He reached up to cup her cheek as he held her gaze. Kenny shook his head.
“Your life has been about dodging danger and death, surviving on your own, and dodging the same group of people you’re now ready to throw yourself right in front of? That’s not acceptable, that is not an option, Lena, and that is the bottom line. I understand that you want to help. I understand your anger and upset over the details of your friend’s death and of that family that suffered, but you are not going to be the one to catch Triumph and his buddies and bring justice. You are ours to love and protect.”
She felt the tears roll down her cheeks, and she couldn’t help but feel the ache in her heart for Sage.
“I feel terrible inside. I should have found Sage and brought her with me, but instead I was so scared for my own life I never thought that Ariel would wind up dead or that Sage would be in such danger.”
Quinn squeezed her shoulders then wrapped his arm around her waist from behind to pull her against him.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Lena. You don’t owe anyone any explanations. Sage chose the life just as Ariel had.”
“Sage is different, Quinn. I won’t be able to live my life unless I at least know that she’s okay.”
Kenny cupped her cheek, and she looked up toward his eyes.
“We’ll see what we can do to help make that happen, Lena. Let the detective see what he comes up with questioning Triumph and his friends.”
“Please don’t leave me out of the loop, Kenny. Maybe there are other ways that I can help. I do know a bit about his gang, including where they tend to hide out and other things they’re into that the detective might be able to use as leverage.”
“We’ll see, Lena. Let’s head home. You look exhausted.” He took her hand, and Quinn took the other as they walked back down the hill, ready to head home.
Chapter 18
Lena was sitting with Bryant on the living room rug helping him with his exercises. Every time he lifted up he would either steal a kiss or cop a feel. He kept running his hand up her shirt to caress her skin or touch her breast. They had their feet locked together as they did sit-ups, helping one another. As Bryant came up, he kissed her on the mouth.
“Concentrate!” she reprimanded then lay back down and sat up again.
He grabbed her shoulders this time.
“Bryant, you have two more sets to do.”
“I have a better way of working out, Lena,” he teased as he unlocked their ankles and pulled her between his legs on top of him.
“Bryant!” she yelled as his arms wrapped around her and he rolled her to her back, pinning her to the rug.
He thrust his hips against the V between her thighs.
“You are so frustrating,” she stated then smiled.
“You are so hot, and demanding as you count out the reps. I want to be inside you.”
He leaned down, holding her arms above her head, and kissed her. Their kiss grew deeper, and soon she had her legs wrapped around his waist. Then they heard the phone ringing.
She pulled her lips from his.
“We have to see who that is.”
He kissed along her neck then nibbled a little harder.
“Please, Bryant.”
The phone kept ringing.
“We have to,” she scolded.
He released her arms and crawled over her toward the side table and the phone.
“Hello.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Kenny asked.
“I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
Kenny sounded annoyed.
“Get Lena on the phone, it’s important.”
“Here, it’s Kenny,” he told her then handed her the phone.
* * * *
She felt her belly ache and concern filled her.
“Yes?”
“I heard from the detective. They need to know some of the locations Triumph and his gang hide out at.”
“Why? What happened?”
Kenny was silent a moment as Lena looked at Bryant who now sat up and leaned against the couch on the floor.
“The results came back from the lab. There were multiple sets of fingerprints and also semen found on Ariel’s body. Because Triumph and his friends have been arrested before, their prints are on file. The detective has multiple matches.”
“Oh my God, Kenny. Does that mean they did it? The police think that they have enough evidence?”
“They need to question them. Any ideas of where they can start?”
Lena began to ramble off a set of different hidden locations. Then she added information about Bills and Troy and how they would get jealous of Triumph.
“Maybe the detectives could use that information to get Troy, Monte, and Bills to confess?”
“Maybe. Oh, and there was no sign of Sage where they looked.”
Lena felt her belly quiver.
“Wonderful. I’m telling you that I taught her to hide well. If word gets out on the street about the police investigation or that the cops are looking for Sage, Triumph will go after her. I can go there and be back in less than twenty-four hours.
“No!” she heard both Kenny and Bryant exclaim.
She looked at Bryant, and he gave her his stern expression.
“I’ll call you in a little while and see where the detectives get with this information.”
“Okay. Later.”
Lena looked at Bryant.
“Let the detectives work the case and question them. If Sage doesn’t come forward after, then if these assholes are behind bars, we’ll go look for her together.”
“Really? You’d do that with me?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes,” he told her, and she crawled closer to him then straddled his thighs.
Lena placed her hands on his shoulders and smiled at him.
“I love you, soldier boy.”
“I love you, too, Detroit.” He kissed her and she hoped that she could feel this safe forever.
* * * *
“I don’t know anything about some chick you found dead,” Troy stated as Detective Reynolds questioned him in the interrogation room.
“I have a witness that says otherwise.”
“They’re lying,” Troy stated, and Detective Reynolds decided to use Troy to catch Triumph, which was who he really wanted to catch.
“That’s not what Triumph told us. We questioned him this morning, and he said that you and some guy Bills killed Ariel.”
Troy’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he tried to act unaffected.
“You didn’t question him this morning. You don’t even know where he’s at.”
“Sure I do. It was a nice, hidden location until you guy’s killed Ariel and dumped her body a few blocks away. One of the only trailers around town actually.”
Troy looked like he was panicking.
“Listen, Troy. As is, Triumph is blaming the entire murder on you.”
“Murder? I told you I don’t know the girl you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, well, there’s this thing called DNA, buddy. Your prints were not only found on the body but also on the Dumpster.”
“I didn’t kill her, though.”
“Your prints and your buddies Bills’s and Monte’s prints were found, plus she was raped. You and your buddies are talking about twenty to life between the charges of rape, murder, and disposing of the body.”
“Wait! It was Triumph that told us to get rid of the body. He’s the one that stabbed her. He was pissed because he was looking for Lena.”
The detective smiled.
“Triumph said that you killed her and that he saw you do it.”
“Bullshit! He’s fucking lying.”
“Yeah, well, the court will decide. Triumph right now will only be charged with trying to hide evidence and some minor things. Slaps on the wrist, really. Unless there’s more you know. I mean, considering that he ratted you and your gangbanging buddies out.”
“I can tell you a bu
nch of stuff. That asshole is not going to get away with this.” Troy began to tell the detective all about drug-smuggling deals and where Detective Reynolds could find the murder weapon.
Chapter 19
Lena was sitting in Wyatt’s office along with Kenny as Detective Reynolds filled them in on the investigation.
“So, you arrested these five men but not Triumph?” Wyatt asked.
“We think he skipped town. He was last spotted at the bus station and all our sources have not seen him anywhere in the city.”
“So, you think it’s safe for me to come out and look for Sage?” Lena asked as she squeezed Kenny’s hand. He still didn’t look too happy about her plans.
“I think you’ll be safe, especially with escorts. I’ll personally help you, Lena, along with a few other undercover detectives. We checked all the locations you’ve told us about, but she isn’t coming out.”
“I know. She won’t unless I come out there.”
“That’s your decision. I just want you to know that I appreciate everything that you’ve done to help us find and bring justice to Ariel’s killers.”
“I won’t feel satisfied until Triumph is behind bars.”
“I understand, and we’ll do our best. He won’t be able to hide long. His face is plastered all over the media and around the city. He’s a wanted man.”
“So, you’re sure it would be safe to come out there with Lena and look for her friend?” Kenny asked again.
“I’d still take precautions, but yes. It may be the only way to save her friend.”
* * * *
The following morning, Lena and Kenny headed out to the airport. It had been a fight over who would go along with her. With all the preparations needing to be done for the Fourth of July, Blake and Quinn couldn’t go, and Bryant was going to stay and help in town with the security along with Wyatt since he had the military background.
They arrived in Detroit early afternoon, and Lena wanted to jump right into finding Sage. They met Detective Reynolds and a few of his detectives.
“So, where do we begin?” Reynolds asked.
“There are a few locations to start with near the trailer.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Kenny remained beside Lena the entire time they searched for Sage. It was getting dark when she began to feel as if Sage was possibly out of Detroit.
“I don’t get it. I’ve gone everywhere to look for her. All the hideouts we used to use.”
“I can’t believe you had to live like this, Lena. God, baby, I’m so glad that you got out of here and that you headed to Texas,” Kenny stated as he placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
She looked at Kenny and smiled. “I’m glad, too, and I want Sage there so she can have a fresh start.”
“How about going to the restaurant where she worked? Maybe they know where she is?” Kenny suggested.
“I guess we could try to talk with Mark. He might know,” Lena stated, and they got into the patrol cars and headed toward the restaurant.
* * * *
Kenny couldn’t believe how Lena was forced to live. Every place she had taken him and the detective to was dirty, dangerous, and well hidden away from the general public. It was like being in an entirely different world. He couldn’t help but squeeze her hand or touch her often as he thought about how much she had missed out on and suffered living like this.
As they entered the back of the restaurant, Lena introduced him to Mark.
“My God, Lena, I was so worried about you. When we heard about the young woman murdered, we were terrified,” Mark stated as some of the kitchen staff looked on.
“I got out of town quickly. This is my boyfriend Kenny. We’re looking for Sage, Mark. Have you seen her?” she asked.
Mark shook his head. “Once word got out that there was trouble and you were gone, she disappeared.” Mark looked at Kenny and then at Lena. Kenny had a feeling that the guy wasn’t being honest. Lena must have picked up on it, too.
“Kenny, could I speak with Mark alone a minute? Right over there where you can still see me?” she asked as he raised his eyebrows at her. He didn’t want her far from him, but he nodded his head. It was obvious that Mark was hiding something.
He watched as Lena walked farther across the kitchen. He couldn’t help but look around at other workers. One guy turned away as Kenny stared at him, and then he disappeared through a set of doors.
* * * *
“What is really going on, Lena? Word on the street is that Triumph and his gang were arrested for murdering Ariel.”
“I know. That’s what I heard, too. When I found out that Sage was alone, I came here looking for her to help her.”
“Triumph was looking for you. He has been for months, and the police have been searching for him, too. His face is all over the television stations.”
“I know. He and his gang killed Ariel. He was also responsible for that drive-by shooting that killed those innocent people.”
Mark appeared shocked. “Well, it was good that you didn’t get involved with him and took off. That could have been you who was killed.”
“I know, Mark. Do you have any idea where Sage might be hiding? I’ve looked everywhere that I can think of.”
“Did you try down by the overpass in the tunnels near the abandoned construction site?”
“Near Triumph’s old place?” she asked, feeling sick to her stomach.
“I have no idea if it was an old place of his. I just know what I heard around the restaurant about some kids living in there. I couldn’t tell you really, Lena. I just hope you find her and get out of here so she can have a new life, too.”
“I appreciate the help, Mark, and thank you for all that you’ve done.”
“I haven’t done anything, Lena. You wanted a better life and worked your ass off. You were always a hard worker, and the customers liked you. Good luck, honey.”
“Thanks, Mark,” Lena stated as Mark hugged her.
Across the kitchen she could tell that Kenny wasn’t happy about the hug. She took his hand and they headed back outside.
“Anything?’
“Not really, just talk in the restaurant. Everyone knows that Triumph is on the run and wanted by the police.”
“Good. Let’s go meet the detectives around the block.”
“Okay, and then we can check one more place before we call it a night,” Lena said as they headed down the street.
It was late by the time they entered the old, abandoned apartment building. The construction company left the place a mess and unfinished. It had been that way for years now.
“You sure about this place? There haven’t been reports of any homeless around here for years,” Detective Reynolds stated.
“It’s just a hunch. Mark from the restaurant said he heard that some people were living out here,” Lena said as they slowly walked through the building. There was garbage everywhere and rats the size of squirrels.
Lena saw the entranceway to the tunnels by the back entrance to the apartments.
“I think we should check in there. Lots of times we holed up there for safety.”
“You hid in there for safety?” the detective asked as he shined his flashlight into the dark tunnel.
They heard a noise, and the detectives pulled out their guns.
Kenny grabbed Lena and placed her behind him.
“Wait, listen a minute,” she stated.
“Sage! Sage, are you in there? It’s Lena,” she called into the darkness.
They could hear running and then metal slamming. As they looked to the right someone ran across the back into the apartment building.
“Sage!” Lena called after her, and the person stopped to look then looked behind them as if they were being followed.
“It’s Lena!” Lena called then began to run after her.
“Lena, wait!” Kenny yelled as he began to follow Lena. The detectives ran, too, and as Lena chased the person into the abandoned apartment
complex, someone started shooting at them from across the way.
“Lena!” Kenny yelled as the detective tackled him down to the ground and bullets sprayed around them just missing them.
Kenny caught sight of Lena and the person as they headed through the doors.
“Fuck! Who the hell is shooting?” Kenny asked as they made their way behind an old storage shed.
His heart was pounding in his chest. He feared for Lena’s life.
“We have to get in there,” Kenny stated as he stood up and a shot whizzed by his head. He ducked.
“What the fuck?” Kenny yelled as the detective called in for backup.
* * * *
Lena chased down the person, grabbing her by the sweatshirt and turning her around. She locked gazes with Sage and was shocked at the cuts and bruises covering her cheeks.
“Lena? Oh my God, I wasn’t sure if it was really you.”
Lena pulled Sage into her arms and hugged her.
“Thank God I found you. What the hell is going on? Who is shooting at you?”
“It’s Morphis. Triumph sent him to find me, and I’ve been dodging him for the past two weeks. Triumph is nearby, Lena, and he’s been looking for you.”
“I sure have been and here you are.”
Lena swung around to see Triumph standing there looking smug.
Her heart pounded inside of her chest. Kenny and the others must have been stuck outside as Morphis kept shooting at them.
“Why would you be looking for me?” she asked, trying to act tough.
He grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her close to him. He reeked and she knew that he had been on the run from the police. Apparently, he hadn’t had help.
“I knew you would come looking for the kid.”
Lena's Happily Ever After [The Town of Pearl 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 22