Chapter Nine
Theo
It takes me all of five minutes to find what we missed in Lawrence’s background. The person who scrubbed his background was good, and when I hired him, it did the trick. But now that I’m digging, it seems the fucker really did a shitty job. Lawrence’s father was in the ranks of Oliver’s family. They grew up side by side until Lawrence joined the army. Oliver picked him up when he came home after being shot on his last tour overseas. Oliver sent him to find my angel and to get close so he could get her back.
It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to blow up. I let this fucker close to my angel, and now I could lose her forever. I push all that away and continue to dig. Oliver thinks he’s untouchable, but what he has forgotten is he is no longer on the west coast. He is in my stomping grounds and isn’t welcome here. Mason and his father have pulled every favor and string they have to determine why the West Coast Family is here without permission. At the same time, I put everything into finding my angel.
As I turn to my computer, it hits me like a bullet to the brain. I realize I owe the voice on the other end of the phone not only my life and sanity but also the lives of everyone who will live another day to stop a war that will start if Malia is harmed in any way.
I pull my phone out and pull up the unknown number. It was not blocked or being hidden, and I start tracking the phone. How could I have fucking missed something so obvious? After just a few short clicks, I have her. I have my angel’s location.
“I’ve got her!” I shout, causing Mason and his father to come sprinting into my office.
“How the fuck did you do that?” Mason asks at the same time his father says, “Took you bloody long enough.”
“I’ll explain later because it is definitely a story for a different day. Let’s go; they are on the other side of the city, about ten miles out,” I tell them while I’m sending messages to my closest guys so they can all get ready and pull the cars around. I make it halfway down the hall when O’Malley Senior’s phone rings. I turn, watching storm clouds move across his eyes when he sees who’s calling.
“Mind telling me why your boy and his team are setting up shop in my town without at least saying hello?” he asks in a calm tone.
“Are you telling me you not only have no idea where your boy is but are unaware of what he’s doing with your men?” he asks with poorly disguised fury.
“See, that boy of yours not only has stepped on my toes but that of some other not so savory men as well. That, though, is not what will cause his death. That, my old friend, will be if one hair on my daughter’s head is harmed. Do I make myself very clear? I’m not telling you how to run your family, but what I am telling you is that you’re going to be short a member soon,” he continues.
“I have his location. Warm welcomes and packed boxes are what I expect when I arrive. If not, I’ll be sure all parts are shipped back when I’m done,” he finishes and hangs up.
I’m stunned to my core because O’Malley Senior practically just declared war on another family. At this point, if that’s what it takes to get my woman back, I will not shed a single tear. We make it to the cars downstairs and speed into the night.
“You care to explain now how you just magically found them?” Mason asks as we speed through downtown Nashville.
I turn in my seat, giving them what I can. “You know that call that I got earlier, telling me when she left and where she was headed?” They both nod, so I continue talking. “Well, let’s just say it was an old buddy, and he didn’t bother hiding his number or turning off the phone that he used to call me.” I finish, hoping that’ll do for the best explanation I can give them.
The truth is, I’ve no idea how he knew to call me or who Malia was to me. But I know I owe that man everything. My gut says he can be trusted, and it’s never let me down before. I just have to pray it hasn’t this time either.
We stop about a mile and a half back from the house and gather around the front SUV to go over the home’s blueprints, coming up with a plan to breach. We are so focused on making the plans that when a hand falls on my shoulder, I turn with my 9mm in my hand, finger on the trigger. Ready to drop whoever just grabbed me. I see it’s the owner of the voice from earlier, and I drop my gun, but my men don’t. Staying at the ready in case this man turns out to not be friendly.
“To be honest, I’m shocked it took you so damn long to find us,” he says with a smirk.
“Yeah? I figured I’d give your boy a head start,” I say, trying to hide my guilt for letting my head get so clouded.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that. I don’t have long, so listen up,” he tells us, and goes into every detail of the house. The stuff not in the blueprints and the number of guys on the grounds.
“Thank you, man. I’m in your debt,” I tell him, taking his forearm and pulling him into a man-hug.
“As is the O’Malley Family,” Mason says, doing the same thing.
Shock flashes so fast across his face, I can only imagine it matches mine. Having a mark from one of the most powerful families on the east coast is a big deal, and this man just gained one.
He turns to leave, stopping to look Mason in the eye. “Her friend is with her. I did what I could; just know that things could have been worse, but she is still going to need time.” After dropping that bomb, he turns, disappearing back into the shadows.
We take the information he provided and develop a plan that only fails if our men fail. We gear up and start toward the house like my men, and I always train with Mason and his men at our backs.
I’m coming, Angel. Just hang on a few more minutes.
Chapter Ten
Malia
“Oliver, what is this game you’re playing at? You could have had anyone. Why all of this for me?” I ask him, hoping that if I can keep him talking, he won’t hurt either of us.
