To Redemption (Whitsborough Chronicles Book 4)

by C. A. Rene

  “I need all Moore’s residences. Cottages, houses, and vehicles.”

  “We can do that.” Travis nods. “Let’s head home so we have the resources.”

  I see Emmett sitting inside Shelby talking on his cellphone.

  Carm better come through.

  "Carm is on his way. He's bringing backup as well." Emmett says as he bursts in my office.

  I have Google Maps open on my screen and my eyes are nearly crossed from surveying the land around Moore's cottage property.

  "Good."

  "Do you think they're there?" Emmett asks as he stands behind me.

  "I don't have the slightest idea. I think we will have to split up and hit up all three locations."

  Moore has his modest home here in Whitsborough, a cottage in the Kawarthas, and a vacant rental property in downtown Whitsborough.

  "I think you and a few guys take this cottage, Travis and a few guys take his house, and Carm and I will check out the rental."

  "So, you think he has him at the rental property?" Emmett asks.

  "It's the most obvious choice but I can only assume he's figured out I would guess that." I rub my temples to try and push back the migraine looming close by.

  I haven't slept, eating is out of the question, and my mind hasn't stopped the barrage of what if situations.

  "I texted Sharla from Vin's phone. I hate lying to her." Travis says as he walks into the office.

  "So do I, but I see no other alternative. If we tell her Vin is missing, we will have to tell her everything." I look up at Travis. "She can't know everything."

  "You're right." He agrees.

  "Besides, we'll have him back here in no time." Emmett grips Travis' shoulder and squeezes.

  "Guys!" Adri calls out from the kitchen. "Come eat!"

  "Oh fuck," I stare at them wide-eyed. "Did she cook?"

  "I've barely spoken to her today." Travis whispers. "I've been swamped."

  "Me too." Emmett looks petrified.

  "Fuck off!" She yells. "I know you're scared I've cooked something. I ordered takeout!"

  "Thank God for small miracles." Emmett mutters as we follow him to the kitchen. "I couldn't handle another disaster right now."

  "You three are fucking assholes." Adri growls with her hands on her hips. "I knew you were worried about the food."

  "Wouldn't you be if you were us?" I ask her.

  "Yes." She exhales. "Totally, come eat and let's hear the plan."

  We eat the pizza and I lay out my carefully thought out plan. It's taking a lot of risks and I'm not sure if we will all make it out unscathed. I don't have the time to make a completely foul proof plan, Vin is in the hands of my enemy and I can only pray Moore understands his importance.

  "Okay," Adri nods. "I will make sure Sharla and I are safe at the restaurant when this all goes down. I hate not being there with you guys. Promise me you will all be coming back." Her eyes swim with tears.

  "I promise." Travis whispers and leans over to kiss her cheek.

  "You're never getting rid of me." Emmett smirks.

  But her eyes haven't budged from mine. She's waiting on a promise I can't in good conscious make. So, I nod once and avert my gaze back to my plate.

  I can only promise to make sure everyone else will be coming home.

  20

  "I love a good game of cat and mouse." Moore chuckles. "I bet you she's scouting all my properties. I mean, that's what I would do."

  I keep my mouth shut and watch him pace in front me with my one good eye. I knew exactly what was happening when Moore 'arrested' me. He's been using my face as a punching bag since we got here and I can fully see now that he's unhinged.

  I think we finally pushed Moore over the edge and there's no coming back for him. I'm thankful Em wasn't in the Hummer with us because that's who he undoubtedly wanted.

  "Your brother must've told her by now." He's repeated this line at least a dozen times since we've been here. "It's the only reason I left him alive."

  "You left him alive because you knew she would kill you without thought if you didn't." I grit out and his fist connects with my cheek.

  "Shut the fuck up!" He screams. "You really think I'm afraid of a child?"

  The answer to that is yes, a loud resounding yes. I don't say it because I don't know how much more of a beating I can take without passing out.

  He has my hands handcuffed behind me and I'm strapped to a chair. My face and upper body have been at the mercy of his fists and each breath feels like someone is ripping my ribs out of my chest.

  He storms out of the room and slams the large steel door behind him. I try to figure out where we are but nothing looks familiar. I'm definitely in a basement, there are no windows and the musky smell of moisture is thick in the air.

  I know we are still in Whitsborough because I saw us going deeper into town before he pulled a bag over my head. This place doesn't feel residential, more of a commercial or industrial feeling and I can't figure out where we could be.

  All the buildings in Whitsborough are old and there's nothing remarkable about this space that makes it stand out. It's quiet but every so often I hear multiple sets of footsteps above me.

  He's not here alone and that makes me more nervous for Em and my family. I worry they may be walking into a trap and knowing Em, she won't care about the destruction it leaves in her wake, as long as I get out.

  I hear the door opening and try to focus my one good eye on Moore as he enters the room.

  "Looks like your girlfriend called in reinforcements." He shakes his head. "Is she planning a war?"

  She must've called in Carm and I bet Moore placed an unmarked car to watch her house. I can only hope Em knows that and this is all part of her plan.

  "Nothing?" He sneers at me.

  "How can I know what she's doing? I'm here, not there." I try to raise a brow but the swelling makes it difficult.

  "Who would come to her rescue? Maybe someone from New York? That's where she was found, right? Covered in blood with a loaded gun in her hand?"

  So, he remembers what happened to Em. He was part of the investigation into her kidnapping and basically wrote it off as nothing more than a suspicious runaway.

  "Must be." He answers his own question. "She grew up there, with a single mother, and penniless. See? I did my homework too."

  Not enough of it, at least I don't think he did, unless he's hiding some of what he knows. He hasn't mentioned the Eastside Rampage or the fact that Em's father was a kingpin. He hasn’t said anything about a brother in New York either.

  “If she hasn’t found you in a few days, let’s send her a finger, shall we?”

  I don’t care how many pieces of me he sends, I just worry about Em leading with her anger and not with her head. My girl is a genius until her anger clouds every conscious thought.

  “Not afraid? Maybe I’ll do to you what she did to Halbert. I bet that’s enough to put the fear of God into you.”

  Is he trying to get off on my fear? Not going to fucking happen.

  “Boss.” Someone knocks on the door. “We have movement.”

  Moore shoots me a look and winks. “Looks like something is happening… finally.”

  I watch him exit and pray that Em is being safe.

  21

  “Emmett should head out now. How far is this cottage?” Carm asks as he paces the kitchen.

  “Three hours and twenty-six minutes.” I answer him.

  My nails are chewed and my nerves are frayed.

  “Travis is your team ready to hit up Moore’s residence?” Carm asks him.

  I’m just glad he’s here and taking the helm. I've come to the end of my patience reserve and I can feel myself on the brink of an internal explosion.

  “Hermanita,” Carm looks at me with sadness in his eyes. “Do you have a mailbox?”

  “What?” I screw my face up in question.

  “Mailbox. Do y
ou have one?”

  “It’s at the end of the driveway.” Travis answers for me.

  “That’s perfect.” Carm nods.

  What the fuck does he need the mailbox for? Maybe some sort of surveillance? Right now, I don’t fucking care, I need to get to Vin.

  “Not much longer.” Carm puts his hand on my shoulder. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

  I believe him, he’s my blood and he’s always been here when I needed him.

  “It’s been twelve hours.” I whisper.

  “Soon, I promise.” He gathers me in for a hug.

  I turn and watch as Emmett leads a group of six men out the front door.

  “Emmett!” I call and break away from Carm’s hold.

  Emmett turns and gives me that lopsided grin identical to mine and my heart crashes against my ribs. I rush to him and he sweeps me up in his arms.

  “It’ll be okay, Ember. I promise.”

  “Please be safe,” I pull away and hastily wipe the tears from my cheeks. “I love you.”

  “Don’t say it like that.” His face falls.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you won’t see me again. Please Ember, don’t do anything that gets you killed.”

  I nod and he hugs me again.

  “Hermano,” he calls out to Carm. “I am trusting you with her safety.”

  “I won't let you down, Hermanito.”

  "Ember, we all need you. I won't survive without you, do you understand?" His words make my eyes cloud with tears and I nod.

  He kisses the top of my head and squeezes me in a hug once more.

  He turns and blows a kiss to both Travis and Adri who are sitting on the stairs, then he's out the door.

  I lock eyes with Travis and he gives me a stern look. "I second what he said, I can't live this life without you, E."

  Adri has tears coursing down her cheeks as she nods, "all for five and five for all."

  "Travis," Carm calls out. "I have four men here who will be going with you to Moore's residence. Are you ready?"

  Again, my heart thumps and I take a deep breath to try and dull the pain.

  "Yes." Travis nods. "We will drop Adri by the restaurant on the way."

  Adri stands from the stairs and hurries over to me. Her arms wrap around my shoulders and her face burrows into my neck.

  "I can't even put into words how much I love you and what you've done to change my life. You gave me a family and taught me what it means to love unconditionally." She sniffs and I feel the wet of her tears on my neck. "Don't take that from me."

  I hug her back and squeeze her in tight. She's my sister, regardless of the blood running through our veins.

  "I love you, too." My voice cracks with emotion.

  She pulls back with a sob and runs out the front door.

  Travis' hands cup my face and he forces me to look into his eyes.

  "I knew from that very first day that you would come into my life like a tropical storm. Fast, tough, and destructive. I knew you would swipe up all the small broken pieces of my heart and form it back into something worthy of your love. Emberlise Craven, I have loved you from day one and I will love you until this mended heart stops beating." His lips press against mine in the most tender kiss. It's not romantic, it's filled with love and reverence.

  He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, "I love you too, Travis. You will never know how much."

  Then he releases me and I watch his retreating back with my heart in my throat. I can’t stop thinking that we have this all wrong and one of us-if not all-are walking into traps. I haven’t heard from Moore, he hasn’t called for a ransom or any demands, and I can’t help but think this could be the last time I see my family.

  “I see that look, Mija.” Carm says softly. “Nothing will happen to you while I’m with you.”

  “But what about them?”

  “There’s only one of me and I chose who it was I wanted to protect.” He sounds confident.

  “Why Carm?” I look at him. “Why did you choose me?”

  “Because I have wronged you and I wanted to make it up to you.”

  “What happened to me in the beginning is all water under the bridge. You know you’re my brother as much as Emmett, right? You have to know I love you just as much.”

  “Thank you.” He nods and I notice his eyes filling as well. “When this is all done and over with, you and I will have a talk. Go upstairs and change into something dark. I will talk to the guys and we will hit up the rental as soon as dusk hits.”

  I nod and head upstairs to my bedroom. Once I enter and see the rumpled sheets, I fucking lose it. All I see in here is Vin, his scent is everywhere, and his clothes are all over the place.

  I sink to my knees and let the tidal wave of fear and despair pull me under. I’ve experienced this overwhelming sadness a few times before. My mother dying, Vin and Travis being taken by Carlos, and then Travis attempting to commit suicide. The only difference this time is this was all my doing.

  Did I really need to purge this little decaying town? Did I need to put my family at risk to prove I was capable of such a large task? The answer is no, it will always be no and if my actions put any of them in our mausoleum, I won’t be too far behind.

  I picture Tommy and his unwavering loyalty. I imagine him telling me to suck it up and take care of business as he usually would. I see my aunt and uncle smiling at me and loving me despite my dangerous decisions, and then I see my mother. She’s watching me with that small smile she always had when I did something to make her proud. I realize then that she would be proud of me for what I came here to do and how I’ve avenged her.

  None of them would want me to give up.

  I have to believe that Moore wouldn’t kill Vin, that he sees his importance and plans to use him to draw me in. That’s what he wants anyway. He wants me.

  “Hermanita!” Carm calls from downstairs. “Come down so we can go over this plan before we have to head out.”

  I once again bury my grief down deep under mountains of anger and get to my feet. My moment of weakness is done and now it’s time to take out the rest of the trash.

  “No one’s here.” I say while I watch Carm’s men surround the darkened house.

  “Not necessarily, we have to think like him. Maybe he knows we’ve gathered forces and scouting all residences. Maybe he’s watching us now from a darkened room.” Carm whispers into the dark car.

  Travis called to say no one was at Moore’s house but they are staying there to see if he shows up. I haven’t heard from Emmett but he wouldn’t be at the cottage yet anyways.

  “I have a feeling Carm,” I shake my head. “Something is off. He’s not in any of these places.”

  “Think Ember, where else could he go?” He lifts his phone and dials a number. “Enter the house and search it thoroughly.” He barks at whoever is on the other side.

  That’s just it, I have been thinking. He’s not at the police station because those cops looked more than surprised when we showed up demanding to see Moore. He’s not in any residences with his name on the listing because that’s easy to obtain.

  Where the fuck is he and my fiancé? I start running through all the places I can think of in Whitsborough.

  “Place is empty, Jefe.” I hear one of the guys say through the phone.

  “Of course it is.” I nod and rub my temples. “Think, Ember.”

  “It has to be someplace secluded where no one would see him taking a hostage inside. Somewhere far enough away from others or soundproof.” Carm suggests.

  “Fuck!” I yell into the car’s interior.

  I can’t think of anywhere that would be like that.

  My phone rings and I see Adri’s name flash across the screen. My heart rate picks up and I brace myself as I answer the phone.

  “Adri?”

  “I know where he is.” She whispers.

  “What?” I sit up
straight. “Adrianna Hinton, where the fuck are you?”

  Carm looks at me and straightens in his seat as well, expecting to have to move quickly.

  “I’m a few blocks from the restaurant. I dropped off a takeout order and I think I found Moore’s vehicle.”

  “Are you sure?” I ask her. “Why would he be parked out in the open like that?”

  “He’s not.” She sounds slightly out of breath. “This is a side street, it’s quiet here.”

  “Where is it?” I demand.

  When she tells me the street, it dawns on me exactly where they are.

  “Get back to the restaurant.” I tell her and hang up.

  I text Travis and turn to Carm, “I know where they are.”

  22

  My head snaps up when I hear the door opening. I’m groggy with exhaustion and my stomach is twisting in hunger. My tongue is swollen and stuck to the roof of my mouth, just the thought of water has my throat constricting.

  “Looks like your girl is as stupid as I thought.” Moore chuckles as he leans against the door frame. “She even wasted precious resources by sending people to my cottage… three hours away.”

  How long have we been here? There’s no way to gauge time and I’ve been floating in and out of consciousness for a while now.

  “Looks like we might just have to cut a piece of you off and send it to her. Motivation to use that schoolgirl brain of hers.”

  “Stop talking about it and just do it then.” My voice is cracking and hoarse.

  “Don’t tell me what to do!” He yells as he strides forward and punches me in the stomach. “She has one hour and then I’m starting with the fingers on your left hand.”

  The blow to my stomach has triggered some fucking cramping and I begin to gag. As long as Em is safe, nothing else matters and I will take whatever Moore dishes out if it means Em doesn’t.

  Each breath is like burning fire in my chest and I know I have a few ribs broken. The knife wound on my leg isn’t feeling so good either. It’s burning hot and each time I flex my thigh, the pounding fire increases.