by Callie Rae
“Boss wants her alive. Don’t do anything stupid,” the first voice says.
“I know but she’s fucking feisty,” the man holding me says. I look down at the arm holding me in place and push my head down until my mouth is level with it. Then I take the biggest, hardest bite I’ve ever taken until the arm releases me.
“The fucking bitch bit me,” the guy howls as he shakes out his arm.
But I’m not going to hang around and watch him cry. I try to run. I run right out of the bathroom—and fall face first into the wall when he kicks my foot out from under me.
He drops down on the floor and twists my body around, pinning me in place while he straddles my legs. He’s bending over me, trying to grab onto my flailing arms. I once again start kicking and hitting. I glance over and see Marcus, face down with his arms pinned behind his back by another man dressed in black.
I kick my foot out at the man again and hit right between his legs. He stills for a split second before falling over on top of me. I try desperately to wriggle out from under his considerable weight, but he’s much bigger than I am. I actually manage to get on my hands and knees when I see the glint off his gun shine out of the corner of my eye. I turn to the mirror just in time to see his reflection raise his gun hand high over his head. I try to brace myself as I watch him swing his arm in a downward arc and pistol-whip me on the back of the head.
I come to in the back of a vehicle. We drive over a bump, which causes my face to knock against the window bringing a sharp pain across my forehead. I groan as a wave of nausea comes over me.
“Sorry about the head. I needed to get you in the truck.”
“Don’t speak to her,” Marcus hisses from behind me. I look over and see he’s sitting in the very back behind a caged divider. He starts smiling as he stares at the driver through the rearview mirror and says, “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
He then continues to laugh as I sit up. I grip my head when I start swaying a bit. “Where are we going?”
The man doesn’t answer me, and Marcus starts to try to break down the cage wall by kicking it repeatedly, with zero success. Our driver continues to watch the road and only glances back at us every few minutes or so. I try to ask a few more questions, but I’m only met with silence.
I couldn’t sleep. I’ve barely slept since Fallon went missing. I can’t even lay in my own bed comfortably when she’s not there. It just feels wrong without her. But knowing that I’ll have her back in a few hours and she’ll finally be safe had me tossing and turning for most of the night. I gave up on sleep and ended up pacing my room for the last few hours. There isn’t much else I can do while I wait.
Noon is finally approaching, and we’re all mentally preparing for the trade-off in our own ways. I place my hands on my dresser and lean back, stretching my arms a bit. My nerves are frayed. It’s almost too much to handle. The indestructible Jesse has been brought to his knees. It’s been a humbling experience.
“Are you sure about this?” Cason asks. I didn’t even hear him come in.
“So you’re talking to me again?” I ask as I turn and lean against my dresser with my arms crossed. Neither Jade nor Cason have spoken to me in the last forty-eight hours. It’s been pure silence on their end. It’s not something I’m used to. We had our fights as kids, sure, but nothing like this. I can feel the rift between us. They love Fallon, and they want to save her just as badly as I do, but the cost of today’s exchange is not an easy pill for them to swallow. I get it. It’s not an easy one for me either—and I’m the one who will make the sacrifice, not them.
“I just needed to process what’s happening,” Cason says, “It’s not easy. I care about you both, and this isn’t a solution that I want for either of you.”
I nod my head; I can understand that. I’m still processing it myself. There’s only one thing I can tell myself to be able to continue on. “She’ll be safe. That’s all I need to know.”
“Yeah, she’ll be safe. But she’ll be alone, and you’ll be miserable,” Cason says. “I want her safe and home too, you know. I just wish there was another way. One that didn’t require you to sacrifice everything, including her happiness.”
I sigh and let my arms down. “Me too.”
“Dad said it’s time to go. He sent me up here to get you.” Jade is standing in the doorway. Her eyes are red and puffy. She’s been crying, and judging by the look of it, I’d say for most of the night. “He won’t let me come. Will you . . . Just keep me updated.”
She doesn’t wait for an answer; she just walks off. I hear her bedroom door click not long after. It makes me wince. I’m used to Jade being mad at me; as twins, that tends to happen. But she’s not just angry, she’s scared for all the people in her life that she cares about. Life is about to change drastically. Hell, our lives changed drastically once Fallon dropped into them. But it hasn’t all been bad. She makes our group better, stronger. And here I am, tearing it a part.
“She’ll be okay. She’s just upset that it has to be this way. I’m sure it makes it worse that he won’t let her go and get her best friend back.” Cason drops his hand on my shoulder. “But she’ll come around, bro. Fallon might be her best friend but you’re her other half.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I stare at the door Jade just walked through. “Come on. Let’s go,” I say as I go to leave my room. Cason catches my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“Wait, before we go. I have news on Jordan,” Cason says.
“Yeah? What’s up?” I ask. Cason’s sweating, which means this can’t be good.
“I’m sorry I doubted you, man. I thought you might have tried to, you know, leave us. But I was wrong,” Cason murmurs.
I can’t blame him for thinking that. Hell, I had a moment where I doubted it myself. It takes a minute for his comment to sink. “Wait, what are you saying to me?” I ask.
“It wasn’t you. I went to see Crank about the damage to the car, and Narni was there. She told me that she saw a hose on the side of the track. It was on. The end of the track had flooded, and it was a mud pit. There was no way you could’ve stopped,” Cason tells me. “I went to the track and found the hose. She was right.”
“Jordan was trying to make everyone think . . . I shouldn’t have ever doubted you,” he says.
“Nah, man. Don’t you do that shit. Don’t feel bad—you didn’t know. And honestly, for a hot second I wasn’t so sure either. I was in such a shit place that night,” I tell him as I put a hand to his shoulder.
Cason meets my eyes and I try to show him the love I have for him in a single glance. I can only hope it’s enough.
He coughs and shakes his head. “Either way, we’ve got to deal with that prick for good. No more games.”
“And we will. But first we need to get my girl back. Then we’ll worry about my empire,” I say as I point over my shoulder.
“Yeah man, let’s go bring her home,” he says. And we walk out the door to do just that.
There’s just something about car rides. It’s the pivotal point in all dreams or nightmares. When a baby is born, there is a car ride leading up to the happiest day of most parents’ lives. When a loved one dies, there is a car ride to say your final goodbyes. It sets the stage. And the setting today is expected. It’s quiet, humbled, and just plain sad. If there were crickets, you’d hear them. But it’s not the silence that cuts through me, it’s knowing there is no turning back. It’s knowing the consequences that await us. The stage is collapsing with each mile, and I can’t stop it. But I can do one thing—I can save her before it collapses.
We pull into the bay door to one of the many warehouses Vic owns. His sleek black town car is already parked in the middle of the concrete floor, and as we pull in farther, I can see Vic and Jax waiting next to their car.
I’m ready to get out before the car comes to a full stop. The adrenaline has started pumping and I’m ready. I need her back, now. I reach up for the handle to get
out.
“Sit still, son. We play this their way until she is in our hands.” My father’s hand clenches around my forearm.
“Fuck them and their games,” I growl out. “I’m here for her and only her.”
“Do you want her back or not? I didn’t make this deal just so you could ruin it,” my father says.
“You mean you don’t want them to ruin your chance at having your only son take over your precious throne,” I spit at him. I’m over the games. Let’s call a spade a spade. This deal is the only way he’s getting me, and he knows it.
“You will let me handle this, and I’ll do all of the talking. Do you understand?” My father snarls at me when he says, “Consider this your first lesson—learn how to shut up.”
“You wanted me to take your throne? This is me taking it,” I say as I jump out of the car.
Fuck pleasantries. I’m getting straight to the point “Where is she?”
“Such a pleasure to see you Jesse. As always,” Vic says with a smirk.
“Cut the shit. Where is she?” I growl out.
Vic looks over my shoulder as a black SUV enters the warehouse bay door. “Ah, right on time. Where is the deed?”
My father holds a folder up for everyone to see. I didn’t even realize he had joined me. He sure didn’t make his presence known. I guess I got my point across.
“It’s all here. Now, like my son asked—where is the girl?”
Vic nods to a man dressed in all black. It’s one of his many security guards, I’m sure. The man says something into an earpiece.
Another man dressed in similar black apparel appears out of the now-parked SUV and reaches for the back door. Marcus jumps down from the open door of the SUV and stalks over to the man.
“What the fuck? Where are we?” Marcus pushes the man back, “Did you forget who you work for?”
“Marcus. Stop it, son,” Vic says. “I ordered it.”
“Stop? You—" Marcus stops talking the moment his eyes land on me, “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“He’s here for the girl,” Vic says calmly, like his nephew didn’t kidnap her.
“He can’t have her,” Marcus says, his eyes shifting entirely too much for my liking. “She’s mine.”
“You don’t own her. She isn’t a piece of property, asshole.” I step forward, itching to put my hands around his throat.
Someone grabs my shoulders quickly, holding me in place. I go to shrug them off when I register Cason’s voice drifting into my ear. “If you attack him, they may not give her over. Be patient. For her.”
I still because he’s right. Part of me can’t help but think if I beat the shit out of them all I won’t have to worry about them giving her over. I know that’s not realistic; all of Vic’s goons have guns strapped to their waists. What kind of pussy hires guys to beat up people for him? Oh yeah. Vic. That’s who.
“Where is she? I want to see her now,” I say through clenched teeth, “If you’ve hurt a single strand of hair on her head, I swear I’ll—”
“Sorry, Vic. My son is a little stressed today. We will require a visual of the girl before we hand over the paperwork,” My father interrupts and takes control over the conversation but still manages to give me a side eye that says cool it.
Fuck him. If this was Mom, he wouldn’t cool it.
“So be it.” Vic waves his hand in the air, and the man driving the SUV opens the door and once again reaches in. This time, he pulls out a very angry Fallon. I watch as she fights with the guard, struggling to break free of his vice-like grip on her arm. But when her eyes find mine, the tears slowly form in the corners of her eyes. Her relief is evident in the way her entire body sags. I really take a hard look at her. Her hair is purple, and her eyes are drained. There is bruising on most of her face, and one eye is so swollen she can barely open it. The guard puts her down and she sags, leaning onto the SUV for support. My hands turn into fists and pure, white-hot rage flows through me.
“You psycho piece of shit. What the fuck did you do to her?” My heart has stopped. My beautiful baby is standing in front of me beaten to nothing, both physically and mentally defeated. All because of this asshole. My feet propel me forward, my determination to get to her fueling my fire.
“Don’t you go near her. Stop him!” Marcus yells to the guard.
Before I can reach her one of Vic’s guys steps in my way blocking her from my view.
“Get out of my fucking way,” I growl through my teeth. I can feel the red haze of rage creeping in. Marcus is going to die. I am going to fucking obliterate him.
“Don’t let him through. She’s mine,” Marcus instructs the guard.
“She was never yours. Ask her. She doesn’t want your psycho ass,” I snap at Marcus. I turn to face the guard. “If you don’t move out of my way, I will hurt you.”
“Boys, enough.” Vic says, “Jesse, you can have her once we confirm your end of the deal.”
“What are you doing Vic? He can’t fucking have her.” Marcus turns to Vic with a snarl. His wild eyes are flashing, and he looks furious.
“Shut up, Marcus. I’ll deal with you later. How you thought this would work out is beyond me,” Vic mutters. He barks orders at some of other his men who come up behind Marcus. The goons try to subdue him, but Marcus puts up a fight. His movements are squirmy and snake-like, which seem like a fitting match to the person he is on the inside. His eyes bulge and shift as he fights off the guard, and it occurs to me that Marcus may not have sold all of Jax’s product after all.
Marcus’s movements become more erratic and before anyone can stop him, he pulls the guard’s gun from its holster and points it straight at him.
I watched the video Marcus showed me of Jesse’s car tumbling closely. I did with both eyes wide open, looking for any clues. I never saw a body, and he never said the words. I held onto that tiny bit of hope it was all just a ploy to get me to be obedient. And I’ve never been so thankful to have guessed right.
I knew there was a chance I might not ever see him again. I stare at Jesse—at his clenching jaw, his heaving chest, his open eyes. Seeing him in the flesh with my own two eyes relieves my soul. Watching him as he stands before me, alive, drains me to the point of exhaustion. This whole time I’ve been fighting to get back to him. But he’s here; I can stop fighting. I was nearly at my breaking point, convinced there was no way out. But he’s here. He is here. He’s still fighting. He didn’t give up.
I’m safe. I’m going to be okay.
I watch as Vic’s guard’s eyes widen in both shock and fear. The other guard shifts quickly, pulling his own gun out.
“Marcus . . . Son, you’re going to want to put that gun down now,” Vic says as he motions to the other guard to stand down.
“But do I really Vic? I won’t let him have her. He can’t have her.” The guard closest to Marcus tries to make a move and lunges. I see the flash before I hear the sound and the guard slumps to the floor. I jump, my skin crawling as a dead man falls to my feet. “I told him I was going to kill him.”
Marcus quickly yanks me in front of him and wraps his arm tightly around my neck with the gun pointed out in front of us at people I love and care for. I reach up and wedge my fingers between my throat and his arm, giving myself just enough room to take a breath while everyone watches Marcus use me as a human shield. Jesse and Cason have both reacted and are maneuvering around cars towards us.
“Stay back and she won’t get hurt,” Marcus says as he points the gun to the side of my head.
I lock eyes with Jesse. He motions for me to stay calm as he slowly inches towards us. I shake my head as my eyes widen to the point of pain. Jesse died in my mind, and that was bad enough. I can’t let it actually happen, ever. I keep breathing, gasp after gasp.
His eyes change, and I can see his need for me to trust him. His lips start moving as he mouths something to me. I follow the smooth lines of those perfect lips as they form the words
“I love you.”
Then my stomach drops, because I realize it means he’s going to try to do something really stupid. He always thinks he has to be my hero, but love goes both ways. It’s my turn to be his hero.
I can’t watch him get hurt.
Jesse inches forward again, but this time Marcus sees him.
Marcus shifts, taking the gun from my head and training it directly on Jesse’s chest. The pounding in my ears reaches explosion levels. The panic I feel makes my ears ring so loudly it drowns out almost all of my other senses. I’m enraged as I watch Jesse step further into danger for me. Doesn’t he understand that he can’t do that?
“You. I should take you out. You are a thorn in my side that just won’t go away.” Marcus’s grip tightens on the gun. Jesse takes another step towards us. “I’d hoped that little accident would take care of the problem, but you know what they say—if you want something done you have to do it yourself. That little weasel Jordan can’t do anything right.”
“Jesse,” Cason hisses.
“You want her? Well, you can’t have her. If I can’t have her, no one can,” Marcus turns the gun to me, placing the barrel against my temple once again and stopping Jesse dead in his tracks.
“No, Marcus, don’t. I’ll back off,” Jesse says with fear lacing his voice. “Don’t. Please. I’ll do what you want.”
“Look at that! Jesse Callaway, begging. The King of Cherry Creek finally falls,” Marcus sneers as he points the barrel of the gun back towards Jesse’s chest. “You really aren’t what they’ve claimed you are—invincible.”
“Stop!” I yell as loud as I can to gain everyone’s attention, “Stop, Marcus. I’ll choose you. I’ll go with you. It doesn’t have to be this way.”