What our boss didn’t want to do was leave the building to just the people who were on the newer side. That was why Barry, Julia, and Rory were still there, as well as a large team of guards to protect Vail, Hartley, and Ava. The guards who were stationed on the building's floors had been there for a while. Only the brand-new ones were on the lobby and garage levels.
From what we could tell, Isaac acted alone. Well, outside of Winnie. There was no way she’d ever work for Jordan or in the city again. The person she loved most was taken. I would do anything I had to so I could get Forest back. No, I couldn’t blame her for what she did. As long as I found out she didn’t hurt Forest in any way, I’d let her live. I never wanted to see her again, butshe could remain breathing. Jordan, on the other hand, wanted her dead. Kayli immediately jumped in with an offer to handle it since she was the one who recruited her. As angry as Jordan was, he said the final decision would be mine and Forest’s. Considering who was taken and that I was the reason, I was still shocked to hear it was our decision. I told Jordan I’d make the call once I got my hands on Forest and made sure she didn’t hurt him.
To say I was angry was an understatement. I was the one who pushed for Forest to have a security detail, especially after getting threatening notes. Except I didn’t see her coming. None of us did. They felt awful too, especially Kayli, but this rested on me. I wouldn’t forgive myself. There was time for guilt later though. Right now, I had to get the love of my life back.
Oleander followed Jordan to the house, stopping on the road. Fuck anyone who saw us. I’d spend my life in prison if it meant getting Forest out alive. But we didn’t have to worry about that. Once Lawson got the address, he tapped into surveillance nearby and made sure to disable the systems, even the one at Isaac’s house. It was on a loop. If he was watching his phone, the sensors were off. He saw old footage. But we weren’t exactly being subtle.
I did my best not to rush to the head of the line as half of us went around back and the other half went to the front door. Barrett got the honor of kicking the door in while Reghan had his gun raised, ready to fire. Raiden was behind his brother, with Lane behind him. Jordan followed then Vincent, me, and the others. I hated being back here.
Me being calm? Yeah, that flew out the window. I didn’t care who saw me come apart at the seams. I barely held it together. The only reason I did was because Forest needed me. He’d want me to stay alive. I’d be damned if I died for some other motherfucker to swoop in later and take the man whowas always meant to be mine. My urge to possess him knew no bounds.
We spread out inside the house, all of us with our guns drawn, going from room to room, Kayli and Barrett going upstairs. They descended as we cleared the main floor. That left the basement.
It was eerily quiet as I descended the stairs. Being one of the lightest walkers among us, I led. I wanted to get down there with minimal noise, but three steps down, and I froze. This was what I got for going first. The low light bounced off a thin, clear wire across the steps. I held up my hand for everyone else to stop. Without knowing what it was attached to, I didn’t want to trip it.
The decision to move forward was mine, and I did so without hesitation. I stepped over the line and kept going until the hair on the back of my neck stood. My feet halted. Before me was a basement, but it was not typical. The cement floor led to plain white walls that still appeared to have primer on them. Then there were the weapons.
I let my intuition guide me. To the left, it was dark and too quiet. To the right, my senses heightened. That was where they were. Isaac thought by me coming down here that he could trap me, kill me, make me play this bullshit game because I’d gotten rid of someone he loved.
Stepping to the right, I immediately ducked. It wasn’t anything more than just feeling like I had to. From the corner of my eye, I saw Oleander do the same. He was at my back. Just then, a large saw blade swung down, narrowly missing us.
Fuck, no way was I telling Colleen about this. She’d have me sitting on her couch while she told me how I needed to honor my ancestors and guides. I got it. I really did, and I was grateful, but I wasn’t going further with that. She could have called while we were on the way here, but I didn’t notice. I only had one goal in mind.
Then I saw him—Isaac. I remembered his face from the photos Lawson sent us. Isaac stepped beneath a light. Forest was strung up behind him. I had to stay calm even though all I wanted to do was burn this whole fucking place down to get to him.
“There you are, the person who killed my husband,” Isaac said casually, like he was talking about the weather.
Somehow, my voice did what it always did in these situations and stayed even, as if I wasn’t affected, when inside I was being torn in two. “Your husband was dealing drugs in East Dremest. Being someone who obviously knew what he was doing, and whose city he was in, how did he think that was going to end?”
“Death isn’t the answer.”
“Oh? Then what am I doing here? Are you going to tell me how you know the crime I committed and turn me in to the police? No, I don’t think you are. You wouldn’t drag me all the way out here to do so. Why? Because you have no evidence. Also, because you want to kill me yourself. I’m right here. Do your worst.” Goading him probably wasn’t the best response; however, as long as he was facing me, he wasn’t hurting Forest. When Lawson dug into his past, it didn’t seem that Isaac had any family or close friends, for that matter.
He lifted a gun, pointing it at my chest. I wasn’t wearing a vest. But Oleander had my back and lifted his gun next to me. “Do it and you die,” my best friend threatened.
Forest struggled, but I slightly shook my head, not wanting any of the attention on him.
“I know who you are, Oleander,” Isaac said. “I also knew Sheldon wouldn’t come alone. That’s why I have a safeguard in place.”
Winnie stepped out of a room and pressed a gun to Forest’s temple. I would have given Oleander the signal to kill her had it not been for the tears running down her cheeks. She didn’twant to be here any more than the rest of us did. Goddammit. Somehow, I had to let her live, even though she could kill Forest.
“Eyes on me, asshole,” Isaac seethed. It took everything in me to do so. “Good. Now, I want everyone to leave but you. Out the fucking door. Then we’re going to talk.”
“No.” I wasn’t giving in to his demands. Winnie had her finger on the trigger, not Isaac. I could see in her eyes that she didn’t want to hurt Forest. “I’m not sure you realize who you’re fucking with. Not only the mafia boss of East Dremest, but me, motherfucker. I’m the one who should scare you. I’m the one who should haunt your fucking dreams.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “Oh, you’re in my dreams all right, but they’re full of different ways I’ve thought of killing you. Stephen?”
A shot rang out, causing us to turn in time to see Raiden hit the ground, blood seeping from his leg.
Lane didn’t hesitate and put a bullet between Stephen’s eyes.
“No!” Winnie cried.
My eyes found hers. “Please,” I whispered. It was a long shot to get her to listen to me. It was obvious she had a heart, but did it bleed for more than the man she just lost?
I couldn’t focus on what was happening behind me. The sound of Lane talking to Raiden. Of Raiden saying he would be fine.
“Winnie, kill him,” Isaac commanded.
