“Alright,” Rose announces briskly, stepping forward. “Let’s get you two settled. Are you hungry? I made some soup and have a few other treats in the kitchen. How about we get you something to eat and then if these guys have any more questions, they’ll come and ask you?” She leads them away, glancing over her shoulder with an intense stare.
Find Hulk. Bring him home. I tell Shadow what to do with a quick turn of my head, who gives a subtle nod back and turns away to make the call.
We need to get everyone back here and we need to make a plan. And knowing we have a traitor, it’s even more dangerous. We need to get Avery Clarke and get to Hulk before Vlad finds out that we know. We’re in a race against time, and we’re on the losing side.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AVERY
Who knew I would be able to give the piñata idea a try?
Isla:Can I have a gold necklace? They’re so pretty and everyone has one at school.
My breath comes out of me in a woosh, and my knees buckle as I slide to the floor in relief. Tears fill my eyes, and I have to fight back the sobs. They’re safe. Thank God they’re safe. I made the right decision. We came up with a code of sorts to let me know if the Devil’s Soldiers are the good guys and it’s paid off.
My fingers shake as I type back a reply.
Avery: We’ll talk about it. And why are you texting me when you’re just down the hall?
Isla: I mean, you can come and talk to me while I poop, but I thought this would be better.
Avery: No thanks.
That should be enough to keep Vlad and his men occupied with thinking the kids are still here. For now. I don’t know whatI’m going to do if they show up here randomly and want to use them to make me cooperate, but I’ll have to figure that out then. I’m just so glad they’re safe.
I allow myself another moment to cry before I wipe away my tears and get to my feet. There’s no point in wallowing, especially when I don’t know the next time Vlad and his goons are going to come knocking to drag me back. I head down the hall to the bathroom and splash some water on my face. The water is cool enough that it gives me enough of a jolt to stall any lingering tears.
Time to get to work.
I head into my bedroom and quickly change into some comfier clothes. Scrubs definitely aren’t the most comfortable to work around the house in.
I stop when I hear a noise coming from Sawyer’s room. My blood runs cold. Who the hell is in there? Is Vlad or one of his men back to try and grab the kids? I grab the bat I hid behind the door, and wait.
I hear a very soft rumble of a voice, and then another, and my heart pounds harder and faster. Do I make a break for it? Maybe I can beat one of them, or at least stun them, and get away before the other one realizes it. And if it’s one of Vlad’s men, even better.
When Sawyer’s bedroom door opens, I launch myself forward, the bat already swinging. “Shit!” the voice barks, ducking, even as the man behind him also, barely, manages to throw himself out of the way. “Wait, Av?—”
I don’t let him finish, I just keep swinging, only managing to hit one of them in the shoulder and making him hiss out in pain before I’m suddenly tackled to the floor, the bat going flying from my hand. I’m not going down without a fight. I scratch, claw, and even try to bite him when he turns his head toward me. He hisses and yanks his head back as my teeth snap together.“Avery, stop!” he growls. I don’t listen and continue to attempt to buck him off. Damn it, he’s heavy. “A little fucking help here?” he barks at his accomplice.
“She fucking almost dislocated my shoulder with that bat,” the other man gripes, but he moves to grip my hands and hold them down. “Avery,” he says sharply, a bark of authority in his tone that has me instinctively stilling. “It’s Frost and Bowie from the Devil’s Soldiers. We’re here to talk to you. You’re safe. We’re not going to hurt you.”
I still try to struggle, but with the two of them, it’s far too difficult, so I have no choice but to stop and stare up at them. Both of them are watching me, faces calm, and I instantly realize they’re right. These are the two men from last night. Frost is the one holding me down, and Bowie has my hands. Bowie and Frost relax when I don’t keep fighting. “I’m sorry,” I croak out. “I thought you were one of Vlad’s men.”
“Yeah, we figured,” Frost says with a wry smile. He nods at Bowie and they both release me. Frost helps me to my feet and gives me a quick once-over. “Sorry for the tackle but…”
I refuse to be embarrassed. I was fighting for my life. Still, I look at Bowie, who’s rubbing his shoulder. “Let me get you some ice for that and I’ll have a look at it. It shouldn’t be dislocated.”
Frost snorts out a laugh, and Bowie glares at him. “When Shadow mentioned the pinata, I didn’t think he meant it’d be me,” Bowie grumbles but follows me. “I thought it was a joke.”
Frost snickers behind me as I get out an ice pack and wrap it in a thin kitchen towel. “Cut and shirt off,” I order briskly.
“Damn, I’m recording this,” Frost says gleefully, reaching into his pocket. “What do you want to bet Sadie loses her shit?”
“She’ll fucking tell her to hit harder next time,” Bowie huffs as he does as ordered, wincing and groaning with the movement. “And put your damn phone away, perv. Unless you want a picture of all this on your phone for when you get lonely late atnight.” He waves a hand at himself before moving to sit at the table. I mean, if it was up to me, I can see why a picture of him would be nice to have. The man clearly works out with the thick muscle and six-pack abs he’s sporting. Not to mention the ink that covers his arms, back, and chest.
Frost rolls his eyes but puts his phone away. “I think I can do without the nightmares,” he drawls back.
I put the ice on Bowie’s shoulder and he hisses, but I ignore him and order, “Hold it there. Then one of you starts talking and tells me why you’re sneaking into my apartment instead of knocking on the door like normal people. And I want to know my siblings are alright.”
