Redemption (The Protectors 8)

“He’s at an apartment near the airport,” Ronan said as he handed me the note. “Daisy’s hacking his phone now. It will be a few minutes before we see who he’s called recently.”

I nodded and then took Levi’s phone and dialed the number. Before I hit send I said, “Levi, we just need to find out what he wants and then you need to agree to it, whatever it is. We’re just buying time, nothing more.”

“Okay,” he said with a quick nod. He took the phone from me and when I nodded, he hit send.

“Put it on speaker.”

He did as I asked and then we waited in utter silence.

T picked up on the fourth ring.

“Hello, Princess,” he said. “You got my present, I see.”

“Where’s Henry, T?” Levi asked.

“Now, is that really how you want to start this conversation?” T asked.

“Please, T, I just need to know he’s okay. I’ll…I’ll do anything you want.”

“The little shit’s fine. He’s in good hands…it’s a step up if you ask me. That bitch mother of his probably would have sold him to me for the coke if she hadn’t been so busy offering me her pussy instead.”

“Do you have Dina?” Levi asked.

“Princess, you really do need to focus. Unless you don’t want the little squealer back.”

Levi pulled in a breath and covered his mouth briefly as if trying to get control of himself. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

“I want you to go to your little old lady friend and convince her to help you buy the kid back. I’m thinking she can afford a hundred grand.”

I hit the mute button on the phone. “Don’t give in right away or he’ll get suspicious.”

Levi nodded so I unmuted the phone.

“T, she’s not going to give me that kind of money.”

“Well, you better bat them pretty little eyes at her or whatever it is you faggots do to get what you want, because the clock’s ticking for that kid.”

“Okay, okay,” Levi quickly said. “I’ll get the money, I swear. Can you…can you send me a picture of Henry? She might want proof or something.”

“Fuck, you’re one stupid shit,” T snapped. “Get the money, Levi. And next time I see you, keep in mind there won’t be anyone to interrupt me this time around when that pussy of yours is wrapped around my dick.”

My eyes shifted to Levi and I saw his cheeks fill with color.

“Call me when you’ve got the money,” T bit out and then he hung up.

Levi shuddered and I took the phone from him. “What was he talking about, Levi?”

“Nothing.”

“Levi-”

“It’s nothing, Phoenix! It’s not important.”

Understanding dawned. “That day at the store. When he gave you the bruises. Did he…”

I couldn’t even finish the thought because even the possibility made me violently ill.

“No,” Levi murmured. “He tried, but Adam, the store manager, interrupted him.”

I settled my hand on his shoulder and then kissed his temple. “I’m sorry, baby. I should have been there.”

He shook his head, but didn’t pull away from my touch. His phone beeped. I saw the text from T and opened the picture attachment. I felt the same relief as Levi when I saw a picture of Henry, unharmed and seemingly asleep in his car seat.

Ronan’s phone rang and he stepped away to answer it. Levi didn’t speak to me, nor would he make eye contact with me. He’d pulled his feet up onto the pew so he could wrap his arms around his legs and rest his forehead on his knees.

“T’s only made one call today,” Ronan said as he returned. “To a woman named Jalissa. Her apartment is at the same location where T’s phone call came from.”

“Henry’s with T,” Levi said, his voice heavy with fear.

“He’ll be okay, Levi. Trust me.”

I saw the flash of anger in his eyes before he could mask it. I hadn’t allowed myself much time to think about the damage I’d done to our relationship with my lies, but I hoped like hell he’d give me a chance to make it up to him when this was all over.

“We need to go,” Ronan said.

“Levi, I need you to stay here with Father O.”

“No!” he said as he jumped up. “I’m coming.”

“No,” I said, but Levi ignored me and pushed past me. I shot Father O a glance. “We’ll call you as soon as we can, Father.”

The man nodded. “I’ll pray for you.”

I nodded because I wasn’t above receiving some divine intervention. Not when Henry’s life was at stake.

I followed Ronan to his car. Levi got into the back seat without hesitation. As we drove, I took Ronan’s phone when Memphis called. I put it on speaker.

“Did you find her?”

“Yeah,” Memphis said, his voice heavy. “Not in her apartment though. We saw a stroller sitting by the alley when we got here. I had Seth stay in the car while I checked it out.”