No car is waiting when we step outside. The man pulling me heads straight for another alley. I don’t stop screaming. Please let someone hear me.
“Make her shut up,” the man behind me says.
“She will soon enough,” one of the two waiting at the door says.
I’m pulled into a small parking lot. I don’t know where we are.
“This was a bad idea.” The other man mumbles as he opens the trunk of a black car.
“No! No! No!” I scream louder.
“We’re going to have Vikings all over us if she doesn’t shut up. I’m not getting caught for her.” The man behind me looks back down the alley.
The man pulling me comes to an abrupt halt. I know who he is before he spins around on the others.
“Then leave,” Sean snaps.
“We helped you when no one else would. We get you your prize. Now, youthinkyou have power?” The man behind me nudges me forward. “Take her, but don’t you ever show up in Chattanooga again. We’ll kill you for the McLeods if you do.”
The first man by the door punches Sean in the face. “Never should’ve trusted you.”
Sean stumbles but doesn’t let go of my hand. The three men spit at him before they disappear into the shadows.
With them gone, Sean pins my back to the car and raises his ski mask. “Hello, Christina.” He wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his other hand before slamming it into the car next to my head. I jump and squeeze my eyes shut. “You’ve been hard to find. Knew these scumbags were hiding you. Should’ve stayed hidden.”
Yes. Yes, I should have.
Chapter 29
Worley
Dancing.Of all the nonsense that could happen tonight. Dancing wasn’t one I planned for. I don’t dance. Never had the desire to learn. If only Jack could have stopped them. Why did Lily have to drink tonight? Why did Kayla have to get involved? Why did we have to come here? I glance at my brother behind the bar. Yeah. Bankz is why we’re here. He deserves our support. He’s not happy with a few of these ladies tonight, either.
The first few songs aren’t so bad. My temper eases slightly watching my ole’ lady move to the beat. Dancing might not be as bad as I thought, just not in public. In our bedroom, I could definitely be persuaded to try. Anything to put that smile on her face. It’s the only reason that I’m not pulling her out of here right now. I haven’t seen her smile in days. That’s my fault. I refuse to ease up on her protection until her ex is found.
The next song changes my mind about everything. The college kids shout and rush to the dance floor the moment the music starts. This nonsense can’t be real music. Christina and Lauren aren’t comfortable with it either. Lauren manages to get away and return to their table. Jay looks relieved.
I turn back to the dance floor, and my world falls apart. Where is she? Kayla and Lily are dancing. Well, it’s more like they’re bumping into people.
“Christina!” She wouldn’t be able to hear me over this music.
I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off of her. I grab my phone, hit the SOS, and shove the man in front of me out of the way. I continue moving people aside all the way across the dance floor. She’s not here. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I don’t have to look. My brothers are already moving.
He's here, and he has her. I head straight for the back door. Women line the hallway waiting for the restroom. The back door is locked. Nothing looks out of place. The alarm sounds the moment I shove the door open. Jack and Jay are right behind me.
Patches stumbles around the side of the building, blood running down the left side of his head.
“Side entrance.” He points to the alley.
Bankz grabs him. “Let’s get you to Lily.” He drags the prospect through the back door.
The boys and I run to the alley. No one’s here. No cars drive away. I spin around and scream.
“This way!” Jay runs down a path toward another alley.
We reach the service parking lot behind the old hardware store. A black car with the trunk open sits in the shadows. A man dressed in black looms over a woman pinned against the car. My woman. He has my woman. I push past Jay.
He slams his fist into the top of the car. She flinches. The loud noise. I’m going to kill this man.
