Guardian Page 16

  Alice

  I strained against the ropes that bound me to the hard chair, trying for the thousandth time to at least get them to wiggle loose just a little bit. I didn’t know how long I had been tied to that chair, but given the small slits of sunlight that that were coming from underneath the door, I had been gone nearly a day.

  Luckily, my captors had at least allowed me to relieve my bladder once or twice, even if they had pressed a gun to my side as they escorted me to and from the bathroom. I, on the other hand, had tried to see where I was at, taking in everything that I passed.

  There wasn’t much to see. But it gave me something to focus on, other than my creeping anxiety. I had tried desperately to keep it at bay, feeling the tug of a breakdown floating around the surface, waiting for me to let it loose.

  But if I did, I might not get it back together.

  So, I thought of all kinds of things: my upcoming papers, the fact that I was a Legion member by family, my mom’s recovery. All of those things helped keep it all together.

  Well that, and the fact that I knew my father and Derrek would be searching for me.

  I tried not to put too much faith in it, but knowing the way the two of them operated, I felt like they were looking for me, once they had figured out that they had been duped by someone they had trusted.

  I felt sorry for Derrek. He had to have trusted Andrew, for him to have left me with him, and it must be killing him to know that he had been double-crossed, likely for a drug fix, given Andrew’s state.

  Either way, I wanted to see him. I wanted him to hold me in his arms and tell me that everything was going to be okay. Even let me break down if I needed to. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, that I wasn’t going to leave him, like everyone else in his life had, and that if he wanted to hold me at arm’s length for the rest of my life, I was willing to make that sacrifice.

  I wasn’t about to walk away from him or this love I felt for him.

  Sighing, I felt the heaviness of the gun in my pocket. When they had first tied me to the chair, I thought they would search me for weapons, but apparently, I was the least of their concerns. The gun had stayed in my pocket, but it would do me no good if I couldn’t get my hands free.

  If I did, I wasn’t so sure I could shoot anyone with it. Derrek had a lot more faith in me than I did, and just the thought of pulling the trigger made me queasy inside. If it came down to them harming one of my own, then I knew I could. But breaking out of here…? I wasn’t so sure.

  At least they had removed the head bag. If they had left that on, I wouldn’t be in the semi-calm state I was in right now. That had been the scariest thing to happen to me since the attempted kidnapping, especially since this one had been successful. When Andrew had thrown that bag over my head, my life had flashed before my eyes. I had seen all the things I hadn’t done in my life, the regrets I had. And when had then manhandled me into the vehicle, I was concerned that this might be more than just a kidnapping.

  But they hadn’t touched me, other than moving me from one place to another. By their voices, I could tell that I had to be dealing with the Cazadores. What the connection was between them and Andrew, I wasn’t sure.

  One thing was for sure, I had to get out of there. I had to get back to my mom, to Derrek, to my life. I had so much I wanted to do differently, so much I wanted to see.

  I couldn’t die here.

  Straining against the ropes once more, I fought to get my hand free. I wasn’t going to lose it. I was going to be the woman that Derrek thought I was, the woman he saw when he looked at me.

  I didn’t have a choice.

  The door opened, and I ceased my movements, as Andrew walked in.

  He looked worse than he did the last time I had seen him. His clothing was disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t gotten any sleep in a number of days. The twitch of his hands told me that he was going through some sort of withdrawal, which meant he wasn’t stable to begin with.

  Great. That wasn’t what I wanted to deal with.

  Still, I held my tongue as he approached, scratching his already red arm.

  “You need something? Bathroom break? Water?”

  I shook my head, and he sighed, dropping his hand.

  “I didn’t want to do this, you know? I didn’t know that Derrek had developed feelings for you. You were supposed to be an asset for Carry, not for him.”

  I didn’t say anything, letting him ramble. Maybe I would find out exactly what he was trying to do by kidnapping me, what he was trying to prove.

  Andrew didn’t notice that I wasn’t answering, his gaze shifting about the room.

  “I know he will kill me for this. I know I’m dead. I probably was dead to begin with. I should have never gotten on this shit. It makes me crazy, you know?”

  “There’s still time,” I said softly.

  If I could catch him a weak moment, he might let me go.

  But to my dismay, he shook his head sadly.

  “There’s no time. Not for me. I’m gonna die today.” His eyes found mine. “And you probably will too.”

  I sucked in a breath, as the tears clogged my throat. I wasn’t going to let his words get to me.

  “See that’s the difference between us,” I forced out, swallowing my emotion. “I have something to live for.”

  I had my mom, my newfound dad, Derrek. I had this whole life ahead of me, and it wasn’t going to end today.

  Andrew chuckled, rubbing a hand over his face.

  “Maybe. Maybe you will survive, and if you do… Well, I hope you take care of my friend. I didn’t want to hurt him this way. I didn’t want to make him think I… Well, it doesn’t matter. He already knows what I have done, and I can’t change that.” He sighed. “Just tell him I didn’t mean to. Tell him I didn’t hurt you.”

  “Why don’t you tell him yourself,” I urged, seeing a light in his words. “We can go together. I won’t let him hurt you, but you have to let me go so we can talk to Derrek together.”

  For a moment, Andrew seemed to think over my proposal. I could see his wheels turning, contemplating a possible way out of this mess. If it worked, maybe I should change my major to criminal justice and become a negotiator.

  But it was short lived. I watched as Andrew pulled at his hair, some of the desperation leaving his face.

  “No, no… They told me not to listen to you, that you would do whatever it took to get out of here.”

  “Andrew, wait,” I tried as he started toward the door. “Please, don’t leave me here.”

  He turned, his hand on the knob.

  “I ain’t got a choice. You understand? Just… Don’t cause any trouble, okay?”

  I watched helplessly as he exited the room, shutting me into the virtual darkness once more. I had given it my best shot, but it seemed that, whatever had a hold on Andrew, it wasn’t going to let up.

  I started to feel the slide of anxiousness in my body again, finding it harder and harder to shut it out. The one good thing was that they hadn’t taken me just to leave me cooped in this windowless room, so it wasn’t going to be long now. Soon, I would be out of this room and left to my captors’ will to use me in whatever way they had planned.

  That was the bad news. I didn’t know what was in store for me or whether I would see anyone I loved again. I just needed one minute, enough time to tell Derrek that he was not alone in this world, that I was there for him, however he felt he needed me.

  I wanted to tell him that I loved him and hated myself that I had been so wishy-washy about telling him before now.

  For that, I could hang on. Even if I was at the mercy of my captors, the last words on my lips would be that I loved him.

  It was the only thing I had to cling to right now, the small ray of hope that kept me sane.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Derrek

  We got to the Nines exactly thirty minutes later, having met with Fox and the rest of those available, to make some sort of str
ategy, so we wouldn’t be walking in blind.

  The field we had been instructed to go to had one small building on site: a set of bathrooms that wouldn’t provide any cover, given the sheer amount of people I imagined was going to show.

  We would be sitting ducks.

  “You ready for this, boy?” Jack asked, as we pulled the truck into a parking spot. “It won’t be easy, seeing her like this.”

  I drew in a breath. I knew it was going to be difficult to concentrate, knowing they would bring Alice.

  Dead or alive.

  If she was injured in any way, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was trying to prepare myself for what they might have done to her, but it wasn’t possible.

  I wasn’t going to even be remotely satisfied until I saw her, whatever condition she was in.

  Then, I would be unleashing hell on those that had hurt her.

  Including Andrew.

  I still couldn’t believe that he had double-crossed me. Everything I had done for him, all those times I had bailed him out of one scrape or another… It was just completely unbelievable that he would do me like this.

  Drugs or no drugs, he was going to pay for what he had done, and I didn’t care what story he spun. It didn’t matter. He had taken what was mine, and I couldn’t forgive him for that.

  “I’m ready.”

  Jack nodded and opened his door, straightening the gun belt at his waist.

  “This ain’t going to end up being good, Derrek.”

  I climbed out, grabbing my guns as well. I had four on my person, two tucked into the waistband of my jeans and, in my hands, another two that would slide into the shoulder holster. Another two were comfortably tucked in my boots as backups.

  I was going in there fully loaded.

  “Whatever happens,” Jack continued. “You will take care of my girl.”

  I looked over at him.

  “You are gonna come out of this like I am. Don’t even talk like that.”

  Jack chuckled, his eyes on the field below.

  “I wouldn’t count on it. Tell me you will take care of Alice and her mom.”

  “I will,” I said immediately. “They will never want for anything.”

  It was the truth. I wouldn’t abandon either of them.

  He nodded.

  “Alright then.”

  “Let’s get this shit done.”

  I turned to see Fox striding toward us, his jaw clenched tightly, armed to the teeth.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Jack growled, checking his holster. “I told you to stay the fuck home.”

  “You know I can’t do that,” Fox answered, giving me a nod. “I’m your second-in-command. I can’t be at home, hiding like a pussy behind Nat.”

  “You have something to live for at home,” Jack countered. “That’s where you need to be.”

  “I’m not going back,” Fox said firmly. “So, get the fuck over it.”

  “Can we get this shit over with?” I asked, arching a brow as they continued their standoff. “We aren’t getting anything accomplished by this.”

  “You’re right,” Jack said, turning away from Fox in disgust. “Why do I even waste my breath with you two? Neither one of you listens.”

  “Because you like to hear yourself talk,” Fox laughed, clapping Jack on the shoulder. “I’ll keep my guard up, but there was no fucking way I was going to let you walk onto that field without me at your side.”

  Jack just continued to shake his head as I straightened my shoulders, feeling the anxiety of getting this thing started starting to build. I was never the one to step into danger like this, preferring to let others take on that kind of weight, but when it came to Alice, I would step into the fire to save her.

  Even if I didn’t come out in the end.

  “Alright then,” Jack finally said. “Let’s do this shit.”

  I followed the two men down the slope to where a crowd had gathered, the telltale colors of the Cazadores separated from the arriving Legion. They had come out in droves, both clubs itching to end their war.

  I scanned the crowd, feeling my heart skip a beat as I found Alice amongst the Cazadores. The air left my lungs as I quickly looked over her, noting nothing in her outward appearance to cause me concern.

  Other than the look on her face. She was barely holding it together, the wide-eyed look telling me that she was struggling with her anxiety. It was one thing to have physical wounds, but emotional wounds were a different story.

  “Carry!” Nieto called out, no weapons in his hands. “Let’s talk about this.”

  Jack straightened his shoulders, and we walked down to the Diablo leader, the Legion parting like a sea to let us pass. I knew I could easily step into the crowd, let him and Fox handle the particulars, but that was my woman standing next to the enemy, and I would be damned if I was going to not let her see me.

  The moment our eyes connected, I saw visible relief in her face, as if she fully expected me to march over and snatch her out of their grasp. I tried to comfort her with my eyes, hating that I couldn’t take her into my arms.

  Not yet anyway.

  I gave her a grin, before looking at my former best friend, his nervous twitch no longer causing me any concern. I wanted to put a fucking bullet in his pea-brain for taking her, and by the look on his face, he knew I was coming from him.

  I wouldn’t feel bad about doing it. Our relationship was over with. Andrew had dug his grave, and I was going to be the one that put him in it.

  “You wanted to talk, Carry?” Nieto was saying, a smirk on his face.

  “You damn right I want to talk,” Jack replied. “You’ve been causing some shit for us, Emilio.”

  Emilio’s smirk slipped.

  “No more than you have caused for us, Jack. How did you end up with her?”

  Emilio looked over at Alice, a frown crossing his face.

  “Hell, I don’t know Jack, I really don’t.”

  That was interesting. Fox slid a glance over at me, and I shrugged, rolling my shoulders. Who cared. I was ready for a fight.

  “You know this isn’t going to turn out good Jack,” Emilio said softly, concern on his face now. “I don’t want to lose my guys over a woman.”

  “Give her back, and we don’t have to,” Jack replied softly, tapping the butt of his gun. “I don’t want to lose my life today, Emilio.”

  “Agreed,” Emilio said, looking over at Andrew. “Give her back so we can all go get shit-faced.”

  Andrew didn’t move, his eyes narrowing at the Diablo leader.

  “What?”

  “I said, give her to them,” Emilio repeated, irritation in his voice.

  Andrew still didn’t do as he was told, and before I could react, he pressed a gun to her head, making Alice yelp.

  I started forward, my hand on my gun, but Fox grabbed my arm.

  “Don’t do it,” he said in a low voice. “We will get her, I swear, but let Jack talk.”

  I let out a frustrated sound but fell back in line, shaking off Fox’s hand.

  Andrew was watching my every movement, and I swore he smirked at my lack of restraint.

  Who was this guy threatening my girl? It sure as hell wasn’t my best friend.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Emilio said, as the Cazadores spread around Andrew as to distance themselves. “Let her fucking go.”

  “I don’t answer to you,” Andrew said, the gun steady in his hand.

  “Who do you answer to, boy?” Jack asked softly, a lethal edge to his voice.

  “Me.”

  We all turned to see Twitch saunter through the crowd, with a large number of Rebels behind him, armed to the teeth.

  “Well, well. Who would have imagined this was going to happen today?”

  “Twitch,” Emilio said in a low voice. “I should have fucking known you would do some shit like this.”

  Twitch laughed, tapping his chin.

  “You are just pissed off you didn’t think of it first.
What better way to pitch two clubs together and eliminate them both, than to make the other think that they were involved?”

  “You burned the bar down,” I said matter of factly.

  “Good man,” Twitch said with a grin. “And I blew up the house. After that, all I had to do was let you two dumbasses tear each other apart.”

  Looking at Andrew, he gave him a wink.