Chapter 112
“I don’t give a fuck!. I’ll deal with that later just shut it down! p>
Thomas steps closer sensing my turmoil he clasps his hand on my shoulder.
“We’ll find her p>
I look at him.
There’s something dangerous building in my chest now.
“They knew,” I say.
“Knew what.” He asks confused.
“They knew that she’d leave p>
Thomas hesitates.
“You think someone inside tipped them off p>
My jaw tightens at the realization.
This wasn’t random this was timed.
They waited until I was occupied and until she moved.
I pull my phone out and call Aaron but it goes straight to voicemail, i try again still Nothing.
I lower the phone slowly. Swearing under my breath, I’m going to kill tht little fuck when I see him p>
“If she’s touched,” I say quietly, “there won’t be a single city left p>
Fredrick cautiously steps closer.
“We’ll get her back boss p>
I look out over the river.
“This isnt your fault p>
I don’t answer that.
Because if I hadn’t made enemies If I hadn’t burned half the underworld to the ground just to before I can complete that thought process a car pulls up behind us.
Then Another one… more of my men
“Camera at the east exit picked up a black van,” Fredrick says after talking to one of the men that just arrived. “No plates p>
“Send me the footage p>
He nods moving to do as directed.
“Get me everything,” I continue. “Footage, and name of Anyone who’ has moved against us in the last six months p>
Thomas nods.
Fredrick starts issuing orders.
I stand there for one more second then I turn back toward the car.
“She’s not dying because of me,” I say under my breath.
Not this time, not again someone else won’t die or get hurt because of me.
It takes everything in me not to start breaking bones just to hear something snap. Just because I need something to match the pressure building in my chest.
The blood on the gravel has already started to darken. It streaks toward the water in uneven smears, like someone tried to brace themselves but failed. I crouch again, forcing myself to look at it clinically.
Angle of impact and direction of drag, it’s not enough to mean she bled out here.
It’s enough to mean she fought.
Good. That’s my girl, she’s a fighter.
That thought shouldn’t comfort me, but it does.
She fought which means she was conscious, which means they didn’t get her easy.
My men move through the area in controlled sweeps.
I roll my shoulders once, slow, trying to bleed off the heat under my skin cause if I let it take over now, I’ll miss something.
I’m think of my next line of action to take to approach from behind me but I don’t turn until I hear the sound of someone choking.
Fredrick appears from under the bridge, one hand fisted in the back of a man’s collar, dragging him like dead weight. The man’s wrists are bound behind him with zip ties and a black bag covers his head.
Fredrick doesn’t speak, he just proceeds to shoves the man forward.
He stumbles to his knees in front of me.
Fredrick yanks the bag off and I recognize him immediately.
One of the Donald’s runners.
Low-level. Not important enough to matter on his own but Important enough to send I see
When his eyes meet mine, I step forward and drive my fist straight into his stomach.
The sound that leaves him is wet and broken. He folds instinctively but Fredrick jerks him upright again by his hair.
I hit him again an again.
The crunch under my knuckles isn’t bone yet, but it’s close, on the fifth punch, something gives way softer than cartilage and he wheezes, his body sagging.
For a second the red haze in my vision thins.
Not completely gone but better.
My knuckles sting where my skin is split with his Blood…his or mine… I dunno slick against my skin.
It doesn’t touch what’s inside me.
“He was surveying the area,” Fredricksays quietly. “Saw him about fifty yards out, Donald’s crew. There was another car but it took off Our men are on it p>
Donald Of course.
I grab the man’s chin and force his face up.
“You picked the wrong day,” I tell him.
He spits blood to the sidea dand I smile.
“You can talk now,” I continue evenly. “Or later. Doesn’t matter, I’m going to enjoy this either way p>
He says nothing.
Brave or stupid Doesn’t matter which.
“I was going to give you something quick,” I say. “But since you’ve decided to be loyal to that fuck, I’m going to let my men get creative after I’m done.
Fredrick hands me a knife.
It’s cold cold in my palm.
I shrug out of my jacket and hand it to one of the men without looking away from the kneeling figure.
The ground is damp as I crouch in front of him. Up close, I can smell sweat and fear under the copper tang of blood.
I grab his face with one hand, digging my fingers into his cheeks until his mouth opens in a raw, ugly sound
He tries to twist away but Fredrick tightens his grip and forces him still.
I take a hold of his hand.
In the background, Thomas steps closer after ending a call. He leans down and murmurs something in my ear.
“Van registered to a shell company. Ties back to Donald’s logistics arm. We’ve got a warehouse east side p>
Good.
I nod once.
Then I look back at the man in front of me.
“You know…It’s amazing,” I say calmly, almost conversational, “how much pain a human body can take before it shuts down p>
He shakes his head weakly.
I press the knife lightly against his index finger.
“You can drag a man to the edge of death and pull him back. Over and over and over again.” I tilt my head slightly. “But what really breaks him is hope p>
His breathing turns uneven.