Grayson (This is Our Life Book 1)

by Adams, F. G.

  I’ve heard them as they’ve passed the door on and off for hours. I know there are at least five in the building. I think it’s an abandoned warehouse in an unoccupied area of town. There haven’t been any traffic noises or planes flying above to clue me in to our location.

  My wrists are raw and bleeding from trying to loosen the knots, cause any slack, but the rope is not giving despite my efforts. I’ve been working on them since the last visit from our captors. The brutality and rape Savannah went through can’t happen again. She won’t survive it, and if I’m to believe what the masked man said, our only hope is to escape.

  I’m jostled from my morbid thoughts when Savannah’s moans fill the room. I look at her face and see her right eye is partially open, staring back at me.

  “Oh god, Vanna! You’re awake,” I softly murmur, scared they’ll know she’s awake and will come take her away from me again.

  “Mmm…you gotta get out of here, Ella…”

  I interrupt her. “Can’t leave you. Won’t. We’re in this together. I know Grayson and his team’s gonna find us. Just hold on, Vanna.”

  I look at her, and tears are leaking from her eyes, creating a path of dirt and blood as my own trickle slowly down.

  “Not gonna make it, sugar. Go without me,” she grunts.

  I gasp, realizing she doesn’t see me tied to the chair, unable to leave even if I wanted to. She’s delirious, and I can only assume her condition has worsened. The hits to her head could have caused a concussion or maybe the swelling around her eye isn’t allowing her to focus on my silhouette. I search my memories, wanting to remind her of one that we have laughed about several times over the years.

  “Hang in there, sweetie. Do you hear me? You can’t quit. You remember bootcamp? Yeah? Hell week?”

  That’s what we dubbed it, because we were run into the ground and spent most of the time puking our guts out.

  “I wanted to quit and give up, but your stubborn ass wouldn’t let me. You got so mad at me for even thinking it, and we weren’t even friends yet. Thought ya were a little cray cray that day. Remember those last few miles? Wouldn’t have made it without ya calling me out. Well, now I’m returning the favor. We don’t give up, no matter what. I’ve got your twenty, sista.”

  “You’ve always been a pain in my ass, you know that, right?” she voices as a grimace forms on her brutalized face. “If I don’t make…”

  “Shut up, Vanna. We’re gonna make it. No more shit talk.” I can’t even begin to think of my life without her in it. She’s not only my best friend, she’s every bit the sister I always wanted.

  She releases a few short, choppy breaths. “Mmm ’kay. Ella, I’m so cold...tired.”

  “Sleep, sweetie. Just rest.” I watch as her swollen eye shuts and her facial expressions begin to relax.

  If I weren’t observing her so intently, I would have missed her lips move muttering, “Love ya, Ella bug.”

  “Love you too, Vanna,” I respond.

  She drifts off into a fitful sleep. I know she is in excruciating pain, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We’re alone and vulnerable to the man who has captured us. I once again offer a prayer in hope that someone will find us and save us from the madness engulfing our lives. Hoping someone will locate and set us free from our captors before they are able to keep their promise of death.

  Last night was rough as I lay awake, thinking the worst. My mind wouldn’t shut off from all the possibilities Ella and Savannah are enduring. Had someone touched or hurt them? Would Ella once again slip through my grasp, but this time forever? Was fate so fickle that we would never share a future together? Have a family? We’ve already lost seven years, and realizing I might not ever hold her again is fucking with my head. Vivid images of finding them both dead continued to plague me until I finally gave up on sleep and headed toward the compound to wait for updates from the team and Beauty’s return.

  When I enter the conference room, Styx and Johnny are sitting there, drinking coffee. By the looks of things, they haven’t left at all. The strains on their faces speak volumes. This isn’t just our job; it’s personal. Ella belongs to all of us, and Savannah belongs to Ella, so that makes her part of our family.

  “Radar get anything?” I inquire as I pour a cup for myself.

  Styx confirms, “Nothing yet. He left an hour ago to get some sleep. He’s been tracking Mustafa’s movements and thinks they are tied somehow to the girls. Should know something soon.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s connected Beauty to several arms shipments. Looks like our boy’s been working with them for some time. He found an offshore account with millions registered to Wayne Davis. Some deposits are around the times we know arms were exchanged. And you know Radar. Once he finds a trail, he’s like a bloodhound till he finds what he’s looking for. Sure he’ll uncover more as he continues his search,” Johnny comments.

  “Fuck! You tellin’ me my girl is being held by that crazy motherfucker?”

  Johnny sips his hot brew and continues, “Nothing for sure, but yeah. That’s what we’re thinking now, and don’t forgot Savannah’s there too. God knows what’s happening to them.”

  “I will kill every last one of those bastards if they’ve touched Savannah. No way will they get away from me,” Styx vehemently swears as he stands and turns to leave the room. “Going to shower ‘n change, be back in thirty.”

  “What the hell was that about?” I ask Johnny.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he replies, “Think he has a sweet spot for her. They’ve become pretty close friends over the past few weeks.”

  “I’ve never seen him act that way about a chick. He’s normally not looking for more than one night.”

  “Don’t know, man. But something’s different about her for him to act that way.”

  Our conversation abruptly ends as Jacobs storms through the door, holding a brown envelope in his hand. The scowl on his face is enough to drown out all other actions. Jacobs’s normal tranquil demeanor is gone, replaced by a mask of fury.

  He yanks a chair back and plops down before he hastily reports, “Results are in and you’re not going to believe what I’ve learned. Brace yourself, gentlemen. You’re about to get the shock of your lives. The DNA we found in the back of the abandoned van is a 99.9% match to Badahur, second in command to Mustafa on the watch list. For years, we’ve been in the dark. There hasn’t been one agency able to get a photo to go with the name. That streak ends today because we’ve got one now.” Jacobs opens the envelope, flinging a picture across the table as he says, “Meet Badahur, also known as Wayne Davis aka Beauty.”

  “What the fuck! You can’t be serious. We know he’s involved, but implying he’s one of the most wanted men in the world elevates this threat to a new level. I’ve got to update the General immediately,” I note. My anxiety level has spiked. Ella being held by Badadur is my worst nightmare come true.

  “Holy shit! How could he have fooled us every day? We’ve been to hell and back together. He’s one of us. Covered my back over and over,” Johnny contemplates, thinking out loud.

  “I had the lab check the results three times to be sure. I was sick finding out he’s been hiding among us. Can’t tell you how messed up this is, Captain. I asked the lab tech to hold this news until I reported it to you. We can’t keep this under wrap for long, but with the girls’ lives hanging in the balance...”

  “This changes nothing with our plan. We have to play his game. It’s their only chance.” My hands are tied. We can’t risk him becoming wise to us. Sitting and waiting isn’t something I want to do. The man in love with Bluebird is demanding I storm the fort and rescue her, but the soldier and leader knows the outcome could possibly end without her in my arms, and that’s unacceptable.

  Doc studies me, and the reflection of conflict I’m fighting is evident when he asks, “What if he finds out? Believes it’s a trap?”

  I hesitate for a moment. The idea of losing her just when I
’ve found her is brutal, but not acting isn’t an option for me. “Can’t worry about the unknown. Animal, rally the team. Fill ‘em in and then send a message to Beauty. Let’s try to lure him out to our territory. Tell him he needs to be at our briefing at zero nine hundred.” He nods, pulls out his smartphone, and commences to following my orders.

  Couple hours later, we’re all gathered around the table, waiting for Beauty to show. My grandmother always told me patience is a virtue, and I’m surely learning this lesson now. Sitting around and not being able to take action is taking a toll on my psyche. My brothers in arms are assembled and ready to go at the drop of a hat. You could cut the air with a knife. Not only are we ready to face one of the world’s most wanted men and our fellow soldier, we’re ready to save our girls and get the revenge our mind’s require.

  A ding from my phone notifies me of an incoming email, and I remark it’s from an unknown sender. All eyes are focused on me as I motion to Radar, waving my phone in the air. In less than a minute, he’s got the email projected onto the screen for all to view. What we see ravages my soul. There’s a picture of a dimly lit room with a badly beaten, naked woman lying on the ground in a heap, and beside her bound to a chair is my Bluebird with her head slumped forward. A growl slowly ignites from the pit of my stomach as the scene infiltrates my mind.

  Styx slams his fists on the table and shoves his chair against the wall. Johnny and Doc rush over to contain him from destroying all the equipment in the room. His pain is evident, written on his face.

  “Calm the fuck down. We’ve got a job to do, and emotions can’t play a part in this rescue mission,” I command, looking directly at Styx.

  Several minutes pass before he acknowledges me and slowly lowers his arms to his side. When he looks at me, so much is conveyed in a few seconds. Pain, anger, revenge. He’s gone into battle mode, and god help the poor sucker who's harmed his woman.

  “Boss man, says here you’re to go to the coordinates listed and wait for instructions. You’ve only got thirty minutes to get there to receive the next one,” Radar reads. “If you bring anyone or they see a shadow, one of the women will die.”

  I make the orders, not follow them, and the low-life son of a bitch running this scam is about to find out what happens when you mess with me. “Change up the frequencies we’ve been using for our trackers. Make us fucking ghosts, Radar. Don’t want to give them a reason to hurt them,” I command while standing.

  I look at Styx. “You in a good enough place to finish this mission?” His face is blank now, all emotion wiped clean, a determined soldier is staring back at me. I’m concerned how it will affect his actions, but don’t have time to dig deeper. We need our heads in the game.

  “Let’s light ‘em, Captain,” he replies, making his way to the exit, not even glancing back to see if I follow.

  “Johnny, need you to be his backup. We know Beauty won’t show. He’s sent us an invitation to his party, and I’m ready to crash it,” I mention as I walk around the large table.

  Animal nods. “On it, sir.” And I’m no longer concerned about Styx. Johnny’s got his back.

  “Radar, you’re our eyes and ears. Keep me posted as we go. Any signs of hostiles, alert me immediately,” I instruct, following Styx’s exit.

  “Roger that, boss man.”

  Styx, Johnny, and I gear up for the upcoming confrontation with our nemesis. The image of the girls so worn and helpless will haunt my nightmares for years to come. I’m barely holding it in and am relying on my instincts and training to help get me through the next several hours. I’m not sure what’s in store for us, but one way or another I’m going to get my girl and bring her home.

  Hunger and fatigue have settled into my body. We’ve been left alone, and Savannah hasn’t woken again. Her breathing is shallow and she hasn’t moved in several hours. Hopelessness and despair plague my waking moments. My neck feels broken from falling asleep in the position I’m in, and delirium is beginning to show in my thoughts. My head weighs heavy on my shoulders and I’m struggling to lift it when the lock slides across the door of our prison and in walks Beauty. My heart begins to beat quickly, because I know he’s here to rescue us! Thank god! We’re going to be rescued!

  Then he greets me and fear consumes every part of my being. “Hello, little one.” My mind registers that he’s not wearing army fatigues, and the turban on his head isn’t part of the issued gear either, causing me to tremble uncontrollably. It’s the disguised man standing in front of me. Everything clicks in place, and I realize now what I couldn’t piece together before. He’s Grayson’s second-in-command, and I’ve seen him with Grayson at TMC a few times.

  “You asshole!” I scream. “You did that to her! You hurt her! If I weren’t bound to this chair, I would kill you! You coward!”

  I continue my tirade, struggling to free myself from the ropes and draining the last of my energy.

  He moves about the room with a devilish smirk on his face before stopping in front of me, gripping my cheeks between his fingers and squeezing hard.

  “Tsk Tsk, little one. Your temper is unbecoming of your sweetness. You should be careful what you say to me, or your friend will suffer the consequences.” He chuckles and releases my cheeks with a flip of his wrist, sending my head in the opposite direction.

  “I bet you’re asking yourself why would someone like me want do something like this?” he questions and waves his hand in the air. “Is it the thrill of being caught or outsmarting your commanding officers? Hmmm, maybe it’s for religious purposes or better yet, maybe I was abused as a child? No...none of those, although they’re valid points, yeah? Let me enlighten you, little one...a long time ago, I was approached by a powerful, wealthy man who showed me the path of righteousness paved in gold. Money and power. What more could a man ask for? Oh, the most important…revenge on the founders of Trident Security.”

  He stops in front of Savannah. “She’s breathing still.” Then he lifts his leg, rears back, and kicks her in the back, rolling her onto her stomach, eliciting a small cry of pain from the already wounded woman.

  “Stop! Please stop! I’ll..I’ll do anything, but please, please stop!”

  I’m yelling at the top of my voice as he turns toward me and smiles.

  “You just did, little one.” Then he walks away, leaving the door open.

  I arrive at the checkpoint at exactly the given time. My phone alerts me to a new email with a new set of coordinates to follow. A new picture is attached, and it’s worse than the previous one. It’s Savannah, and she’s being held down by several men while someone is cutting her body. The caption reads, The little one is next. My heart is pounding as adrenaline flows. When I find this son of bitch, he’s going to suffer a long and painful death. He knew my weakness and is exploiting it.

  I jump back on the Harley, following the GPS to the next location checkpoint when Styx’s voice rumbles on the com link. “She’s in bad shape, Grayson. Doc did a preliminary diagnosis based on the last photo, and she needs immediate care. Broken bones, loss of blood, possible internal damage...”

  I understand his concerns. First and foremost our priority is the extraction of the girls and then the possible takedown of the cell’s second-in-command, brotherhood style. Once we find their location, it’s lights out, motherfucker!

  “Boss man, you’re coming up on the warehouse district. It’s mostly deserted buildings. No civilians. Location should be on your right. Styx and Animal are in position. Sensors are picking up seven warm bodies. Two off to the far right of the complex. Five near the front,” Radar reports.

  I pull forward, turn the engine off, and kick the stand out. I place the helmet around the handles and start walking toward the only entrance into the building. My palms are twitchy with anticipation. Action towards the abomination I once believed was my friend. That’s when I hear her. A gut-wrenching scream. I start to run when Radar comes over the com, “Stop, Grayson. It’s a trap. Ella’s okay. My feed is showing some
one hurting the body on the floor.” As an afterthought, he adds, “Must be Savannah.” It takes every ounce of discipline not to take off running toward that sound. The sound I know is Beauty’s calling card to me.

  “Roger that, Radar,” Animal says. “Damn, Styx is leaving his position. I repeat he’s left his position. Heard what was going down and took off. I can’t locate him from my position, but gotcha covered, Cap.” Then gunfire erupts around me. Dust kicks up where a bullet ricochets off the clay pavement, and I’m sprinting toward the building for cover. Dodging left to right in a zigzag pattern to avoid being hit. Ducking into the doorway, I let off a few rounds, trying to taking down hostiles as I go. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, and I’m firing again, taking down my marks. Three more left to eradicate. I take stock, allowing my senses to control my actions as I make toward the corner the girls are being held.

  Animal reports, “Styx has entered the building, Cap.”

  No sooner has he reported than I hear two shots followed by bellows of pain, and he’s by my side, looking for the last culprit, Beauty. I give him a nod and proceed.

  “Animal, get down here now. Radar, we’re going black. Let’s finish this, boys.”

  I’m ready to hold Ella in my arms. Touch her all over, making sure she isn’t hurt and caressing every inch of her body. I want to be the one to console her and help her get past the nightmarish ordeal she’s been involved in.

  When Animal arrives, we slowly make our way among the pallets, searching for our target. I lead and motion to Styx and Animal to fan out. We approach the doorway from different angles. One of us should make it to them. Styx motions toward an open door, and I know we are almost there when the stench hits me; human waste and blood.

  My fear is that he’s with the girls, and I dread the upcoming confrontation. We’re hugging the wall when I give the signal. I enter the room and take in my surroundings. Beauty is standing behind Ella with a gun pointed at her head. She’s draped over his body, providing a shield against my gun. I only have one shot, but I’m not willing to take that chance with Ella’s life.