Bailee’s stomach dipped as her heart quickened. The crowd parted as Ben led the way through the bar toward the back. Ben had her precede him into a back room where his brothers and their women sat waiting for her. Luke was positioned behind a computer and barely acknowledged her entrance.
“What did you find?” She hastened over to stand behind Luke, and Jackson moved to the side to give her room. She deposited Easton’s busted phone on the desk before focusing on the laptop’s monitor.
Luke used the mouse to key up the video, showing a view of the alley where the dumpster was. There wasn’t any audio, but she didn’t need it to understand what she was seeing. Easton was addressing someone in the alley. Then he began to circle around the person, moving cautiously as he shifted positions. Then Bailee was able to see that Clive Melvin was the reason Easton was on the defensive.
Everyone else in the room faded from her consciousness as she focused on the tape. She held her breath as she waited to see what unfolded. She watched them square off without either making the first move. Then she saw Easton whirl around with his back to Melvin, a crazy move he wouldn’t have made unless…
A second later he dropped to his knees, but she couldn’t see exactly what caused him to fall. Then something moved behind him, confirming what she suspected. Melvin didn’t come alone. A figure stepped into view, and Bailee blinked in surprise, her jaw dropping.
“What. The. Hell.”
Her cell phone rang as if on cue. She pulled it from her pocket only to see a blocked number. She didn’t need caller ID to knowwho was calling. Stepping away from the others, keeping her back turned, she steeled herself before answering.
“What do you want?” Her tone was abrupt, and she wanted the caller to know she wouldn’t play games.
“You.”
The voice was unfamiliar to her, but after watching the security footage, she knew who was on the phone.
“Well, you missed. You kidnapped the bartender, and I’ve been here all night.”
“Pretending makes you look like a fool, Officer. We know how important he is to you. If you want him back, then you’ll do exactly as I say.”
Whether she addressed Bailee as a lower rank on purpose or out of ignorance, Bailee couldn’t be sure, but if Easton’s captor thought the move would irritate Bailee, she was wrong. Bailee’s rank was the last thing on her mind as she tried to figure out the best way to proceed.
“Why are you doing this? Easton had nothing to do with what happened.”
“But he has everything to do with you.”
Bailee closed her eyes at the pain piercing her heart. She hoped her voice sounded cool when she replied. “Are we really doing this? You expect me to believe if I follow your demands, you’ll let him go unharmed?”
“I never said I wouldn’t harm him. How badly depends on you, Officer.”
Rage coursed through her body. “You blame me for what happened with the Blood Disciples. I get it. If you want me to apologize for doing my job, I won’t.”
“You stupid bitch. I don’t care about them. I never did.”
“Sure you did,” Bailee challenged. “You were their slave. Whoring yourself to anyone with a dick just to get your next fix. When I took down the BDs, I destroyed everything you had. Your life is nothing without them, Sabra, and we both know it.”
Instead of lashing out, Sabra Barnes laughed, the sound making the fine hair on Bailee’s neck stand on end. “I don’t need them. I used them, you stupid bitch.You did me a favor by putting them in jail. You’re right about one thing, though. I want revenge, but it sure as hell isn’t because of Roland or Terrence or the rest of them. No, I want you to pay for murdering my daughter.”
Bailee inhaled deeply to slow down her rapid heart rate. “Your grudge is not with me, Sabra. I wasn’t the one who killed Shantyale.”
“Shut up, whore! You are the reason she’s dead, and I’ve made sure you’ll pay a hefty price for what you’ve done. Keep your phone close. I’ll be in touch with further instructions.”
“Wait!” Bailee shouted. “I want proof that Easton is all right, or you’ll get nothing from me.”
The call ended, and Bailee screamed in frustration, stopping short of throwing her phone against the wall. Then the text came through. When she opened it, she felt her blood run cold.
Easton had his arms extended above his head, bound by ropes suspended from a high beam. He’d been stripped of his shoes and clothes, except for his black boxer briefs. His head slumped forward, and blood smeared his skin. Bruises and welts were visible on his arms, chest and thighs. He was suspended high enough that only the tip of his toes brushed against thefloor, putting a lot of strain on his arms and shoulders to hold his weight.
The photo didn’t tell her how bad he was hurt or even if he was alive, but she knew deep down that he was. She wasn’t sure of the end game, but she had enough of an idea to guess that the plan wasn’t to kill Easton until they had her.
“Bailee?”
She closed her eyes briefly before turning to break the news to Easton’s family. Melody had stood and moved closer to her, concern evident in her eyes. Bailee sighed. Her new friend wasn’t making it easier to announce that she was the reason Easton was taken.
“He’s been kidnapped to get to me. His captors are going to call again to tell me what they want, and I have no doubt that if I don’t comply, he’ll be killed.”
