You fucking die, that’s what.
Putting my hands up in surrender, I discreetly glance around, hoping Nate or Kian has a plan. Or if they’ve fucked off, leaving me behind. A flash of light catches my attention, and I step forward, pretending to cooperate as I discreetly check out the man lying on the flat roof of the warehouse opposite me. I can’t make him out—he’s wearing a motorcycle helmet—but I can’t miss the sniper rifle in front of him.
Christ, I hope that’s Nate. And if not, that they’re on our side.
Just as I’m thinking that, Stefano’s head explodes in a shower of red mist, the two men standing behind him jumping back, raising their arms to fire back. The helmeted man ducks down and disappears, while the roar of motorcycles can be heard in the distance.
Since Humpty and Dumpty are distracted, I make a run for it, dodging around the corner of a building as a bullet strikes the wall mere inches from my cheek. Heart hammering in fear, I duck low, then peek around the corner, seeing the two goons twirling around, firing random shots.
Pulling myself to my feet, I race down the sidewalk, trying a few doors until one finally opens. Ducking inside, I give thanks that no one is standing in the reception of what has turned out to be a mechanic shop.
Inching along the far wall, I pray my luck continues to hold out. We’re not in the best area, and if my rusty memory of this neighborhood serves, this is Satan’s Pack territory. Thank fuck I stopped carrying my badge back in Arizona. Being found here with it on me would be a death sentence.
The mechanic shop is eerily silent as I make my way toward the back and hopefully an exit. The need to find Kian and Nate and get the fuck out of here is growing stronger by the second, the sense of urgency making me grit my teeth.
My luck does hold—I don’t run into anyone as I reach the back door. Peeking through the glass, the alleyway running behind the warehouses looks empty. Pulling the door open as quietly as I can, I step outside, breathing a sigh of relief as the warmth of the sun strikes my face.
“Do you have a death wish? Is that it?” a voice whispers behind me, and I spin, my heart thumping erratically before calming when I see Nate, his hands crossed over his chest, and a deep scowl transforming his face into something more closely resembling a gargoyle.
“Where’s Kian?” I ask quietly back, ignoring his question. I’m not sure how I’d answer it. Might be something I’m going to need to examine one day.
Nate grabs my arm, pulling me down the alley, muttering under his breath as he goes. I’m pretty sure I can make out words likeobstinate, stupid, andstubborn.Gritting my teeth, I flick my hair over my shoulder. Out of all the people in the world, I would think he would understand. Watching your father kill your mother in front of you changes you on a fucking fundamental level.
Once we’re away from the mechanic, Nate pushes me up against a wall, getting right in my face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he hisses at me. “I really need to know. Your actions are reckless, Dutch, and I will not allow you to bring harm down on Eric and Tessa. Sister or not, I don’t care.”
I search his eyes, which are hard and unyielding as a lump forms in my throat. He shakes his head at me.
“I was so excited to find out I had a sister, do you know that? And meeting you? Getting to know you? Knowing I have a blood relative that’s not a piece of shit, someone I could have a relationship with and not want to kill meant everything to me. Tessa fucking thinks the sun shines out of your ass. She looks up to you.
“But you insist on doing stupid fucking shit like this. You know Vincenzo is coming for you. He won’t stop until you’re dead. And I doubt it will be a pretty death. Is that what you want? Have you had enough of fighting him, and you’re just giving in? Is that who all of us chose to follow?”
I say nothing, my jaw ticking at his words.
“Because it looks to me like you’ve given up. That you can’t take the heat. We’re all putting our lives on the line for you! For what? So you can go traipsing around the city, just daring Vincenzo to take you?” He grabs my arm and starts pulling me toward the road. “If that’s what you want, let’s get it over with.”
He leads me up the road, ignoring me as I dig my heels in and scrape my nails up his arm. “Here she is!” he shouts out, spinning us around with one arm raised. “Come and get her!”
“What are you doing?” I shout at him, tugging uselessly against his hold.
Nate turns on me, his amber eyes spitting fire. “This is what you want, right? To die?”
“No!”
“So you’re just a selfish cunt, then? Is that it? You’re willing for all of us to sacrifice everything to help you, while you do everything you can to get yourself caught?”
My spine snaps straight as I round on him. “I never asked anyone to help me!”
“No, but you sure as fuck took the help when we offered it, didn’t you? If you’re done fighting, what the fuck are we even doing here? I promised Eric and Tessa a honeymoon around Europe. We could be on some beach somewhere, but no, we’re here, helping you. Trey and Rebecca are only just reunited. But here they are, giving up their newfound freedom for you. Even Dukey and the Charon Group—who never do anything without an exorbitant fee—have your back. And you go and pull a stunt like this, which seriously makes me wonder if we misplaced our trust in you. We’ve all given you our word, our loyalty. And you just fucking spit on it.”
My brows snap together, my mouth curling down in indignation. “I—” I begin, but the roar of a motorcycle bearing down on us has me catching my breath. What the fuck is Kian doing? As it comes closer, I realize it’s not Kian’s bike, and I spin around, pushing Nate out of the way as the rider draws a gun. Shots ring out, deafening me, and an arm grabs my middle, yanking me up so I’m straddling the rider.
It happens so fast my mind can barely comprehend what’s happening. Looking over the driver’s shoulder, I see Nate getting to his feet, and I sigh in relief that he wasn’t hurt. His mouth opens in a shout, an arm outstretched toward me, but the rider is going so fast, there’s nothing I can do.
Despite what Nate thinks, I don’t have a death wish, nor am I suicidal. The bike’s going at least seventy miles per hour; I’m not going to try to jump off. The arm banded around my waist tightens, and I can feel the man’s cock pressing into the V of my jeans. When we get off, I’m going to smash it with my boots. Or maybe peel it like a banana. I’ll take my time, making sure he suffers.
After I find out who the fuck he is and why he took me.
Chapter 27
