Jumping back in shock, I pull myself away from the twins and run a hand through my hair, doing my best to straighten it. Why are there always interruptions right when things are getting interesting?
Blowing out a breath, I open the door, blocking the view of the twins. They aren’t exactly decent. Nate stands at the door, panting, a sheen of sweat covering his skin. I immediately go on alert, my heart drumming in my chest. “Nate? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Dutch. She’s gone.”
My fists clench as terror grips my heart. “What do you mean, gone?” My eyes fly wide. “Did Vincenzo get her?”
Nate runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know! I-I don’t know anything for sure. Come out in the lobby so I can tell everyone at once.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Closing the door, I turn around, fighting the tears that threaten to spill. How the fuck can she be gone? Biting my lip, I grab a pair of sneakers and quickly put them on while Justin and Theo throw their clothes back on. It’s a shame to cover their exquisite bodies.
When we’re ready, we meet the others in the lobby. Once everyone has arrived, Nate starts talking. While I pay attention to his words, my gaze is running over the room, and that’s when I notice Kian is missing.
Nate tells us how he and Kian caught Dutch trying to sneak out. Although she knew the rules about staying within the confines of the Waverley Building, she took her bike out anyway.
He explains how they chased her into New Jersey, when SUVs came after them, guns blazing.
Just then, the doors to the stairwell are thrown open, and Kian comes racing in. “Where is she?” he bellows, looking around with flared eyes. “Dutch! When I get my hands on you, I swear you aren’t going to sit right for a week!”
Ryan grabs his arm. “She isn’t here, she’s gone.” Kian’s face goes pale.
Nate rounds on him. “Where the fuck have you been? You just disappeared.”
Kian pushes him away. “I didn’t disappear, we split up. While Dutch went straight, I went left while you went right. One of the SUVs stayed on my ass, and I kept trying to dodge them. You and Dutch were out of sight pretty quickly, but as I had my hands full trying to escape the assholes coming for me like addicts looking for their next fix, I couldn’t worry about you. I knew you could take care of yourselves.”
My knees wobble and I slide to the floor, unsure if my legs will hold me up. Theo and Justin kneel beside me while Kian finishes his story.
“I spent what felt like hours dodging them, weaving in and out of alleys and around warehouses, taking off toward the freeway only to loop back around. It was passing one particular warehouse where I heard shots fired, and glancing in the mirrors, I saw the SUV’s tires blown out. It careened into the side of a building, and when they tried to get out of the vehicle, two more shots were quickly released. They slumped to the ground, dead, and I raised a hand to the roof, assuming it was you.”
“It wasn’t me,” Nate protested, putting a hand up in the air. “I didn’t have my rifle with me.”
Kian’s brows pull down. “Who the fuck was it then?”
Nate runs a hand through his hair and shrugs. “Maybe The Duke has someone watching out for us?”
“But didn’t she take everyone with her to help Zach?” Tessa asks while Rebecca nods in agreement.
“Yes,” Nate draws out, “but that doesn’t mean she didn’t order someone to stay behind just in case. You never know with her.”
Ryan steps forward, brows lowered. “Wait. So a mysterious shooter came out of nowhere to help you, but at the same time, kidnapped Dutch?”
“Wait, what?” Kian growls out. “They took her?”
Nate nods. “I caught up with her and we got into a fight. One minute we were arguing, the next, some guy was speeding toward us, firing at me. Dutch pushed me out of the way, and then she was gone. The biker grabbed her and sped off. I was on foot, so I couldn't do anything.”
“Fuck!” Kian shouts, punching his fist into the wall. “I was just thinking on my way up here that we should get a tracker in her. It wouldn’t hurt if we all had one.”
Trey growls and tightens his hold on Rebecca. “No one is putting a tracker in my wife!”
Rebecca’s lips tighten, and she exchanges a glance with Tessa. “Hey,” she soothes, running a hand along his arm. “It’s not a bad idea. We’re up against one of the most dangerous men in America. We don’t know how many men he has working for him. His reach is extensive, and he’s got everyone of note in his pocket. Plus, if he ever discovers I’m the Retribution Killer, he’ll come for me too.” She turns in his arms, peering up at him earnestly. “I don’t mind having one. Tessa does, and she told me how Eric and Nate found her when her mom kidnapped her.”
Trey chuckles, the darkness in his eyes fading. “Well, I got to her first, right guys?” He winks at Eric and Nate, riling them up. As much as they get along now, there still seems to be some residual bad feelings left over from their history.
“Stop it!” Tessa shouts, and Eric and Nate go still. “And you,” she hisses at Trey, “fucking behave yourself. We’re not starting this shit back up again. We need to work as a unit, not fight amongst ourselves.”
“Hear, hear,” Jase mutters, and the corner of my mouth ticks up.
“I think Kian has a point,” I announce as everyone turns my way. “As much as I hate the idea of anyone being able to track me, we’re in dangerous times. What if Vincenzo breaches the building? An FBI agent would make a fine hostage. And I’m not here officially, which could land Agent Buchanan in some serious shit. I’m not willing to place him in that position when he’s only trying to help Dutch.” A few of the others nod, and I can see some are coming around to the idea.
