by C. A. Harms
“That isn’t how it happened,” Josh said.
“Oh really? Then how did it happen, Josh? Please, enlighten me.” I knew I was being a bitch, but I also no longer gave a shit.
“He forced her, Gabby. We were surrounded by his men, who were all carrying guns. We had a part to play or risk outing ourselves, and blowing our cover in that situation could have not only gotten us killed, but Mike and Greyson too.” As he spoke, his own frustration emerged.
“There was something you could have done. A way out of it,” I said. The problem was, I had no idea what I was saying.
Josh walked to me and looked me directly in the eyes. His nostrils flared and his jaw tensed. “It was ‘give me a fucking blowjob or die.’ We had a choice to make, Gabby. But she—”
“Get out,” I yelled as I shoved him in the chest.
He stumbled back. “Gabby, please, just let me—”
I slapped him, and Audrey let out a frightened yelp from behind him. A sob escaped me, and I shoved at his chest again.
“I said get out,” I screamed. “Now.” My voice shook with anger and hurt. “Both of you, get out of my home. I can’t look at you.”
Tears rolled down Audrey’s face, and Josh stared back at me blankly. “Please, baby.”
I spun around and pitched my glass from earlier against the wall. It shattered on contact. “Get the fuck out now.” I stifled a sob by placing my hand over my mouth. My stomach was in knots, and my heart literally ached in my chest.
I kept my back to both of them until I heard the front door shut, and I then crumpled to the floor and cried harder than I ever had before.
Chapter 31
Josh
After leaving Gabby’s apartment, I chose to walk home. I needed some air. Once Audrey was in her car safely, I sat on a bench outside Gabby’s apartment, fighting against my need to go back upstairs and force her to hear me out. I knew she was hurting and it was because of me. I had broken her, and I would never forgive myself for it, nor would I forget the hurt in her eyes. It would haunt me forever. My world had just been rocked, and the ache I had in my chest since Audrey and I were forced into unimaginable circumstances had now only grown.
I should have walked away like Frank told me to.
I wandered for what felt like hours around the streets of New York, feeling empty. I was not a man who cried, but the tears fell freely as I thought about the sadness I had just inflicted on the woman who would forever hold my heart.
I rounded the corner and noticed the streetlight ahead was flickering, leaving the side road in darkness. Just as I was about to turn around and go back, something struck the back of my head.
I fell forward, my knees hitting the ground as I gripped the back of my head in pain. Someone shoved me then, and my face hit the pavement hard. White spots flashed across my vision, and I was fading in and out as my body was dragged along the pavement. Warm liquid covered the side of my head and dripped down over my ear. Muffled voices continued to filter in, but everything was hazy. If only I could find my gun.
“Put that sorry-ass pig in the trunk. I don’t want him messing up my interior.”
My body tensed at the man’s words. I knew at that moment the chances of me getting out of this alive were slim to none.
Leo Markovich. I would know the Russian accent anywhere. I had spent the last six months learning his every move. I’d lived in his world, pretending to be one of his people, working with them to supply the streets with drugs and easy women. Now that was all about to end.
“We taking him to Roman?” The name made me tense even more. Roman would not hesitate to put a bullet between my eyes.
“No.” Leo chuckled. “I want to play first. I have some things I need to learn. Some questions I need answered.”
I knew the beatings had just begun.
My body was hoisted up and then tossed into the trunk. I let out a loud groan as I landed on something hard and the pain shot through me like a hot stake.
“You brought this on yourself.” Leo leaned over me, looking down with a smirk on his lips. “Now you must pay the price for your mistakes. No one gets away with deceiving me.”
My right eye was completely swollen shut, but I could still open my left. I watched as the two men chuckled, looking down at me. I knew I would only be digging my own grave if I spoke, but I refused to let them think they had already defeated me.
“Fuck you,” I snarled. “When Roman finds out you twats didn’t know you had a cop living inside the center of your operation, he’ll end you both. Whether I’m dead or not, you two are fucked.”
I refused to look away even when Leo raised his gun and cracked it across my cheek.
The trunk slammed shut and the blackness set in. My stomach rolled as bile filled my mouth, and I coughed and sputtered as bitter, coppery blood drained from the gash on my cheek and ran toward my lips. Turning my head to the side, I heaved as I faded in and out of consciousness from the pain.
Gabby’s face was the last thing I saw before the darkness took over, and I prayed I would get to kiss her beautiful lips again.
Chapter 32
Gabriella
“Hey, sis. Can I come in?” Brook asked as she poked her head inside my bedroom door.
“Sure,” I said as I forced my tired body to sit up. I had cried for what felt like twenty-four hours straight. I couldn’t get the images of my sister kneeling before Josh out of my head.
The room was dark, but I could see Brook’s shadow move across the wall before she sat at the edge of my bed.
“I know the last thing you want right now is company, but…” She paused, and my stomach tensed at the thought of Josh being in the other room. Was I ready to see him?
“Josh’s friend Greyson is here.”
Disappointment filled me. No, I was more than sure I wasn’t ready to see him, but to send his friend? What the hell were we doing, rehashing high school?
“I don’t think I want to go over what happened between Josh and Audrey with his best friend. It was bad enough that I had to hear it once, then repeat it to you. I can’t do it again.” I hadn’t planned on telling Brook the details, but when she found me crying on our kitchen floor, I had no choice.
“I don’t think that’s why he’s here. He said it was important and he needed to know when the last time you saw Josh was.” That caught my attention. “He really looks worried.”
I scrambled from my bed and darted down the hall, where I skidded to a stop before not only Greyson but another guy from the bureau. I think his name was Mike.
“Hey, Gabby,” Greyson said as he turned to face me. “Listen, I don’t want to be a bother. I know right now things between you and Josh are confusing.” “Confusing” was the understatement of the year. “But, um…” He paused and took in a deep breath. “I, uh, need to know when the last time you saw him or even talked to him was.”
“Last night,” I answered without hesitation. “When he and my sister showed up here to tell me how she was forced to suck him off.”
Mike’s eyes grew and Greyson stared at me in shock. “Listen, Gabby, it isn’t really my place to say anything, but Josh is my best friend. I may not know your sister very well, but I can assure you that scene between them was nothing short of torture for both of them. I have never seen two people more scared and disgusted than they were.”
My stomach tensed at the description.
“They didn’t even make it very far before your sister puked all over Josh’s lap. Believe us when we say what you’re imagining in your head right now couldn’t be further from the truth,” Mike added, and I instantly felt nauseous.
“I don’t mean to alarm you, but we’ve been unable to reach Josh since he left the office yesterday,” Greyson said, and my stomach lurched with fear.
“What do you mean, ‘unable to reach’ him?” My hands trembled and my heart raced.
“We’ve checked his place and even his family’s, but he’s not there. We did find his car par
ked about half a block away from here, though.”
“After they told me what happened last night, I made them both leave.” I didn’t want to let myself imagine the worst, but I had to bring it up. “Maybe you should check with my sister Audrey. They walked out together, so she would have been the last to see him, at least after they left here. Maybe she knows where he went.”
“Do you think you could give us a way to reach her?” Mike asked.
“Yeah,” my voice cracked as I walked toward the counter that separated the kitchen and living area. I pulled open the drawer on the end and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. After jotting down Audrey’s phone number, I turned back to face both men.
“Here is her number.”
Greyson reached for the paper, and his eyes met mine. “He really cares for you, Gabby. I can assure you that he would never set out to hurt you. This job was hard for him. After he met you, the things he once strived for were suddenly rearranged. And you placed on top.”
My eyes filled with tears, and I nodded. I’d been wrong, and it was hard to accept. My throat burned as I fought back the emotions that were taking over.
The men turned and walked toward the door, and I followed as the tears trailed over my cheeks. After they stepped out, Mike looked over his shoulder and offered me a gentle smile.
“Can you let me know when you find him? I need to know he’s okay. I may not deserve to know, but—”
Greyson placed his hand on my shoulder. “We’ll let ya know.”
I only nodded as they walked toward the elevators. The anger I’d felt today didn’t seem to matter now. The only thing that did was Josh and whether or not he was okay.
***
Hours later, there was still no word from Josh or even Greyson, and I was a nervous wreck as I sat on the couch or paced the room. I had attempted to call Josh’s number over half a dozen times without an answer.
Brook sat at my side the entire time, trying her best to offer me the support I needed but didn’t feel worthy of.
We both jumped at the light knock on the door, and I stood and scrambled to answer it so fast, I almost tripped over the coffee table. Taking no time to look who was on the other side, I jerked it open.
My heart sank as I found Audrey standing there. She looked drained and unsure of what to say.
“Do you know where he is?” I asked.
She only shook her head, and my hope fell just a little more.
“We left here right after. Well, I left. He actually said he needed to walk for a bit. So as I drove off, he sat down on the bench outside your building. I don’t know how long he sat there.” She looked down at her feet nervously before looking back at me. “We never meant to hurt you, Gabby, I swear. If I could have assured our safety any other way, I would have run from that warehouse without looking back, but I couldn’t. You just don’t understand how dangerous Leo is.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and my throat tightened.
“I would never hurt you like that. You’re my sister, and I adore you. I always have. Just remembering that night is driving me crazy, and it kills me to know we caused you heartache.” She sobbed through her words, and I felt my own sobs shaking through me.
“Josh said he wanted you back. He said he would do anything to do that, so we both agreed to tell you together. I think we both hoped if we explained everything, you would forgive us. And then maybe we could work on forgiving ourselves.”
I was battling between hugging her and slapping her. I hated that she touched him in any way, but I was beginning to understand there was truly no other option. I also felt like smacking her because how the hell could she put her life in danger like that? Did she not realize what it would do to our family if we lost her?
The need to hug her won out as I pulled her against me. She in turn wrapped her arms around me tightly and cried hard against my shoulder.
I guided her to the couch, and we all curled together as we waited to hear anything about Josh and his whereabouts. And when the morning light shined through the large glass door that led out to the balcony, my heart ached because I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Something was wrong.
Chapter 33
Josh
My head fell to the side as another blow struck my cheek.
“We’ll do this for as long as it takes, Joshua.” Leo smiled menacingly.
He knew exactly who I was. He had spent every day since our last encounter at the warehouse, watching my every move, even having me followed, waiting for the perfect time to attack. He knew I was with the FBI, and he also knew where I lived.
“I have great plans for all of you,” he said as he twisted the knife in his hand. “Greyson and Mike,” he continued, and the adrenaline rose within me once more. I would do anything I could to keep either of them from going through what I was.
“Oh, and then sweet little Audrey. Yeah, she fooled me, but she’ll get what’s coming to her. And let’s not forget your girl—what’s her name again?”
I looked up at him through my good eye, and he smiled up at Nicolay.
“Gabriella,” Nic said, and strength immediately coursed through me.
“Don’t you fucking touch her. She has nothing to do with this,” I growled as I pulled at the rope that bound my hands behind me to the chair. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
Leo chuckled. “She may not have anything to do with what the four of you have done to me, but I can assure you, I will make good money for pussy like that. Hell, maybe I could sell her and her sister as a package deal.” His menacing laugh sickened me.
I knew the attempt would be pointless, but I had to try anyway. I surged forward and jerked my hands as the ropes bit into my skin. I looked up just in time to see Leo raise the knife and pull back.
“You can die knowing that I plan on testing out Gabriella before I sell her to the highest bidder.” He grinned widely as he brought the knife forward. I braced myself for it just before a loud crash filled the room.
Gunfire and yelling erupted around me, and I watched as Leo darted through a steel door. Nicolay tried to follow, only to find the door was now locked from the other side. He spun around in panic, looking for another exit.
Suddenly, the room was filled with police and the familiar faces of the men I call my brothers. I looked up to meet Greyson’s stare, and a deep sob shook me as I sagged forward and waited for them to free me.
***
“He is squealing like a pig,” Mike said as he entered the conference room. “Fucking telling it all, man. We have locations, merchandise. We have names of men all over the city that have been working with Leo. That man has been playing Roman.”
“Yeah,” I said through gritted teeth. I was pretty fucked up, and even breathing hurt.
After the paramedics checked me over, I was brought back to the bureau in an unmarked car through the back entrance. I still wasn’t sure why I was forced to stay here in hiding.
“Where’s Frank?” I asked as I shifted on the couch.
“He’ll be in soon. He was with Greyson and Nicolay.”
I cocked an eyebrow. Something didn’t seem right.
“It ain’t my place, man. Just wait for Frank,” Mike said as he held his hands up.
I let out a frustrated sigh as I laid my head back against the couch and closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion of the last couple days take over.
The sound of the door opening startled me, and I lifted my head, wincing once again at the sudden movement. It still ached from the impact with the ground and from the treatment I’d received at Leo’s hands.
Frank, Greyson, and another man I didn’t recognize stepped inside and closed the door behind them. They all took a seat at the table, and I waited for them to tell me what the fuck was going on.
“Josh.” Frank nodded and then looked toward the man I had not yet been introduced to. “This is Sheppard. He’s with DEA and is Ms. Shannon’s boss.”
I nodded, still clu
eless as to what the hell was happening.
“We have been inside Leo’s operation for more than six months and still have men on the inside at several of his locations. Ms. Shannon was not the only agent we had assigned to this case,” Sheppard said. “We have enough on Leo to put him away for a very long time, but the problem is he’s now spooked. Nicolay has given us quite a lot of helpful information, and we believe if we play this out correctly, we’ll not only bring down Leo but find Roman as well.”
I laughed sarcastically because I’d heard that more than once. Hell, I lied to myself for months thinking the same fucking garbage.
“You see, Josh, Roman knew about the three of you.”
Now that caught my attention. “Come again?” I said as I sat forward and looked between Greyson and Mike before returning my stare to Sheppard.
“It was Roman who put the bounty on each of your heads. In order for Leo to live, the three of you had to die. Sort of a loyalty test.” He paused as he let his gaze wander to Frank for a split second. “Now we both know Leo will die anyway in the end, but once he succeeds in taking you out, Roman will resurface.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re saying here. The three of us have to die so you can capture Roman?” I felt like my head was spinning.
“Now, Josh, you’re already dead,” Sheppard said with a smile.
I didn’t fucking like this guy. He was fucked, and honestly he was starting to really piss me off.
Greyson stood from the chair and walked around the edge of the table before taking a seat on the couch next to me. “Nicolay will report back to Roman that you are dead.”
“And why the fuck would he do that?” I asked.