Page 105 of A Hateful Negotiation


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As I did, it began to play out as Gus filled in the blanks, “While you were catching up on that earlier footage, I was already looking for Blake’s phone. She got a text from Spence. I can send that to you, if you want, but I fast-tracked until her phone was turned off at this location. That’s the video you’re seeing.”

The video showed a car turning down an alley, slowing down, and parking at the edge of the camera’s lens. There was no movement for a bit, then the car shut off. The driver’s door opened, and Spence Calloway got out, dragging Blake with him.

He kicked the door shut, then they were out of eyesight.

Lassiter’s phone beeped.

I wasn’t paying him attention. Blake was in danger.

I was about to tear the world apart.

My phone buzzed again. And again.

Gus said, back to business, “First text is the location. Second text is the time stamp. This happened—”

Lassiter was looking over my shoulder. He cursed. “Thirty fucking minutes ago.”

I began for the door.

Lassiter didn’t.

I glanced back once, scowling. “What?”

He glanced at his phone before shoving it in his pocket. His jaw tightened. “You know that thing you wanted me to get last night? DNA from Calloway because we couldn’t find any information on who he is. Got the results back.”

I already knew what he was going to say, but I bit out, “Fucking say it, Last.”

“He’s a Worthing.” He paused, grimacing. “He’s your cousin.”

“He’s going to be a dead cousin. Let’sgo!”

Lassiter ran for the door, close on my heels.

I was saying to Gus, “I want all of my men within a ten-mile radius to converge on that location. Send someone to check on Scooter. You got that?”

“On it, but ...” He cursed again.

I was getting tired of the cursing. “Gus,” I warned.

Lassiter darted around me. He was yelling orders to my men in the nightclub. I wasn’t paying attention, only paying attention to whatever Gus was going to tell me as I shoved out of the door.

“A few minutes after they arrived, they had visitors.”

“Who?”

Lassiter shoved out the door with me, and he jerked me in his direction. “I’m a faster driver.” We got in his own truck. When I saw more of my men spilling out of the door behind us, I said quickly, “No. Only a few of them come with us. The rest stay. We have more of my men closer to that location who will be there. They’ll need to stay and protect any assets here.”

“Got it.” Lassiter flung open his driver’s door, getting inside, and at the same time was speaking into his phone, relaying my orders.

I went around to get in his passenger side. Gus still hadn’t told me who showed up at the warehouse. “Gus.”

“Right. I was just waiting—” He sighed into the phone from his end, his voice suddenly bleak. “Tristian West and Ashton Walden showed up, along with their bodyguards. They’re heavily armed.”

Panic swarmed up, an emotion I’d never experienced before. Anger was there. I knew that feeling, but this new one, panic alongside fear, was unsettling. I slammed Lassiter’s passenger door shut. “Keep monitoring everything. See if you can find some way to get inside that building. We’re on our way.”

Lassiter was about to throw the truck in reverse when one of my men sprinted over, motioning for me to roll my window down. I did, and he handed me a bag. “Guns.” Two bulletproof vests were next. Heopened the back door and picked up a much larger, longer item. He got in with us, bringing a high-precision, long range sniper rifle. He had it wrapped in a blanket, but I knew what weapons I’d acquired.

He pulled his door shut and got to work. “Walden’s got his own sniper. I figure let’s even the playing field. Drop me off around the block, and I’ll keep the front door clear for you, Boss.”