I wait to hear the news I was dreading to hear but somehow felt in my soul would come to me.
Del.
“What the hell do you mean she’s gone?” I roar down the hall. Dom walks into the room and attempts to calm me down while Junior yells it again and rushes into the room.
“She’s gone. We lost all traces of her twenty minutes ago!” Junior says. “Look, we’re dealing with a lot of shit right now; we have everyone from everywhere coming in days, you’re the new leader. Your wife is missing. Your dad isn’t waking up,” he curses. “Would you prefer I just stop giving you bad news?”
I can do this.
I look over at Ash.
I know he’s not guilty.
Just like I know that I won’t hit him again.
I try to calm myself.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says. “And I’m sorry, but your dad was worried that shit was going down but couldn’t trust anyone—he sent me to the restaurant just in case. I heard the explosion and saw Dad stumble out of the bar at about the same moment the ambulances arrived. I was sworn to secrecy—I was told that it would create division in the Families to be there without sharing any information, but you know your dad, he trusts my dad, he trusts me, and up until now—”
“You’ve been the leader of all of us,” I whisper. “It’s been you. So, he would only ask you.”
“We made a pact.” Ash’s eyes meet mine. “And if that means I take the fall? If that means I bleed or burn or die in order to keep my Family safe, I fucking will.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“Don’t be.” He shakes his head. “It’s your job to doubt everyone. I would hope to God you would do it again if you thought it would keep the Families safe.”
He’s no longer tied in ropes, but I can see the burns on his wrists. He still has blood on his face from when he was sparring with the guys.
“He left with her,” I say.
“It’s his job to protect her,” he fires right back. “Are you going to be pissed that he followed her? That he did exactly what you asked?”
I don’t say the words out loud because I’m afraid. I feel insecure. Stupid. Humiliated. “What if…” I lick my lips. “What if she used me? What if I believed her and she left with—”
“I don’t believe that. Do you see the way she looks at you? She would never.” He stands up and braces me. “Be the man you’ve always been. The man your father molded you to be. Strong.”
I nod. “Maybe she’s my weakness.”
“Aren’t they all?” He smiles sadly. “I would do anything for Annie—anything.”
I pull him in for a hug.
Junior comes down into our fun little soundproof torture chamber and knocks on the open door. “We found her location.”
“Where is she?” I shove Ash away and run toward Junior.
He looks between the two of us and sighs. “She’s at the Eagle Elite campus.”
“What?” I jerk back. “Why?”
“No clue, we just saw the ping—shit!” He’s on his phone again.
My phone goes off.
Ash’s goes off.
Breaking News: Fire on the Eagle Elite Campus, students trapped in buildings, evacuate immediately!
I’m numb as I run up the stairs. Everyone’s mobilizing behind me. I know I have enough weapons in my car, so that’s not the issue—the issue is what to do.
What do I fucking do?
She’s there.
In a fire.
Did she start it?
Was she kidnapped?
My mind whirls with indecision, so all I can say is. “Get us there NOW!”
The minute I yell it, the dads are running around grabbing their shit, I don’t remember getting into my waiting SUV, but I do see some FBI agents with me who’ve stuck around during this whole process, thank God.
By the time we arrive fifteen minutes later, I have the infantry.
I have twenty SUVs following mine.
And another five on the way from Chase, who’s in the car behind me with the dads—all except mine.
What would he do in this situation?
My phone goes off again.
The fires are spreading through building after building. All I can focus on is her, the love of my life. Please, God, let this not be a betrayal.
Let this be an accident.
Let her be alive.
Let us not have made a mistake.
The gates are open as we barrel through and drive toward the billowing black smoke.
She’s standing there. Her uncle beside her.
And she’s fucking smiling.
He’s in a black suit with several of his men surrounding him. Roman’s beside her, and I feel like I might die as we pull the car to a stop and get out.
“Search them.” Her uncle says. “Or I kill her.”
She seems only too happy to be standing there, waiting for him to either shoot her or shoot me.
I motion for everyone to stop behind me.