Can't Walk Away (The Thomas Family Chronicles #1)

by Ashlee Taylor

  “When do we go?”

  “We roll out in an hour, meeting at the location.”

  I nodded. I stepped off to the side so I could have a few moments to myself.

  “Nico?”

  Turning around I saw Luke standing a few feet behind me. “Yeah?”

  “I know what’s going through your head, that’s why I brought this,” he said, holding up a black duffle. “It has your boots, jeans, and a t-shirt. I know you’ll want comfort.”

  “Thanks, man, thanks for everything.”

  “That’s what friends do,” Luke said before patting my shoulder and walking off.

  I went into the bathroom and opened the duffle bag. Luke had packed everything I needed, complete with several ammo clips that I was grateful for. I changed into the clothes in mere minutes. I went back to the bag and started packing it back up when I heard a crinkle. I reached inside and felt for the offending object that had made a noise.

  Tucked inside was a picture of Christianna, Layla, and I as we lounged on the floor of her office. I smiled when the memory of this day came rushing back. This is the reason why I was dressed this way, this is why I had no trouble getting ready to take the lives of those who stood in my way and hurt the one I love. They were the reason I was going to be out of here in an hour, with some of the most dangerous men the world has ever seen.

  I wasn’t going to hesitate to kill every motherfucker that comes at me.

  I’d dare them.

  Reattaching my shoulder holster, I took one long look at myself in the mirror before leaving the bathroom. When I walked out, all heads turned toward me. Antony had a big smile on his face. I was ready and he knew it. My mind was in the zone.

  When I rejoined the group and they were going over the plan, I was looking but not listening. My mind was focused on the task ahead. I knew how I was going to handle everything.

  I had the feeling that eyes were on me again. I looked up to see Jonathan was looking at me. I parted from the group and stepped over to him.

  “Can we talk?” I asked.

  “Of course,” he responded, turning toward one of the backrooms containing an office.

  Jonathan walked around the room before taking a seat on the couch, I paced the room a few steps before the words came to me.

  “I did something today something I’m not proud of.”

  “Go on,” he prodded.

  “I told Christianna I was going to marry her. I said it before asking your permission and for that I’m sorry. When Luke came to get me and I had to leave, she got emotional and begged me to marry her right then. I left her. She started crying and I left her. I probably fucked it all up, but you have to understand when the woman you love more than your own life wants you in return your mind is fixated on the one thing—making shit better, and well, sir, she’s in the hospital because of a group of motherfuckers are hell bent on fucking with me. I needed to be here, I need to make sure there is nothing she ever has to be afraid of.”

  “Nico, son, I completely understand why you’re here. It’s one of the reasons why I’m here. I know that your loyalty to both Christianna and your family is what is fueling you right now, which is why I, above everyone, understands what you’re going to do tonight.”

  “I didn’t like leaving her like that. I know I have to finish it and I will. I just don’t want her living in fear or constantly looking over her shoulder. I didn’t know Anise was behind this from the start. I guess I should have taken her out when we found out she hired that guy to kidnap her.”

  “You can go back and rack your brain with what-ifs, Nico. You kept her safe, no one could have predicted that someone close to you would have been the person to betray you. Right now, you have to focus on what you’re about to do. You need to keep your cool so you don’t get killed during this.”

  He was right, I needed to push them out of my brain and concentrate on the bigger picture. I was going to send a message today, one that would be felt throughout all the families.

  Blood for blood, it’s an honor thing. Their actions have caused us to react in a way that will be so heinous, but will be enough to show everyone this family is not to be fucked with.

  “Let’s get going, it’s almost time for us to go,” Jonathan said as he placed his arm over my shoulder.

  We walked toward the door and Jonathan stopped, his hand still on the knob. “And Nico, before I forget.”

  “Yes, sir?” I responded, turning to him.

  “You have permission to marry my baby girl. Take care of both of them.”

  “I will, there is nothing I want more than to marry her.”

  “Good, then remember that when we’re out there tonight.”

  When we stepped out of the office, it seemed that everyone had gathered by the door, ready to go. We split up into several cars and a couple of vans. The cars weaved in and out of traffic. The closer we got to our destination, the calmer I became. My hand touched the cold steel of my gun and it calmed me. I was ready to do this.

  When we got to the block where the house was, we climbed out and took a good look around.

  “The house is surrounded. We have Kennedy on the backside with the thermal imaging camera. There are only two people inside the house. We’ve had someone on the house so we know that the two of them are inside. The fact that there isn’t anyone else with them means they’re trying desperately to lay low,” Jerry said and I looked back to the house.

  “Anderson will be here soon,” Dad said.

  “I have an idea,” I said, while the others turned to hear what I had to say. “We do what we did at Christianna’s house. You’ll cause a diversion out front and Luke and I will go in the back. They won’t be expecting it, and we’ll have the upper hand.”

  “That may work. We’ll make sure you have cover. You’ll take Joe, Terry, and Mitch. We’ll take Anderson and let his daughter see him,” Jerry said. A sly smile played on his lips.

  “Let’s go.”

  Everything was timed out perfectly. Dad messaged us when they had Anderson out front. He said the two occupants moved to the front of the house so we entered in the back. Slipping in undetected, I came upon the living area and heard Anise and Bobby yelling in the foyer. I sat down on one of the couches, followed by Luke and flanked by the other guys. All of us had our guns drawn. Something caused Anise to scream, which was followed by heavy footsteps.

  They were coming straight for their execution, and suddenly a wave of jubilation erupted within me.

  This was what I do best.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Christianna

  I cried until my chest hurt. When the door opened I hadn’t expected Alex to walk in. She just did what she did best and held me as I wept, telling me the whole time that she loves me and that everything will be okay. A part of me died the moment Nicholas walked out of my hospital room.

  At some point I had to have fallen asleep. When I woke up the doctor was in with me, checking the machines.

  “Ah, you’re awake. I wanted to check your vitals. We’re going to release you this morning. Your sister left to get your clothes. How are you feeling?”

  I gave that all too familiar thumbs up before I looked for the whiteboard. Sensing my need to write something down, the doctor handed it over to me.

  I feel better, not much pain anymore, I wrote.

  “Good, that’s what I like to hear. I’m going to work on your discharge papers and you’ll have to come back here in five weeks so we can check your jaw. Do you have any questions before I get started?”

  Is my baby okay? I hastily scribbled.

  The doctor looked at the whiteboard and then his eyes changed. My hand holding the whiteboard dropped. I didn’t need any more bad news, not now.

  “I’m so sorry, Christianna. You miscarried while you were kidnapped.”

  I clenched my hands into fists, I was angry. Why didn’t anyone tell me?

  “I can’t speak for the others. I apologize for not telling you al
l I knew. Unfortunately, when we met you were just finding out what had happened to you, and you were surrounded by your family. My apologies for assuming that Mr. Prescotti told you, I should have been the one to do so.”

  I was stunned. Nicholas knew I was pregnant and lost the baby. He sat here with me and didn’t utter a single word to me. Didn’t he know how devastated I would be, hearing the news? How did he take the news? Maybe he didn’t take it well at all. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he was able to leave so abruptly, because he didn’t care.

  I felt like a failure for not keeping my baby safe.

  Then the anger washed over me that no one had the guts to tell me the truth.

  It’s okay, Dr. Chase, I wrote and he seemed relieved.

  Before anything else could be said the door opened and Alex walked in.

  “Well, it looks like your ride is here, I’ll finish this up so we can get you out of here.”

  I nodded my head slightly before locking eyes on Alex. As if she could sense something was amiss, she stood off to the side with one of her famous smiles.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked quickly, making it over to my bed.

  I lost my baby.

  “Your baby? You were pregnant?”

  As if on cue the tears started to cascade down my face. Alex hugged me, trying to comfort me. She apologized to me for not knowing and for having to find out alone.

  Nicholas knew, I wrote.

  “He knew and he didn’t tell you?” She shook her head before muttering, “That asshole.”

  Furiously I wrote on the whiteboard, handing it over to her. She looked down at it before looking at me and giving me a smile.

  Alex helped me into the bathroom, where I proceeded to take a quick shower. She made sure that my cast was covered with plastic before she went downstairs to start on our plan. This plan was going to piss a lot of people off, but right now I needed this.

  When I stepped out of the bathroom, Alex was waiting, with an ear to ear grin on her face, obviously excited. I guess my plan thrilled her as well as it satisfied me.

  “I was able to get six hundred from the ATM downstairs. I brought up a couple of hotels on my phone and found one that rents by the week. I can get you settled and then go to the bank before I pick up Layla.”

  I reached over and hugged her, thanking her without words. Dr. Chase came in a few minutes after that while Alex was tying my shoes. He gave me my paperwork and I had a wheelchair escort down to the lobby, where Alex met us with her car.

  When I was seated in the car, Alex took off. We headed to one of the hotels downtown. It was secure and known to keep clients’ anonymity. It was the hotel most of the celebrities and politicians used. I knew the nightly rate was more than Alex was letting on. She brought me to a side entrance where a man in a suit stepped out. He proceeded to help me inside while another man took Alex’s car.

  We were on a freight elevator heading up to one of the higher floors. The man helped me out of the elevator when the doors opened. We walked slowly down the hallway, happening upon one single door. The man slid the keycard into the door and let us in.

  “I was able to get everything you asked for, Ms. Thomas,” he said, speaking to Alex. “I promise that you will be safe and secure here at the Plaza Arms.”

  Nodding to him, I walked off toward the nearest room. I saw the things that were around, a crib was set up in the corner along with a playpen. I heard a click of a door and then silence. I sat down on the bed and let everything that was going on sink in.

  “Are you okay?” Alex asked and I did my best to nod. “They’re going to bring you up some soup and some water. They’re going to call when they’re outside the door, letting you know they’re here. I’m going to go to the bank and get Layla. If you need me, call my cell.”

  Another thumbs up from me caused her to smile before she left the suite.

  I had been alone for twenty-two minutes when the phone rang. I picked it up and then realized I couldn’t talk.

  “Ms. Thomas, I’m Ian Bradford. I was the one who helped you into the suite a little while ago. Your sister said you were unable to talk, so I won’t press. I wanted you to know I’m outside with your food.”

  I made a little noise before placing the receiver down on the table. I walked over to the door and used the peep hole. There the man was, standing with a phone up to his ear, so I unlocked the door. Letting the man in the suite, he set up everything and placed a few paper notebooks and pens.

  “Your sister said you needed these things. If you need anything, just pick up the phone and dial 121. That’s my direct line. When I answer, just hit a key and I’ll know it’s you.”

  Thank you.

  Nodding politely with a smile, he turned, and like that he was gone. I lifted the covers off the food. There was what looked like chicken broth under one and applesauce under another. He was even nice enough to include a pile of straws.

  After having some of the broth—that was interesting drinking through a straw—I enjoyed some of the water before I put the stuff away. I dragged myself over to the sliding glass doors that opened to the balcony. I just stared out at the sky as it turned beautiful shades of blue and purple. It looked majestic hanging over the hectic city. I wondered where Nicholas was for a minute before I remembered he had kept a huge secret from me. I stood there thinking of him, feeling the cold of the glass doors due to my proximity to them, when the door clicked open. I turned to see who was coming in when I saw the bright eyes of my baby girl, who looked equally as happy to see me.

  Walking fast, I was over to Alex like a shot, grabbing a hold of my baby, hugging her to me. She didn’t fuss or move, she just snuggled right into me. I was so happy to have her in my arms that I took her into the other room and climbed onto the bed with her. Layla’s tiny fist clutched at my shirt as I breathed in her sweet baby scent.

  “I got the bank stuff worked out, everything is okay here. Ian is going to make sure you have everything, even diapers and things for Layla.”

  I tried my best at a smile before my attention went back to Layla.

  “I told Mom I was taking Layla to see you at the hospital, she thinks you’re still there. When they go tonight and don’t find you, the shit is going to hit the fan.” My eyes immediately went to her. She held her hands up in a stop motion. “Once you guys are okay here, I’ll go and tell her. I’ll be in contact via message through Ian. As long as you need to, you’ll be safe here. No one will find you.”

  I slowly nodded my head before I looked at my baby girl, who was doing her best baby talk. It was if she was talking to me about her day. She threw out a couple of “Mas” and “das.” I just rubbed her arm.

  Alex went on to tell me that she had all the stuff in the living area of the suite and that she was going to leave, but she’d be back when she thought she could. Layla and I hugged her goodbye and when she left, we snuggled into bed watching cartoons until we both drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  Nicholas

  Anise was yelling for Bobby to do something or to find them a way out of the house when she crossed the room’s threshold and realized we were sitting there. Her face registered shock as she stopped abruptly; Bobby crashed into her back before he looked up to see he was surrounded.

  “Oh Nico, you’ve come to save me,” she cried and headed my way, that was until I held my gun up and pointed it at her. Her progression halted so quickly that she fell to her ass quite comically.

  “You must think I’m fucking stupid, Anise. I’m here for you, all right. I’m here to kill you and your lapdog,” I said, motioning my head to Bobby.

  “Nico…you misunderstood…” Anise cried, which caused me to jump up.

  “I misunderstood? What did I misunderstand, Anise? Did I misunderstand you drugging me the night I spent with Christianna? Did I misunderstand the people you hired to kidnap her and burn her house down? Did I misunderstand when you turned my own best friend against me and had him kidnap the love of m
y life? Or did I misunderstand the moment when Bobby killed our child?” I yelled.

  “I didn’t do any of those things, Nico. I love you. Bobby was holding me hostage.” Her face turned to one of sadness and terror. God, she could win an Oscar for this performance.

  “Yet again you think I’m a moron, Anise. I’ve seen the video, you confessed your proverbial guts and then ordered Bobby to hurt her.”

  Her gasp was loud enough for a deaf person to hear.

  Turning to Bobby, I looked him straight in the face, disgust and betrayal laying heavy on my mind. “Was it worth it, Bobby?”

  “I fell in love with her, man. I know you of all people can understand that.”

  He fell in love, how fucking cute. The humor of the situation hit me before the realization did. “I love Christianna, you could have had Anise. I would have given her to you on a fucking silver platter with bows and shit. Instead you tried to take every ounce of happiness from me so you could keep her. You know, you say you love her, but man, you killed my fucking kid.” Lifting up my gun, I shot him straight in the middle of his forehead. He fell down like a tree in one loud thud. Taking the life of my once good friend didn’t hurt as bad as I thought.

  “Thank God he’s gone,” Anise called out as she stood up and started to wipe imaginary dirt and dust off her clothes. “Can Dad and I go now?” she asked, looking at me. Was she fucking serious? She looked bored; she’d rather be anywhere but here.

  I let out a raucous laugh, which caused her to jump back. “Now Anise, you didn’t think that’d be it and I’d let you go, did you?”

  When she nodded, I laughed. “God, you really are a fucking imbecile. Did you forget who I am? Have you forgotten what you’ve done? Anise, please understand one thing and one thing only—you’re going to die tonight. And when you do, I’m going to relish in the fact that your death came at my hands. Like my child’s death came because of yours.”

  Anise’s crocodile tears started to flow. She covered her face, but continued to peek through her parted fingers. Even Luke laughed at that one.