The UN Series Complete Box Set

by Shantel Tessier

  I hear Tate’s voice, but I can’t understand what he says over my heavy breathing.

  “It’s Sam. She’s missing. Now get your ass out of bed,” he shouts.

  “I’ll meet you there.” I hang up on him, finally hitting the bottom level and running to my car.

  *****

  I sit in the back office at Larry’s as a silent recording plays in front of me. Tate stands beside me and Parker leans down on one knee in front of me. No one speaks as we all watch the scene play out in front of us on the monitor.

  We see Angel pull up in her car. The sun is starting to set but it’s not dark yet. She has a smile on her face as she starts to walk to the back door. She jumps back when a black truck almost hits her. The way the camera is facing; all you can see is the hood of what looks like to be an older black Chevy. There’s no sound, so all you can do is see her reaction as she seems to be yelling something. She goes to walk around but it speeds off. She stands grounded to her spot, eyes wide and body stiff. I watch as my worst fear steps into the view of the camera; Jax.

  “Son of a bitch,” Tate hisses.

  She shakes her head a few times, and I watch helpless for a few good minutes before I see her try to run around him. I jump to my feet when he lunges for her, and they both go falling to the ground, him landing on top of her.

  I stand there numbly as she tries to fight him off. He punches her in the back, drags her by her ankle, and then lifts her by her hair before he shoves her into her car.

  Her parking spot is in clear view of the camera, so we continue to watch as her small car shakes from their struggle. He manages to rip her purse from her shoulder and throw it out the window next to her phone. She slaps him and then he slaps her back. She struggles with him a little bit more and then he grabs her by the back of her head and shoves her face first into the dash.

  Her body slumps back into the seat; out cold. He picks her left hand up once again, removes her ring, and then tosses it out the window as well. He takes off leaving a trail of black from her tires heating up the pavement.

  Then there’s nothing. She’s gone. Jax has her.

  I stand there and blink a few times trying to understand what I just saw. This didn’t happen. It couldn’t have.

  Tate gets my attention as I hear glass break against a wall.

  “We will find her,” Parker says standing and facing Tate and myself. He looks at me, and I see the doubt in his eyes. The anger in his tight jaw. His chest bowed and fists clenched.

  His eyes move to Tate as I hear another piece of glass break. “Stop breaking shit,” he demands. “The cops will also be in here watching this. I have to call this in,” he says to me.

  I nod my head. But it doesn’t matter, fuck the police. I’ll find the bastard first.“They won’t find shit on there.” I finally find my voice. There was no tag number on the truck. Hell, I’m not even one hundred percent sure what the model was. All I saw was half of a black rusted hood.

  “I have to call this in, Slade.” He pulls out his phone.

  “He’s right.” I hear Tate’s deep and hard voice. “There’s nothing on that video telling us where she is now. That was over two hours ago.” My eyes focus up on the monitor and the screen shatters as something shiny knocks into it.

  Parker turns his attention back over to Tate, and I hear a soft cry come from behind me. I turn to see Holly standing in the corner as she cries her heart out. Her body shakes, her hand covering her mouth and tears running down her face. I forgot she was in here watching it as well. I walk over to her and place my arms around her.

  “I’ll find her,” I promise.

  She wraps her arms around me as her body shakes, and I hold onto her tighter, afraid if I let go she will fall to the floor.

  Tate storms past us as he dials a number on his phone while Parker speaks on his as well.

  “I’ll get her back,” I say aloud. I have to.

  An hour later I’m standing in the back parking lot. It’s full of police cars and even an ambulance.

  I have passed whatever fucking state I was in, and I’m so fucking pissed I feel I may explode. I want to punch something. I want to knock something to the ground. I want to treat someone as if they are my personal rag doll. My heart is breaking for Angel. And my mind is going in all different directions.

  Is she alive?

  Maybe she was more than knocked out.

  Where has he taken her?

  What was he planning on doing with her?

  The cops have asked me questions, and I just play stupid. As if I know nothing, but I know everything.

  They wanna know what happened to the monitor and Holly told them that it had broken a couple days ago. So they had to watch it on another device. She also managed to clean up the mess of broken glass before they showed. I was just going to leave it. Fuck them.

  “What do you know?” I hear Parker ask another cop.

  He points to some black marks on the concrete. “Not much, man.” He sighs. “There are two sets of tire marks.” He then points to the others that I know were from her car. “We have an APB out on her car. Waiting to hear something back from it.” He runs a hand over his short golden hair.

  They’ll never find it. He probably ran it off into a lake. Even if they do, she probably won’t be near it.

  “Slade?”

  I spin around to see Tate placing his phone in his pocket. It’s the first time he’s spoken since he walked out of the office.

  I walk over to him. “Please tell me you have something.” He’s my only hope. He’s been on his phone nonstop—he has to have something.

  He looks around the parking lot and then his eyes land on mine. “Let’s go.” He turns around and starts to walk off.

  I don’t even ask. I take off after him.

  “Wait,” Parker says. “Where are you guys going? The cops will have more questions for you.” He looks at me.

  Tate looks at Parker then to me. “These cops can’t help Slade.”

  “They can and they will,” Parker insists. “The tires. They can match skid marks to tread. Then that will help narrow…”

  “Help him what?” Tate demands. “Help find her body?”

  I flinch at that statement. No. She’s not dead. I’ll find her.

  “No offense, Parker, you guys have too much fucking red tape. I don’t,” Tate continues.

  “What are you going to do?” Parker asks with concern.

  “Whatever the fuck I have to do to get my sister back. If you have to arrest me afterwards, then so be it.” He turns and walks over to his truck that he arrived in with Parker. “Meet me at the house. We don’t have time to waste,” he instructs me, and then he looks at Parker. “Catch a ride with one of your buddies,” he growls looking over at all the cop cars with disgust. Then he’s off.

  I go to walk away, and Parker grabs my shoulder. “Sister?”

  “I don’t have time to explain.” I shrug him off and continue to my car having a hard time controlling the anger I feel inside.

  He comes running up behind me and jumps into my passenger seat before I go speeding off into the night.

  Parker sits stiffly as I slam on the gas and head to their house. “Does she know?” he asks looking down at his phone. It’s all of a sudden lighting up the inside of my car. No doubt the cops wanting to know why the three of us just left.

  “No.” I don’t feel like speaking.

  We make our way into their house, and Tate hangs up his phone again. “You know how we thought Jax was into drugs when we went up to Larry’s? He is. He owes someone money for his addiction. I don’t know how much or what Sam has to do with it. But she’s connected somehow.”

  “Why?” Parker asks. “Does he plan on selling her or something?”

  “Don’t fucking say that!” I snap, fisting my hands down by my side.

  He turns to face me. “How else would she help him with his debt? He could be into more than just drugs, Slade. And someone who is fucked up on dru
gs will do anything for their next fix.”

  I take a step toward him, about to punch his lights out, when Tate speaks. “It’s true. Right now he is capable of doing anything. We need to get her back.”

  “Who does he owe?” Parker asks.

  Tate shakes his head. “My contact didn’t know.”

  “Your contact?” Parker asks skeptically. “Do you do drugs as well, Tate?” he asks in an accusing voice.

  “I don’t see how that is any of your fucking business, Parker,” he shoots back.

  “Of course it’s my business. I’m a cop and living with you,” Parker snaps back.

  “Stop,” I yell. I look at Tate. “I don’t care what you do, Tate. Right now you call whoever you need to call and find out where Jax is.” Then I look at Parker. “If you need to leave, then leave. I’m with Tate on this one. I will do whatever I have to do to get her back. Even if that means walking up to a druggie and buying some for myself.”

  “You are a defense attorney, Slade. That’s putting your job in jeopardy. What if someone saw you? You would risk your career for that?” he asks wide-eyed.

  What a ridiculous question. “I would risk my life for her,” I shout. “Fuck my job.”

  My nostrils flare, and my hands shake. She has been taken from me. And all I want to do is beat the fuck out of something. “I know you’re a cop. There’s no need for you to put your job on the line as well. Just walk away, Parker.”I wouldn’t hold it against him. He doesn’t understand love, and what I’m capable of when it comes to getting her back.

  “I would never walk away and not try to help get her back. I’m afraid for her safety just as much as you guys are.” Parker sighs and looks over at Tate. “Do what you have to do. I’m with you guys.”

  I walk into Tate’s kitchen and grab the rum that sits on top of his fridge and pour myself a glass. I need alcohol. Not because of what I’m about to do, but because of what has happened. I wasn’t lying when I told Parker I would do anything to get her back. I will.

  Tate picks up his phone and looks at both of us. “Turn your phones on silent and don’t say a word.”

  We do as he says, and I pick up my drink as Tate sits down at the kitchen table. He holds his phone up to his ear and a few awkward silent seconds pass before he speaks.

  “Hello.” Pause. “Yeah. Long time.” He looks up at Parker. “Yeah, I need some. Same as before.” Parker stiffens, and I look away.

  I know Tate has a past. He doesn’t talk about it but I know it’s there. Right now, I’m thankful for that past. It’s gonna help me find her.

  “Can you meet me now?” He nods his head. “Thanks.” He hangs up and jumps to stand. “Let’s go, Slade.”

  “I told you. I’m in,” Parker says slamming a fist down onto the table, running out of patience.

  Tate shakes his head. “It’s already risky bringing Slade, but I can use him. You are a cop. If anyone finds out what we’re doing, we can kiss Sam goodbye. The people who Jax owes won’t give a fuck about her being offered as payment or whatever he plans on using her for. They will kill her. Stay here. Don’t leave and don’t answer your phone.”

  “So you want me to act like nothing happened? I was there. The other officers are already calling and texting me wanting to know why I left with Slade. They would expect me to be up at the station trying to find my best friend’s girl.”

  “Then go do that. Just keep your fucking mouth shut. You never know which cops are dirty.”

  Parker takes in a deep breath. “No one I work with is dirty,” he states with rage.

  Tate shakes his head. “I don’t have time to fuck with you, Parker.” Then he turns around and walks out the front door with me behind him.

  *****

  “I need you to control your temper,” Tate says as he turns off his lights and pulls down a dark street in his truck.

  This coming from a guy who broke a lamp, a TV, and two pictures back in the office at Larry’s. “I will.” I think I’ve done pretty fucking well.

  “No. I brought you to use you, don’t make me regret it.”

  I turn to face him. “What the fuck? I am willing to do anything to find her. Why are you acting like I will blow the only opportunity I have?” I slam my fist on his center console.

  He looks down to it and then back up to me. “This guy were meeting, he is an old client of yours.”

  “What?” I slam my fist on the dash this time. “Does he know she’s my fiancée?”

  “I don’t know. I was just told that Jax has been hanging out with him, even owes him money. And I know he always has something on him.” He brings his truck to a stop and reaches back into the backseat, grabbing a handful of rope.

  “What’s that for?”

  “I told Parker to keep his mouth shut. Once this guy finds out what we are doing, he will rat us out. He makes money off of Jax, you think he wants to lose that?”

  I shake my head. Whatever I got to do.

  We make our way down the darkened street. I don’t even know where the hell we are. It’s definitely a rundown part of St. Louis. Tate stops when we come to an old rusted door. “Take this.” He hands me the rope. “Go to the end of the street and take a right. Enter the first door on your right. That will put you in the back room of his office.”

  I nod my head as I look around to make sure we weren’t followed. He enters the door, and I do as he says. As soon as I come to the door I enter it can hear Tate on the other side talking.

  “Where’ve you been, Jonathan?” a man’s voice asks.

  Jonathan? Oh yeah he had said back in my office after New York that Tate was not his real name. Wasn’t Jonathan the guy who raised him? No wonder he goes by a different name.

  “Around,” he responds casually as if they are talking about a football game.

  “It sure has been a long time,” the guy says. “Can I take this as you are back to your old ways?”

  “Yeah.”

  There’s a few tense seconds of silence. “So, I hear you have been hanging out with Slade Long?” he asks. “Good at his job. He defended me once. Got me off before I could even say two words.”

  I stiffen as I look down at the floor. I want to puke. How could I have ever defended someone who is now involved in taking my life away?

  “Yes, I hear he’s good.”

  “I guess a defense attorney is someone you wanna keep around for sticky times,” the man adds.

  “Something like that,” Tate mutters.

  “Why have you been hanging out with him?” he asks with a hint of bite.

  “It’s crazy that you ask about Slade,” Tate responds coolly. “He would like to talk to you.”

  I take that as my cue to show my face. I open the back door and walk in. I notice the guy as soon I lay eyes on him. He was one of my first clients. A first time offense with half an ounce of weed charged with a misdemeanor. Didn’t seem like a big deal to me back then. Now? Now it means a fucking lot. He’s part of my world being taken away.

  “Slade?” he asks with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  “You’ve come a long way, Dallas,” I say looking him in the eye. “For a guy who just once got caught with half an ounce of weed.” My eyes rake over his desk where he sits. Pill bottles and baggies cover the surface. Some full of powder, others with various sizes of pills.

  He gives me a cruel smile as he smoothes his expensive suit jacket down his chest. “I was into more then, they just happen to catch me on a slow day.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Plus, you were really good at convincing the judge that it was not mine.” He smiles.

  “That’s my job.” The words come out making me sound proud of myself, and I cringe realizing the fact that all I do is help sleaze balls get off.

  His eyes look down at the rope in my hand, and his eyes go big. “What is going on?” He turns to face Tate.

  Tate straightens his back and crosses his tattooed arms over his chest. “Jax. I’m looking for him. Know wher
e I can find him?”

  Dallas shakes his head a few times.

  “Don’t play dumb with me, I heard he owes you some money,” Tate continues.

  “Not me.” He looks from Tate to me. “He paid me last week.” Tate takes a step toward me and holds out his hand. I reach over and hand him the rope.

  “I’m being serious,” Dallas says wide-eyed shifting uncomfortable in his chair. “What does Slade and you have to do with Jax?”

  I clear my throat. “I’m engaged to Jax’s ex-girlfriend.”

  He stands from in his chair. “Sam is your fiancée?” He has the audacity to look surprised.

  I’m in his face with my hands gripping his shirt in seconds. “Don’t act like you didn’t fucking know that,” I growl. “What the fuck do you know about her?”

  He shake his head breathing heavy. His breath reeks of bourbon, and it makes me want to vomit. “Just that he’s been wanting to get back with her.”

  “Where is he?” I shake him.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You’re lying,” I hiss.

  I let go of him and shove him back. His knees hit his chair, and he falls into it. I snap my fingers holding out my hand. Tate throws me the rope. “Now tell me where in the fuck he is.” I take a step toward him. “And I will make this much quicker than it has to be.”

  “I know nothing. I swear,” he cries. “Please?” He raises his hands as in surrender.

  I almost laugh. Some big drug dealer he is. All I’ve done is talk, and he’s already begging.

  I punch him, and he squeals as blood pours from his nose. “I swear...” He lifts his hands, and I wrap my hand around his neck, cutting off his air.

  “I swear that I will fucking kill you. Now tell me where in the fuck he is,” I demand squeezing to the point his face turns red.

  *****

  I unroll the paper towels that we took from Dallas’ bathroom then hand some over to Tate.

  “Thanks,” he mumbles as he tries to wipe off his hands while driving.

  I tear some off for myself and wipe off my hands along with my face. It didn’t take long to get the bastard to talk. We both had to make him bleed some but it felt good to use him as a punching bag. He told us that Jax lives with another guy who goes by J. But he’s never met him. He thinks this J guy owns the house but lives out of town. He just allows Jax to stay there. Sounds fishy to me but it’s the only lead we have to go on.