Never Ever (Never His Duet Book 2)

by Lia Ellison

  “Where is their boss?” Aiden asked.

  “It’s that one.” She pointed in the direction of a guy who was running away with three more men. “Black suit. Dark hair. Tall. Come on. We can’t let him get away!”

  Aiden raced after her as she broke into a run to stop the men.

  She picked up a gun off the ground on her way and fired, but the men were too far away, so she swore under her breath.

  But before Aiden could try to get a good aim at them, they suddenly disappeared behind a pile of cars. He and Jo slowed down, peering around it, just in case the Ritos were waiting for them there.

  “Fuck!” Jo spat out. “They have another car!”

  Of course they did. It was too dark to figure out which cars were just junk and which ones were their getaway cars.

  Aiden sprinted after them, but as he reached the end, the Ritos were already driving away. He looked around for his men, but there wasn’t anyone in sight who might be able to follow them.

  Pulling out his phone, he tapped the screen so he could contact his men. There had to be a way to follow the Ritos or at least figure out in which direction they were going.

  “I can’t believe they got away!” Jo groaned, bending over, and coughed.

  “Are you all right?” He was at her side and he was finally able to see her torn and bloody clothes.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” She waved at him in dismissal. “I can’t believe you actually brought Veronica here.”

  “I need to get to her,” he said. “You stay here, and I’ll be back for you, okay?”

  She gave him a nod. “Thanks, but you don’t have to. I’ll be coming after you. Just need a moment.”

  He took off again, but the shots had already died down. It wasn’t a surprise. Since the Ritos’ boss was gone, the others had followed.

  Once he had Veronica in sight, he slowed down so that none of his men would get jumpy and shoot him.

  One of her guards was on the ground and she was crouched next to him, her eyes full of compassion. Then someone showed up with a first aid kit, and she got to her feet.

  “Aiden!” she yelled as soon as their gazes met, and then she was running toward him. He holstered his gun and spread his arms.

  She threw herself at him, winding her arms tightly around him. Her lips found his, and everything was suddenly right in the world.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she breathed, then gave him another quick kiss. “I was so worried. What happened? Where’s Jo?”

  “She’s fine. Are you hurt?” He looked her up and down.

  “No. I was hiding behind the car. The whole thing was scary, but it’s fine.”

  “Why did you get out of the car at all?”

  She shouldn’t have been out.

  Something could’ve happened to her.

  Why hadn’t her guards stopped her? His orders had been clear.

  “Because it was the only way. They would’ve killed Jo otherwise. And don’t be mad at the guards. They had no choice.”

  Of course they hadn’t.

  Who could ever say no to Veronica?

  “Did you get the Ritos? Are they all dead?” She glanced around at the bodies.

  “No, I’m afraid not. Their boss got away with some of his men.”

  “Oh.” Her face fell.

  “We’ll catch them. They’ll be weaker now that some of their members are dead.”

  “You bet we’ll catch them,” Jo said as she sauntered toward him and Veronica.

  “Are you okay?” Veronica asked, turning her worried gaze to Jo.

  Jo nodded. “I will be when I get a nice and long bath. Gah.” Her brow furrowed. “I see only one car. Where are the rest?”

  “We couldn’t let the Ritos know we were coming,” Aiden said. “They would’ve seen the cars.”

  “Then what did you do? Walk?” A puzzled look crossed Jo’s face.

  “No, we rode bicycles.” He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips. “It was Veronica’s idea.”

  Jo’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. That’s totally unexpected. I can see how you managed to surprise them. Thanks, Veronica. You saved my ass.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without everyone else.” Veronica grinned. “But you’re welcome.”

  “Oh, and I’ve never seen anyone come to a gang fight in a fancy dress.”

  “It was the Ritos’ request.” Veronica rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah, about that... There’s something I need to tell you,” Jo said. “I overheard the Ritos wanted to kidnap you for some reason and...”

  “We know,” Aiden said. “It’s a long story. We should get home. We might’ve sent the Ritos running, but that doesn’t mean we should lower our guard. And Jo, you really need some rest. We can talk tomorrow.”

  “Okay, boss, as you wish.”

  “Jo,” Aiden called before she could leave. “Please let the doc check you out.”

  “It’s just scratches. I won’t die.”

  “Yeah, I know, but still.”

  “Okay.” She trudged off.

  “Do you think there’s anything in this place that the Ritos might’ve left behind and that we might use to track them down?” Veronica asked.

  “My men are already working on it. Come on.” He draped his arm over her shoulders and they started toward the car. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Yeah, I’m totally done with all this gang stuff for tonight.”

  “Just for tonight?” he teased.

  “Well, since you’re still my boyfriend, I’m thinking I’ll be involved in gang stuff again real soon.”

  “Do you regret it?” he asked softly, searching her eyes.

  She was one of the bravest women he’d ever met, and she could certainly handle a lot, but he wasn’t sure if what he had to offer her was worth her trouble. Maybe now that she’d gotten a real taste of his life and her possible future, she no longer wanted it.

  Maybe she doesn’t want you anymore.

  She just doesn’t know how to tell you.

  “No,” she scowled. “Why would I regret saving Jo? We’re all fine. That’s all that matters.”

  “If you changed your mind and you want to stay somewhere safe until this is over, I can arrange it.”

  “Okay, stop being silly.” She stopped and placed her hand on his cheek. “I told you already. I want to be with you.” Her lips brushed his.

  Why did she have to be so perfect? There was no way he was ever going to let her go now.

  He had no clue what he’d done to deserve someone like her, but he was willing to do anything to keep her.

  Chapter 25

  “I WISH I COULD BE OF more help,” Jo said, picking at the bandage on her arm.

  After we’d all gotten some rest, Aiden wanted to hear everything Jo might’ve overheard while being held captive in hopes that it would help us track down the Ritos and their boss.

  “It’s fine,” Aiden said. “I’m just glad that you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, well, I wasn’t overly happy to be their prisoner either. But when they thought that I was unconscious, they mentioned Carter’s vault. It’s a shame they didn’t say where it is.” There was a darkness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

  Did I even want to know what they’d done to her? I tried not to think about it because then I’d see myself as Carter’s captive, and I so didn’t need a reminder of that.

  “Wait, a vault? We thought it was smaller, like a safe or something,” I said, or at least that was what I’d thought.

  She shrugged then winced. “That’s what they called it, and since they needed you to open it, I’m guessing it has to be bigger.”

  “But why would Carter store diamonds and some cash in a vault? Do you think there might be something else too?” I frowned. “I still don’t get why he’d want to pay them so much. Did he plan to double-cross them or something?”

  “I don’t know,” Jo said. “Maybe he did.”

  “My brother
wanted to make me suffer,” Aiden said, looking down at his hands. “He probably didn’t even care how much he’d have to pay them. Maybe he had a plan to get it all back later, or he really intended to trick them once he had Veronica. We don’t even know yet if there’s anything in that vault at all, but we need to find it.”

  “I still can’t believe he wanted to hand me over to some slave trainer.” I groaned.

  So much for trying not to remember.

  If Aiden hadn’t let me go or if I’d stayed a bit longer in his house, they could’ve gotten me, and then who knew what would’ve happened to me.

  It wouldn’t have been anything good. Of that I was sure.

  “He had to be furious with me, or he would’ve never wanted to give you to someone else,” Aiden said. “I don’t know how he even managed not to snap.”

  “Maybe he just didn’t want me anymore after you and I got together,” I said.

  “Yeah, probably.” Aiden pulled out his phone, but the disappointed look on his face told me that there wasn’t any news about the Ritos or about that woman who Carter had bought.

  At least we were all safe for now.

  “So let me get this straight,” Jo said. “Carter found out about your relationship, and then he bought some girl who looks like Veronica, and he planned to take her away from you and give her to some slave breaker. And then he’d bring that broken girl to you, and what? See if you wanted to be with her? Or did he want you to think Veronica would become like her and suffer while you couldn’t do a thing to help her?”

  “I bet it was the latter,” Aiden said. “He must’ve wanted me to be miserable first, and then, once he took everything from me, he’d have killed me.”

  “Do you think he would’ve brought me back to you if that man managed to break me?” I’d defied Carter for as long as I could, but I had no idea what would’ve happened if I’d thought there was no way out for me and that there’d only be more pain.

  Maybe that guy would’ve succeeded in breaking me if I didn’t have any hope that someone would find me and help me. And if I’d believed that Aiden was dead or that he wasn’t coming, then there’d have been no reason for me to live. But I didn’t think they would’ve let me die.

  “No clue, but it doesn’t matter now.” Aiden’s gaze met mine. “No one’s ever taking you away from me, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

  The corners of my lips tilted up.

  “Do you think someone’s helping them?” Jo asked. “Our rivals, perhaps? They would benefit if we disappeared. It’s unlikely no one has seen the Ritos or that they aren’t bothered by their presence. The Ritos can’t be in our territory, but they have to be somewhere nearby.”

  “I’m sure someone’s helping them, but we don’t know who, and if I go around accusing people of it, it’ll give them an excuse to attack,” Aiden said. “I’d like nothing more than to drive them all out of the city, but we’re not ready yet to engage them, especially with the Ritos still on the loose.”

  “Then what are we going to do?” Jo leaned forward, scratching her arm.

  “We’ll keep looking for them and for the vault.”

  “But we can’t wait forever for them to make their move. They almost screwed us over, and we can’t let that happen.”

  “We won’t. We just need a plan to lure them out.”

  I tilted my head, wondering if maybe there was a way to speed things up.

  “If the Ritos didn’t know where the vault is, we could’ve used that against them,” Jo said. “But since they know and we don’t, it won’t help. Maybe we could lie that you knew about the vault all long and that you took everything out of it.”

  Aiden shook his head. “If they know the location, they probably have someone there to keep an eye on it and they know we haven’t been there. Even if we spread rumors that Carter never put anything in there, it’s unlikely they’ll believe us, especially if he showed them proof.”

  “Then how are we going to lure them out?” She pursed her lips.

  “I have an idea,” I said, and they both turned their gazes to me. “The Ritos want me, right? That’s the only thing we know for sure.”

  “Yeah,” Aiden said cautiously. “But I don’t see how...”

  “I can be bait.”

  Aiden’s eyes widened, and Jo’s eyebrows lifted up in surprise.

  “No,” he said. “I’m not putting your life at risk again. Once was too much already.”

  “Come on, think about it. If they want me, they’ll have to come and get me. It’s unlikely they’ll attack this house since they know how well protected we are here, and they would’ve done it already rather than try to kidnap Jo first and lure me out of the house.”

  “Veronica, we can’t. You need to stay here. It’s not safe out there.”

  “Um, boss.” Jo raised her hand in the air as if she were in class. “I think she has a point. The Ritos want her, and it looks like they’re willing to wait us out or they might be already planning how to get into the house. If we make our move first, we might be able to catch them. All of them.”

  “Jo, not now,” Aiden said, getting up from the chair he’d been sitting in and starting toward me.

  I got to my feet too, and then we were face to face.

  “It’s not a terrible idea, but the Ritos will know something’s up and we’d be putting your life at risk for nothing.”

  “Maybe not. I’m sure we can find a way to both keep me safe and get them. Or at least one of them. Even if they realize we’re up to something and believe I wouldn’t leave the safety of this house so soon, someone’s going to be watching me. And then you might be able to figure out who it is and catch him. Just think about it. If you have one guy, he might lead you to the others. Maybe you couldn’t capture anyone at that junkyard, but somewhere else, it might be possible.”

  “No. I won’t take that risk.”

  “It’s not your risk to take. It’s mine.” I stared deep into his eyes.

  “I’m going to give you guys some space,” Jo said, disappearing through the door as quickly as possible.

  “No,” Aiden said, his gaze hard on mine. “End of discussion.”

  Chapter 26

  “NO, AIDEN, WE’RE NOT done here.” I crossed my arms. “I know you want some kind of magical solution to appear so that you don’t have to put my life at risk, but I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. Someone’s helping the Ritos, you said it yourself, and it could take, what? Months to find them? I’m not going to be stuck in this house that long.”

  “No, you won’t, but I still think this is a bad idea. You didn’t want me to be bait either, so you can’t expect me to agree to this now. My men are doing everything they can to track down the Ritos. They’ll show up eventually. Just because we haven’t found them yet doesn’t mean you have to risk your life.” His eyes pleaded with mine.

  “I know, but wouldn’t it be better if we could lure them out on our own terms? Isn’t that exactly what you want? With me, there’s less risk that they’ll try to kill me or blow me up. You can send a bunch of guards with me, or I don’t know, you can do something to make me as safe as possible. But I still think that I should go out there so that everyone can see me, and maybe, just maybe, there’ll be someone who will lead us straight to the Ritos.”

  “They’re not idiots. They’ll know it’s a trap. Why would I ever let you go out so soon, as if nothing happened? As if I want them to catch you?”

  “What if I had a reason to go out? What if they thought it wasn’t about them, and that Jo hadn’t overheard anything and that we don’t know about their plan or about the vault?”

  His brow furrowed. “And what reason would that be?”

  “My club. I could reopen it. The renovation is almost done, right?”

  “Yeah, but I thought you wanted to wait.” Confusion flashed through his eyes. “Look, I know you want to help me, but I don’t think you should do something you don’t really want to do just be
cause you believe you need to.”

  “It’s true that I wanted to wait until people forgot about the whole mess that happened and because I was busy with other things, but I think this is our best shot. Besides, my club is safe. We can post as many guards as you want there, and we can make sure that no one can get to me. I’m sure the Ritos’ men will come too, even if it’s just to check if they can get to me. They’ll send a spy or someone. You just have to figure out who it is and catch them.”

  He opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, but I lifted my finger to shush him.

  “Everyone knows that the club’s mine and how much it means to me, and it won’t be suspicious if I want to reopen it. I can throw a big party for lots of people and with tons of security. The Ritos won’t dare shoot the place up or make their move in the club where everyone can see them or catch them.

  “The cops would be all over them, and then they wouldn’t just have to worry about you finding them. And I bet they’d want to avoid that, so my club should be safe. Their spy will have to come unarmed, or if he somehow manages to slip past security, your men can handle him.”

  “Okay, fine. Let’s say we try your plan. You don’t have to actually be there then,” he said. “I can find someone who looks like you, and in the crowd, no one’s going to know any better.”

  “Or they might, and then they’ll leave before we figure out who they are. Are you forgetting the crowd will also stop you from finding the spy quickly? I need to be there so they stay long enough for you to figure them out. Besides, I’d never miss the reopening of my own club.”

  He ran his hand over his forehead. “And what if we don’t spot him in time, huh? What then? What if he sneaks in a weapon and we can’t stop him until it’s too late?”

  I bit down on my lip, trying to come up with a solution for that particular problem.

  Aiden was right. If I wanted to lure out the spy, I’d have to be out in the open where everyone could see me, and if I did that, then someone would be able to shoot me too, even if I was up on some platform or something.

  A slow smile spread across my lips.