Chapter one
Peyton
It's All My Fault
Pacing around the living-room, I wait for the tracker to finally stop moving so I can give Ash the location. But it doesn’t stop, it just keeps bouncing all over the place. I try to take a deep breath as tears continue to pour down my face. “This is all my fault. Did he take her because I beat the shit out of Vikki. Is this my punishment?” I scream into the empty house before I fall to my knees and sob. I should’ve told them about the bullying. Why did I keep it a secret? Look what fucking happened. Instead of the lies protecting them, all it did was get Riley kidnapped and god only knows what else. I’m not sure what Jake is capable of but we need to find her and bring her home. Fuck!
Picking myself up off the ground, I wipe my tears and get myself together. I’m no help to anyone if I’m a fucking mess. Staring at my phone; as the tracker continues to jump all over the state, is really pissing me off. I’m good at tracking shit but even I’m not that good. I much rather be the one who saves lives than have to deal with technical shit like this. I just don’tknow anyone I can call to help us with this but then again–this is not something we can just go telling others about. I pace the living room, trying to think of other ways I can help but I’ve got nothing and I feel fucking useless. This is truly all my fault. I shouldn’t have hurt Vikki but most of all I should’ve told Ash and Riley the truth and if something bad happens to Riley. I’ll never forgive myself for it. Never!
I check my phone for the millionth time and an email comes through from the school board. Opening I gasp and narrow my eyes as I read it. “Expulsion! Fucking Vikki.” I growl and of course it’s signed by none other than Mrs. Radley. I’m so fucking done with this family, it’s not even funny.If Ash gets to kill Jake then fuck it. This is the only way I know how to help.
Grabbing my keys, I leave the house and head towards school. My mind is literally whirling as I drive. I’m so worried about everyone and everything I can’t fucking think straight. All I know is that this cuntneedsto die. We need to end the fucking cycle. Ash thinks I’m oblivious to the file that Spade guy sent him. He truly underestimates my capabilities but I saw it. He’s looked through the file so many times when we would be doing school work together he just doesn’t know that I’ve paid attention to exactly how he does it. So one night when he and Riley went to bed early I snooped. Do I regret it? Fuck no. I hate secrets. Even if that makes me a hypocrite but I needed to know. One thing’s for sure, Jake and his mother are the only ones left of their bloodline and today it fucking ends.
Once I arrive at school I circle around the school parking lot, looking for this cunt’s car. I park in the back under the trees and log into the school's security cameras. Before getting out I grab gloves, my magnet and scalpel, shoving them in my pockets. Climbing out, I scramble the security feed as I walk over to the black SUV parked in her designated spot. Pulling the magnetic device out of the back of my jeans, I run it along the handle of thedoor, disarming the alarm and unlocking it. I slide on a pair of gloves and pull the lever climbing inside.Can’t leave any finger prints.
Looking down at the time on my phone; I see that she should be walking out momentarily, so I hop in the back and stop scrambling the security cameras. I don’t want to alert security that something is going on. I rather them think there was a small glitch in the system and that’s it.
The side doors of the school open– the one that only employees use, and I duck further behind the seat, praying she doesn’t open the back door and just gets in the damn vehicle. My heart pounds in my chest the closer she gets and I only know she’s close because she’s speaking to someone who I assume is a student, as she unlocks the door and opens it. I hold my breath as she says goodbye to whoever it is and gets into the car. I wait until she starts it up to make my move.
Taking my scalpel out of my hoodie, I slowly sit up, holding my breath. I stare at her through the rearview mirror as she fiddles with her purse and then the radio. I smirk when she finally sees me and gasp at the same time that I press the blade over her rapidly beating artery. “Afternoon, Mrs. Radley. Your family is a disgrace and I’ve about had it with you all. The cycle ends here with you. Jake is next. It was nice knowing you,” I spit, digging the scalpel into the side of her neck and with the flick of my wrist, blood sprays against the interior, warming my fingers through the gloves as it does. She reaches for her neck as her body thrashes in her seat. I watch her eyes widen in fear as I wait, listening to her struggle and gag while all of the life drains from her eyes. Once she finally stops moving, I reach for her phone and take her laptop placing it in my lap. I turn it on and get to work reinstating myself and clearing out her hard drive. The sun has officially set, making this so much easier, as I continue to sit in the back of her car doing what needs to bedone. My phone pings and I pick it up and see the tracker finally stopped.Fuck yes. It's time to get the hell out of here.
Chapter two
Asher
It's Go Time
I arrived at the warehouse a few hours ago to get suited up. My body is riddled with knives, guns, grenades and smoke bombs. I am so fucking ready to kill this motherfucker and bring my girl home. Waiting on Peyton to get a location on Riley is fucking maddening. My anxiety is through the roof every fucking minute that passes. If I knew how to track phones I’d have done this shit already. Hacking into camera feeds is much easier than tracking locations. I could’ve called Mav but I’m trying not to involve my friends and just do this on my own. But when the door swings open and Spade steps in with a pissed off look on his face, I know that I fucked up. We don’t do shit alone. We are a family—if one goes into the fire—we all go together. I should’ve known he would get an alert that I was here despite ignoring his calls. I try not to make eye contact as I stare at my phone, but when he gets close enough, he knocks the phone out of my hand and it falls onto the table.
“Wanna explain to me a few things, Ash. For one why are you ignoring my calls and two why are you suited up for war?” he growls and I shrug like a coward.
“Look at me, Asher. We don’t fucking cower. Tell me what the fuck is going on!” He shouts and my eyes snap to his and what I see in them is not what I expected. Concern laces his gray eyes where I assumed there would be anger but Spade is made differently. If his brother Jameson or Dario were in front of me—they would definitely let it be known how angry they are, but Spade—no, it's not how he operates.
“My girl is missing. She was kidnapped by that Radley motherfucker. I know, I know they are dangerous, but what the fuck else am I supposed to do?” I yell and he shakes his head, covering his face with his hand.
“And why didn’t you call me. I can fucking help. You know this. Why are you going alone? You know the rules! Where’s Stone?” he asks and I shrug again.
“I didn’t call anyone. I have Peyton looking for her location. I’m just waiting until it’s time to go.”
“Alone? That's not how we do things. You don’t know how many men he has. Do you know anything about this family?” He asks and I shake my head.
“Nothing more than what you put in the file and that he’s a dead man walking.” I spit and he takes a deep breath, taking out his phone and bringing it to his ear.
“Yo Mav, are you busy?” He says down the line and I let out a breath. “Okay, bet. Come to the warehouse. I need a favor.” he states then hangs up the phone and looks at me. “You will wait until Mav gets here. I want him to educate you on the Radley’s, before your suicide mission. Then I will send you with a team. I need you to be fucking smarter when it comes to shit like this bro.” He scolds and my fists tighten at my sides.
“If this was Jade, would you listen to the voice of reason or would you do everything in your power to get to her??? To save the girl you love?” I growl and he raises a brow.
“Watch it Ash, you might be one of my best friends but—”
“But nothing. You know damn well. You, Jameson and Dario… even Ryder would burn the world for Jade. Shit I’d help you do it.” I say and immediately realize my error before I even finish the sentence. The smirk on his face let’s me know how much I just fucked myself.
“See… you said it yourself. You’d help. So let us help you. We will fucking find her. I just need you to be patient.” He says, calmly, walking over to the cage full of weapons then looks back at me. “You’re right though. There wouldn’t be an inch of this fucking earth untouched when it comes to my Babygirl. I’d sacrifice myself for her. No questions asked.” he spits and I smile.
“And that's how I feel about Riley and Peyton. If I go in there and I fucking die tonight. They will have each other. They will be safe. That’s all I can ever ask for.” I say and he nods.
“But no one is dying on my watch. You hear me?” He growls and I nod.
“I’m just saying. You know how this life is. If it happens. You make sure my girls are always protected and have the best life they possibly can. Promise me Reid.” I beg and he grabs me pulling me into a hug.
