Beautiful Surrender (Pride and Honor Book 4)

by Ember-Raine Winters

  “Because they were wrong. They are looking for someone to blame, and I’m not going to let that person be you.” I squeezed her hip and she smiled a tentative one back at me. “They are too close to this thing. Mac is insecure because he can’t actually go in and save anyone. And Griffin? His anger has reached new levels of crazy these last few weeks. It’s all understandable, his fiancé and their kids are missing, but,” I continued more slowly, accepting the truth in my words, “he will always be an Army brother first and a blood brother second. I have come to terms with it. Even when they are wrong and I’m right, he will side with Mac and Twitch every damn time.”

  “I’m sorry. I knew I should have showed you all the video sooner. It was my mom, though, you know? Looking at that video, I wasn’t thinking of the bigger picture at the moment. I only saw this pregnant woman being beaten within an inch of her life, cradling her stomach and knowing that she was trying desperately to protect me. Ellie did everything she could trying to raise me, but I’ve never really felt connected. Sharing’s never something I’ve done. Hell, I steal information, hoard it, spy. Giving away information,” She shook her head, “was never part of the game book. I’m sorry.”

  I nodded because I did know and did understand. If it had been my mom that had been murdered on that tape, I don’t know if I would have been willing share it either. To sit there and watch it with other people and have them watching me to see if I would break a part, or break the wall. She wasn’t raised like I was, didn’t trust the people around her like I did, and seeing that video, I’m sure all she saw was red. Jail time wouldn’t be enough to satiate her hatred.

  We finally reached the barn and started bringing crates of weapons to the front of the house and placing them on the ground by the car. Kenzie’s movements were robotic and I had no idea what to do to fix it. As she entered the barn, I heard Griffin yelling, “Trey!”

  He was jogging toward me, but I just kept moving not really trusting myself not to punch him in his pretty boy face. “Trey, wait up. I’m sorry, I should have stopped Mac’s whole tirade.”

  “Nah, I’ve come to expect it. Nothing new,” I said through gritted teeth and kept walking away, hoping he didn’t follow me. Of course, I was disappointed when he continued his pursuit.

  “Trey? Seriously? You’re my brother. I was just trying to weigh the facts. She has been secretive. She hasn’t given us everything, and we’ve had no idea what she’s truly about.”

  I whirled on him and dropped the crate, I had been carrying, unceremoniously on the ground. Not even thinking about the fact that there was a bunch of ammo in it. I stuck my finger in his face, seething. “You have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about. She had to learn to trust us. She doesn’t get involved with people for this exact reason. And why the hell would she when at the first time things look bad you all turn on her.”

  “That’s not what happened.” He grabbed his hair in frustration, but I could tell my words were getting to him.

  “How do you think Kay and Tasha would feel right now if you both were doing this to them? Huh?” I shoved him and he stumbled back.

  “They’re different. We know them. We know what they are about. We don’t know anything about her.”

  “Oh yeah? We know them? We knew Kaylee when she was a child—hadn’t seen her in years! And Tasha has only been around a few months, but that’s not the point. What would you do if Mac said those things about Tasha or Kaylee? If you both want to throw blame around, how about Tasha? She’s the reason we even started this crazy shit in the first place with her fucking father. Better yet, why isn’t Mac blaming his own damn father for taking bribes and not turning the bastard in when he had the chance? Huh? Why is Kenzie the only one he wants to assign blame to?” I seethed getting right up in his face again.

  “Trey?” I heard Kenzie from behind me. She grabbed my arm and I stepped back. “It’s not worth it. Come on.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. It’s definitely not worth it.” I glared at my brother then turned and walked away.

  “Where are you going?” Griffin yelled.

  “We’re going to save the girls. We don’t need anyone we can’t trust helping us,” I shot back and kept walking away from him.

  “At least take Marcy with you, she’s good and pissed at us at the moment.”

  Grabbing my phone from my pocket I dialed Marcy. “Hey Pix, we’re going to rescue the girls, you coming?”

  “Hell yeah, let’s do this.”

  “Meet us out front in two,” I replied before hanging up.

  “You sure you want to do this?” Kenzie eyed me warily.

  “We have to get them out no matter how pissed I am at my brother and Mac.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Yeah,” I sighed. “I know. They are being dicks to you for no reason. We all know that video isn’t enough to put him away forever.”

  “It’s not. But, Bob and now Marie have enough on him that we can get rid of him for good.”

  “Yeah and we wouldn’t even have either of them if it weren’t for you.” I smiled down at her to see a blush forming on her cheeks. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. When this was all over I was going to make it my mission to make her blush every single day. Ideas on how I could do that started forming in my brain at the thought.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  KENZIE

  Trey was watching me closely. I hated that he was getting to know me so well, trying to make sure I didn’t break.

  It was an hour drive to the old farm house that Marie had said the girls were in. I spent most of the drive in my head, thinking about the kind, sweet Mac and how quickly he turned on me. Mac wasn’t usually quick to get angry. But, lately? He had been on a precipice. His leg taking him completely out of commission at the exact time his son needs him the most? It was obviously killing him, and while I got where he was coming from, his anger and hatred were misplaced. I knew I’d made a mistake by not showing them the video, but I also knew it wasn’t enough to lock Barnes up, the images were too grainy, the jury would find it inconclusive.

  “Kenzie? Are you all right hun?” Marcy asked from the backseat. “It’s not up to me to apologize for Mac’s ridiculous behavior, but I will. He has no right Kenzie, and I know once he actually gets his head out of his ass, he’ll come around. His injury is really screwing with him, and I’m sorry you’ve taken the brunt of it.”

  “Yeah,” I said not even turning from the window. “I get it, I’m fine. Just thinking.”

  “Well, I figured as much since we stopped a minute ago and you didn’t even notice.” She patted my shoulder over the seat before hopping out of the car.

  Where the hell was my head at? This wasn’t good. I got out the car and shut the door quietly. We were on a grassy hillside and I could see the old farmhouse a couple hundred yards in the distance.

  “This is the spot for the distraction,” Trey said walking up behind me. “We can shoot the rocket launcher from here and hit that copse of trees over there. It will give us plenty of time to go in and rescue the girls.”

  “Sounds like a solid plan, but I think we need more. We should hit a second one over there.” I pointed the opposite direction to a grassy field surrounded by trees and brush. “That way those that get left behind after the first shot will go to the second one.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Marcy said sidling up to me.

  “Once everyone’s gone, we can go in and get them out. Easy.” Trey nodded.

  After playing the situation in my head, I added, “I’ll stay behind and fire the second shot. Make sure everyone gets out.”

  “Maybe I should stay behind. What if something happens?” Trey looked concerned.

  I smiled at him reassuringly. “You should go in. What if one of them is hurt? I’m a badass but I’m not strong enough to carry them.”

  He smirked and then placed a sweet kiss on my cheek. “Okay, we are gonna wait there
.” He pointed at an outcropping of trees not far away from the house.

  “I know what to do.” I smiled devilishly and pushed him towards their hiding spot.

  This was my favorite thing. I loved blowing shit up, and when it happened to belong to daddy dearest it was even better.

  “Be careful,” he called as they walked down the hill.

  I waited until they were in their hiding place before I grabbed the rocket launcher. I was bouncing up and down in giddy anticipation. I should probably seek help with my penchant towards blowing stuff up, but I didn’t care; it was fun.

  The first shot went off without a hitch and I watched as several men ran from the building to the forest beyond with guns raised. Trey and Marcy ran from tree to tree until right before they got to the open field. They waited and I readied the rocket launcher for the second shot. A branch snapped behind me and I whirled around just in time to see a handgun coming down on my head in slow motion. The second the pain split my head open—or, at least that’s how it felt—my eyes rolled in the back of my head and everything went black.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  TREY

  Something was wrong. As we stood there waiting for the second shot to go off, I realized there was a problem.

  “We have to try to get them out Trey,” Marcy said gently and I knew she was right. I just prayed that whatever was happening with Kenzie, she could handle it.

  “Let’s go.” I grabbed my handgun from my waist band.

  We ran through the open field to the back of the house where the men had escaped after hearing the rocket. Cautiously, I opened the door and we made our way inside as quietly as we could. It was an empty bedroom and there was nothing in it except a foldout chair that must have been for the guards to sit in and watch the tree line.

  There was another door across from us, and I lifted my chin to Marcy who nodded back and we started towards it.

  The hall was empty and there was no indication which door might lead to where Kaylee and Tasha were being held. The other end of the hallway looked like a living room of some sort; it was big and open and I figured that was as good a place as any for them to hold them. Inching our way down the hall, my mind kept going back to Kenzie, praying that she was all right and whatever stopped her from firing that second shot wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. I was so inside my head that I almost stepped out into the living room without checking it out first. Marcy grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back just in time. Sending her a grateful smile and she glared at me in question.

  When we peered around to get a look into the room, my heart nearly broke. Tasha and Kaylee were gagged and bound to two wooden chairs. Their heads were lolling to the sides and Kaylee had blood caked on her face and in her hair. Tasha had a long gash on her arm that was oozing blood. All I saw was red.

  Two men were off in a corner watching out the window when a deafening boom rent the air and shook the house. The windows rattled and the floors shook.

  “What the fuck is going on out there?” One man went to the door and barked, “The SUV is on fire.”

  Both men ran from the house and I jumped into action. Racing to Kaylee, I pulled the utility knife from my pocket and started cutting the restraints on her arms. “Kay? Can you hear me? I need you to wake up. Can you walk?” I asked her, removing the gag from her mouth.

  “Trey? What are you doing here?” Her eyes opened wide in recognition.

  “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Were you expecting a different knight in shining armor?” I chuckled lightly.

  “That’s not what I meant. Get Tasha. I think she has a broken leg.”

  I went over to Tasha and saw that her left leg was swollen and bruised. “Hey there officer Trixie, can you walk?”

  “No,” she moaned in pain, and I wrapped my arms around her tight.

  Kaylee was up off her chair, shaking herself out, probably trying to get the blood back in her legs and arms. “Kay, take my gun. Shoot anything that moves. I gotta carry Trix,” I instructed. “It’s okay you’re safe now. We have a car waiting over the hill.”

  Kaylee nodded, and I could see the question in her eyes. “What about-” she started but I cut her off.

  “As soon as we get to the car I will fill you in, I promise.”

  “Come on, Kay. Do you need help walking?” Marcy asked coming up to Kaylee’s side.

  “No, I’m good. Let’s just get out of here.”

  Kaylee and Marcy acted as protection as we ran out the same way we came in. It wasn’t easy. The men we distracted with the bomb were on their way back to the house as we burst through the door into the muggy afternoon sun, the air smelling of sulfur and burning wood. There was a blanket of smoke that did little to hide our location and made it more difficult to see where we were going. Marcy ran ahead shooting wildly. The steady pop, pop, pop, of her gun firing was the only sound I could hear past the rushing in my ears. Looking left, I saw the burning remnants of a fleet of SUVs and smiled. Kenzie must be okay if she was able to destroy all their vehicles. There would be no car chase today, I thought laughing to myself.

  I curled my body protectively around Tasha as bullets came whizzing past my head. Pumping my legs as hard as I could, I finally made it to the tree line and slowed my pace just a little.

  The sound of gunshots ceased and I sighed with relief as we made it back to the truck with everyone intact.

  “Tasha,” Kenzie yelled. She was holding a wadded up T-shirt to the top of her head and her light blond hair was crimson with blood. I nearly dropped poor Tasha in my haste to get to her.

  “What happened?” I yelled and set Tasha in the back seat of the car.

  “We gotta move, now,” a man’s voice said from behind me and I turned to see Griffin standing shirtless with a sobbing Kaylee clutching him for dear life.

  “So good of you to join us, brother,” I sneered and wrapped a protective arm around Kenzie.

  “Now’s not the time, Trey. Get in the damn car.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  KENZIE

  Fuuuckkkk

  That was the only thought running through my mind as I opened my eyes and blinked. It felt like I had been hit by a fucking truck. Every noise was too loud and grating on my aching head. I heard grunting off to my left and turned my head quickly. Shit! Don’t do that again.

  Griffin was standing there sparring with a beast of a man in black camo pants and a shirt that looked painted on over all his ridiculous muscles.

  Neither man had realized that I was awake yet and I entertained the idea of just pistol whipping both of them, but figured it wouldn’t look too good if I knocked Griff out after the fight we all had earlier.

  I snuck around behind the jolly green giant and wondered how on earth I would ever reach the back of his head to hit him with my gun. I could throw it at his stupid skull, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t really make as much of an impact as needed. Just as I was about to jump on his back, Griffin hit him with a right hook to his temple and he crumpled to a heap on the ground. “What was taking you so long? I was dying there.”

  He grinned at me.

  “I was trying to decide which of you I wanted to hit first.” I smiled at him sweetly.

  “Look Barbie, I’m sorry, okay? I should have never listened to Mac. He’s in so much pain and missing his son. The chip on his shoulder has been growing every day and with not being able to do anything physically, it’s ripping him up. But regardless, I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

  “You already said that.”

  “Yeah, well I’m pretty sure it was worth repeating.”

  “It’s fine.” I grinned at him in honesty. Mac wasn’t himself and I had to trust that when this was all over, he’d see the truth. “Now if you will excuse me, I have some shit to blow up.”

  “You’re bleeding all over the place.”

  “Head wounds bleed a lot—you should know that. It’s just a scratch. I’ll be fine.�
� I walked over to the rocket launcher I dropped after being knocked out cold, and picked it up with a giddy smile. Bastards wanted to get me from behind? I would make sure they couldn’t leave.

  I lined up my shot at a bunch of sparkling black SUVs and fired, abso-fucking-lutely loving the sound it made when things blew up. I sat there in a daze and watched as the SUVs exploded in a spray of sparks and glistening metal. Griffin chuckled softly next to me as he handed me his wadded up T-shirt and pointed to my head.

  “You know? We’re a pretty messed up group and I think with your obsession with fire and blowing stuff up, you fit right in.” He pointed to my head again. Rolling my eyes, I put the T-shirt against my head.

  “You just gave me the shirt off your back, why?” I was more than a little shocked. He was standing there bare chested and for a brief moment I could see why Kaylee liked him.

  “Besides owing my brother, who I know feels things he shouldn’t, I figure the best way to remain in one piece is to stay on your good side, Barbie.”

  “Who said you were ever on my good side?” I glared at him, trying to keep a straight face, because I believed he really did regret what went down earlier.

  “We should probably find something to tie the ogre up with.” I turned only to find a gun pointed at my head. “Mother fucker. Don’t you idiots know when to just stay the fuck down?”

  “Drop it. Or, I blow your fucking head off, bitch.”

  “That’s the best you can come up with? What’s the point of having all that body mass if you don’t have a brain to go with it?” I said to one of Barnes’ goons.

  “Stop fucking talking and drop the gun.”

  “Oh, you mean this?” I waved it at him and he flinched. He probably thought I was a moron that didn’t know how to handle a gun, which was the point, actually. Griffin was inching toward him from behind and as long as I could keep him distracted Griffin could disarm him.

  “You know? I’m so sick of you guys trying to kill me all the time. I mean seriously? What does Barnes have on you? The money can’t be that good to go against every law in this country just to make sure his dirty little secrets stay hidden.”