by Joan Davis
“I’m in my truck, where the fuck are you? Tell me where you are.”
“I’m on Arcadia Street just before Old Jim Davis Bridge. I think he’s planning to run me off the damn bridge,” Gabriel said through gritted teeth. “Get to Honor and Lela. I need to know they’re safe.” He watched as the SUV swerved into the opposite lane and edged up alongside his truck. Gabriel didn’t have to wonder what they planned to do. He didn’t bother to look over. Instead, he gauged the distance to the bridge and braced himself for the coming attack.
The second he saw the SUV swerve towards his truck, Gabriel stomped on his breaks and jerked the wheel away from the SUV. The SUV smashed into Gabriel’s truck and he fought hard to maintain control. The airbags blew and smoke filled the truck’s cabin. The impact threw him back in his seat and then sideways as his truck flew up and flipped. Gabriel tried to hold on through the roll, but something stabbed into his shoulder and he was thrown sideways again. His head struck the side window and his vision blurred for a moment. The truck landed upright with bone-jarring intensity. Gabriel shook his head and tried to sit upright, but his body was pinned sideways. He lifted his head and brushed glass and blood from his eyes. He could just make out that the truck was wedged up against the bridge’s guardrail abutment. Feeling around him, he realized the crumpled metal on the driver’s side was wedging him against the center console. His body felt as if it was going to break apart if he moved.
He could hear someone moving around the truck, but his vision blurred and everything started to fade. The last thing Gabriel heard before he blacked out was Conner’s tinny voice yelling from the phone that was somewhere in the cab.
*****
As the hot water poured over Honor’s head she put her hands over her mouth to stifle the sobs she had been holding back for hours. A shiver of fear and anger went through her and she shook her head knowing she couldn’t give into either emotion at this point. She briskly washed her body and hair and then rinsed off. Turning off the shower, Honor dried off and wrapped a towel around her head to hold her wet hair. She threw on her sweats and walked back into the bedroom.
She relaxed a little when she found that Lela was sound asleep. Honor took the iPad from her hands and placed it on the night stand. She gently tucked the covers around Lela’s little body and turned on the bedside table lamp before turning off the overhead light, leaving the bedroom warmly lit in case she awakened.
As she started out of the bedroom an enormous arm circled her waist and she was jerked back against a muscular body. At the same time a large hand was placed over her mouth so she couldn’t make a sound. She saw Lela from the corner of her eye. She was still asleep.
A shudder went through Honor’s body. She was completely helpless. She couldn’t protect Lela, or herself. It was happening. Why had she ever thought she could be free of her nightmare?
*****
CHAPTER 11
“Damn woman, don’t fight me. It’s me, Mik. Something has happened and I need to take you and Lela out of here. But I need you to trust me and not make a sound. Can you do that?” Mik asked in a whisper close to Honor ear. At her slight nod, he continued. “Gabriel is in trouble, I can’t go into it here. I need your help.”
Honor nodded again and was slowly released. She turned and stared a Gabriel’s friend. “Is he . . .”
“I don’t know. We need to move. Get some clothes packed and bring anything you and Lela can’t do without,” Mik said. His eyes where glacial and hard. Honor knew he wouldn’t hesitate to restrain her if she tried to run. And she wanted to run.
Instead, Honor quietly raced around her bedroom gathering clothes and personal items, along with Lela’s medicine and school clothes. She stuffed everything into a large duffle bag and turned to Mik. He was already gathering Lela into his arms and heading towards to French doors that led to her back yard. He turned to Honor and gestured for her to open the doors.
“I need you to go down first and I will hand Lela down to you. I’m going to need my hands free,” Mik directed in a near whisper.
Honor did as she was told and opened one of the French doors, then jumped to the ground below. Mik handed the still sleeping little girl down to her, then he reached to the side, then jumped down beside them. He shouldered her duffle bag and reached back for an assault rifle Honor hadn’t seen until now. A shiver of dread went down her spine. Mik motioned for her to move towards the back of her property. It was turning dark, but Honor could see that a portion of her fence had been cut away. They duck-walked through the opening and once clear, Mik led them to an SUV parked about two blocks away. Two large men sat in the front and Mik loaded her and Lela into the back seat and followed them in, after tossing her duffle in the back.
“Move,” Mik ordered, and the SUV sped off.
“Where are you taking us?” Honor asked quietly. Lela moved restlessly in her arms, and Honor rubbed her back to sooth her.
“Sam’s” Mik said abruptly. He turned to look at Honor when she didn’t speak again. Her tattoo stood out starkly against her paper-white skin, and her eyes were glassy as she met his gaze. She looked as if she was going to pass out. He reached out his hand, but stopped when she flinched away. “Jesus, honey. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m trying to get you and Lela to a safe place. Please trust me. Gabriel is missing, but the last thing he told Conner was to protect you both.”
At the mention of Gabriel, Honor’s eyes filled will tears. She wouldn’t allow them to fall and blinked several times to stop them. “Maximus Dunn,” she whispered.
Mik looked tortured as he said, “We just don’t know, yet. We’re trying to find out as fast as we can.”
Nodding, Honor laid her cheek against Lela’s head and stared blindly out the side window of the SUV.
*****
His head felt like it was about to explode. That is if the pain in his shoulder didn’t take him out first. Scrunched into the back floor of vehicle, he tried to stay conscious, but all he really wanted to do was to let the darkness take him again.
“Why the fuck are we hauling this asshole around? I thought Dunn wanted him dead.”
Gabriel heard a gun cock. “Don’t ask fucking questions. Just do what you’re told. I’m not going to get my ass blown away because you can’t follow orders! Got it?”
“Fuck man, I got it, I got it! You don’t need to shove a fucking gun in my face. I was just asking a question.”
“A gun’s the only thing you seem to understand. What the fuck is taking so long, Santos?”
“Almost there. He said to pull around back and try not to draw attention to ourselves.”
Gabriel listened to the conversation with dread. They were taking him to Dunn. But where? He couldn’t tell how long they’d been traveling, since he’d only come to a minute before. However, he could tell it was dark, as he gazed up towards the window above his head. Minutes later they turned and drove over uneven ground, then came to an abrupt stop. Gabriel decided to play opossum. It was the only chance he felt he had.
The back door of the SUV opened and Gabriel heard, “I’ll get his arms, you get his legs,” before rough hands grabbed him and dragged him out of the vehicle. Gabriel couldn’t stop the pain-filled groan that came out of his mouth as his shoulder was wrenched. He swallowed as bile filled his throat. Blackness threaten to overtake him, but he fought the sensation. Minutes later he was tossed onto a bed. He didn’t move, even though his body was in an uncomfortable position.
“Did you search him?” a cold voice asked.
It took everything in Gabriel not to react to the sound of Maximus Dunn’s voice. He hadn’t heard it in years, but he’d never forget it.
“Yeah, all he had on him was a pocket knife. We did find a 45 in the glove compartment, and I got his phone like you ordered. The face is cracked, but it’s still seems to work.”
“How bad are his injuries? I need him alive for a few more hours, at least.”
“I don’t think he’s going to die until you
want it. But it don’t matter. He has never even regained consciousness, except for a few moans. The bastard’s too fucked up to be moving around anytime soon.”
Gabriel heard someone else walk into the room, and recognized the voice as soon as he spoke.
“Oh Christ, why the hell did you bring him here?” Detective Lane demanded.
“I wouldn’t have had to if your man had done his job, now would I, Joseph?” Dunn hissed.
“How could he know she and the kid would disappear? He watched her go into the house with the kid. Her truck is still here. We couldn’t risk drawing attention from the fucking neighbors by surrounding the place. There was no way to know,” Lane said, knowing Dunn wouldn’t like to be reminded that his man had verified Honor’s whereabouts at the same time.
“And because of your incompetence I’ve had to change my plans,” Dunn said. Contempt laced every word.
“Change how? We can’t fucking stay here, Maximus. Ryan’s people are going to swarm this town looking for him. We missed our chance to get the woman and girl. Blame me if you have to, but let’s cut our losses and get the fuck out of here before it’s too late.”
“Do you have so little faith in me, Joseph? Isn’t it obvious? They would never think to look here. It is genius, don’t you think? While they run around in circles, we will be right under their noses,” Dunn said in satisfaction. “Leave Smith in here with Ryan. Smith, if he moves, shoot him.”
Gabriel listened as everyone left the room and the door closed. He heard shuffling and knew it must be the man they left to watch him. After that, all he could hear was the slight murmurs of voices in the front of the house. Slitting open one eye, he recognized the room. Jesus, they had him in Honor’s home. Dunn was fucking insane to pull this stunt. Gabriel’s next thought was hoped that Honor and Lela were not on their own. He didn’t know how she knew to get out when she did, but he hoped she had help. Pain flared through his shoulder again. Gabriel couldn’t resist the darkness this time.
*****
Honor sat huddled in the corner of the big leather sofa in Sam and Risa’s living room. They had put Lela on Sam and Risa’s bed so they could hear her if she woke. Conner had the property on lockdown. Security personnel was roaming every square inch of Sam’s property, and beyond. She could hear both Conner and Mik speaking into their phones, trying to get leads on Gabriel’s disappearance.
Conner told her that Sam and Risa would be home within the hour. They had been in Charlotte when they got the call from Conner, and were now on their way back home. Honor felt like ice had invaded her entire body. She couldn’t think past the terror racing through her veins. Dunn had Gabriel. She didn’t need anyone to confirm it for her. She knew. He was hurt and in the hands of a monster, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Conner continued to tell her how he found Gabriel’s totaled truck when he got to Jim Davis Bridge. The passenger door had stood open, but Gabriel was not inside. Conner said that he didn’t think Gabriel could have gotten out on his own. Honor had nearly lost it when he spoke those words, but she fought for control and asked, “Why not?” Conner hesitated, but finally admitted that due to the condition of the truck’s cab, he figured that Gabriel must be badly injured and lost a lot of blood.
Honor stood quickly and shook her head, trying to erase the echo of those words. The vision of Gabriel laying somewhere bloody and broken tore her heart into shreds. She walked into Sam and Risa’s bedroom and watched Lela sleep.
Honor’s heart expanded and clenched at the same time. She knew she couldn’t love Lela any more if she were her own. The thought of losing her or Gabriel tore her apart. How could she survive it? They had become such a huge part of her life.
Honor stiffened as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Conner motioned for her to come back out to the living room. She took one more look at Lela before exiting the room and softly closing the door.
Conner ran his hand over his face and said, “We’re following several leads and I’m still waiting for a few of my people to get back to me. We’re going to find him, Honor. I swear on my life.”
Shaking her head, Honor said, “I’m trying to believe you, Conner. I really am, but I’m terrified. They got to Gabriel, so how are we going to keep Lela safe? I know you think you have thought of everything to protect us, but I’m telling you, if that man wants something, nothing will stop him. You know this. I’ve been around people like him all my life. They don’t care about anything but what they want, and they’ll do anything to get it.” Honor choked back her tears. She’d done enough crying. “She’s just a little girl. If he takes her . . .”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Honor jumped at the deep growl of Sam Knight’s voice and swung around. He, along with Risa, stood in the front entry way. Mik shut the front door and came to stand next to them.
At a loss, Honor held out her hands. “How can you know that? I get that you guys run this big security firm, and Sam, you worked as a bounty hunter before you went into construction. But my whole life I’ve watched how these kind of people operate. They don’t play by anyone’s rules. They just take. I watched a pimp kill one of his girls for asking for the night off. He just slit her throat, threw her down on the ground and walked away. That’s the kind of monster you’re dealing with.” Shaking her head, she turned to Conner. “You were there when Gabriel’s sister was killed. Do you think he had any guilt or remorse about ordering those men to do what they did? Animals like him don’t feel anything except vengeance and power, and as much as I want to believe that you guys will be able to stop him, I can’t. And now he has Gabriel!” Honor almost screamed with the pain of saying those words.
“Honor, we don’t know for sure . . .”
“Oh God, please stop! You know Dunn has him. Stop acting like you don’t know that!” Honor ordered harshly, as she confronted Conner.
“Then you have to take a leap of faith, like I did,” Risa said.
Honor stared at her in disbelief. “A leap of faith,” Honor repeated almost condescendingly. I don’t get these people. How can they be so naive?
Risa looked uncomfortable for a moment before admitting, “When Sam told me he wouldn’t allow the people who took me to take me back or hurt me ever again, I didn’t really believe him. My only thought was that maybe, just maybe, he could find me again before they killed me. I fully expected to be taken. After all, it’s what they kept telling me over and over for the five years they held me captive. I would never be free and they would always find me.”
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I decided to trust in him. What did I have to lose? I knew how badly I wanted be without the threat of their taking me again. My only chance was to believe in Samson. I know it has to be tougher for you. You’ve only had yourself to count on for most of your life. You don’t trust anyone to really have your back, do you?”
Unable to answer, Honor sat down in one of the leather chairs. “It doesn’t have anything to do with trust . . .”
“Doesn’t it? You were ready to run tonight because you didn’t think I could protect you and Lela,” Mik said, as he sat down across from her on the couch. Everyone else followed suit and found a place to sit.
Trying to make him understand, Honor said, “It wasn’t that I don’t trust you, Mik, or any of you for that matter. Running is how I have always protected myself. It’s my first instinct, but with Gabriel . . .”
“It changed,” Risa said softly.
“That’s why you left Atlanta, isn’t it? You were trying to protect Mama Leone,” Sam asked and then admitted. “Gabriel told me about your background.”
Looking down, Honor gave a painful nod. “It terrified me that Dunn would someday decide that I had told her what really happened to me, and that he would come after her. So I took the first opportunity I could to leave Atlanta. I’ve rarely gone back. I couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to her because of me. You said I never trusted anyone to have my bac
k, but that’s not true. She always had my back, but as tough as she is, she can’t stop a knife or a bullet.”
Sam remembered what Gabriel had told him about his conversation with Detective Lane in San Francisco. Honor had been running since she was five. She couldn’t have been very old when she witnessed the murder she spoke of earlier. His jaw clenched in anger. What if that animal had seen her? Her life could have ended right then. God, how many other nightmares had she witnessed as she fought to survive alone on the streets of Atlanta? Sam thought. Gabriel must be have wanted to kill Dunn twenty times over after hearing about these things.
Leaning forward, Sam took Honor’s hand. “You’re right. There are no guarantees in this life. Risa is right. You have to decide to take a leap of faith. You have to be strong for Lela. You are all she has to hang on to until we get Gabriel back. You have to trust that there is nothing more important to me, and the rest of us for that matter, than finding Gabriel and making sure Maximus Dunn is stopped. Trust in that. Trust in us.”
Staring at Sam, Honor fought her inner demons. Negative thoughts about what might be happening to Gabriel choked her, but when she turned to look at everyone else, she realized that there wasn’t a group of people she trusted more than these people. They were Gabriel’s family.
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she turned back to Sam and said, “I can do that. I do trust you, and I trust that you all can find Gabriel and protect us.” Please God, let this work.
*****
Everyone spent a restless night. Conner, Mik and Sam closeted themselves in Sam’s office for most of the night and only came out to eat and give Honor and Risa updates. They were betting that whoever had Gabriel was still in the area, since the police and Conner’s resources hadn’t caught any Intel or sightings to suggest anything different. Road blocks and random checks on vehicles only supported their theory.