Matteo shakes his head and whispers in my ear and I snap, “Then how do you explain the thousands of dollars that were deposited in your bank just 24 hours ago?”
Todd looks down. “I can’t.”
“And how do you explain the tickets booked in your name to Rome, along with the rest of your family—one way?”
“It wasn’t me.”
I stride across and hit him hard across the face and his head rolls back and blood spurts from his nose.
Holding the knife to his throat, I relish the fear in his eyes as I growl, “Where is he; where has he taken my sister?”
He starts to shake as I lay the blade against his throat and says fearfully, “I don’t know.”
Taking one of his hands, I lay it out on the arm of the wooden seat and hold the knife to his finger. “I will cut these off one at a time until you tell me what I want to hear.”
The tears roll down his face as he stutters, “He’ll kill them. He has my wife and kids.”
“Talk to me.”
He starts to cry and I look at him in disgust. “A few days back, he sent me a video of them tied up in a steel cell. He told me if I fed you just one piece of false information, they would be spared and waiting for me on the flight to Rome. He would pay me well for my trouble and we would be safe with his organization in Italy. If you found out, he would kill them all. I had to do it, Mr. Moretti, they’re family.”
I squeeze my eyes tightly shut and feel the rage flooding through me. “Your family, what about mine? My sister could be dead because you didn’t come to me first. You should have known we would deal with him. Family is everything, Todd and you placed yours above mine and that was your first mistake.”
I snap to Matteo, “Find his phone, I need to see the picture and analyze it because if he’s got Todd’s family, it may be where he’s taken Sophia. Send it to my phone.”
Matteo heads across the room and lifts Todd’s jacket from the floor, and I watch him scroll through the cell. Then I hear my phone ping and as I look at the photograph, I see why Todd was so worried. His wife is tied up with her hands above her to a ring on the wall. His two kids are beside her and appear to have been drugged. She is naked and it looks as if she’s taken quite a beating and I feel sick. What would I have done if I saw Ana or Sophia like this? I expect anything I could to keep them safe, yet he betrayed me.
He is starting to sob and I hate the weakness in him and turn away, snapping, “Keep him here and for fuck’s sake gag the bastard.”
Then I do something I don’t normally do and type a message and press send. I need help on this and know just who to ask because they have more intel than the president. The very people who I sent my most valuable possession to and the only ones I can trust.
Then I walk away from Todd and back to the car with Matteo close behind. “Take me back to the mansion, we need to wait for instructions.”
I tell him nothing because I am keeping this close. If anyone can save my sister, they can, and I just hope it’s not too late.
Chapter 34
Anastasia
I wake and it’s dark outside and we are on a rough track. Angel says softly, “We’re here, Ana, my second home.”
I look out of the window but can’t see anything, just heavily dense forest and no sign of life.
“What here, in the forest?”
She nods and I can tell she’s excited. I feel curious as to where she went for the five years she was gone and I’m about to find out.
As we reach the end of the bumpy track, I see a large courtyard clearing where a huge structure dominates the skyline. It’s so dark out here, yet as soon as we approach, a searchlight picks up our car and illuminates a steel-clad building standing proudly in the forest.
Angel seems excited and says, “I can’t wait for you to meet my second family.”
Sebastian throws me a pitying look and I wonder what that means. Surely, they can’t be that bad because Angel wouldn’t bring me somewhere that wasn’t safe.
Then I think of Sophia and my heart pounds. God, I hope she’s somewhere safe by now. I hope the guards chased them down and rescued her. I can’t begin to imagine the pain Tobias will go through if she isn’t.
As we step outside, Angel looks around and seems distracted.
Then she turns to Sebastian and says in a worried voice, “Half the bikes are missing.”
I stare at her in surprise because I’ve never seen so many bikes in one place before, and Sebastian shrugs. “Maybe they’re on a job and will back later.”
I fall silent because I cannot begin to understand what they are talking about, and as we approach the huge wooden door, I read the sign above it.
‘Abandon hope all who enter here.’
Angel laughs as she sees the expression on my face. “Don’t worry, honey, it’s just there to scare the traders away.”
She winks, but I don’t believe her for a second.
She enters some kind of code in a security panel and the door swings open and we head inside.
The first thing we see is a huge guy bearing down on us. He is so ferocious looking; I hide behind Sebastian as Angel squeals and runs straight into his arms. “Brewer, I’ve missed you.”
“Hey, honey, I thought it might be you.”
“Why?”
“Because we had word you were coming.”
“Tobias.” He nods.
At the sound of my husband’s name, I peer out and see the guy looking at me with interest. He appears slightly older, but that doesn’t stop him from looking pumped and ready to cut a man down on the spot.
Angel takes my hand and says proudly, “Meet my sister, Anastasia. This is Brewer, a real good friend of mine.”
He nods and then says good naturedly, “You look like sisters. God help us, two Angels in this place, we can’t cope.”
He winks as Angel rolls her eyes. As we follow him down a long passageway, she asks, “Where are the rest of the guys?”
“On a job.”
“That’s unlike you not to go with them.”
He shrugs. “Said I’d stay behind to keep the home fires burning.”
Angel shares a look with him and for some reason I think it concerns me. Then she says softly, “When will they be back?”
“Not sure, they’re out of state.”
She can’t question him further because he opens a door and we find ourselves in a huge room that appears to be a bar. There is loud music blaring from speakers and I can see huge television sets placed on walls around the room, where more guys like him sit on couches with attractive girls in one hand and a beer in another.
There’s a huge cheer as Angel walks in and I watch in disbelief as she squeals and runs around hugging everyone. I look at Sebastian in surprise and he shrugs but I can tell he’s not happy, as one by one, the scariest guys I have ever seen, hug and kiss her as if she’s a long-lost girlfriend.
Then it hits me. She probably is and, in a flash, I see just how she’s been living for the past five years. Here, among these people and it’s no wonder she’s hardened up so much.
I feel a little awkward until a pretty girl comes across and says sweetly, “Oh my god, you must be Angel’s sister, Anastasia, isn’t it?”
I nod shyly and she hugs me to my surprise and says, “I’m Millie, Angel’s best friend here. She’s told me so much about you, but I’m afraid not all of it was good.”
She winks and looks at Sebastian and I roll my eyes. “I’m sure she had quite a few things to say about me but it’s good now.”
Angel comes across and I watch as they hug it out and feel a little tinge of jealously toward my older sister. It’s obvious these people love her very much and the same for her and it appears that she found much more of a home here than the one we shared.
Sebastian looks like a duck out of water until Brewer says good naturedly, “Come on, man, I’ll get you a beer. You must be shot to pieces after that journey.”
Sebastian follows him
and Angel whispers to Millie, “Do you know where the guys have gone?”
“Not sure but they won’t be back tonight, more’s the pity.”
She catches me looking and smiles. “Girl, this place is a candy store. Look around you, these guys are seriously hot and largely available. The ones that ain’t are like brothers, so it’s all good. Anyway, let’s get you both a drink before you hit the hay. We have a lot to catch up on.”
Feeling a little self-conscious, I follow them to the bar and Millie jumps over it and laughs. “I’m guessin’ a white wine each, am I right?”
We both nod and she starts pouring the drinks. Then I see Angel’s eyes light up as a pretty redhead heads our way. “Bonnie, come over and meet my sister.”
Bonnie heads over and I can’t help but like the pretty girl on sight. Angel says happily, “Bonnie is one of the old ladies here.”
Bonnie laughs at my expression and winks. “Not so old, in appearance, anyway. Inside I’m 103 courtesy of my old man.”
They laugh and Angel says proudly, “That old man is the second commander-in-chief here next to Ryder King. Where is he, by the way?”
Bonnie looks at me and say kindly. “They went out of state. They had a call from your sister’s husband concerning his sister and they located them.”
I stare at her in shock and stutter, “Oh, please god, have they found her?”
Bonnie nods. “Last I heard, they had the premises surrounded and were about to go in. Don’t worry, honey, they are the best and your sister-in-law is in safe hands if…”
She breaks off and I see the concern in her eyes as I finish her sentence for her. “Alive.”
Angel looks concerned and I slump back in my seat, the tears threatening to spill. Poor Sophia, she’s been through so much already.
Bonnie lays her hand on my arm and says softly, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. They located her quickly, so she may have a chance.”
“When will you know?”
“Soon, I hope. Brewer stayed to coordinate the intel and Ryder took Snake and eight others with him. They took the plane so may be back later but it’s late, so they may stay at the Dragon’s ruin.”
“The what?”
Angel whispers, “Local biker gang’s clubhouse. They work together across the states and the Reapers use the local MC Clubs when they need back up.”
I fall silent because this is a world I know little about and yet being here, in the thick of madness, it doesn’t feel so strange anymore. Then my thoughts turn to Tobias and I say fearfully, “What about my husband, is he there?”
Bonnie shakes her head. “We’re expecting him soon.”
“What here?” I stare at her in alarm and she nods. “As soon as they got the call, Ryder told him to come. They will finish their business here at the Rubicon.”
Angel looks worried and I feel my heart beating faster. Tobias is coming here, this is really happening, shit is about to get real and I can only sit back and watch the fireworks.
Chapter 35
Tobias
As soon as I got the call from the Reapers, I instructed Matteo to round up ten of my men and take us to the airport. We could be in Washington in one hour by plane and unlike Ana, who would have taken several hours to get there, we will be there by the time the Reapers return.
I haven’t decided what to do with Todd, he can sweat it out until the dust settles and as we drive to the airfield, Matteo says in his usual calm voice, “What’s the plan?”
“I sent the information you gave me to Ryder King.”
Matteo looks worried and I shrug. “I had no choice. I needed action and fast. He has the technology to trace any vehicle and go in and rescue, so I trust him to do the right thing.”
Matteo nods and I say darkly, “They didn’t take long to trace it. The license plate was false but on their radar, and it linked to another plate they had intel on. It was reported as stolen, but the vehicle was fitted with a tracking device. They used Sophia’s phone signal to locate the area it was seen last and then latched onto the tracker by satellite. It was found at an abandoned remote cement works out of town, and they called the local MC club to take a look. Meanwhile, they made their way to the scene ready to storm the building and I just hope they’re not too late.”
Matteo whistles loudly. “Man, that’s some operation they got there. Won’t it cause you problems, don’t they work for the government?”
“They did me a favor, no questions asked. When they found out it was Angel’s sister-in-law, they couldn’t move fast enough. What you also have to understand is these guys deal with the trash for the government and no one deserves that title more than Carlos Toledo. If he went on trial, he would be out in a few years and he is not worth the red tape. If they hand him to me, it’s my shit to shovel, so everyone’s happy.”
“Everyone except Carlos.”
Matteo laughs softly and I snap, “Save your laughter for when we’ve dealt with the scum. He may have the last laugh, after all, he still has Sophia.”
We soon reach the plane and as I settle in my seat, I feel the nerves mingling with a thirst for revenge. God help Carlos if Sophia is harmed in any way. I can’t lose her, she’s all I have left and now I know Ana is safe, my full attention is on saving my sister.
The plane is soon eating up the distance and I’m intolerable company, so the guys leave me to brood about things on my own.
As soon as the plane stops, and the door opens, I am almost running down the stairs because I can’t get to Ana quickly enough. Just to feel her safe in my arms is the only thing I want, and that will give me the power to deal with what comes next.
As usual, the cars are waiting and we head off to the Rubicon, the home of the Twisted Reaper MC.
On the journey, I check constantly for an update and the radio silence is killing me inside. I’ve never been one for patience, and feeling so helpless is tearing my heart out.
I know the guys will be uncomfortable going to the home of paid assassins, but I had no choice. This time I would do anything to save my family, and there is only one loose cannon left in a war that should have been over years ago.
As soon as we reach the yard, I look out and see several men lined up in front of the steel-clad building and Matteo whistles. “Will you look at that?”
I expected a welcoming committee, but these guys are hard-assed bastards who are the most part ex-navy SEALS. They will be wary of us because my reputation is a bad one and entertaining the mafia is not something they do on a regular basis.
My door opens and I step outside and one of the guys steps forward and holds out his hand. “Mr. Moretti, I’m Brewer, Ryder told us to expect you.”
I shake his hand and say quickly, “My wife?”
“Inside, she’s safe with her sister.”
“Can I see her?”
“Of course. Your men can stay in the accommodation we have out back.”
He turns and shouts to the men behind him. “Chase, Jet, show the men where to go.”
Two guys step forward and the rest just stare with interest. I detect no animosity and my men are under strict instructions to behave, so I follow Brewer into the building with Matteo by my side.
As we walk, I say, “Any news?”
“None, they’re on radio silence. It could be awhile.”
I fall silent because that was not what I wanted to hear. This is pure torture waiting for someone else to do a job I should be in charge of and I just have to suck it up and trust the professionals who do this kind of thing all the time.
Brewer opens the door to a large bar area and I scan the room desperately in search of Ana. It makes me shiver to see the type of place this is, and I feel the eyes on me from every corner of the room. Then I see her and as our eyes meet, she is up and running. I can’t get to her quickly enough and as she falls into my arms, I lock her in the tightest embrace and feel the relief hit me hard. She’s with me where she belongs.
I bury my face in her hair and i
nhale the scent of everything I hold dear and she whispers, “I’m so sorry, Tobias.”
“For what?”
“For acting like a child. It doesn’t matter if you can’t love me, I will love us both doubly hard to make up for it.”
Her words twist my heart and for a moment, I have no words. This woman, this innocent, sweet woman, is so much better than me and she doesn’t even realize it.
Somebody coughs nearby and I look up and see Brewer nod toward the door. Immediately, I pull back and stare at my beautiful wife and whisper, “Don’t go anywhere, we need to talk but business first.”
I note the worry in her eyes and share it. She knows what’s at stake, I can tell, and so I lean down and kiss her lips softly and whisper, “Just for the record, I do love you.”
Then I leave and don’t look back. I can only guess her expression and it makes me feel good that I got to tell her what I haven’t admitted to myself. I do love Anastasia Johnson, and this last 24 hours has reinforced that fact. Somehow love has found a way into the blackest heart and far from feeling worried, I can’t wait to see what that means.
Chapter 36
Anastasia
Tobias said he loves me. I can’t believe it. My hand flies to my mouth where his just left and I stare after him in total shock. Then the tears build as I realize what he just gave me. It must have taken so much for him to say those words, especially when he is so worried about his sister.
Angel comes up behind me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Is everything ok, Ana?”
I nod. “Yes, I think it is.”
I follow Angel back to the bar and wonder what’s happening outside. Tobias looked so worried and I share it. Sophia told me the type of man they are dealing with and I can’t shake the feeling something bad is going to happen.
I think we wait for close on two hours before the bar starts to empty and Millie yawns. “I’m heading to bed, alone unfortunately.”
Completing Beauty: Books 1-3 Page 33
