Deacon Johns (Heartbreakers & Heroes Book 4)

by Ciana Stone

  He hesitated for a moment. “Fine. Marco, untie the old bat.”

  “No, don’t touch her,” Mica protested. “I’ll do it.”

  “Make it fast.” Vitale moved to have a better line on her and spoke to Marco. “Get the car and pull it around to the front.”

  Mica quickly cut the ropes binding Nellie Mae and bent over to put her arms around the older woman. “Tell Deacon I’m marked for tracking. Do you understand? I have a tracker on me. The Marshals can find me. Can you do that?”

  Nellie Mae nodded slightly and Mica helped her into a sitting position. “Please, just sit here and don’t move, okay?”

  “Honey, don’t go with those snakes.” Nellie Mae’s voice trembled with fear. “They mean to do you real harm.”

  “I know, but I have to. Now you just stay there, okay? Just do what I said, all right? You promise?”

  “I do.”

  Mica stood and turned to face Vitale. “Okay.”

  He gestured to the door and she walked over to it, cutting a look back at Nellie Mae.

  “Move it.” Vitale jabbed her in the back with the gun and she nodded to Nellie Mae, then stepped outside.

  Getting into the back seat of Vitale’s car was the hardest thing she’d ever done. She knew her odds of surviving were not good, unless Nellie Mae could get the message to Deacon and he could get in touch with the Marshals Services and convince them to track her position from the implant in the bottom of her foot she’d agreed to when she’d gone into protective custody.

  If he could do that, maybe, just maybe they could get to her before Vitale delivered her to wherever they were going and the pain that would lead to her death began.

  *****

  Cody didn’t stop running until she pounded up the front steps of the police and burst through the door, pulling Willow behind her.

  “We need help!”

  Her yells brought people running, including Chief Tom Greene and Charli Judd.

  “Cody? What’s wrong?”

  “Someone has Mica. Nellie Mae, too. At the blacksmith shop. You have to call Deacon and you have to help her.”

  Chief Greene was already spouting orders. He pointed to two male deputies. “Hobbs, you and Courtney get over there and secure the perimeter. Nancy!”

  The dispatcher ran into the entranceway. “Yes, sir?”

  “Get every available officer back here asap. I want the block cordoned off. Nothing gets in or out. Charli, you’re with me.”

  “Wait!” Cody ran after them as they all headed for the back door. “You have to call Deacon. She said specifically to call Deacon.”

  “I’ll do it.” Charli assured her and pulled out her cell phone. “Deacon? Charli Judd. We have a situation at the blacksmith shop. Do you know how to get in touch with Mathias? Good, meet us there asap.”

  She put away her phone and looked at Cody. “We’ll take it from here.”

  “Don’t let anything happen to them, Charli.”

  “We’ll take care of it.”

  “Okay, okay, go.”

  Charli took off and Cody looked at Willow. “Do you have Mathias’ number?”

  “What makes you think−“

  “Girl, please. This isn’t the time. Do you have it?”

  “I do.”

  “Then call him and tell him he needs to get to the shop now.”

  As Willow was doing that, Cody called Etta. “Hey. Do you know where Deacon is? Okay, you and JJ might want to come to town. Something’s happening at the blacksmith shop. Someone had Nellie Mae hostage in the storefront and Mica went in after her. She said to call Deacon, but the whole damn police department is on their way. I’ve got Willow trying to find Mathias, but if this goes south, Deacon might need you and JJ to be there.

  “Yeah, I’ll be waiting to hear. Bye.”

  She hung up the phone and looked at Willow, who shook her head. “I left a message and then called again. He’s not answering. What do we do now?”

  “Call Hannah and tell her to come get us.”

  “Or go over to the bakery. We can see the blacksmith shop from the top of the building.”

  “I like the way you think. Let’s go.”

  They hurried outside and down the block. The whole time, all Cody could think was that today had started off great. Everyone was excited about the bridal shower and there were no dark clouds on the horizon.

  Now it felt like everything had turned to shit.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sixty-four missions. That’s how many times Deacon had put his life on the line in the field. How many times he’d gone out knowing he would kill and possibly be killed.

  He’d directed that many more missions, sending other men under his command out to face death or capture. He understood fear and war, death and loss. He accepted it and faced it head on.

  This? This was something else entirely. The moment he heard that Mica had been taken, he felt like he’d been gut punched. His knees nearly buckled and that shamed him, but he’d never been hit with anything as painful as that news.

  But he did what he’d always done. He sucked it up, geared up for battle, got in his truck, and drove to town. The first thing Deacon saw when he walked into the blacksmith shop was Mathias. He was standing in front of the anvil with the big hammer in one hand.

  “He’s been standing there for the last ten minutes,” Charli told him. “Right after he picked up a barrel and threw it out of the door. A barrel.” She pointed outside. “Do you have any idea how much that thing weighs?”

  Deacon nodded. “Tell me.”

  “Mr. Deacon? Oh thank God you’re here.” A high-pitched, almost childlike voice had him looking around. A short, round woman with blonde hair that was matted with blood on one side and bruises marring the same side of her face hurried toward him.

  “Mrs. Baker, you should be resting,” Charli said, then made the introductions. “Deacon, this is Nellie Mae Baker, Mica’s friend.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Baker and I are acquainted.”

  “Oh, well, she was here when three men broke in. They held her hostage and instructed her to call Mica.

  “When Mica arrived, Cody Sweet-Riggs was with her, along with Cody’s cousin, Willow—I didn’t write down Willow’s last name. Mica told them to run and get help, to call you, and she stayed.”

  “She stayed to save me.” Nellie Mae interrupted the narrative and sobbed into an already damp tissue. “God, love her, she stayed to save me.”

  “Mrs. Baker, can you tell me what happened?” Deacon asked in his most calm and gentle tone, despite the storm that was brewing inside him.

  “She came in and told those men that if they were smart they would leave because her friends had already called the law. But that head man, that snake, he yelled at her.” Nellie Mae lowered her voice. “He called her a cunt and said it was her fault that his brother was dead because she ran her mouth and he got sent to prison and got raped and gutted.

  “He said he was gonna make her pay and was going to have the same thing done to her.” Nellie Mae started crying again and put her hand to her heart. “Dear Lord, he said he was going to make her suffer all that then put her in a vat of acid and laugh as she screamed and dissolved.”

  Ice cold, all consuming rage filled him. Mica was in the hands of a sadistic madman.

  “Dear God in heaven,” Mrs. Baker continued. “That man is the devil. He told one of his goons to kill me and Mica just flew into action and threw a knife at the goon and he fell over dead with that thing sticking right out of his eye. The head man got really mad then and threatened to shoot me but Mica said if he did, she’d throw the other knife she had at him but if he let me go, she’d go with him.

  “She said that. She offered herself to save me.”

  Nellie Mae broke down at that point, sobbing uncontrollably. Deacon helped her across the room and onto a chair that a deputy fetched for her. He waited, standing at attention until she collected herself. He had to force his thoughts away from image
s of Mica at the hands of that sadist. He had to make himself see nothing but her whole and unharmed and everyone who’d threatened her dead.

  Mrs. Baker’s voice brought him out of his thoughts. “Mica helped me up off the floor and said for me to tell you that she has a tracker on her and the Marshals can find her. Then she went with those men.”

  Deacon felt a surge of hope at those words. “Thank you, Mrs. Baker,” Deacon knelt on one knee and took her hand.

  “Find her, Mr. Deacon. Bring our girl home.”

  “I will, ma’am.”

  He stood and looked at Charli. “The Ranger who came to see her was named Childress. Can you get in touch with him and have him reach out to the Marshal who sent him to check on Mica? We need to know about the tracker and we need access to follow the signal.”

  “I’m on it. But—”

  “But what?”

  “But you’re not law enforcement.”

  “No, I’m not, but you don’t think that will stop me?”

  “No. I’ll speak with the Chief and Ranger Childress.”

  As soon as she moved away, Deacon walked over to Mathias, who still had not moved. Deacon put his hand on Mathias’ shoulder. “As God is my witness, we’re going to get her back, Mathias. And the people who took her will pay.”

  Mathias nodded. “If they have harmed her, I will take them apart.” He looked at Deacon. “Literally.”

  “And I’ll help you. Did you know Mica was implanted with a tracking device?”

  Mathias’ eyes grew round and he reached for his phone. “When we first got here she said she put an app on my phone, something I could use to find her if I ever needed it. I asked what it was and she laughed and said she was lo-jacked. I thought she was just going on.”

  He found the app and accessed it. A map displayed and on it was a blinking dot.

  “Mica.” Mathias looked at Deacon.

  “Get your gear and let’s get our girl.”

  “I have everything we need in the house.”

  “Right behind you.” Deacon nodded to Mrs. Baker as he followed Mathias out. Charli called out to him and he paused.

  “If the tracker is still active, we should have her location soon. Zeb is calling the Marshals Services now.”

  “You have my number? If not, get it from Etta and call me as soon as you know anything.”

  “Where will you be?” she called after him as he walked away.

  Deacon didn’t answer because he didn’t know the exact location. All he knew was that he was going to find Mica and if anyone had hurt her they’d wish for him to put a bullet in their heads before he was done, because he would show them true inhuman brutality.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The feel of the throwing knife in her back pocket and hope that the tracking implant actually worked were the only small comforts Mica could latch onto to keep from coming unhinged. She’d never been this afraid. Vitale Vinsanti was a sociopath if one ever lived. She’d listened to Jimmy brag about his brother and the stories had always made her skin crawl.

  Mica prayed over and over. Not to any God, but to Deacon and to Matty. Come for me, come for me. They were her only chance at survival and if they had not caught up to her by the time she reached whatever destination Vitale had planned, she would have no choice but to use the knife in her pocket.

  First on Vitale and then on herself. She’d not die at his hands, but she’d damn sure take him to hell with her. As terrified as she was at the thought of taking her own life, she was more afraid of what he had planned for her.

  Come for me. Surely by now Nellie Mae had told Deacon about the tracker, and if he told Matty, then they already knew where she was. But could they catch up? That question prompted her to take action.

  She gagged, then put a hand to her mouth. “I’m going to puke. Pull over.”

  “Fuck!” Vitale yelled at the driver. “Pull over.”

  As soon as they were parked on the side of the road, Vitale barked at the driver, Marco. “Let the bitch out, but keep your fucking gun on her.”

  Marco opened the door and she got out and went behind the car, bent over and made retching noises. She went on that way for a minute or so, then straightened. “I have to pee.”

  “Then squat.”

  “Not right here on the road,” she argued.

  “Fine.” Marco pointed toward the brush on the side of the road and inwardly she cheered.

  She headed into the brush. Marco followed, but a bit too slow, which gave her the opportunity she’d hoped for. Mica broke into a run, heedless of the brambles that tore at her clothing and skin.

  “Get her!” She heard Vitale’s shout and picked up the pace. Marco was shouting at her, but she ignored him. The underbrush was thick and made for decent cover so she kept running until her path was suddenly blocked. A big and very angry rattlesnake issued a rapid warning.

  Mica froze. The snake was too agitated to try to ease around it.

  Marco barreled in between her and the snake. “Don’t fucking move,” he had time to say and point his gun at her before the snake struck.

  His howl was accompanied by gunfire. He must have emptied nearly the entire clip at the ground and managed to shoot the snake. Mica took off the moment the snake struck, but unfortunately, Vitale had decided to follow and she ran smack into him.

  He grabbed her, backhanded her across the face, and then shoved her in front of him. “I’ll fucking beat you senseless, you fucking bitch.” He pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it at her.

  “You might want to check on your man. He’s probably feeling pretty shitty right now, considering he was bitten by a rattlesnake. I’d suggest getting him to a hospital.”

  “Fuck him.” Vitale shoved her again. He forced her back to the car. “You’ll drive. And you won’t pull anything smart or I’ll shoot you in the fucking knee, you hear me?”

  “I’m not deaf.”

  “Then get in the fucking car.”

  “You can’t just leave Mar—”

  “He’s dead already.” Vitale waved the gun at her. “Now get in the goddamn car.”

  Mica got in and started the car, hoping with everything in her that Deacon and Mathias were coming for her and were getting close.

  *****

  “Where are they now?” Deacon looked over at Mathias.

  “Looks like they’ve stopped.”

  “Where?”

  “On the highway.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Unless it’s Mica,” Mathias said. “She’ll do what she can to slow them down, hoping we can catch up.”

  “We’ll catch up.”

  Deacon’s phone rang and he answered. “Thanks for getting back to me.” He looked out of the front window and then his side window before speaking to Mathias. “Do you see a helo?”

  Mathias looked out of the side window. “Yeah, coming in from the southeast.”

  Yeah, I hear you.” Deacon said into the phone. “Yes, next exit.”

  He looked over at Mathias. “We have a new ride.”

  “Works for me.”

  Five minutes later, they took an exit and went off-road. Less than a minute after that, the helo set down a hundred yards away. The side door opened as Deacon and Mathias got out of the truck.

  The pilot looked over his shoulder. “Long time, Deacon. Where we going, brother?”

  “To pick up my woman.”

  “Oh? Didn’t know you had one.”

  “I do now.”

  “So where is she?”

  “Currently in a car with two mobsters.”

  “Okay then, where to, boss?”

  “They’re moving again,” Mathias announced.

  “You’re tracking them?” the pilot asked.

  “Mica put an app on his phone.”

  “Who’s Mica?”

  “My girl.”

  “All righty then. Show me that app, big fella.”

  “Name’s Mathias.” Mathias handed his ph
one to the pilot.

  “Wiley.” The pilot replied and looked at the display. “Who’s this gal to you, big guy?”

  “My sister.”

  “I see.” Wiley turned his attention to the controls. “Strap in, boys.”

  Deacon took the empty seat beside Wiley. “I appreciate your help.”

  “Glad to help. It’s been awhile.”

  “Too long.”

  “We’ll have to catch up. After we get your gal. You and Mathias have any backup?”

  “I figure you’re all the backup we need.”

  “Amen to that brother. Don’t worry. We’ll get her back.”

  Deacon nodded. There was not a doubt in his mind that they’d bring Mica home as long as they found her alive and well. He’ll kill every son of a bitch in the Mafia to save her and God help anyone who tried to stop him.

  *****

  Mica’s hope faltered when Vitale pulled out his phone and placed a call. He told the person on the other end of the call that they were twenty minutes from the airfield so have the plane ready to go.

  Mathias and Deacon couldn’t save her if she got on that plane. She tried to come up with a plan. If she ran the car off the road, Vitale would probably make good on his threat and shoot her in the leg. So how was she going to stall their arrival at the airfield?

  “I’m not responsible for Jimmy’s death, you know.”

  Vitale sneered at her. “Sure you are. You shot off your fucking mouth.”

  “Are you so certain of that?”

  “Why else would you have fucking run then?”

  “Why would I not? You know Victor would have had me killed. I survived and his son died. Do you really think he was going to let me live and inherit everything Tony owned?”

  Mica saw the surprise on Vitale’s face. “Yeah, Tony left it all to me and Victor knew Jimmy had been my client for years. He and Tony both hated Jimmy but I wouldn’t let them touch him.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I liked him.”

  “You mean you liked being his fucking whore.”

  “No, I liked him being my fucking bitch. You didn’t know that, did you? Why do you think Jimmy protected me from you and the rest of your family? He loved me. Loved what I did to him and made him feel. He wanted me. That’s why he killed Tony.”