“Hey Butterfly,” I answer, “All okay, I’m just heading back to you now.”
“Stop, please!” Her voice screams through the speakers, my spine going ramrod straight as panic injects into my system.
“Sloane!?” I bellow her name. “Sloane!”
“No!” She cries, her terror lacing the word. Her fear is an ice-cold bucket of water.
“I’m coming!” I yell, slamming my hand down on the horn. “I’m coming, Sloane, you hear me!?”
“Please,” She begs. Can she even hear me? What the fuck is going on!? Fuck this traffic; I’ll deal with the tickets later as I swerve and mount the pavement, pressing on the gas. I take a turn down a narrow street as her cries sound through the speaker, but then I hear shuffling, and breathing fills the line, followed by a bitter chuckle.
“So pretty, isn’t she, Dean?” Richard fucking Taylor says.
Fuck!
“Get the fuck away from her!” I growl.
“It’s really quite interesting watching you all turn weak,” Richard continues, “Malakai with sweet Olivia, Sebastian with that pretty redhead. Even your brother. And now, you.”
“I’m warning you, Taylor,” My tires screech as I take the corner.
“Meet me at the marina,” He says, “Come alone or I’ll put a bullet in her head and throw her in the bay.”
“Put her on the phone,” I demand.
“You’re in no position to negotiate, Dean. Be smart, Mr. Archer, it would be such a shame to hurt something so beautiful.”
He hangs up, the disconnection sound an echo that settles into my blood. Fury works through me, furyandfear. He has her. I broke my promise. She wasn’t safe, he still got to her.
“Fuck!” Pain forgotten, I take the turn onto the road that’ll lead me to the marina. I’ll die for her if I have to.
Pulling to a stop, I’m out of the car, the engine left running, as I sprint toward the container yard, knowing that’s exactly where he’ll be. Like a rat, he hides and steals, never brave enough to show himself or fight the battles. My gun is loaded and in myhand, ready, and when I hear voices, I slow, taking a moment to analyze.
I see Richard with his hands in his pockets, his silver-lined hair looking thin and greasy. He’s looking toward an open container, and I see three more men. I can’t risk calling the guys, he has Sloane, and hewillhurt her. And what about Lily? Did he get to her too? Is she all alone in the house?
There’s a war inside my chest, my heart pounding so hard it feels as if it could beat right through my ribcage.
She needs me.
Keeping my gun in view, I step out, showing myself to them.
Richard turns to me, his eyes narrowing on the weapon. The three guys with him raise their own, and from the container, another two step out. Richard lifts his eyes behind me, likely expecting the others, but he won’t find them.
“Very good,” He gives me a full, toothy grin, showing a silver tooth at the edge of his mouth. “You do follow instructions well. I shouldn’t be surprised when Malakai has you all on such a tight leash.”
“Where is she?” I demand.
“Who?” Richard keeps his hands in his pockets, the picture of calm and collected, but there’s a sweat on his brow despite the near freezing temperatures. “That pretty little bitch of yours?”
“Where. Is. She?” I punch out each word from between gritted teeth.
“Safe at home, I’d assume.” From his pocket, he pulls a cell and presses a button, the recording of Sloane’s call to the police playing.
He fucking tricked me. I already knew it was him in my computer last night. We’ve been too fucking slack dealing with him, and now me and Sloane are paying the price.
Not anymore.
I level the gun at his head.
