“Turn around, Everly.” I do what he says as my heart slams against my rib cage.
Just as my mind begins to race, his pendant comes in front of my eyes as it moves towards my chest. Cold metal tickles my skin as his fingers move against the back of my neck. When they stop, I look down to find his pendant around my throat. To wear someone’s pendant, is to publicly state their claim to you. You are untouchable in the eyes of the mafia. Tears well up in myeyes as I look down at it. A face similar to his mask and symbols of the French Mafia are detailed around it. This is bigger than a marriage, this is a binding link to that member for life. It’s the one absolute law in the eyes of the mafia. Turning around to him, I nearly melt as his hand reaches out and presses it against my chest. I launch myself at him and kiss him deeply. Pulling away, I hold up a finger to him and rush from the bed. Gliding to my vanity, I open my jewelry box and pull out my own pendant. Turning around to face him, I hurl myself back onto bed and hold it out to him. His breathing hitches as he sees it. Closing the distance, I place it on his neck and sit back to look over him. We are caught in the moment as we hold each other's gaze. He shifts away to pull the comforter down and in unison, we climb beneath them. Still looking at each other, I reach for his face. He takes it and kisses the palm.
“Do you think they will write about us? Like Romeo and Juliet?” I ask curiously.
“It’s our kind of love that they don’t write about in novels, Everly. Fuck Romeo and Juliet. I wouldn’t just die to stay with you. I would search time itself to find you again.” He says with conviction.
For the first time in months, I fell asleep easily. No thoughts of monsters hurting me. No striped sheets. No pain. Just a beautiful, devoted, man with icy blue eyes and a heart of fire.
Chapter Twenty Six
Have You Seen A Siren Recently?
The sound of a phone ringing jerks me from my sleep. Heavy weight restricts my limbs movements. Looking around, I find Ghost wrapped about my body. The phone continues to blare from the side table earning a frustrated growl from both of us. He slips from my body enough for me to turn and grab it. On the screen is my father’s name. Answering it, I pull it to my ear.
“We have a drop for you. Cartel has a base set up 6 hours north. Time is of the essence and we didn’t get wind until thirty minutes ago. Take the jet, infiltrate the camp, grab the survivors, and get them back here.” He rushes out.
“Got it.” I say before hanging up.
Looking at the clock for the first time, I see it's five in the morning. Groaning, I grab my pillow and throw it at Ghost’s head. He jumps from bed with wild eyes and his gun drawn, swinging it around in different directions looking for thething that woke him from his peaceful rest. His aim finds me and he immediately drops the gun on the mattress.
“What the fuck, Everly?” Frustration is clear in his tone.
“We have a mission. I’ll give you the summary in the car. Get dressed. I’ll go wake the guys.” Rolling my eyes, I throw on a robe and head to their rooms.
I find James’s room first, banging my fist on the door. Seconds later it swings open to a wild looking man similar to the one that was just drawing his gun at me. We give each other a knowing look and he follows me to Ryon’s room. I do the same, banging on the door but get no response. I grab the handle and turn it, being met with dark silence. We look at each other in confusion before turning our attention to Lucas’s door. Walking to it, I cautiously push it open to find none other than Ryon and Lucas in bed together. They are tangled around each other in a mess of limbs. Well, that’s a new one. I look to James who owns that same nearly shocked expression.
“Did you know?” I ask him but he replies by shaking his head. So this must be new then.
Suddenly, Ryon’s cat saunters towards me from the corner of the room. Cat is a loose term though. This thing is nearly sixty pounds of silky black muscle. It purrs as it rubs against my thigh and I offer a pat on the head in return. Getting a wicked idea, I find a gun with a laser attached near the door. Targeting the red dot on the floor, it catches the feline’s attention. James realizes my plan and snorts. Smiling back at him, I return my attention to the room in front of me as I glide the laser to the pile of humans sprawled across the bed. Within seconds, the cat runs from my side and launches itself onto them as they scream in surprise. James and I laugh hysterically at the sight.
“Wake up. We have an urgent mission. We leave in thirty.” I inform them before handing James the gun and walking back to my room to dress.
In less than ten minutes, I am waiting in the armory for everyone else. Ghost comes in first, stalking towards me and scooping me up in a panty dropping kiss. Best start to the morning ever. Pulling away, we smile at each other before going back to our duties. The guys follow in shortly after and collect their gear. Deciding to leave the animal counterparts behind, we head to the garage and load into my car. It’s the fastest vehicle between the five of us with time being something we can’t afford to lose. Ten minutes later, we make it to our safe house and are all briefed on the mission. Seven women and girls are being readied for sale. They are going to be sold to the black market for their bodies and then when they are no longer of use, they will be murdered for their organs. I shiver at the thought but ground myself before my past can catch up to me. We head to the private jet that will take us about twenty minutes from where they are stationed. After that, we will have to drive to a nearby area and walk the rest of the distance.
The jet takes off down the runway as we are ushered food and drinks. We eat quickly before preparing ourselves for the impending fight to ensue. It’s seven o’ clock when the jet slows, descending to a runway in an open field. This must be private because there is nothing but tarmac and trees surrounding us. Finding a matte black car at the end of the strip, we file in one by one and drive towards a desolate area. Based on the map in Lucas’s hands, we are a fifteen minute walk from their camp. The car comes to a stop between trees, covered by vines, and surrounded by bushes. From the road, you wouldn’t be able to see our getaway car. Once everyone adjusts their gear and weapons, we begin our journey in the direction of their camp.
A short time later, we find ourselves looking down our scopes into the camp of the cartel. I tell the guys to each take a post surrounding the area. I am heading for the tent that harbors the innocent victims of this horrific world. Ghost is going to take out the men that surround the armory. James is going to knock out their electronics and then dismantle their satellite system. Lucas and Ryon are going to take care of the stragglers throughout the site. With a nod, we head for our destinations. Inching towards the green tent ahead of me, I peak around the corner to see two guards positioned near the opening. Sliding towards them with deadly silence, I smash their heads together. Effectively knocking them out, I drag their bodies towards the rear of the tent and stick my switch blade into each of their necks ensuring neither can hurt another soul.
Returning to the front of the tent, I catch a glimpse of each of the guys working on taking out members without alerting others. Focusing on the flapping curtains of the entrance to the structure, I slink inside only to be met with the back of a man. Looking at the people in front of him, I put my finger up to my lips in a silent plea for them to not alert him of my presence. Quickly, I jump into action. Covering his mouth with my hands, I spin him around sparing the innocent slaves sight of my next action. Hastily, I slit his throat and drop his body in front of me. Just as I turn to inform them of my intentions, yelling and gun fire can be heard from outside the tent. Rushing to the opening, I peer out to find an all out battle happening around us. My men are scattered randomly, firing at and fighting with cartel members. Realizing that we have been found out, I move on autopilot. Turning back around, I look down at the scared group before me.
“Does anyone speak English?” I ask loudly over the sound of war just beyond the tent. A young woman, around my age, steps forward from the crowd.
“I do.” I nod at her even though I internally want to cry at the horrors I know too well, she would have had to face, if we hadn’t made it in time.
“Great. Tell the others that my men and I are here to save you all. We are going to get you to a plane that will take you to a safe location where you will be given new identities and settled into homes with monetary support for life.” I rush out. She nods with tears in her eyes. Turning back to the group, she translates my words. They all begin to stand just as Ghost comes into the tent, on instinct they slink back but I put my hand out at them, halting their motion.
“Shit’s hit the fan. If we are going to get them out of here, we need to go now.” He whispers to me.
“I’ll take them, you stay here and help the guys. We need to finish this or they will just pop up in a new location.” I say, knowing what his response is going to be.
“Fuck no. I’m not leaving your side. If you leave, I’m going with you.” There it is.
“For the first time in a long time, I feel strong. I can do this. You have to trust me. You guys clean house and I’ll be back before dinner.” Confidence drips from my voice. There is an internal war going on behind his eyes. He hates the idea but he wants me to succeed. He finally nods and pulls me in for a kiss. It’s almost painful with the amount of passion forming between us. Moving away from each other breathlessly, our foreheads rest against the other’s.
“I swear to the gods, Everly. If you don’t make it back to me, even the devil will fear my wrath.” He means it. Giving him one more soft peck, I hold his hand before slowly backing away from him until our hands drop from the other’s.
“I love you more than you will ever know, Ghost. I will see you soon.” He nods curtly before exiting the tent. Turning to face the group, I beckon them towards the back of the tent and cut a slit in the material of the wall. One by one, they step out and we head for the tree line. After a short walk, we find our way back to the vehicle's location. An SUV has now replaced the spot where the car once was. Climbing in, I drive until we reach the tarmac. The jet still sits running, waiting for its new passengers. Heading aboard, we all find our seats and I beckon the stewardess to prepare food and drinks for each person. They likely have received very little food and water since their capture. Once everyone is settled, we prepare for take off. The jet picks up speed down the runway until we are finally airborne. A weight is lifted off my chest as we make distance between us and the destruction going on nearby. My muscles finally relax as I lean back into the large seat and close my eyes.
