by Kelly Moore
He hesitantly takes it, not taking his eyes off me. As I reach for the doorknob, Miles speaks. “If you double-cross me, I will hunt you down. I hope you’re on the up and up, John. You’re one of the best agents I have.”
I take a few steps toward him, and he backs into a corner. “When this is all said and done, I will never work for you again. You can count on that.” I leave the little Napoleon worm in his office, taking the stairs two at a time. Once I’m back in the Rover, I connect the Bluetooth with my phone. Matthew gave me his cell phone number in case I ever needed him. He answers on the first ring.
“John?”
“She’s been captured.”
“What? How? I didn’t get a report from my men. Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I’m going to text you the address of where she is being held. I want you to send in your men when I text you back. Tell them to play along with my story that I want to kill her for killing my brother.”
“Okay. I will give them their orders.”
“One other thing. I need to know where the safe house is that she was taken to with my brother. If she was taken, there is a good chance he’s not there either.”
“The location was not disclosed to me for a reason. I will extract the information and send a team in to get him if he’s still there.”
“You need to surround yourself with extra security. If she doesn’t give them what they want, they will use you against her. These men are ruthless.”
“I understand. Please…get my daughter back.” His voice cracks for the first time.
“I plan on it, sir.” I hang up the phone and put the Rover in reverse. I glance up at Miles’s window. He’s on the phone but backs away when he sees me looking up at him. I take off down the congested highway, weaving in and out of traffic. “Hold on baby, until I get there.”
Traffic comes to a complete stop at a road construction area. I blow my horn and beat on the steering wheel, but nobody moves. The car behind me hits his horn when I start backing up. I bump his front fender, pushing him out of the way to go around the car in front of me, driving over the orange cones. I look in the rearview mirror to catch the guy storming out of his car and giving me hand gestures.
I step on the gas, sending road workers scrambling out of the way. One idiot waves his yellow flag at me, trying to slow me down. I speed up, and he jumps out of the way right before I would have run him over. I make it past the construction area and have free run of the highway for almost a mile.
I’m weaving in and out of traffic again when Matthew’s name scrolls across my Bluetooth on the dashboard. “Sir?”
“My men will be in place when you get there. They understand your instructions.”
“Did you find my brother?”
“Yes. Several of our agents were dead when I sent a team into the safe house. Your brother was beaten pretty badly. He’s on his way to the hospital. I will have our team of doctors on standby for him.”
“Where is he, sir?” I grit out in frustration.
“The safe house was here in DC. One of our men must have disclosed the address.”
“Fuck!”
“John, where are you going to take Brooklyn?”
“I don’t know, sir. The first thing I have to do is get her out of there alive, and then I’ll worry about where to keep her safe.”
“Bring her to me. There is a safe room here in the White House. I’ll set up a hospital bed here for your brother and have him brought here as soon as he is stable enough to transport.”
“I’ll be in touch, sir.” I disconnect the Bluetooth and press harder on the gas pedal. I stop a block before the address when I see several black unmarked SUV’s. I know it’s the president’s men. I get out of my Rover and walk up to the lead car and tap on the darkened glass. The agent with dark shades on lowers his tinted window.
“Give me your phone.” He hands it to me, and I plug in my number. I hand it back to him. When you get a call from this number, get in the building. Arm up and leave your vehicles here. I want two of your men on the roof.”
“Our orders come from the president. I’ll need to give him a call.”
I stuff my hand in my pocket and pull out my phone. I redial Matthew. “I have him on speed dial,” I tell him before the line clicks and Matthew answers. “Tell your men to follow my orders.”
He frowns at my phone and then takes it when he hears the president on the phone. “Yes, sir. I will have my men do whatever he says, sir.” He hands the phone back to me.
“Now, get armed and ready.” I walk back to my Rover and pull my weapons out of the bags. I put one gun in my boot, a knife in the other, and I throw my vest on that has several small grenades attached to it. I tuck my phone into my belt and take off in a sprint in the direction of Brooklyn.
The address is a rundown warehouse that used to be a manufacturing business. An old, faded white Coca-Cola emblem still remains on the outside brick wall. The rest of the walls are covered in graffiti. The aged wooden front door has a padlock on it. I make my way around to the back of the building. A chain-link fence surrounds it. I start to climb it, and a Doberman pinscher heads straight for me, snarling. I fall back to the ground and look for another way inside. The only other way in, outside of the fencing, is the front door. I go back over and yank on the lock a few times, but it doesn’t give. “Well, so much for a quiet entrance.”
I pull my gun out and shoot off the lock. I kick in the door with my gun braced up, waiting to be tackled by someone. I cautiously take a few steps inside, but I don’t see anyone. I walk further in and look around. Up in the right-hand corner, I see movement go by a small window. I take the metal stairs up to the second level. As I go to turn the knob, I hear the cock of a gun behind me.
“Who the hell are you?”
I raise my hands in the air. “I’m the man that is going to kill Brooklyn. I suggest you get that gun out of my back.”
He lowers the gun, and I slowly turn toward him. “Is she in here?” I point to the door in front of me.
He nods and pushes the door open. I keep my hands raised and walk in with him behind me. “This is the man that Miles sent,” he tells the other three men in the room.
Brooklyn is slouched over in a chair. Her matted hair is hanging over her face. Her hands are tied behind her back, and her feet are tied to either side of the chair. She’s completely naked. Anger fuels my body. I can’t see her face, and I have no idea what they have done to her. I walk a little closer, and I see bruising on her thighs.
I turn around and look at the men in the room. “Which one of you boys had fun doing this?” I plaster on a fake smile. One of the idiots raises his hand. He will be the first one that I kill.
“We’ve tried to get her to talk, but she hasn’t said a word.”
“You let me worry about that.” I walk over and squat down in front of her. I lift her chin so that I can see her face. Her right eye is swollen shut, and blood is pooling at the corner of her mouth. “Hey, baby,” I whisper so only she can hear me.
Her left eye opens. “Play along with whatever I do. Blink if you understand me.” It takes a second before she blinks.
I wrench her head back by her hair. I know she’s going to kick my ass later, but I’m doing it for effect. “This bitch is mine to do what I want with! Fucking untie her now!” I point to one of them.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I walk over and jerk him up by his collar. His feet are off the floor. “I didn’t ask your opinion. I can’t very well make her talk sitting in that chair. I’m going to have a little fun with her in the other room. I’m not into being watched while I fuck the truth out of her.” I release him, and he lands hard on the floor. He scrambles to untie her. I snatch her up by the arm, and she screams out in pain. I hope it’s for show. If not, I will tear them apart limb by limb.
Four more armed men enter the room. They raise their guns at me, but the other men tell them who I am and they lower th
em. “Why don’t you four go back outside and guard the front of the building? Someone may come by when they hear her screams.”
I open the door to what looks like an old storage room. I shove her inside and shut the door behind me. “Are you okay, baby?” I take my vest off and then my T-shirt. I tenderly lift her arms and pull the shirt over her head. It hangs long enough to cover her body.
“Your brother,” are the first words she utters with tears pouring out of her left eye. The right one is too swollen to let the tears fall.
“Your father found him. He’s taking him to the hospital.” She collapses in my arms. I gently go to the floor with her. “I need to make a call to get us out of here. Do you think you can walk or do I need to carry you?”
“I can walk.” Her voice is strained.
I dig my phone out and call the agent. “Get your men in here now. There are at least four men outside and three on the inside. As soon as I hear you guys, I’m coming out with guns blazing. If you have to capture me to make it look good, then do it.” I hang up the phone. “Are you ready, baby?” She nods and pushes her bloodied hair out of her face. I wait until I hear the commotion start. I shove open the door, and the three men that were in here are armed. One is shooting out the small window. One is hidden behind a steel column with his gun ready. The other idiot that raised his hand is crouched down on the back wall. I hand my gun to Brooklyn and reach down and grab the knife out of my boot. I take aim and sling it toward him. It hits him directly in the heart. The others don’t even hear him hit the ground with all the gunfire going on. I take the gun back from Brooklyn and move her behind me. The guy behind the column looks in my direction, and I take him out. The other gets out the door, nearly missing my aim. We duck behind the column as gunfire comes through the window.
“There were at least fifteen men here,” Brook says.
“Shit. I need to find another way for us to get out of here. Do you remember seeing anything?”
“Out the window is our only choice.”
“Are you up for that? It’s quite a jump, and there is a not so friendly dog in the back. You are going to have to hit the ground running and climb over a ten-foot fence to get out of here.”
“I don’t know if I can climb. They hurt my wrist.” She shows me her swollen wrist.
“I’ll get you over the fence if you can run.”
“I can do it.”
“Good girl.” I help her, careful of her arm this time. “Take this gun. I’m going to break the glass out. You shoot in their direction. As soon as I’m ready, I’ll shoot, and you get out the window.”
As soon as the glass breaks, bullets ricochet around me. Brooklyn shoots back, and they duck from her bullets. I change my mind and decide to throw a grenade out of the window they are shooting from. I toss it, and they start yelling and running for cover. Brooklyn takes off for the window. I help her out and watch as she lets go, landing hard on the ground. I jump right behind her, almost landing on her. I help her off the ground as I hear growling coming around the corner. He’s all saliva and teeth.
“Go!” I yell. We make it to the fence before the dog. I help Brooklyn up and feel the teeth of the dog latch around my ankle before I can make it up and over. I kick several times before he yelps and releases me. I quickly climb up and over. I see one of the CIA agents hidden behind a dumpster.
“We are going to run over to where he is,” I point, “and then, I’m going to go get the Rover and get us the hell out of here.” I count to three, and we both take off. The agent is covering us until we are safely behind the dumpster.
“I’m going to go get the car. Don’t move until you see me.” I take my gun back out and shoot as I run away from the building. I quickly make it down the block and jump in the Rover. It starts right up and I peel out, making the tires spin and smoke. When I get to where Brooklyn is, I spin the Rover around, making it stand on two wheels momentarily. As soon as the tires are back on the ground, I reach over to the passenger’s side and open the door.
“Get in!” I yell, and Brooklyn takes off running. The car is in motion before she gets to me. She has to run and jump in the door. A bullet cracks her window, and she dives in head first.
Chapter Fifteen
Brooklyn
I turn and watch John as we pull away from him, but he can’t see me through the tinted window.
With the smoke rolling behind him from the extinguished flames, he appears more haggard than ever. His hazel eyes hold a hint of sadness, like we may not see each other again. His scruff-covered jaw is flexing, and two little worry lines form between his eyes as he watches the SUV like he can see me behind the dark glass. The cut on his cheek is bleeding and swollen, but he acts like it doesn’t faze him at all.
I place my hand against the glass, trying to feel him. I don’t want to leave him. I don’t care what he says. We will be together when all this ends.
“Don’t worry, Brook. I know my brother, and he’s a force to be reckoned with. He’ll put an end to all of this,” Jake says, drawing my attention away from the window.
My dad reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Just hang in there a little longer, Brooky.”
I nod, putting on a brave face, even though all I want to do is run back to John. I don’t know why he thinks I should leave him. He’s kept me safe this far. We’re stronger together.
The SUV moves forward, leaving John behind us. I turn to watch him as we drive away. His thick arms are crossed over his muscular chest, and his feet are shoulder width apart. His hazel eyes stay trained on the vehicle as we get further and further away from him. Looking back at him now, with the smoke rolling and the darkness swallowing him up, he looks big and strong, like he’s a hero that only works in the shadows of the night.
The SUV pulls up to a private landing strip, and we are ushered onto a plane. After we take off, I curl up into a ball and pull the collar of my shirt up over my nose, hoping to smell him, but all I can smell is smoke from the fire.
I feel tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Instead, I will them away. I can’t fall apart, not yet.
Before I can think of the damage that fire caused, I fall into a deep dreamless sleep.
I jump awake when the tires of the plane bounce off the pavement. I almost scream. I’ve been on edge for far too long.
Jake places his hand on my shoulder. “You’re safe. We just landed.”
Nodding, I push my hair away from my face as I sit up. My dad stands and walks over to us, taking a seat directly across from us. “It’s time we go our separate ways. A safe house has already been set up for you.”
“What about you? Where are you going?” I ask him.
“I’m going back to the White House. I need to see what I can do about these corrupt doctors that are killing people and ruining your name. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe there.” His back is straight, and his head is held high, but I can see the nervousness and worry rolling off him. He’s always been one to put on a tough exterior, but I’ve always been able to read him well.
I lean forward and give him a long hug. “Why are you so worried then?”
He lets out a short laugh. “You’ve always read me too well.” He pulls away but keeps me at arm’s length. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”
The door to the plane is opened, and we all stand. My dad turns to me one last time. “If you need me, you know how to get ahold of me. I love you, Brooky.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Jake and I get ushered into another blacked-out SUV. There are two guards in the front seat and two in the open trunk area of the vehicle. The SUV in front of us starts and pulls out of the parking lot with us following behind. I turn and look, and there is another vehicle matching ours that is directly behind us.
“They’re pulling out all the stops it looks like,” I tell Jake.
He turns and looks. “Good. Maybe this place won’t be burnt to the ground with us still in it.” His tone is short and rough.<
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I place my hand on his that is on the bench seat between us. “I’m so sorry about your grandfather’s house. I know that place was like your sanctuary.”
He looks at my hand on his and shrugs before pulling his hand away and placing it in his lap. “We’ll rebuild. It’s nothing that can’t be replaced.
I can tell he’s trying to be strong. I place my hand back on my lap. “I know, but all your childhood memorie—”
“We still have. They can’t take those from us.” He shakes his head before looking directly at me in the dark car. “This isn’t your fault, Brook. I don’t want you feeling guilty about the fire. You didn’t do that. The only thing you did was create something that will save millions of lives, mine included. I don’t regret you coming into our lives, I thank you.”
I nod, understanding what he is telling me and tear my gaze away from him to watch the trees as we speed past them.
Truth is, I do feel guilty. I may look strong on the outside, but inside, I feel nothing but regret and guilt. Because of my vaccine, people have died, lives have been turned upside down, and the man I love is in danger.
I can’t help but feel like I never should have created that stupid vaccine. I was only trying to help and look where that got me. Ruining people’s lives.
Jake jostles me awake sometime later. I open my eyes to see we’re parked in front of a secluded log cabin. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and step out of the vehicle, looking around me. The log cabin is small, only a single story, but it has a nice covered porch, a forest green tin roof and shutters on the windows. The whole place is surrounded by massive trees. I bet this place can’t even be seen from the air. The trees are so big, the branches almost create a canopy effect. I spin and look down the dirt driveway. It’s also surrounded by trees on each side, and the dirt path looks to wind between them, not visible from the road.