“This isn’t your fault, Cop,” Coal says firmly. I hear Thea murmuring in the background. I know that she and Sterling will track Bella.
“Isn’t it?” I demand harshly. “I took a fucking breakdown job when I should have planted my ass in town.”
Bile rises in my throat as I think about all the things they could do to the woman I love. I know the horrors that are inflicted on trafficked women. The thought of that happening to Bella…
“Would your cover have been blown if you’d refused?” Coal asks.
I fall silent for a minute because he’s right; it would have been. Attending breakdowns was part of the deal when I was hired. With half the workforce off with the flu, I had no choice but to take on the job when my boss assigned it to me, especially since he had to stay on the premises.
“Yeah.” I sigh. “It would have. I’ve got to go, Coal. I need to call Cahir.”
“Okay, brother. We’re loading up, and we’ll be on our way in the next half hour. You’re not alone.”
“Thank you.” I don’t have to say anything else. Coal and I are close, so he’ll know what it means to me.
One call down, one call to go. Then I get my woman and take those motherfuckers down.
Finding Cahir’s contact, I call him. “Bee’s cover’s blown.”
“I know,” Cahir grinds out. “We’re on our way, but we’re still two hours away. Where are you?”
“I’m an hour out,” I admit. “It was a setup. Somehow, they knew who we were.”
“Eade has her. It’s a clusterfuck.” Cahir sounds agitated. “Bella messaged Ramzi this morning to let him know Eade was in the office. We’ve listened to the recordings. He’s the threat. He found her because of the previous work she’s done. How he put two and two together, we don’t know. It could be luck for all we know, but he’s the one who has her. We’ve moved the employees working on his ledgers to safe houses, along with their families.”
“Wait, Eade has her?” I demand, my blood turning to ice.
“He has containers at a warehouse on the docks. We think he’s taking her there. He’s got containers that are ready to be shipped. We’d planned on hitting him this weekend. Ramzi will let Sterling know the address to give to Coal, and I’ll send youthe location. If you get there before us, don’t go in alone. I know you’ll want to, but, brother, it won’t end well if you do. Bella can hold her own. She knows we’re coming.”
I blow out a shaky breath. “Has Silas seen anything? Will she make it?”
Cahir hesitates before he admits. “Silas hasn’t seen anything, but that doesn’t mean shit. It’s not unusual when it comes to those he loves. And we all love Bella.”
“Okay.” I flick on my indicator as the exit sign comes into view. “Send me the address. I’ll meet you there, and I’ll wait. It may kill me, but I’ll wait.”
My phone beeps with an address as soon as we end the call.
“Hold on, Spice,” I mutter. “I’m coming for you, baby. Just hold on.”
I hope to God someone is listening because I’m not sure what I’ll do if Bella doesn’t make it through this.
CHAPTER 21
BELLA
I blink my eyes open with a groan, trying to make sense of what’s happened. My head throbs, and I try to lift my arm, but I can’t move. I’m tied up. Spots dot my vision, and I blink again. Whoever hit me did it hard enough to give me a concussion. I know the signs from experience.
As my vision clears, I see I’m in a warehouse. The tang of ocean brine hits my nose. I’m near the sea, probably in one of the warehouses on the docks.
My arms are secured above my head, but I can touch the floor with my toes. My legs aren’t tied up, which surprises me. They’re mistaken if they think I can’t do any damage with them.
I’m still wearing my clothes and boots. My ring is on my finger, and my necklace is around my neck. This is all good news. Copper can still track me. I need to focus on staying alive.
The door to the warehouse creaks open, and I let my body go slack, biting back a groan as my shoulders and wrists take my weight. Allowing my head to slump, I watch from under my lashes as Lloyd Eade and the Box Man come into view.
They contemplate me in silence. I try not to squirm, keeping my breathing even as I wait them out.
“How hard did you hit her, Samson?” Lloyd asks.
