“What?” Snow snapped around, his heart stopping in his chest for a second before racing off. Hell, he was the one who was going to have a heart attack. “He’s leaving them alone? He can’t do that! Andrei, stay with the table!”
Lucas stunned Snow by slamming him against the door with his right hand. Snow swore at his best friend, but Lucas didn’t flinch. “You knew this was a possibility,” Lucas said in a low voice. “They will wait ten minutes. If Andrei isn’t back by then, they quietly leave. We’re close to catching Gratton. We can still do this.”
“But Jude and Geoffrey are in the dark. We can’t warn them if something goes wrong with Andrei.”
“Ten minutes,” Lucas said firmly, but Snow was no longer sure if Lucas was trying to reassure Snow or himself.
“Boys, I don’t think you’ve got ten minutes,” Hollis groaned, staring at the forgotten tablet in Snow’s lap.
Snatching it up, the trio stared at the images. Andrei’s camera showed him deftly moving through shadowy corridors, but Jude’s showed that Geoffrey was now standing near the opening closest to the catwalk, his beautiful, young face twisted in pain. Jude was trying to soothe him, get him to sit again, but it looked like a losing battle. Geoffrey was going to blow their cover.
###
A boy stood in the center of the catwalk, the bright lights blinding him. He blinked slowly, clearly drugged and confused, but he was aware enough that he was trembling in fear. His shaggy brown hair, wide eyes, and bony frame left Jude thinking that the kid couldn’t have been more than maybe twelve or thirteen. Across the small tablet that had been placed under the candle, he could see the bids already flashing across the screen.
$375,000…$400,000…$450,000…
Jude had to look away or he was going to be sick. But when he did, his eyes immediately fell on Geoffrey. He was pacing, moving silently back and forth from his chair to the opening in the curtain. Every few passes, he’d get just a tiny bit closer to the opening as if he were going to step out and snatch the boy from the catwalk.
And this was only the second boy to come out since Andrei had disappeared from their private room to go after Gratton. He glanced at his watch. They still had at least six more minutes before they could go, but Geoffrey was crumbling fast.
On Geoffrey’s next pass close to the table, Jude reached out and grabbed Geoffrey’s thin wrist, pulling him off balance so that he fell into his chair with a soft scrapping of the legs along the carpet. A soft whimper escaped him and he trembled under Jude’s firm grip.
“I can’t do this. It’s wrong,” he moaned softly.
“It is, but you have to hold it together.”
“We have to do something.”
Geoffrey’s gaze drifted back to the catwalk. The boy had made it to the far end and was making his way back toward the opening. His pace was faster now, his steps a little steadier as if he were coming out of whatever trance he’d been in. Jude’s heart broke. Where had he come from? Stolen off the streets? Kidnapped from a loving family? Or something far worse that Jude couldn’t even begin to imagine.
The young man at his side whimpered again. Jude took his hand in his. “Squeeze my hand. Squeeze it as hard as you have to. But you have to hold it together. We’re leaving here in five minutes. Okay? In five minutes, we walk to the elevator and we’ll meet Andrei safe and sound at the car.”
“But what about him?” Geoffrey looked up at Jude with wide eyes filled with unshed tears. “What about all the others? Are we just going to leave them here? We have to do something.”
“We planned to call the cops. The second we’re outside, I promise. We can’t do anything if they catch us,” Jude pressed, trying to keep his voice low and reassuring.
“Can’t we take one of them with us?” Geoffrey reached out a shaking hand and pointed at the brunette that passed them one last time. “Can’t we take him? He looks like my little brother. Oh God, could this happen to Finn? Not Finn. He’s so sweet and innocent.”
“No, he’s not your brother. Your brother is safe at home.” Jude sucked in a breath, reining in the panic that was building in his chest. Geoffrey was tugging at his grasp as if he were trying to get to his feet again. He was only half in the chair now, leaning toward the opening as if he were trying to make a break for it.
“But he’s someone’s brother. Someone is looking for him.” Geoffrey’s voice was rising with each panicked word.
Jude closed his eyes, swearing softly to himself. “Lucas, warn Andrei. I have to get Geoffrey out of here now before we’re caught.”
Pushing to his feet, Jude pulled Geoffrey with him out of the small room and into the narrow hall that led along the backside of the rooms. He shifted his grip on the smaller man so that he had him just above the elbow, his fingers digging into the sinew of his bicep. It wasn’t his intention to hurt Geoffrey but the man was hovering on the edge of hysterics.
As they neared the door they used to enter, a young man similar to the one who had met them in the foyer stepped out of the shadows to intercept them. Jude’s heart pounded violently in his chest and his mouth went dry. Beside him, Geoffrey softly gasped, but kept his mouth shut and his head down.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” the attendant asked in a low voice.
“We’re leaving,” Jude growled, trying to fill his voice with the kind of distain and haughtiness he’d expect these assholes to feel. “My pet is sick.”
The attendant looked at Geoffrey, who cringed and moaned, giving every impression of being terrified.
“If you would like, we have a retiring room where he may rest comfortably until after the auction. We will see to his care.”
“No, we’re leaving,” Jude snapped. Tightening his hold on Geoffrey, he used the smaller man as a battering ram, pushing his way past the attendant and into the door. The opening temporarily sent a splash of light into the darkened room before they escaped into the hall. Jude shoved down the urge to look over his shoulder to see if they were followed or to run to the elevator, which was only a few yards away.
Jude released his tight hold on Geoffrey only when they stepped onto the elevator alone and the doors closed behind them, descending back to the first floor. A soft sniffling broke the silence of the elevator, and Jude watched Geoffrey out of the corner of his eyes as he roughly wiped away his tears using the heels of his palms.
“I’m sorry,” Geoffrey whispered brokenly. “I’m so sorry that I couldn’t…”
Jude stepped close, putting his hand on the back of the other man’s neck, applying just a little pressure to ease painfully tense muscles. “Don’t. Don’t ever apologize for being sickened by what you saw.”
“But Andrei—”
“He’s good at what he does. He’ll be fine. We’ve got to worry about ourselves right now.”
A second later, the elevator doors slid open and they stepped out into what looked like an empty lobby. Jude placed his hand on Geoffrey’s arm again, but with less force as they started to walk toward the front doors. It looked as if they were going to be able to stroll right out with no additional trouble…until a large man in a charcoal suit stepped out of a partially hidden room, placing his hulking frame between them and freedom.
Jude’s steps slowed and he felt a shiver go through Geoffrey as they both took in the man with beady black eyes and the too-large nose that looked as if it had been broken so many times that it was just a mound of misshapen clay in the middle of his face. Tightening his hand on Geoffrey’s elbow, Jude pulled the young man behind him while taking one last step forward, putting his larger body between Geoffrey and the guard.
“Excuse me, sir,” Smashed Nose said in a nasally voice. “I need you to come with me.”
“No, we’re leaving. My pet is sick,” Jude sharply said, repeating the same excuse that he’d give earlier.
“No one can leave until the auction is completed,” the guard calmly stated. At the same time, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gun
. Jude’s heart dropped into his stomach at the sight of the weapon pointed at his chest. Geoffrey cried softly behind him, his fist tightening in Jude’s suit jacket.
Jude frowned, while mentally taking in the short distance between himself and the man. Only two, maybe three steps. His stomach clenched and he knew if he tried to take a deep breath, it would be ragged and shaky. Instead, he lowered his shoulder and surged forward, ripping his jacket out of Geoffrey’s grasp. Plowing his shoulder into Smashed Nose’s sternum with all his weight thrown into the impact, Jude knocked the man to the ground. The air in the man’s lungs rushed out of him in a whoosh before the sound of his head cracking against the ground echoed through the empty hall. The gun clattered against the ground and slid away.
Every instinct screamed for Jude to check that the man was okay, but he didn’t wait, didn’t check. Spinning on heel, he grabbed Geoffrey’s arm as he stood there stunned and pulled him through the foyer. As they exploded through the double doors and onto the concrete stairs leading back to the sidewalk, Jude slowed his steps. His eyes were drawn to the park directly across the street from Music Hall. Snow was on the other side of that park.
Digging his heels in, he stopped Geoffrey as he tried to run toward the car up the block. “No, through the park. Andrei has the keys to the car.”
Geoffrey didn’t hesitate. With a bob of his head, he darted across the empty street and over a waist-high black metal fence surrounding the park. Jude followed close behind him, the cold metal biting into his palms as he launched himself over the fence. They both dodged the lights, sticking closer to the shadows and trees as they ran, not looking back at the looming brick building. Jude’s heart pounded painfully in his chest. Where was Andrei? Was he safe? Trapped? A voice screamed in his head that he go back for Andrei now that Geoffrey was safely away from the auction, but where the hell would he look for the other man? It would kill him if their abrupt departure had hurt Andrei.
The lights of the city grew brighter as they got closer to the opposite border of the park, Geoffrey’s pace slowed to a walk and Jude stopped beside him.
“Where?” he demanded, breathlessly. “Where are they?”
Jude paused, his eyes frantically searching the area, unsure of which direction to head in until his gaze snagged on a lean, shadowy figure walking briskly in their direction. His heart leapt at the sight of the man. “There. That’s Snow.”
Geoffrey took off, launching himself directly at Snow so that the surgeon stumbled backward a step, caught off-balance. Jude watched as Snow pulled Geoffrey away and quickly checked over him with careful hands, making sure that he was unharmed before he thrust him toward a black Mercedes on the other side of the street.
“Get in the car,” he growled, already striding toward Jude.
Jude wanted to smile at Snow, but he couldn’t. His body was shaking from their escape and the horror of what they’d witnessed. He wanted a shower. He wanted the cops to descend on that place and lock up all those people after setting those poor boys free. He wanted to forget everything he’d seen and return to his own blissful ignorance. He wanted to be alone for a while and just…process.
Snow’s strong hands cupped his face and Jude shivered, longing to sink into his strength and warmth just long enough to pull himself back together, but he couldn’t bring himself to.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did he touch you?” Snow fired at him. His fingers tightened, strong hands sliding over his cheeks and down his neck. “Your camera slipped when you hit that asshole. Couldn’t tell if you had any other trouble.”
“No, I’m good,” Jude whispered. He forced himself to take a steadying breath, his hands coming up to rest on Snow’s waist under his coat. Even with the horror turning his worldview upside down, it seemed the general grounded him, stopped the spinning for just a moment. Jude opened his mouth to ask about Andrei, but the words never got out. Snow’s mouth instantly descended, covering his. A low groan rumbled up Jude’s throat and he leaned into the doctor, pulling their bodies tightly together so that he was swept up in Snow’s heat. His lips parted, welcoming the thrust of Snow’s tongue, as if the doctor was determined to examine him inside and out for his own peace of mind.
“Hey assholes!” snapped an angry voice far too close for Jude’s comfort. He jerked away to see the tall, scruffy-looking cop he’d met at the police station when he’d given his statement. The man was standing just a couple feet away from Snow, his hair stood up in all directions as if he’d been pulling at it. “Get the hell out of here! Back-up is on the way!”
Snow grinned tightly at the man before pulling Jude toward the black Mercedes. As they crossed the street, the driver’s door opened next to the sidewalk and Lucas stepped out, his face a harsh mask of tension and anger.
“Andrei,” Jude said in a rush. “Is he safe? Is he still in there?”
“His camera broke during a fight,” Lucas replied, his voice sharp and brittle with worry.
Snow stopped with his hand on the door handle for the backdoor, staring at his friend across the roof. “Did he get to Gratton?” Jude put his hand on Snow’s shoulder and squeezed through the heavy coat. He knew they’d all risked their lives to get their hands on Gratton, but now wasn’t the time. They needed to get Andrei out of there safely.
“Not before the camera was broken,” Lucas growled.
Jude hesitated in the open doorway, wishing there was some reassurance he could give Lucas, some plan he could offer up that would help to get Andrei back to them safely, but he had nothing. Just as he was about to climb into the backseat with Geoffrey, Lucas jerked away from them, his hand going to his ear. Jude held his breath, waiting.
Lucas cursed softly, but there was a feeling of relief to the word. “Never again, baby.” His voice shook and his shoulders hunched in. “You’re never doing this again.”
Beside Jude, Snow sighed, his own head dropping with relief. Andrei was alive at least.
Spinning back around with new energy, all doubt and worry was wiped clean from Lucas’s face. He jerked open the driver’s side door, but paused in the act of getting inside. “He got out safely. He’s nearly to the car and will meet us back at the penthouse. Let’s go before Hollis decides to arrest of us for the hell of it.”
Jude nodded and jumped in the backseat while Snow climbed into the front seat beside Lucas. Geoffrey slid forward, his hands gripping Lucas’s seat in front of him. The color was back in his face and he looked better than he had in Music Hall.
“Did Andrei get that man? Gratton?”
“No,” Lucas said sharply as he pulled the car from the curb. “But Andrei caught a glimpse of multiple cop cars racing toward Music Hall. They’re going to get the bastards in the auction and free those boys.”
Geoffrey dropped back in the seat, releasing a rush of air that he’d apparently been holding. He looked over at Jude, a hesitant smile curving his lips. It wasn’t what they’d wanted and there was a good chance the fucker that Snow was desperate to get his hands on got away, but they accomplished one good thing. The night wasn’t a total loss.
Chapter 16
Jude arrived for his shift at UC, exhausted and still traumatized from the night before. He’d gone home by himself and spent what was left of the night afraid to sleep in case he had nightmares about those boys. He’d finally drifted off in the early hours, but instead, he’d dreamed of sex with Snow. So he’d awakened tired and unbelievably horny. And worried. Snow had watched him with concern as he dropped him off the night before. Concern and drooping shoulders that told Jude he knew he was struggling.
The only good part of his morning had been a text from Lucas Vallois letting him know that the Cincinnati PD had shut down the auction, saved all the boys, and arrested every sick man in that place. He couldn’t help but feel like that whole mess had been for the best sort of reason after all—even if they hadn’t caught their original target. But he was still having trouble swallowing that this sort of thing went on in the w
orld. And especially here, where he’d grown up. Where his family lived.
Jude walked to the cafeteria where he and Rebecca usually met. For some reason, she loved the food in the place, so she liked to come in early to eat. People milled about the tables—a heavier crowd than normal—but the noise level was surprisingly down. He spotted Rebecca in time to see her cover the taco on her tray with a napkin.
She had her dark brown hair in a bun today, and her black uniform looked freshly ironed. She didn’t have time to hide the huge, purple hickey on her collarbone. He made sure she caught his stare at it, then grinned at her.
Rebecca pulled her shirt collar over it and waved her fork around. “Bad accident on Red Bank Road this morning. It’s set us back, so you have an extra fifteen minutes.”
“And the love bite?”
She pointed at his neck. “I got it to go with yours. Can’t have anyone getting confused when we’re out today if we don’t match.”
“Very funny.” He had a small one—very small. But it did remind him that he still had a half hour, or forty-five minutes now, before his shift and there was a man he should seek out somewhere in this building. He rolled back on his heels, and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Have you seen Dr. Frost?”
Rebecca turned, her smile sort of freezing on her face. “Unfortunately. He’s been in fine form this morning. Just watch.” She pointed toward the hall. “If he comes storming back this way, the people will part like the Red Sea. One poor intern actually splashed into a wall trying to avoid him.”
Jude thought again of the way Snow had looked at him last night when he’d dropped him off at his place. For a moment—just a moment—their eyes had locked and Jude had felt powerful, roiling emotions in the man. Emotions he ruthlessly tried to hide. Jude had thought maybe his general wanted to stay the rest of the night, but was afraid to ask. He’d searched Jude’s eyes, tightened his lips and backed away.
And Jude had let him. He’d needed the space to think, to figure out if the drama and danger of Snow’s life was something he wanted to bring into his own life—to risk his own family—if he was going to keep pursuing the surgeon. Unfortunately, he wasn’t much better off after taking it.
Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 2) Page 19