint of where we were heading. The muffled voices of the men up front offered no clues, their words lost in the rumble of the engine.

"Think, Jenny, think," I urged myself, my heart pounding against my ribs. There had to be something I could do, some way to get a message to Piston.

I wiggled my fingers, testing the tightness of my bonds. The plastic dug into my skin, unyielding. But I refused to let that deter me. I'd keep trying, keep fighting, until I found a way out.

As the minutes ticked by, my resolve hardened, my fear slowly transforming into a fierce determination. I wasn't some helpless damsel in distress. I was Jenny fucking Preston, and I wasn't going down without a fight.

I pictured Piston's face, the love and strength in his eyes. He believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. And I sure as hell wasn't going to let him down.

The van hit a pothole, jolting me out of my thoughts. I gritted my teeth, my body aching from the cramped position. But I welcomed the pain, letting it fuel my anger, my determination.

I was going to survive this. I was going to make it back to Piston, to our life together. And when I did, there would be hell to pay for the bastards who dared to take me.

As the van rolled on into the night, I closed my eyes, silently vowing to fight with every breath in my body. They had no idea who they were messing with. But they were about to find out.