by Blue Saffire
Not just any team either. He sent his family, the best team he has. Jasper Briggs, Earl Briggs, Kelly Briggs – Fecteau, Rita Briggs-Mairettie, and their Greek family team, it didn’t get better than that unless Nathan and Thomas Briggs themselves arrived. That means a lot to me because I know they all left the wedding to be here for my family.
They will have my respect for life. Out of respect, I am going to clean this up not just for my family, but because this will not touch another’s door on my watch. Toby fucked up, but it’s on me. I knew something was wrong back then and I should have dug until I found the problem.
Those motherfuckers got too close. Yeah, I think they just got lucky, but it should never have happened. When Noah and I arrived at my place, there was a box waiting for us. My heart stopped in my chest wondering what was inside.
Noah had the same sick look on his face. I know what he was thinking because he pulled his phone out right away to text Bean for an update. I couldn’t wait for a reply. I secured the box and opened it.
Inside was a tablet device with a sticky note that read, We’ll be in touch. Noah had to grab my shoulder to keep me from slamming the thing into a wall. There is a reason Noah and I are the closest. He is the only one that can reel me in and vice versa. He understands what Nellie means to me and what levels I’ll go to for her.
The rest of the family may think they understand, but Noah has seen the worst of me. Something my other brothers have never seen. Even now as we wait for these pricks to contact us and make our way to destroy them, Noah’s presence is keeping me calm.
He is driving the truck we are in with Dad, Brax, and John in the back. Rob and Steve are in a truck following us. There was no way we were keeping Steve from this mission.
Toby and Ryan are airborne. Felix and Heather are grounded at my parents’ house. That stubborn Bean is still watching the girls. I can’t be mad at her. They actually did transport them to a different location. I just know Noah is going to kill her.
I would be worried about her too if Rob hadn’t been training her since she started at the firm full time. I know she’ll be fine. She’s smart and if she were there to help Nellie none of this would be happening. The two of them would have ended this before it began, but I can’t keep going over what ifs.
Everyone is pissed that they were just moments too late. There is nothing we can do now, but go get our family. My chest tightens. My family, I’m going to be a father. I can barely breathe every time that thought occurs.
The device in my lap lights up pulling me from my thoughts. I start to shake with rage as soon as the live feed starts. I don’t realize I am growling until my dad places a hand on my head and Noah places one on my shoulder.
“Showtime everyone, I’m patching you all into the feed,” I vaguely hear Felix say in my earpiece.
My eyes narrow as I look at the love of my life. There is a purple bruise forming on her right cheek. Her lips are trembling and unshed tears are shining in her eyes, but the defiant look in her eyes tells me she won’t let them slip free. The camera zooms out and my shaking turns violent.
“Where the fuck are her clothes,” I bark to no one in particular.
Nellie’s full body comes into view and I swear I almost break right there. This is my first look at her baby bump and I have to swallow back so much anger because she has a purple bruise along her left side by her ribs. This is not what my first time seeing her swollen with my child should be like. Her standing in her bra and panties bruised and battered.
I feel sick to my stomach. There is a coward standing behind her tugging at her hair, forcing her to look into the camera. He bends and whispers something in her ear and I see rage consume her face.
“Calm down, Baby,” I whisper. “I’m coming.”
The asshole laughs then looks in the camera. “I want you to see your women,” he nods to the side and I see Kamara cradling a small child to her chest. Their clothes are missing as well.
“They’re dead,” my father roars from the back seat.
“You took something from me, so I plan to get my money’s worth from you. This little one,” he looks down at Nellie before grabbing one of her breasts and squeezing. “Better bring in a good price when I finish with her. She has already cost me, three men.”
I notice howling in the background and my eyes narrow. The asshat talking growls pulling his gun and fires a shot behind him. I hear Kamara yelp and the baby starts to cry, but Nellie doesn’t even flinch. That’s my Badass.
“Make that four,” he snarls. He puts the gun away and reaches for Nellies belly, “but I am sure the baby in her will make up for the loss. This is just the beginning. You owe me twenty million. I will come for your women, one by one until you have paid this debt. You’re lucky. I can get double for the little girl.”
“You son of a bitch,” Nellie snaps.
He laughs. “She is so feisty, I like. Little Bitch.”
We are almost there, but I see the look in her eyes. It is what makes me love her so much. She would put up with this pig’s hands on her, but she is not going to let him harm our baby or our family. I know what she is going to do before she does it.
“No baby, no, don’t do it,” I plead as if she can hear me.
Nellie lifts her arm bringing back her elbow and smashes it into the prick’s nose. Blood explodes everywhere, but he doesn’t release his hold on Nellie. Instead, he grabs his face with his free hand and slams her face into the table.
A strangled cry escapes my throat as I watch her body crumble to the floor. The prick starts yelling in Russian telling his men to cut the feed. I roar in anguish
“Wyatt, I’m so sorry,” Toby sobs into my earpiece.
“Don’t! Your family needs you,” that is all I can say. I don’t have words for him right now.
“Wyatt, this is Jas. We just saw that, man. I want you to know my team is already here and in place. We’re ready to move on your word. I have given specific instructions for them to save that piece of shit for you. We won’t let him get away, but he is yours,” Jasper’s voice comes through.
“We’re here,” I reply with a deceptive calm.
Chapter Thirty Nine
Wyatt
Our teams are in place within minutes. Felix already has eyes on the place. He flipped their camera system to be a one-sided mirror. We can see all of their actions and the layout of the place.
“I’m ready to rock,” Felix announces to everyone. “There is a total of thirty-five men. There are five surrounding the warehouse.”
“Jas, your team got that,” I murmur.
“We’re already on it,” he replies.
“Toby and Rob just took down the two on the roof. Snipers get in position,” Felix informs.
I know Rita, Kelly, and Ryan are in motion. I check our surroundings as we move in. We pause waiting for the go ahead from the sniper team.
“In place,” Ryan is the first to respond.
“Ready,” Rita’s voice comes through.
“Locked and loaded,” Kelly responds seconds later.
“Okay, you’re all clear, move in. He just ordered them to move our girls they’re doubling back for them in the main room,” Felix informs us. “There is one still with them.”
I’m already on the move. I grab the first guard I come across and snap his neck. It does nothing for the rage coursing through me. We need to move quick before the first shot announces our arrival. Our shooters are all working with silencers for now. They won’t see or hear us coming as long as we don’t allow one of their men to get off a warning shot.
We make our way to the center of the warehouse. I can see Nellie’s limp body lying on the concrete floor. Kamara is still sitting in the same seat, but Lulu is now seated on the table top above Nellie. She is no longer wailing aloud, but tears are soaking her cheeks as her lip is poked out and she looks for safety.
One of those bastards is standing over Kamara caressing her cheek and touching himself. I can see her shaki
ng like a leaf from here. I take aim at the bastard, but his head explodes before I pull the trigger. My eyes shift and I see my little brother, Toby looking the way I feel.
Kamara’s screams pierce the air and all hell breaks loose. Bullets start to fly from every direction. I get down and Noah is doing the same at my side.
“I’ve got my niece,” Braxton’s voice comes through the earpiece. “Toby, get your girl.”
“Cover me,” I say to Noah before I take off for Nellie.
I let off a few rounds, but the path to Nellie is too open. I watch as Braxton flies through the air letting off shots before throwing his body over Lulu and wrapping around her before sliding over the table to the ground, a foot away from Nellie.
He closes the gap covering both Nellie and Lulu with his body. “She’s still breathing, but her pulse is slow,” Brax’s voice comes through answering my unspoken question.
“Wyatt, I have eyes on your target on the north side of the building. He’s trying to make a run for it,” Rita comes through in my ear.
“Go,” Noah comes in. “I’ll get Nellie out. Make that motherfucker pay.”
Everything in me wants to go to my wife, but I know I need to finish what she started. He’ll wish a busted nose was all he got from this when I am done. I rush to the north side and find the fucker dragging a young girl beside him trying to make his way to the back exit. I smile because I know that even if he does make it my dad is on that exit with a semi waiting to pump him full of lead.
However, his life is mine. I aim at his ankle and pull the trigger. He releases the girl, collapsing to the floor. The girl looks like she can’t be more than sixteen years old. I hate these slime balls.
“Dad I’m sending a package your way,” I say as I move toward the girl that is now curled into a ball. I squat before her. “Run for that door, honey. There’s a man there that will get you to safety.
She stares up at me trembling and blinks a few times. I realize English is not her first language and switch into Russian repeating the same thing. “You are safe now.”
She nods and crawls toward the door. I stand and step over to where the piece of shit that thought putting his hands on my wife was a good idea. He has tried to drag himself away. I step on his wounded ankle and he howls.
I kick him in his ribs making him turn over. I point my gun at his head, narrowing my eyes at him. I almost laugh when I see the tissue stuffed up his nose. I know this prick is not the head of this operation from working on the case, but I do have some other questions for him.
“Who else knows you found the picture,” I ask.
He grits his teeth, but doesn’t say a word. I lower my gun and shoot at his knee cap on the opposite leg. He growls; spit flying from his mouth as he writhes in pain.
“I said who else knows,” I bellow.
“No one… the family now has…. room to move up. I found the picture… a year and a half ago. I didn’t think… I’d get lucky to find anyone,” he pants out. “Called in favor… about six months ago… got hit on picture. We find guy in picture… and watch him. Girl and children became… opportunity about a month ago. I take a chance… to show boss… I deserve to move up.”
“Who did you call in the favor with,” I growl.
He glares at me, playing mute again. I put another bullet in the other knee. He bellows out in pain.
“New York connection...,” he starts, but Felix talks in my ear.
“Time to go, Wyatt, I have what you need. Handle this and get moving,” he says.
“Gladly,” I mutter and lift my steel to put a bullet right between this piece of garbage’s eyes.
I run out of the warehouse and see Noah by the truck with Nellie still unconscious in his arms while Bean stands next to him wringing her hands. I rush over and lift Nellie into my arms. Noah opens the back door and I slide in placing her gently on my lap.
I brush her hair away from her face and bury mine in her curls. “Hold on for me Nellie. I need you, Baby. Just hold on,” I whisper. I look over her body and that’s when I see the blood between her legs. “Noah, get us to a hospital now!”
I say a silent prayer because I know I will lose it if I lose either one of them. Don’t stop fighting now, Baby. We have a family to raise.
Chapter Forty
Nellie
I open my eyes and squint. I look to the side to see what is weighing my hand down. I find a dark head of hair and smile. I reach to push my fingers through his hair.
He lifts his head and looks up at me, blinking the sleep away. My eyes grow wide to see all the hair on his face. He looks so much more like Noah. “Baby,” Wyatt’s tired sounding voice rasps.
“Wy,” I mouth, but my mouth is too dry for words.
“Hey, Baby,” he croaks. “Don’t move. Let me get the doctor.”
He disappears and I close my eyes. My body hurts. When my brain starts to clear, I gasp and reach for my stomach. My baby. My eyes fly open and I look down just as Wyatt and the doctor walk into the room.
“Welcome back Mrs. Black,” the doctor smiles.
“My baby,” I push out my voice raspy from lack of use.
“Your baby is fine. I am Dr. Sanders,” she says while flashing a light in my eyes before looking at my chart and making notes. “You had a little scare, but with the rest your body has had over the last four weeks things are looking much better. This little one is a fighter.”
“Like her mother,” Wyatt says while lifting a straw to my lips.
“Four weeks,” I ask. When he pulls the straw away furrowing my brows.
“Yup,” he nods.
“How are you feeling,” Dr. Sanders asks.
“Everything feels sore and I’m hungry,” I frown.
“We’ll start you with some liquids after some tests, I will have them rush things along so we can get mommy something in her tummy. I’ll be back to check on you later and I want to have a look at the baby again as well. So we’ll perform a sonogram,” the doctor says before leaving. I watch her jot something else down before replacing my chart and leaving.
“I’m sorry,” I say, turning to Wyatt once she is gone.
He places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “For what, not telling me about the baby, not telling me about Toby’s family, or putting you and the baby at risk to protect that same family,” Wyatt lifts a brow and gives me a crooked grin.
“All of the above,” I say sheepishly and wrinkle my nose.
“Yeah well, I’m still pissed at you for all of the above. I’m also proud as hell of you. My niece and nephew are safe because of you. I’m actually a little afraid of you,” Wyatt teases and winks at me.
“Ha,” I snort and he leans in to kiss my lips.
“Babe, I watched a video of you dropping two dudes with your bare hands pregnant and all. That shit was hot,” Wyatt chuckles. “You do realize this is the second time I have you on video kicking someone’s ass. You have everyone else fooled thinking you are so sweet. I know for a fact you’re a badass.”
“You corrupted me,” I say feigning innocence.
“Bullshit,” Wyatt’s eyes twinkle as he places his hand on my belly. “I love feeling her move.”
I gasp and my eyes fill with tears. “It’s a girl,” I whisper.
“Finally, I know something you don’t,” he winks. “Yeah, we are having a little girl.”
I feel a tears slip out. My life has changed so much since that night I had to fight for my life against someone I thought loved me. I now know what real love is. Real love fights for you, protects you, would die for you. Real love is what I have with Wyatt and the entire Black family.
I look at my husband and reach for the beard on his face. “When was the last time you went home,” I lift a brow.
He shrugs. “Everything I need is right here in this room.”
~B~
Wyatt
I have been going out of my mind for a month. When I woke to her beautiful brown eyes looking back at me, I swear my heart
almost jumped from my chest. This woman is everything to me.
My family tired her out once I called to let them know she was awake. We drove the hospital staff crazy with our loud laughter and the fact that not one member was willing to wait. Thank God for private rooms and a chief of staff that owes you a favor.
Nellie was in bad shape when we got her here. She had swelling on the brain and bruised ribs. The baby was okay despite the bleeding. Once we were on the way to the hospital, I could see that the blood was dried and not fresh.
I don’t know how I made it through the last four weeks. Being able to see and feel the baby growing and moving inside Nellie helped a lot. I am still in shock that I am going to be a father. One thing I do know, Uncle Noah is going to teach my little girl to be a badass like her mama.
I’m already in love with my niece and nephew. I can’t wait for my little girl to get here. Through all of this, there are a few things I know for certain. I love my family and I wouldn’t change being a Black for anything in the world. Without a doubt, I don’t just love this woman resting in my arms in this hospital bed. I love her, I protect her, I provide for her and without question I would die for her. And now she is giving me one more person to love and protect.
Epilogue
Wyatt
“Okay, I think it is time you two tell us what is going on. And I mean everything,” Dad says as he holds Lulu in his arms.
“Don’t leave out a detail,” Mom agrees with a nod as she rocks TJ in her lap.
Toby and his little family have been staying with Mom and Dad since the kidnapping. This is the first time the whole family is coming together for Sunday breakfast, but it has been more than clear that Toby is in over his head and needs our help.
He should have come to us in the first place. If I would have lost Nellie or little Nora, I don’t know if I ever would have forgiven him. I’m still really pissed at him. The only thing keeping me from flying at him right now is my wife sitting in my arms.
I am in awe of her more and more every day. Nellie has been through so much, but all of it has made her stronger and happier. Baby Nora will be here in two months and I already know she is going to be just as amazing as her mother.