by A. J. Macey
Unfortunately, two hours later and no word from Theo, I wish I had listened to my gut and forced the issue. Pacing the living space for what seemed to be the hundredth time in the last twenty minutes, I flipped my phone around my fingers in a panic.
“He’ll be fine,” I tried to convince myself, noting the slight hysteric sound of my voice. As soon as I turned to complete another pass of the room, my phone rang. I didn’t bother looking at it before I answered.
“THEO! You bastard, you better have a good explana—”
“Hello, Mila.”
My blood ran cold when I realized who was speaking. I ripped the phone from my ear and saw Theo’s name on the screen, and the urge to vomit choked me.
Stephen.
“Aww, did I startle you?” my bastard of a betrothed taunted.
“Where is he?” I hissed. “I swear if you fucking did anything to him—”
“You’ll what? You don’t know where we are, nor do I think you have the skills to retrieve him, even with the help of the Auckland Kings. Oh, yes, Mila, I know about them.”
“What do you want?” I murmured, realizing he was right. At least for the moment, because I will get him, even if it kills me.
“You. You trade yourself, and I’ll release your precious fuck toy,” he sneered, and another bout of nausea crept up my throat.
“How do I know you’ll keep your end of the deal?”
“You don’t. All you know is what I will fucking do if you don’t agree to my terms. I shouldn’t have to spell that out.”
I swallowed the acid and bottled the rage because he was right, yet again. I knew what he would do to Theo.
“What are your other terms?”
“No going to the Kings’ compound, no calls to the police, no nothing. You come to the meeting point, and once you get in the car, we’ll release him,” Stephen explained as if it was as easy as pie.
“I will only agree if you won’t hurt him,” I ground out.
“I swear we won’t do any more damage than already inflicted. He’s quite the fighter and the most persnickety of assholes,” he muttered, annoyed.
A wave of panic filled me, but I quickly agreed, knowing I wouldn’t be okay if he was further injured because of me.
“Fine, I agree to your terms. Tell me where and when.”
“I knew you were smart, my love. I’ll have the information sent to you from an untraceable number. You have twenty minutes.”
The line went dead, and before I even pulled the phone from my ear, my phone dinged with a text.
I sprinted to the closest busy street and flagged down a cab, thankful I had snatched the cash from my father to pay the fare. As soon as the car started moving, I pulled up the secure email channels Theo had shown me and sent the information to Sam, praying it would be enough to get us out of this alive.
Theo
I should have fucking listened to Mila.
Groaning painfully, I rolled my head back and forth in a piss poor attempt to lessen the throbbing in my head. Everything had gone smoothly until I got in the car to head back. Four on one, I had no real chance, no matter how much I fought. All four of them are paying for the attempt, though. I smiled ruefully at the five men standing nearby, four supporting black eyes, limp limbs, or still-bleeding cuts.
I was handcuffed and stuffed in a small, hard chair, dented from unknown damage, in an off-the-beaten-path location I didn’t recognize. I wasn’t secured to the chair but knew I wouldn’t make it more than a few steps if I tried to run for it, so I sat and waited, watching my captor. It was clear they were Phantoms, but not completely, not until the uninjured man called someone from my phone. Then I knew exactly who it was, and I saw red.
“I knew you were smart, my love. I’ll have the information sent to you from an untraceable number. You have twenty minutes,” Mila’s bitch of a fake fiancé cooed, hanging up and chucking the phone to the gravelly ground. I didn’t have to inspect the phone to know it was broken, not that I cared. I was too pissed at Stephen.
“She wouldn’t give herself up for me,” I called out, speaking for the first time since regaining consciousness. My taunt earned a cold chuckle and cruel smirk, Stephen’s focus turning to me.
“Hate to disappoint you, but I know my fiancée better than you do,” he told me in a cocky tone that made me growl. Striding forward, he eyed me with disdain as he neared my seated form.
He looked different than I expected—too lean, too lanky, with a head of messy red hair and wearing a pair of black trousers and a white button-down. I had expected someone who didn’t look as if they’d break if the wind whipped around them too hard, but in he had a dangerous fire in his hazel eyes, the golden-green irises glittering dangerously as he glared down his pointed nose at me.
“She already has,” he revealed after a long moment eyeing me.
“I’m sure that’ll work out well for you,” I challenged with a bright smile. “You may think you know her, but she’s been in my life since I was a child. Not to mention, I’m the man she’s with.”
Stephen’s cocky mask cracked, a flash of rage twisting his features before smoothing out.
“You’re lucky your safety was one of her terms. Otherwise, I’d gladly reprimand you for your cheek,” he hissed.
I rolled my eyes, not for a second trusting anything he said.
“Fuck off, and it’s not cheek. I fucked her all night, and you didn’t. Simple statement of fact.”
This time, with my prodding, his fists pulled back sharply before he stopped himself. Huh, guess she negotiated my safety. A sickening realization filled me. If she negotiated, that meant she agreed to the trade.
Damn it, Mila, you better have a fucking plan other than just swapping yourself for me.
“What? Don’t want to hear all the things she screamed out as I pounded her into the mattress? Here’s a hint… it wasn’t your name,” I taunted. If I got him fired up enough, he would be too pissed off to be on the top of his game when Mila showed up—hopefully, with Sam and my brothers in tow.
Stephen glared, keeping his stoic stance this time, but his words did a better job cutting through me than a punch could ever do.
“It certainly won’t stay that way because soon enough, it’ll just be me and her, and she won’t have time to remember you as I take her.”
Smiling, I refused to show the fury and nausea that filled me.
He’d signed his own death wish.
13
Mila
Tossing a wad of bills at the cabbie, I jumped out of the back and sprinted down the empty road. I had the man drop me off a few blocks from the drop spot Stephen had one of his men send me, not wanting to risk the driver’s life for a stupid feud. My adrenaline had mellowed on the ride, but the fear and panic hadn’t lessened. Before I reached the spot, I took out my phone with a trembling hand and started recording any audio.
He may make me trade myself for King with no witnesses in my favor, but I’d be fucking damned if I didn’t try to get some kind of evidence if I made it out of alive.
When not if.
I tucked the phone safely into one of the many zippered pockets of my skinny cargo pants. Here’s to hoping it’ll pick up everything or that he won’t take the phone away immediately.
With a few deep, shuddering breaths, I finished walking to the drop spot. It was an abandoned area near a highway bridge. There was gravel, discarded trash, and patches of grass covering the barren dirt. A car was parked a little way off to my left while directly ahead of me stood Theo, Stephen, and a few of Phantoms.
I ground my teeth in anger when Stephen’s lips curled in a triumphant grin, my fear ebbing as fury and adrenaline took over. As I walked forward, I resolutely did not look at Theo, knowing he’d probably be pissed at me for agreeing to this whole situation.
“Ah, there you are, Mila. I’m glad to see you would trade yourself for this mutt,” Stephen muttered, waving a disinterested hand at Theo. “Drop all weapons and show us yo
ur empty holsters. I know you have at least two on you.”
Swallowing the snarky retort I wanted to spit, I did as he said, moving slowly, so I didn’t get attacked by the four very pissed-off Phantoms who were eyeing me. Once the gun and knife were laid out on the dirt, I kicked them away and held up my shirt far enough that they could all see the holsters I had strapped to me were empty.
“Good girl,” Stephen cooed.
I gagged, unable to keep the motion contained. His eyes sparked dangerously, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Theo snarl, clearly pissed that Stephen was speaking to me in such a manner.
Not that I expected any different, mind you.
“Now, you remember our instructions, yes?”
My lips thinned, but I nodded once. It took every ounce of my energy to turn and walk toward the car. My gaze caught Theo’s eyes as I neared the back door. He looked worried and angry, his lips downturned in a harsh scowl. I knew he was pissed I was here, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret it, knowing Sam and the Kings would be there soon enough to get him.
Now let’s hope they can keep up with wherever Stephen was taking me.
The four men Phantoms followed me into the SUV, two sitting in the back row, one in the driver’s seat, with the final one in the middle row on the opposite end of me. I didn’t buckle my seatbelt, my posture rigid as I watched Stephen tell Theo one more thing through the tinted window. Theo’s cheeks became redder in his anger, glaring daggers at Stephen as he walked away, but he didn’t move from the chair.
I wished I could have said something to reassure him I would be alright, that his family was coming. Something... anything... but I stayed silent as Stephen slipped into the passenger seat of the vehicle.
The rumbling purr of the engine mixed with soft notes of the rock song that filled the cab seemed out of place. As if this was a normal trip instead of a ransom demand kidnapping. As if I wasn’t trembling with adrenaline and stress.
No one spoke as we drove. My eyes were peeled to the passing landscape, trying to come up with a plan. Sam and the others would follow us if they showed up at the drop zone not too long behind me. I just needed to get some answers or something from Stephen, then I could make a break for it. The element of surprise… that could totally work. Right? I tried to convince myself. Finally, I couldn’t stand the tense silence any longer.
“You’re the one who killed Travis Dorchester, aren’t you, Stephen?” I murmured, latching onto the first thing that popped into my head. I had no idea who killed him or why, but it was the only thing I knew for sure the Phantoms had done outside of this stupid marriage contract my father tried to create.
“Aw, clever little thing,” he countered in a patronizing tone. “Yes, I am. He was useful for a time, but your father soon realized he’d outlived his usefulness.”
“And I was framed for it, why?” I challenged, irritated he was the reason I had a warrant for my arrest.
“Your father and I thought it best to give you a bit of motivation to... cooperate with the marriage. The only way you would be freed is if either of us provided another sort of outcome. We’re in control of the file and investigation.”
“Of course you are,” I muttered, trying to keep the urge to shout ‘no the fuck you don’t’ at bay. I couldn’t risk them finding out I had taken the file, so I kept him talking. “What’s your end game, Stephen?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, my love.”
I ground my teeth but stayed silent. None of it made any sense, not the murder of Travis or the clean-up and going silent the last few months. I was out of the loop, and with each piece of information revealed, I was more confused.
The desolate area of the city we were in gave way to a more sterile business area with warehouses and unused transport trucks. I licked my lips and eyed the large, passing buildings, a haphazard plan slowly forming. It was Sunday, so I wasn’t sure if any of the places had employees working or if they’d even be unlocked, but a storage facility meant shelving and obstacles to lose the five bastards occupying the vehicle with me.
I have to try, I thought with a surge of bravery, I was pretty sure bordered on idiotic. We stopped at a red light, and as soon as it turned green and the SUV accelerated, I ripped open the door and leapt out. They pulled over, several of the men clamoring out before the car stopped completely, their boots thundering on the cement as they chased. My heart was thudding too loud in my ears to determine how close they were.
Panting, I reached the door of the nearest warehouse, thankful to find it unlocked. I glanced over my shoulder as I slipped into the building, noting I had enough of a lead to potentially lose them if I found a good hiding place. Think, Mila! I mentally shouted as I scanned the large shelves spanning the length of the large, cavernous room.
My legs and lungs burned as I sprinted deeper into the warehouse, praying I didn’t come across any workers who might be in the crosshairs of the Phantoms chasing me. I rounded a corner and spotted a small nook on the first shelf behind a large pallet of product I couldn’t make out. I didn’t hesitate, slipping into the tiny alcove and wedging myself deep enough, I wouldn’t be seen by anyone running by.
Now, to hope Stephen and his ilk don’t find me before I can contact Theo.
Theo
As soon as the vehicle peeled away, I jumped off the chair and struggled with the handcuffs as I sprinted to the weapons Mila had dropped. Fucking idiot Phantoms hadn’t thought to take the gun and knife with them. I rolled my eyes at their incompetence.
“Better for me, though,” I murmured in a harsh whisper as I palmed the weapons. The weighted warmth of the metal felt solid, grounding my raging emotions. “When I catch up to that bastard, he will suffer.”
Before I could get to my phone to see if it was salvageable, a trio of cars came barreling into the dirt clearing next to me. At first, my instincts had me raising the gun despite my bound wrists, but I quickly recognized the cars.
“Get in!” Sam barked, throwing open the passenger door of the first vehicle. I dove into the seat, pointing to where they’d headed.
“That way, black SUV,” I relayed, tacking on the license plate number and any other identifying features. “They only left minutes ago. I doubt they’ve gone far.”
“Let’s hope not,” Hunter muttered in the back seat. He leaned forward, draping his arm on the back of Sam’s seat, and looked at me. “What the hell was she thinking?”
“How’d you know to come?” I asked, ignoring his very logical and justified question.
“She sent a secured message with a drop location and an ‘SOS,’ nothing else,” Sam explained as he raced down the street.
“Safe to assume Liam and a few others are in the other cars?” My eyes didn’t leave the road ahead of us. “There!” I shouted, pointing to a large, imposing vehicle a couple kilometers ahead of us.
“How many Phantoms?” Hunter asked as Sam called Liam, explaining which target we were following.
“Five total. Used me to bait out Mila for a trade.”
“Why did they use you as leverage for her?” Sam eyed me suspiciously as he hung up the call.
“The leader of their little posse is the piece of shit her father is trying to get her to marry,” I revealed, earning shocked gazes. “She obviously doesn’t want to,” I tacked on unhelpfully.
“Obviously not. She’s too smitten with you, big brother!” Hunter snorted and laughed, smacking me on the shoulder. “She always has been.”
I scoffed, not dignifying his prodding with a response. My focus was split between Sam and the car I knew Mila was in.
“What’s the plan, Sam?”
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he cursed. We watched Mila lunge from the car and sprint away from the car. I tried to keep my relief at her relative safety at bay, but it was difficult as I readied to follow the men who evacuated the SUV after her.
Don’t worry, baby, I’m coming for you.
14
Mil
a
Several long minutes ticked by, and no one found me in my tiny hidey-hole. Taking a deep breath, I crept out of the quiet section of shelving and darted toward the closest exit. If the men were traipsing through the warehouse looking for me, it would mean the car was abandoned. With that surge of hope, I pushed my already exhausted body faster.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Stephen’s cruel, mocking tone reached my ears as I rounded toward a different door than the one I entered, his body resting lazily against the metal jamb. Acid burned my throat as I slid to a stop, eyeing the man with a scowl.
“What are you going to do? Shoot me?” I challenged, my arms flinging out wide. The bastard had the gall to laugh, the cold sound accompanied by the thudding of each step he took toward me.
“Of course not. You’re no use to me dead, Mila.” He paused with a thoughtful expression. “Although there are other locations I could shoot you, so I guess yes, I will if you don’t come along.”
Think, I commanded myself, coming up with nothing of use regarding an escape plan. Well, think faster, I practically shouted internally, but Stephen picked up on what I was doing. With a blink, I was staring down the barrel of a gun, an iron grip grabbing my bicep. Stumbling, I tried to tug away from him, but he was stronger, dragging me out to the waiting SUV.
“What the hell do you want from me?” I snapped, shoving his chest.
“You belong to me!” he snarled, the pretentious air evaporating, his true emotions finally rearing their ugly heads. Rage, possession, disgust twisted his features into a hardened look that made my chest tighten painfully in fear. Stephen yanked the door to the car open and shove me forward.
“No!” I didn’t mean to say it, but I couldn’t stop the protest. I didn’t want to be in the car with him, let alone just the two of us, as the harsh reality pressed down on me. There was no telling where he’d take me, and I didn’t want to find out. With a sharp hit to the back of my head with his gun, my vision dimmed, and my body went slack as I slipped into unconsciousness.