To think Connor was in these people’s control. Why? What purpose? How many did they take like Connor? How many children, men, women disappeared? When had Kai been taken?
“Deck will come after them, Tanner. They don’t want that, right? They’ll be mad you’ve put that on them. We can just let this go. Forget it ever happened.” Like hell. If Kai or Deck didn’t kill him, then I would.
“So, you do know about the organization?”
Fuck.
I recognized the cold, smooth surface when it touched my cheek. Shit, I had Robbie’s haunting memory to prove it. I also knew Tanner was really good with a knife; Kai had trained him and I was beginning to wonder who else had. Did he have scars on his body like Kai?
“Kai has been too easy on you. Look what’s happened to that London girl. He should’ve brought her to them when he was told to instead of hiding her.”
“Hiding her?” I wanted to keep him talking as long as possible. If we moved locations, whoever I called wouldn’t find us. “What do you mean, Tanner?”
He laughed. “Kai showed up at the auction because he was going to get her out of that shit. Then Deck got her out and Kai thought she’d be safe. But they found out about him being there.” What? Holy shit, my mind reeled and I felt sick as I realized how powerful these people were. “Kai was ordered to bring her to them. Funny thing is … she ran away. Coincidence? No. I think Kai took her and hid her from them. Until she escaped him and we found her. Of course, this is only me guessing, but they will know soon enough.”
“Why do they care? She’s harmless.”
He grunted. “Kai cares about her. That makes her deadly.” His breath wafted across my ear as he leaned into me. “And I know what you’re doing. Time to leave.”
I reacted, not carrying if he cut my face or stabbed me. I wasn’t going with him. But he was ready and slammed the butt of the knife down on my head so hard I crashed to the floor then nothing.“WE HAVE A problem.” Hearing Kai’s voice was a reminder of the sharks we were now swimming amongst.“Yeah, a shit load. And you’re the one who brought this hell down on us. Where is Tanner?” Vic had been looking for him for hours. Even with Kai’s possible locations, the guy had vanished, leaving me with an uneasy feeling that he knew something was up.
“Call came in from Georgie. He has her.” My hand clenched the phone as a cold wave gripped me. I immediately put my hand up and signaled to the guys. Josh and Tyler shot to their feet and we were already running from the office while Vic went to the cabinet on the far wall and entered a combination. A click sounded on the opposite side of the room and he strode over, pressed on the wall and a door popped open revealing a walk-in closet.
“Where?” I said as I joined Vic and began dressing for war. I put on my holster with my guns and knife then grabbed Josh’s while Vic did the same and grabbed Tyler’s. They’d have the car running and waiting for us outside the door.
“I’m on my way to her place. That’s where she’d said on the phone, but I suspect it won’t be for long.” Kai’s voice didn’t have the usual cocky tone to it and that fucked with my head.
Fuck. Vic and I ran for the car as I kept talking. “Where would he take her?”
“In,” Kai said.
I stopped with my hand on the door, the car idling outside the window. Tyler watched me as I stood frozen for a second. “In?” Fuck, no.
“Best guess … he found out about you and her hooking up. I warned them he was too close to her. I tried to get him off the assignment, but she trusted him, so it was easy for him to keep an eye on her.”
I slammed my palm into the glass door and ran out to the car. “Who the fuck is them, Kai?”
Silence.
“Kai. Jesus. You know better than anyone what will happen if she’s taken to this organization.” I jumped in. “Georgie’s.” Tyler shot out of the parking lot.
“I’m here already.” I heard Kai’s car door shut and he sounded like he was running. A loud bang and then, “it’s too late.”
It was as if pieces of my soul cracked then bled as his words hit me. I closed my eyes as I inhaled the fear. “Fuck.” I had to pull my shit together or Georgie would be just as lost to me as Connor. I had no misconceptions of who these people were. Even with all my abilities, contacts and power, trying to get anyone out … chances were pretty fuckin’ slim.