“Don’t do that, and I won’t call you out in your establishment for your bullshit.” He raises an eyebrow at me, and I have to work hard not to laugh at the way he looks so much like his big brother right now.
“Watch it, kid.” My expression is firm. “And no, I haven’t seen him since earlier this morning. Haven’t heard from him either.” My heart catches at that realization.
Sully’s must as well because he brings his wild eyes to mine. “I can’t get a hold of him, and neither can my brothers.”
“It’s probably fine, I’ll try to call him.”
As soon as I make a move to reach for my phone I hear the shot of a gun. A millisecond later I feel the bullet whiz by my ear, and just a quarter of a second after that I drop to the ground and yell “get down!” As loudly as I can. Chaos erupts all around me, and Elle lands on top of me from where Sullivan literally threw her over the bar. We’re the most shielded back here, and a few other men throw their women over the edge as well.
Knipe services mainly tourists, but we also have a heavy presence of the criminal underworld as well, specifically the Germans. So I have no doubt that more than a few guns are currently being drawn. After what seems like forever but can’t be more than a minute or two, Sullivan pops his head over the top of the bar.
“Come on, Boo. We’ve gotta get out of here now. Rowan’s waiting outside and he said we have thirty seconds before he blows this place up.” He grabs Elle under her arms and lifts her over to his side of the bar with ease before looking back at me. “Handle shit here, then meet us at the estate. They’ll let you in.” We nod in agreement, and in the next moment they disappear out the side door. The sound of sirens comes closer and closer until a couple of cops that work for my Papa walk in. I’m slightly shaking as they walk over. Not because I’m scared of them, but because the adrenaline is starting to crash from what just happened.
Just hold it together until you get to Declan.
* * *
It takes almost an hour before I’m able to leave Knipe. My Papa and brother showed up and helped me clear out and lock up while talking to the cops. It took me longer than I would have liked to convince them I was fine, but I wanted to go home and crash. I slide into the front seat of my truck and shoot off a text to Dieter letting him know where I’m really going. Without wasting another minute I make my way to the Byrne estate. The entire time calling Declan. His phone keeps ringing, but no answer. I don’t stop calling until I’m standing in the living room of the Byrne estate surrounded by Declan’s entire family except for my sister and Mac.
“Has anyone gotten a hold of him?” I ask frantically as everyone watches me like I’m a caged animal.
Kieran holds up his hand as he pulls the phone from his ear and places it on speakerphone.
“Hello?” Declan’s groggy voice fills the room and I exhale in relief. He’s probably asleep at my house waiting on me.
“Declan! Fuck, man. Where are you? You have us all panicking, brother.” He thrusts his free hand through his hair, tugging on the strands as he goes.
“I’m uh– I’m–.” Why does he still sound like that? Is he drunk? “I dn’t know.” He slurs.
He groans in pain and my heart rate kicks up again.
“Declan? Where are you?” Kieran’s voice rises in panic as all of us move closer to the phone to hear him.
“Shhh, stop yell’n. You wake hm up.” He’s slurring so badly I can barely make out what he’s saying, but you can bet I heard that ‘you’ll wake him up’ loud and clear. My heart plummets. He’s with someone else.
Everyone turns their gaze to me, but I refuse to break right here, so I don’t take my eyes off the phone screen.
“Who, Dec?” Kieran asks skeptically.
“Chaos.”
I’m Chaos, and I’m right here. So what the hell is he talking about? I’m not waiting a second longer to find out. Snatching the phone out of Kieran’s hand, I bring it up to my mouth.
“Where are you, Beast?”
I wait, but nothing happens. His end of the line is silent until I hear the crack of his phone hitting something hard.
“Beast? Declan! Answer me?” I’m begging the silent line to answer, but I know he isn’t going to. The pit in my stomach is so deep it feels all consuming. The line cuts and I numbly hand the phone to Kieran.
“We’ve tried to call Mac, but he won’t answer.” Rowan tells whoever asked. I wasn’t paying attention. I can’t, not until I have my eyes on him.
Something pulls at my memory. It’s late. They won’t get in touch with Mac because he puts his phone on ‘do not disturb’ at night so nothing will wake Lelonie. But my calls ring through on her phone. Without another word, I call my little sister and pray someone answers.
On the third ring she picks up, “Jake?” She answers groggily.
“Kostbarkeit.” I answer on a shaky exhale.
“Jakob, what’s wrong?” Her voice is suddenly alert and I can practically picture her shooting straight up in bed.
