41
SHANE
As I start the engine about to back out of the parking bay, Kane jumps into the passenger and Dom into the back. “What are you doing?”
“Coming with you. If Lilly’s in trouble, you’re not playing the hero all on your own,” Kane says as he tries her mobile.
I floor the accelerator, screeching out of the car park, wishing I had the blues and twos. The muted unanswered ringtone from Kane’s phone is like an alarm bell ringing in my head.
I tap the screen on the dash. “Call Ben.” The phone rings just like the alarm in my head.
“Sarge? Aren’t you meant to be taking a night off?”
“I never get a night off, you know that.” I put my foot down, running through an amber light. There’s no slowing down, not when I don’t know where or who the fuck my girl’s with. “Ben, I need you to run an address for me. Lake View Rise. It’s a row of three story flats.”
“What number?”
Kane zooms in and says, “The car’s parked outside forty-three, could be forty-four or forty-five.”
“Run the whole damn block. See if there’s anyone on file living there.” I growl out the words, my heart hammering in my chest. I’ve only just got her, I can’t lose her now. Not after everything it’s taken for us to get here.
Kane continues calling her phone, looking more and more agitated by the second. “Where’s Ash living?”
I silently pray that this is Ash’s place, and she’s just having tea and biscuits, but I know that’s highly fucking unlikely, especially where Ash is concerned.
With Ben still on speaker, I say, “Run a search on Asher Sinclair. I want to know where he’s living. He could still be on parole.”
“On it, sarge.” The sound of tapping on keys comes through the speaker.
I hold my breath, hoping there’s something that shows up. Anything.
“I got him. He’s residing at number five Stillwater Street.”
“That’s Lilly’s home.” I bang my hand on the dash. “Fuck.”
“There are a few people come up on the system for Lake View Rise. But looks like they’re old residencies.”
“Stay on the line. I don’t know what I’m gonna find when I get there.”
My body jerks forward, the seatbelt digging into my chest as I slam on the brakes behind her car, not bothering to find a parking bay. I race to the door to the block of flats. Thankfully, it’s unlocked, saving me from busting it down. As I enter the communal stairway, gunfire has my heart rate picking up speed. My eyes widen as I stare back at the guys, the same fear mirrored in their eyes. Taking the steps two at a time, we race to the third floor unarmed, unprotected, and unsure of what we’re gonna find, but unyielding in our pursuit of our girl.
“Ben, you still there?” I say into my phone.
“Yes, sarge.”
“Requesting back up. Gun shot fired at Lake View Rise.”
“Any casualties?”
“I don’t know yet. Get an ambulance in case.”
I slip my phone into my pocket, but don’t wait for backup. With a knowing look from Dom and Kane, I know they have my back and are probably more skilled than any cop. The only thing we don’t have is ammunition.
Busting open the door, I let out a sigh of relief at hearing Lilly’s cries, but my adrenaline spikes as I hear a male shout, “Did you call the cops? Fucking bitch!”
I rush through the kitchen into the room; the stench is the first thing to hit me. On the floor, a lifeless body stares up at the ceiling.
Ash waves a gun around, his t-shirt soaked with blood as he holds his shoulder, pain etched on his already weary face.
