by J. Kenner
The words hung in the air as Devlin fought to keep his breathing steady. To stay calm and not let fury overtake him. He had to think. He couldn’t react out of passion, he had to be smart. He had to be careful and precise. Ellie’s life depended on it.
Bottom line, he had to get out of there. Ellie needed him.
But there wasn’t a thing he could do.
He was fucking trapped, and the wolves were circling.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Christopher?”
I stare at the man on the doorstep, fear spiking through me, because there is no way that this is a coincidence. “Where is she? Where are Devlin and Brandy?”
I step forward, not even sure what it is that I intend to do, but suddenly I’m pulled backward by a strong hand tugging at my T-shirt. In one quick move, Ronan shoves me behind him, and has the muzzle of a gun up underneath Christopher’s chin.
Christopher stands perfectly still, his chin tilted up, and I can see his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. His pulse beating against the taut skin. He says nothing, and considering the tension in Ronan, I think that’s for the best. Not that I care if Ronan blows him away, but I’m really not in the mood to clean blood off the front porch.
“One wrong move, and you are a dead man,” Ronan says. Slowly, he pulls the gun back, letting Christopher lower his chin. “Inside,” he orders, then kicks the door shut behind Christopher.
“Now talk,” I demand. “Where the hell are Devlin and Brandy?”
“I, I came here to help. I didn’t help take them. I didn’t have anything to do with it. I promise.”
“Why the hell should we believe you?” I ask. “You tried to run me down with an SUV, you son of a bitch.”
“I didn’t want to do that. Joseph he said I had to. Please, please you have to believe me. I went out of my way not to hit you. He wasn’t happy. He really wasn’t happy with me after that.”
I look at Ronan who meets my eyes, his as cold as ice. I have no idea what he’s thinking. As for me, all I’m thinking about is Devlin and Brandy.
“Do you know where Devlin and Brandy are being held?” The question is from Reggie, who’s moved to my side, her expression fierce. “Because otherwise, you’re no fucking use to us at all.”
I hold my breath, waiting for Christopher to answer, then jump when someone pounds on the door, and I hear Lamar’s voice. “Dammit, Ellie, let me in.”
I meet Ronan’s eyes, trying to read his thoughts, but his expression is entirely flat. I think that he must be damn good in an interrogation, then nod for him to open the door.
Lamar bursts in, then stops short when he sees Christopher. He looks from Christopher to Ronan and then to me.
“Well,” he says. “I guess I made the right call.”
I frown. “What do you mean.?”
“Officially we don’t have shit. I’m coming with you.”
“Lamar…” I’m shaking my head. “We’re not—I mean, oh, hell.”
“She means we’re not intending to play by the rules,” Ronan says flatly.
“But you intend to get them back.”
“Absolutely,” Ronan says.
Lamar glares at Christopher. “And you have a lead.”
“Looks that way,” I say.
“Then I’m in.”
I swallow. “Are you sure? The consequences.”
“It’s Brandy,” he says, then takes my hand. “And it’s Devlin.”
I nod, blinking back tears.
Ronan, apparently satisfied, returns his attention to Christopher. “Answer the fucking question. Do you know where they’re being held?”
“I do, at least I think so. That’s why I’m here. I’m supposed to bring supplies up. But, Manny has Brandy, and—”
“Manny?”
“One of the kids who was on the compound with Devlin,” Ronan says. “One of Joseph’s lieutenants.”
Christopher nods. “I know what he’s capable of. I thought—”
“What?” I demand.
He looks down at the ground. “All I want to do is help. Please,” he says, his voice cracking. “They have Brandy.”
I hear the pain in his voice and try not to let it affect me. “You tried to kill me,” I say again, this time clutching Lamar’s hand.
“Because of Joseph. He’s—he was—my family. The only family I ever really had. So when he wanted my help, I agreed. I like Devlin, and I should never have gone along with it. But you didn’t know Joseph.”
“That’s all ancient history. Tell me why the fuck I should trust you now.” Because, dammit, as much as I’d like to think that Christopher is our answer, I know that it’s way more likely that he’s the bait to a much bigger trap.
He looks between me and Lamar, and I see Reggie and Ronan exchanging glances.
“I love her,” Christopher says, his eyes on me. “I love Brandy. I understand why you might not believe me,” he says, as Ronan makes a raw scoffing noise, “but I never meant to hurt anybody.”
“You goddamn son-of-a-bitch,” Ronan growls.
Christopher cringes and hurries on. “I came to the DSF because Joseph wanted me there. Because Anna had told him who Devlin really is. I used my books as cover, and all I was supposed to be doing was gathering intel on Devlin. Where he went, who was important to him. Anything that Joseph might be able to use against him.”
He draws a shaky breath. “And, yes, when Joseph thought that the best way to get to Devlin would be to take you out, I had a hand in that. I regret it. I do. And I know you don’t believe me, and I don’t even care. But you have to believe me about Brandy. I love her. He wasn’t supposed to take her. She wasn’t supposed to be with Devlin today.”
Ronan looks at me, and I don’t know what to do. I want to hate this man, and I do. But part of me feels sorry for him, too.
He’s a naive man who got caught up with a powerful brother, a man who had power for all the wrong reasons. Now he’s dead and Christopher is lost. And whether he loves Brandy or not, he was never the man she believed him to be.
But none of that matters. All that really matters is whether or not I believe that he loves her. Because if he does, then he might really be here to help us. And that means that we might actually have a chance.
More than that, it means that Christopher is probably our only chance. Because if he knows where Devlin and Brandy are, or even if he just says he does, that’s a risk that I’m willing to take.
“Put the gun down,” I tell Ronan. The Nordic god towers over me, a look of incredulity on his face. “The hell you say. You aren’t running this operation.”
“The hell I’m not. My best friend. My boyfriend. The man I love with all of my heart. They’re the ones who are at risk here. Not me, not you, not Lamar, not Reggie. Them. And I will do anything in my power, including selling my soul to the devil if that’s what it takes to get them back.”
“You listen to him, and you really might be selling your soul to the devil. Don’t you see? If this is retribution for what Devlin did, then the best plan is to get you there and kill you in front of Devlin. Make him watch. Killing him? No big deal. Devlin’s been trained for a hell of a lot more than that. But watching you die? That’s about the only form of torture I can think of that would break him.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way, and without thinking I glance toward Reggie. She nods. “He’s right.”
I feel cold all the way down to my bones. “I can’t just stand still because I might be at risk,” I say.
“You won’t be at risk,” Christopher says. “Or you would if they knew you were there. But I’m not going to be the one who tells them. I swear to you. I swear to you on Brandy’s life.”
I can hear the passion and the heat in his voice. I think of all the times I’ve seen him and Brandy together. I think of the way this man has laughed in my living room.
And then I make my decision. “If it’s the wrong call, then it’s on my shoulders. But we’re going to trust h
im. And I need you two to follow my lead.”
To her credit, Reggie nods, just one quick inclination of her head as evidence that she’s agreed to my terms. Lamar does the same. Ronan is not so amenable. Instead of answering me, he looks to Christopher. “What exactly do you have to offer?”
“I know where they are. I’m supposed to meet them there with supplies. Years ago, Joseph bought this place. I mean like it’s been at least ten years. It was this cabin up close to Big Bear right at a pass. An old pass, one of those Indian trails. It was a cabin at first, like a century ago. And then later it was used by trappers. And then during the WPA era it was used as office space while they tried to build a road. But it never got finished. So it was only a half-built little road out there with that secluded cabin just sort of cut into the mountains.”
“Keep going. They’re at the cabin?”
“He built a house over it, but yeah. The cabin’s at the base of it. There was some mining there at some point, and then it was a place where settlers traded with the Native Americans. It’s got a lot of history. It’s actually pretty cool. I thought about writing a book about it, but—”
“Christopher.” My voice is harsh and sharp. I don’t give a fuck what kind of book he wants to write. I want to know where Devlin and Brandy are.
“Sorry, sorry.” He wipes his hands on his jeans. “Yeah, so, that’s where they’ll be. It’s had so many layers built upon layers that there’s this stone basement. He’ll have them in there.”
“And what’s he proposing to do with them?”
Christopher shrugs. “Kill them. But he wants Ellie first. That’s why he sent me. I told you. He wants Devlin to hurt before he dies.”
“You’re supposed to take me to Manny.”
“Yeah. With the supplies.”
“It’s a trap,” Lamar says. “It has to be a trap.”
“I promise you it’s not,” Christopher says. “Please. Please, I have to make sure Brandy’s safe. She’ll be the first he kills. He’ll do it to punish Devlin, so he feels weak. And so that he’ll know what’s coming when they bring Ellie in. I don’t think she has much time. If you don’t trust me that’s okay, but please at least believe me.”
Ronan looks at Reggie, and she understands the silent message. She leans against the wall, pulls out a gun and aims it casually at him. “Why don’t we just wait here while those three go have a little chat?”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” Brandy whispered, and the terror that Devlin heard in her voice tortured him more than anything Manny had done.
“I’m not counting us out yet,” he said, also whispering. They were alone now, but he imagined people were listening at the doors. Not that their conversation meant anything. It’s not as if they had a plan for escape.
“But…”
He closed his eyes and drew in a breath, acknowledging the reality of their situation.
“But, yes, we’re not in a good position. I’m sorry, Brandy.”
“For telling me the truth? It’s not like I couldn’t figure it out on my own.”
“For not realizing this was a trap in the first place. For not having the foresight to suggest we go in separate cars or have Lamar send a cruiser by to take us to the station. You’re here because you were with me.” It was like living with his father all over again. He made a friend, got close to a trainer, and eventually they’d die. It was as if his father could sniff out even the tiniest bud of joy, and made it his mission to pulverize it under the heel of his snakeskin boots.
“This is not your fault, Devlin. And we’re not dead yet.” Her voice was strong, but there was no denying the tremors.
“Not dead yet. Not dead yet?” Manny’s voice rang through the cavernous room. “You want to explain to me how yet fits into this equation? Because yet is bearing down on you pretty damn fast.”
He turned, signaling to someone in the shadows. “Get the girl. Bring her over here.”
“No!” The plea was ripped from Devlin. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“She’s important to you. She’s the bitch you’re fucking’s best friend. And since the bitch isn’t here, this one will do.”
Devlin writhed, kicking out with all his strength, though it didn’t do a damn bit of good.
He watched as they gagged Brandy, then untied her. His heart twisted as they dragged her in front of him, then used a pulley to hang her upside down from the ceiling. And then—oh, Christ—they actually nicked her neck. Not a lot, but enough that the blood would drain out slowly, but not clotting because the gravity would keep it flowing.
He saw her tears and her terror. He wanted to cry out that he’d save her, but what the fuck could he do? Everything he’d worked for, everything he’d built, and there wasn’t a goddamn thing he could do to save this poor, innocent woman.
Manny came closer, then shoved the gun under his chin. “Kick me, and I fire. Close your eyes, and I fire. You’re going to watch her die, Saint. And if you follow the rules, then maybe I’ll kill you once she’s dead and spare you watching your precious Ellie die, too.” He cocked the gun. “Then again, I probably won’t.”
“I will fucking kill you,” Devlin growled. “I swear to God, somehow, you are mine.”
“Um, no,” Manny said. “I really don’t think so. And honestly, the game’s already getting old.” He faked a yawn. “Bo-ring. I think I’ll let you die knowing she’s going to follow, and you were too fucking impotent to do a thing about it.”
He took a step back, then looked Devlin up and down before coming back and placing the gun once again. “You’re no Saint, Alejandro. But if you believe in that bullshit, it’s time to say your prayers. Because the next sound you hear is going to be the blast of my gun.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
I twist my mother’s engagement ring on my finger as I stand beside Ronan’s Land Rover. We’re on a hill overlooking the cabin, and Lamar and the team of Saint’s Angels are prepping as I pace, frustrated and scared.
“I want to go in with you,” I tell Ronan when he comes back after leading Christopher to where Reggie and the others are studying his crudely drawn map. “I can’t just wait out here.”
“You can, and you will.”
“Dammit, Ro—”
“No. You listen to me. You are not trained for this. You were a beat cop for what? Five minutes? You can shoot, but you aren’t trained. And once we get Devlin free, do you really want him distracted by trying to protect you? Because my goal is to get him out of there as quickly and safely as possible. Him and Brandy. He needs to be sharp. Do you think he can be sharp if he thinks you’re in danger?”
“Ronan…” This time my voice is weighed down with unshed tears.
His shoulders drop, and for the first time, I see this man look vulnerable. “He loves you Ellie. You’re his weakness. He doesn’t need a weakness right now. Trust me to bring him back to you.”
I swallow. “What if you can’t?”
“Then we can both hate me.”
I blink back tears and nod. “So I’m just supposed to wait?”
He shakes his head. “No. You’re armed. And you’re here watching this area. And Christopher will be with you. I trust him—and yet I don’t. It still might be a trap, and he might be giving an Oscar winning performance. So he’s not going in, and if he does anything off, you take the little bastard out.”
I nod, then check my Glock, making sure I have a full magazine and one in the chamber.
I sigh and lean against the Land Rover. Below, I see a clump of trees and rocks among which, Christopher has assured us, is the camouflaged rear exit to the stone cellar. And it’s through there that the team will bring Devlin and Brandy.
If I’m not going in, I intend to stay right here, not moving a muscle from this site.
Christopher comes over, his hands cable-tied behind his back. “So now we wait,” he says.
I lean against the fr
ont of the Land Rover. “Yeah,” I say, forcing myself to stay calm, “we wait.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’m not calm anymore. I’m starting to get frantic. The team’s out of sight, having infiltrated the house and, presumably, made it down to that stone basement. But I can see nothing. And I can hear nothing.
Christopher is pacing in front of me, and I spit out a curse, yelling at him to stop. “You’re driving me crazy,” I tell him. “They should be out by now, right? Why aren’t they out by now?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
I turn from him, returning my attention to those rocks and trees.
I hear his footsteps behind me, then spin around, suddenly afraid he’s about to send me tumbling down the cliffside.
But I don’t see an attack. I see remorse. Tears fill his eyes. “I really do love her,” he says. “They have to save her. They have to.”
I nod, tears pricking at my own eyes. Without thinking about it, I start to reach for him, wanting to cling to someone else who shares my grief. But I freeze at the last moment, noticing his face. At first, I’m confused. Then I realize that he’s looking over my shoulder.
I spin around, then gasp as I look down into the valley. I see a form, then another. The whole team emerging from the copse.
I see a flash of blonde and hear Christopher’s soft, joyous gasp. And then—
Well, then I’m gasping myself. Because Ronan’s carrying Brandy and Devlin’s beside them. He stops and looks up, and our eyes meet, and right then I think I’m the happiest I have ever been.
I want to cry out to him, but I know it’s not safe yet. Instead, I spin around, wanting to share the joy with Christopher—but I cry out in fear, instead.
Because there’s a dark haired, baby-faced man standing there—and he has a gun aimed right at my chest.
“You fucking little bitch,” he says. And then, as the world ceases to make sense, he fires.
Chapter Forty
