Samantha’s father was waiting inside the small kitchen, sitting at the table with a gun lying on the table before him.

“It’s about time,” he snapped at Sam as soon as she walked through the doorway.

“I had to wait until it was clear,” Sam explained

He got up from the table and took the box from Beth’s hands. Setting it on the table, he opened the box taking out the papers on top. The deeper down he went, not finding what he wanted, he started throwing the papers haphazardly. When the box was empty, he angrily threw the empty box at Beth.

“You idiot, didn’t you check to see if the documents were there?”

“I didn’t have time. The box was closed when I went in the room. How was I supposed to know she was smart enough to take the papers out?”

“You check!” Vincent Bedford screamed at his daughter.

“I can go back and get the papers.” Sam turned to Beth and smacked her across the face. “What did you do with them?”

Beth’s hand touched her stinging cheek, refusing to answer.

“I will shoot your kneecap. I can look if I have to, but it will be quicker and less painful for you if you tell me where they are.”

“I put them in the closet.” Beth lied, hoping Razer would find her going through his closet and become suspicious.

“She’s lying.”

“No shit.” Sam snapped back at her father. Furiously, she hit Beth again this time with the gun in her hand. Pain burst through Beth’s jaw, falling, she barely managed to catch herself by grasping the end of the table. Her hand cupped her cheek, this time Beth felt wetness against her fingers.

“Now where are the fucking papers? This is the last time I am going to ask before I leave. If I search your room and someone comes in I will shoot. Do you want to be responsible for someone being hurt?”

Beth tried to think what her best option was, but she was drawing a blank. She didn’t want anyone hurt, but Sam was determined to find the papers, she obviously had no compunction in hurting someone. Beth didn’t want to endanger Razer, but Viper deserved to know what happened to his brother, as well as the other club members. A rough hand in her hair jerked her to Vincent Bedford.

“Tell me where you put the papers. I will put a bullet through your brain if you don’t.” Beth felt the cold metal of the gun he was holding press against her temple.

“I put them in a brown shoe box in the closet,” Beth lied again. It was the only choice she had. They were going to kill her anyway; Bedford would not release her and let her identify him and Sam for kidnapping.

This time it was Vincent Bedford who slammed the gun into her head. Beth momentarily blacked out as he threw her to the dirty kitchen floor. Her vision was blurry as she fought for consciousness. The crashing and screaming she heard pounded through her head, but she couldn’t focus enough to understand what was going on. Darkness was growing, but with a last ditch effort she managed to turn her head and see Cash restraining Samantha, who was fighting like a wildcat trying to get away from him.

Loker James and Beford were fighting, if it could even be called that. He had two knives, one in each hand. He was cutting Bedford to shreds. The older man was covered in blood and was vainly trying to defend himself without success. Beth felt Razer’s touch as he moved her tumbled hair from her face. She had never seen that look on Razer’s face. He had always been easy going or humorous. This man before her was a cold-blooded killer, furious that she had been hurt. She managed to see that Loker was now playing with Bedford, making him think he was going to get out the back door when he turned to flee. Loker kicked him in the back, forcing him to fall forward onto the floor. The man attempted to crawl to get away from the assaulter, but Loker stepped on his hand, stopping his forward momentum. The scream of agony had her wincing in sympathy, even though the man had threatened to kill her.

“Loker, stop,” Beth said weakly.

He ignored her, bringing his boot back and Beth knew he was about to plant it in the wailing man’s face.

“Please, Loker stop. I have all the proof you need to convict him back at clubhouse.”

This time he stopped and looked at her.

“Cover him,” Razer spoke to someone she couldn’t see.

Razer brushed his thumb against her cheek. “You are all right sweetheart, the ambulance is on the way.”

“How did you find me?”

“Loker was watching Bedford and when he saw Sam come in with you, he called us.”

“I had to, he threatened to kill my baby. He gave me no choice.” Sam hung pitifully in Cash’s arms, all the fight drained out of her. “He paid someone to take my baby. I don’t even know if my baby was a boy or girl, he took the baby while I was unconscious after the delivery. He won’t tell me where my child is or with whom.” The whole room went quiet, listening to Sam’s heart wrenching cries. “It was Gavin’s child.”

“You lying bitch,” Loker yelled.

The sounds of the siren approaching made Beth’s head ache. She tried to move her head and the movement had stars bursting through her skull. The last thing she remembered was Loker’s hand around Sam’s throat.

“Razer,” she whispered as darkness overwhelmed the pain.

Chapter 15

The beeping of a machine woke her. Turning her head she saw a nurse punching buttons on a machine.

“Awake at last. We were starting to get worried about you. I will call the doctor and he will be in to talk to you.” Giving her hand an impersonal pat, the uniformed nurse left.

Beth looked around the small room. Hoping no one had called Lily; she did not want to worry her. The door opened and a tall man with bright red hair came in.

His friendly eyes soothed Beth’s frayed nerves. “I am glad to see that you have regained consciousness. How are you feeling?”

“Confused.”

“That’s normal. Do you remember what happened?”

Beth started to nod, but the sharp pain rushing through her skull stopped the motion.

“I remember Sam kidnapped me and her father threatened to kill me.”

“They almost succeeded, you have a severe concussion. You have been unconscious for 12 hours.”

“Did anyone notify my sister?”

“No, the Sheriff accepted responsibility. If you had stayed unconscious much longer, then he would have. The Sheriff said you wouldn’t want to worry her.”

Beth gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, my sister would have been terrified, I am glad you took the Sheriff’s advice.”

The Doctor gave her reassurances that she would heal quickly and he would release her in forty-eight hours.

“We want to keep a strict eye on you to make sure you are all clear before we release you.”

“Thank you.” The doctor left, giving her instructions to let the nurse know if she experienced any changes in pain. Sleep beckoned, Beth dozed on and off throughout the day, only waking intermittedly with the arrival of the dinner tray.

Beth managed to eat a small amount. hoping it would help the sick feeling in her stomach. She was already back asleep when the nurse returned to retrieve the tray.

The next day Beth felt much clearer, she was stronger, getting out of bed with an aide’s help, even taking a shower and shampooing her hair. She had a clean gown on and was drying her hair with a towel while sitting in the chair by the window overlooking the parking lot. She had hoped Razer or Evie would have come to visit her, at least letting her know what had happened after she had passed out. But no one came and it was late afternoon before the Sheriff finally came to her room.