“Ok, let me conference the other guys in.” Max looked at the screen of his phone. He dialed another number and waited for it to be answered.
“Hey, Max,” Mark answered. His deep voice was tense.
“Hey, big guy. I’ve got Dan on with us. What’s up?” Max questioned.
“Lexi’s anxious. It makes me anxious. I want to be out there when you find Derek so I can beat the crap out of him.”
“Your place is with her, Mark. We got this. Just take care of your girl. Assure her that she’ll be fine. We aren’t going to let anything happen to her. I promise. Give her a kiss,” Dan advised.
There was a huge exhale. “You’re right,” Mark admitted. “I know you guys have got this handled.”
“You better believe it,” Max replied. “Have fun. Enjoy the spotlight.”
“Sure thing,” Mark chuckled
“Okay. Let me get Ri…”
“We got company,” Dan interrupted.
Max looked up from his phone and scanned the crowd. Deep in the midst of all the space creatures and rabid fans were Derek and the two men in the photo Mark had on his phone. Max glanced at Dan and nodded. “Mark, they’re here. I’m going to dial Rico and the three of us will take care of this once and for all.”
“Kick his ass, Max,” Mark demanded.
“Can’t promise that, brother. But I’ll put the fear of God into him for certain. Hang on.” Max dialed Rico’s number. It rang twice and was answered. “Rico, Derek and his buddies are here. Are you ready?”
There was silence. Max frowned. “Rico, answer.”
There was no response. Max looked at Dan. The tall blond pointed to the other side of the crowd. It wasn’t hard to pick Rico out. Even though he was dressed in a sci-fi T-shirt and jeans to blend in, his striking good looks made him stand out. Rico’s eyes were locked to the second floor railing overlooking the area of the book signing. His mouth gaped open.
“Rico!” Max demanded. He huffed then followed Rico’s line of sight. He couldn’t stop the words that escaped. “Oh, shit.”
Chloe and Avery hung over the rail watching the crowd below, dressed in their Hard Drive shirts and shorts. They stuck out in the crowd that gathered. They studied the crowd below as they shuffled from one foot to the other, ready to run.
“We left them in New Ulm without a car,” Rico finally spoke.
“I don’t know how they got here,” Max responded dumbfounded.
Suddenly, with a little hop each, the two women sprinted off down the corridor. Max looked down to see the crowd part at the edge. Derek and his two friends popped out from the fans waiting for the signing and ran after them.
“Dan! Rico!” Max shouted as he ran after them. “We’ve got to go. Mark, I’m sorry, man. You’re on your own.”
“What’s going on?” Mark demanded.
“Derek’s gone. He’s after Chloe and Avery.”
“Wait, they’re in New Ulm. Never mind. Go. I’ve got this.”
“Max, I’ll stay here with Mark,” Dan volunteered. “Just in case they come back.”
“Sounds great. Rico?”
“On your heels, Max.” Rico breath was ragged through the earpiece. “Let’s go get our girls.”
They wove around the shoppers mingling in the corridor until they reached the entrance doors. Slamming them open, they caught sight of the two taxi cabs speeding away one after the other.
“Do you think?” Max questioned.
“No doubt,” Rico answered.
They raced to the last waiting cab and gave the orders for him to follow the other two. Before they could settle back into their seats, they could hear Mark’s voice in the earpiece. “Where are you guys heading?”
“I have no idea. Why?” Max questioned.
“Dan, Lexi and I are following. Don’t ask why. The signing has been postponed.”
“All right.” There was hesitation in Max’s voice. “I’ll keep you guys in the loop.”
“Great.”
Max hung up his phone then looked ahead. The skyscrapers of downtown Minneapolis loomed ahead. He sighed and muttered. “I hope the girls know what they’re doing.”
∙•∙
Chloe spun back toward the back window and searched the scene behind them. The other cab was behind with a couple of cars between them but they were still following. She felt her heart thunder in her chest. She was thankful she had taken her anti-anxiety pill before she and Avery left New Ulm or she’d be heaving all over the cab floor by now.
“Where are we going?” Avery asked, her voice trembling more than normal.
Chloe didn’t turn. “The arena.”
There was silence. Suddenly she felt a hand slap her. Chloe glared at Avery. “What was that for?”
“I can’t read your lips when you’re staring out the window. If you’re not going to turn then sign please.”
“Sorry. The arena.”
“Why there?”
“To put our guys in familiar territory when they face Derek. And to get him as far away from Lexi as humanly possible so she can have the event she deserves in peace.”
“And if Max and Rico don’t follow us? Or can’t figure out where we’re going?”
Chloe lifted up her cell gripped tight in her hand. “Max knows. I texted him. He’s furious but I’ll deal with that when this is all over.” She knocked on the window between them and the driver and startled a little when he threw it open.
“Yes?” the driver demanded.
Chloe dug in her purse for her wallet. She pulled out three twenty dollar bills from inside it and handed it through the partition. “Will that be enough for our fare?”
The driver stopped at a light and took the bills from her. He chuckled. “Sweetheart, that’s way too much.”
“I don’t care. You can keep it. And I’d really appreciate any help you could give us. That cab that is right behind us? I don’t know if you noticed but he’s following us. Can you try to keep him away from us when we get out?”
The cab driver glanced at her through the reflection in the rear view mirror. “I can do that. And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Chloe settled back against the seat trembling slightly. Instinctively she reached across the seat and squeezed Avery’s hand. She could tell her friend was shaking too. Avery gave her a weak smile.
“Ladies, the arena is up here on the left,” the driver announced.
Both women murmured their thanks as they sat up in their seats. They squirmed a bit as the monstrous structure grew closer. Just as the light on the corner turned green, the cab driver raced across and pulled up to the service door, angling the vehicle to block the entrance. “Go. I’ll stay here to make it hard for them to get in.”
“Thanks,” Chloe replied again as she hopped out and ran to the service door. She threw in open and sprinted inside. She could hear Avery’s footsteps behind her. The sounds of cursing and fists hitting the panel of a car echoed inside. There weren’t many corners to take until they reached the inside. Chairs were set up for the fights the next night. In the center, the octagon sat waiting to house those who chose to fight inside it.
Chloe didn’t hesitate. She hurried to the chain link cage. Taking the steps two at a time, she didn’t stop until she was inside. Avery was breathless as she joined her.
“We’re trapped,” Avery said harshly.
“We’re bait,” Chloe answered as calmly as she could. She clenched her fists closed as she faced the door, just like her husband did at his fights as he waited for his opponents. It wasn’t long before Derek and his friends appeared from the tunnel.
“Well, well. Look what we found, boys,” Derek chuckled, an evil tinge to his voice. He led them to the cage and climbed the stairs to step inside. “You girls thought you could outrun us?”
“We didn’t care if you outran us. Just leave Lexi alone,” Chloe warned. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Avery bouncing from the ball of one foot to the other.
“What I do with Lexi is none of your business. Stay away from us. She belongs to me,” Derek warned.
“She’s with Mark. Why would she want to be with an abusive psychopath like you?” Chloe countered.
Derek’s hand slapped across her face like lightning, sending her to the canvas. She put an arm out to stop Avery before the blonde Marine jumped to her defense. “Do you have any idea who we are?” Chloe questioned as she rubbed at the warm welt on her cheek.
“Ask if I care,” Derek snapped as he took a step closer. “I’m a psychopath? Well, little girl. You’re about to see how unstable I can really be.”
She pushed up to her feet. Rolling her shoulders back, she stood toe to toe with him. “My name is Chloe Thomas. My friend here is Avery Choate.”
“Ask if I care. You’re just a couple of dumbass bitches like my ex. Lexi belongs to me, divorce or no divorce. I’ll dispose of anyone who stands in my way whether it be you or that doctor she’s dating.”
“You should care.” Chloe pointed to the ceiling of the arena. Derek and his buddies’ gazes followed. Above them the marquee flashed an advertisement for the fights the next night. A photo of Max and Rico dressed for competition accompanied the advertisement. Their names were listed beneath each image. “The fact that our last names are the same as theirs isn’t a coincidence.”
Derek chuckled. It was laced with violence. “So you married a couple of MMA fighters. So what? They can’t help you now, can they? And baby, you’re gonna need help. Believe me, you’re gonna need help.”
Chloe shuddered at his words as he closed the distance between them. Avery stiffened as his friends prowled closer to her.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Derek.”
Chloe’s heart leapt in her throat at the sound of her husband’s voice. The three men turned around to find Max, Rico, and Mark at the cage door. Their eyes grew wide as their mouths gaped open. Behind them in the aisle were Dan and Lexi, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Each of the fighters slowly climbed the stairs and stepped inside the octagon. Chloe studied their faces. Max and Rico were ready for a fight. By the rage in those blue eyes, Mark wanted a war.
∙•∙
Lexi startled at the harshness of Rico’s voice. “Chloe. Avery. Get out,” he demanded, the rest of his body stone still as he barked out the order.
Without a word the two women scurried past the other occupants of the cage and flew down the steps. Once they cleared the canvas, Rico laced his fingers through the fence and closed the door behind them. The women didn’t stop until they also had flocked around Lexi.
“Dan, lock the door,” Mark directed.
Dan nodded and took a step. He stopped when Lexi pressed her palm against his chest and shook her head silently. She glanced at Derek, then at Mark standing in the cage. Spinning on her toe, she strode to the chain link structure instead of Dan.
Derek shoved past the fighters as an evil smirk spread across his face. None of them moved. He leaned against the chain link and glared at Lexi. “Open the door, Lexi,” he coaxed. “You don’t want to leave me in here with these lunatics, do you? I’m your child’s father. I was your husband. Let me out, baby.”
Lexi stared at him as she reached up for the door. There he was. The man she loved at one time. They had shared so much together. They had a son. Had there been good times? She couldn’t remember one. She intertwined her fingers in the fence. She looked at Mark. The look on his face broke her heart. He looked confused and hurt. She studied the man who had been by her side over the past few months. He made her feel wanted, needed, loved. Every moment with him was incredible.
It made this decision so easy to make.
In one fluid motion Lexi grabbed the lock and flipped it closed, trapping Derek inside. A grin slipped across her lips as horror filled Derek’s face. She backed away several steps as he started to panic.
“Lexi, get back here and open this door!” Derek shouted as he shook the octagon wall. “I’ll make you regret this!”
Chloe took one of Lexi’s hands in hers. Lexi smiled as Avery took the other. They turned as Dan motioned toward the tunnel. “Ladies,” he offered.
The three women strode hand in hand from the arena with Dan following. The last thing Lexi saw was Max, Rico and Mark in motion as they stalked toward Derek and his friends. Derek screamed for Lexi. His voice faded away as the women stepped out into the sunshine and the door closed behind them.
Chapter Ten
Mark strolled down the corridor of the mall weaving between the other shoppers while whistling to himself. He watched amazed at the bizarre crowd that gathered around him outside the mall bookstore. The large backdrop showing Lexi’s book behind the stage was still there from the day before. With the event being cancelled yesterday, he figured no one would come. Instead he was surrounded again by strange creatures and crazed fans. From what Lexi had told him as they cuddled the night before after his weigh in, the message boards were on fire with the rescheduled date. There was big news coming. When he asked her what it was, she wouldn’t answer. She just gave him a sad smile.
It was the first time she had been sad since the chaos had calmed down at the arena. They didn’t beat Derek and his friends too badly. He, Max, and Rico waited for the others to throw the first punches. He wasn’t sure if it was Dan and the girls or a concerned janitor who noticed the main event started early that called the police. The authorities arrived before things were over. Derek was arrested for not only arson but attempted murder for trapping the girls in the gym before he set the fire outside. He would probably be locked up for quite a while. Lexi had looked relieved even though she was still on edge.
He felt a hand tug on his shirt. He turned around to find a guy in his twenties behind him. He wore a headset and waved a clipboard frantically. “Are you Mark Jacobsen?”
“Yes,” Mark answered.
“You’re needed backstage. Follow me.”
Mark followed him past the curtain. There were twice as many people in this small area than there were on the other side. Some bumped into each other. It was almost organized chaos.
“Mark!”
He turned to find Lexi behind him. He grinned as she wove around those between them. She still had the same sad look on her face. He pulled her to him and kissed her.
“Baby, smile. You’re going to be fantastic,” he encouraged.
“It’s not that. I need to talk to you before all this starts.”
“About what?”
She took a deep breath. Before she could speak, a well dressed man strode past. Mark knew his mouth had to be on the floor. “That’s Tom Nash.”
Lexi’s voice was soft. “Yes it is.”
“He just won an Oscar for best actor.”
“Yep.”
“What’s he doing here?”
Lexi was quiet for a moment. “He’s going to star in the film adaptation of ‘Then There Was One’.”
“Really? They’re making your book into a movie? That’s amazing.”
“Yes. I wrote the screen play a year ago for fun. My publicist looked at it. I had no idea she actually sold it to a movie studio. They want me to be on set to help with the filming. That’s what I need to talk to you about, Mark. They’re filming outside of Las Vegas. I’m leaving.”
Mark felt his heart fall into the pit of his stomach. “When are you leaving?”
“We start shooting next week so we have meetings. We fly out right after this.”
“You waited until now to tell me?”
“I wanted to tell you but I thought Derek would scare you off. Then there was the fire and…” Her voice trailed off to silence.
“How long will you be gone?”
“A couple of months. Mark, I’m sorry. Maybe you can come visit me.”
“Lexi, it’s hard to get time off. I work in an ER. They need me.”
“So do I.”
“Lexi, it’s time to go!” One of the crew called to her.
She looked at Mark. “We can talk later?”
“I thought you were leaving right after.” Mark turned on his toe and made his way through the backstage to the curtains. He fought back tears. The woman he loved, the one he hoped to build a future with, was leaving to chase her dreams. What possibly could I offer now?
“So, why exactly was this rescheduled?” Mark turned when he heard Max’s voice to find Max, Rico and Dan approaching. Behind them Chloe and Avery stopped outside a store front pointing at something in the window. Mark forced a smile on his face. “About the time you took off running, security found a back pack lying on the floor without its owner. They shut the event down and evacuated the mall. Lexi’s agent demanded they reschedule for another day. She was spooked. Turns out some kid left it with a friend to go to the restroom and the friend left it there on the floor.” He nodded toward the girls. “How are you guys?”
Max glanced at his wife. “I yelled. She cried. I cried. Then I held her so tight she almost couldn’t breathe for the rest of the night.”
Rico nodded. “The same with us. Except she yelled back.”
Max frowned. “How are you? It looks like you just got some bad news.”
“You could say that,” Mark answered.
Dan cocked his head toward the stage. “What is going on? Why are there so many people here?”
“Hush,” Rico chided. “It’s about to start.”
A roll of automated thunder growled from the speakers on the stage followed by the high pitched squeaks and beeps of lasers. The four men gathered together as they were pressed together by ecstatic fans. The sound effects were accompanied by flashing lights and fog. Mark shook his head as he sighed. They’re going all out…
The place erupted in cheers when Lexi stepped out onto the stage. She was followed by a popular talk show host and several top name movie stars. Mark frowned as even his friends gasped and awed. The talk show host picked up a microphone and faced the crowd.
“Hello, Minneapolis! I’m Sam Lyon and as you know, you can always believe me because I’m not Lyon!” The mass of fans chanted his catchphrase with him and then cheered. Mark couldn’t hold back his eye roll. He crossed his arms over his massive chest.
Breaking the Violence (Hard Drive Series Book 3) Page 12
