Lassiter didn’t wait for anyone else to say anything. He fishtailed out of there.
As we went, as my sniper reached forward and began to help put one of the vests on me, I was on my phone. I called in the man of mine in charge of guarding my four hostages.
“Yeah, Boss?”
“I will need you to bring the four Christmas gifts to a location I’ll be texting you. You will keep them a block away and wait for my orders.”
“Got it.” He ended the call, and I caught Lassiter’s disapproval.
I did not give one fuck. “If they don’t leave by the time we get there, they will use Blake as a hostage. I will use any and all resources at my disposal to get her back and alive. You don’t approve, I don’t give one shit.”
He huffed, but his disapproval lessened. “It’s not that. You asked me to feel out the brother. I’ve been doing that. And the mom has cancer. Blake’s there. She won’t want you to harm those four, and you know it. Keep that in the back of your mind.”
I fixed him with a look. A hard look, and repeated something I recently said to Blake.
“I’d rather she hate me and be alive than beniceand have her dead. You can stop sharing your opinion right fucking now.”
He shut up.
Chapter Forty-Three
Blake
The other guys were guards, and as soon as they entered the warehouse, they fanned out. Two went to one side, and the other two took up position by the door. West and Walden were eyeing my housemates before looking at where I stood. They saw Spence’s two guards, and all of them had a reaction. Disgust. Walden rolled his eyes.
Spence stepped forward. “I take it that you’re acquainted with my brothers.”
Brothers?
West’s and Walden’s heads pivoted our way, and I saw the surprise there for a split second before both saw me. And they stayed on me. A chill went through me at the cruel and cold smile that was pulling at Walden’s mouth. “Please tell me you’ve brought us this gift. Please,please. I don’t even give a fuck about who else you are, just as long as you tell me that Miss Green is here for us.” His leer told me all the nasty ways he wanted to make me scream in pain.
West wasn’t as fazed. His eyes narrowed on Spence. “You’re a Worthing?”
Spence let out an aggrieved sigh. Very dramatic. “Finally. Someone fucking gets it.Yes.I’m a Worthing.”
West took in Spence’s two guards, who I guess were actually his brothers? Brother guards? Just brothers? Both were big, muscly, and didn’t look super smart. Thick necks. I was stereotyping guys with thick necks. John Cena was smart, so not all guys with thick necks were stupid, but these two guys looked like morons. There was no articulate way to explain the look. Just, moron.
“Wha—huh?” It was one of the brothers, though both seemed taken aback. The one with dark hair was flabbergasted. They swung their gazes on Spence at the same time, who gave each a resigned look. His shoulders slumped. “Tobias Worthing got my mom pregnant, and forced her to give me up. I wasn’t in the system. I was raised by my mom’s neighbor. I thought I was one of hers until my own high school DNA test gave me a surprise. Nice little things, aren’t they?” He bit out, glancing my way. “Identifying all of these little Worthings running around.”
The two guys continued to stare at him. The dark-haired one’s mouth hung open. “You’re our brother?”
“Dude. Dad had an affair.” The other nudged him with his elbow.
“Your father was Toby Worthing?” Tristian West had come closer.
Spence rubbed at his forehead, but made a show of focusing on West. “Yes.” He cast me a dark look. “Creighton Lane killed him.”
One of the brothers growled, low and guttural.
Spence seemed to pick up steam now that he said that last bit. His head perked up. He stood taller, straighter. “Before you ask, no. Cole Mauricio does not know who I am. I found out about my father five years ago. When my grandma, or who I thought was my grandmother, passed, I decided to come here. I approached my father, told him who I was, and it took a little bit, but after a while, he and I began a relationship. That ended two months ago.” He sent another murderous look my way, and he glared for a full five seconds before lowering his voice, returning to normal level as he continued talking with TristianWest. “I have been waiting for you or your partner to do something about Lane, and you still haven’t. I’m tired of waiting.” He motioned toward where my friends were locked up. “Lane took something of yours. Well, here’s something of his. This is me, if you haven’t figured it out, trying to speed this process up.Hurtthe one person he cares about. That’s the whole reason he took your people, am I right?”
What was he talking about?
I didn’t have time to try and figure it out because as soon as he finished talking, Spence took a gun out and crossed the room, pointing it at one of the cells.
I opened my mouth. “Don—”
Bang!
