Beautiful Surrender (Pride and Honor Book 4)

by Ember-Raine Winters

  “Let’s go talk to the guys maybe they can help us think of a plan.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  TREY

  I was about ready to jump out of my skin waiting for Keller to get there. I hadn’t been lying about pressing the record button on my phone when I realized it was Barnes. As soon as we got Ace and Buck rounded up, we figured out a plan.

  The hardest part was the wait. It would take at least thirty minutes for Keller to get there and that was if he left the second I called him and ran every red light on the way. He could do it, though, he was the police. I was just praying that they didn’t come sirens blaring. We needed all the surprise we could get. Kenzie was getting blueprints for the address that Barnes sent me and we were figuring out the best way to go about getting Shelby out of there without Barnes knowing.

  By my count we had about twenty minutes left when Keller and two other officers showed up in an unmarked police car.

  “Sorry Trey there was an accident on the way up here and you know how traffic is at this time of day,” Keller said as he stepped out of the car. I’m pretty sure the perceptive ass could tell how bad I was freaking out.

  “It’s fine. We have a plan. Let’s go we will fill you in on the way.”

  We got in the cars and drove farther into the hills. Kenzie and I filled Keller and his guys in on the plan as we went and we all got into position around the house. From my spot near the kitchen windows I could see the outline of a woman sitting at the kitchen island. I knew that he wouldn’t have the alarm set because he wouldn’t want to attract unwanted attention, so I jimmied the window open and crawled through it.

  Not seeing anyone else in the room I crept forward until I was close enough to grab her. “Trey, what the fuck are you doing here?” she hissed.

  “I’m saving your ass, what do you think?”

  “What exactly do you think you’re saving me from?” she asked acidly.

  “He hasn’t threatened you?” I asked dumbfounded.

  “No, idiot. He wants me to redecorate this outdated kitchen. I don’t know how you got in here, but you need to leave.”

  “No one’s going anywhere,” the slime ball said from behind me and Shelby gasped. Turning around, the first thing I noticed was the gun he held. The second thing were the three goons he had behind him.

  “What the hell’s going on here?” Shelby yelled.

  “Exactly what I said, cupcake. You fucked everything up coming here,” I growled at her.

  A bullet whizzed past my head a moment later and hit one of the goon squad in the shoulder. “Get the fuck down, Shelby, now.” At least this time she listened without arguing.

  We ducked behind the kitchen island and I pulled my gun from my waistband and started firing. I fired off shots left and right but wasn’t sure if I was actually hitting anything. When I sat back to reload an eerie silence fell over the room just before Ace was pushed through the window he had been firing through. I cursed when I saw Buck and Keller being led in the door behind Barnes.

  “There’s two dead and we got these two. All clear.” The man shoving Buck reported.

  I blew out a heavy sigh at the knowledge that they hadn’t grabbed Kenzie. “You’re all alone now Mr. Thomas. Come out of there and give me what I’m asking for or you all die and I take it anyway. Actually… I think I like that plan better anyway.” Barnes chuckled.

  “You don’t have a leg to stand on. Your men just killed two cops. The chief is standing right there being held at gunpoint and we don’t even have the file on you.” I smirked as I got up from behind the island. “Looks like you’re the one in trouble.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t have the file?” he roared. “You were supposed to bring it with you.”

  “We did, but your guys missed someone on their sweep and she’s long gone.” I bluffed. I had no idea where Kenzie was, but she did have the drive. We had decided to have her hold it since I was supposed to be going in to get Shelby out. It was crazy that every time we ran into this guy, Kenzie seemed to disappear. I had no idea why, but I would be asking her about it later.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  KENZIE

  I hadn’t told them everything, and I had a feeling when I did it was all gonna blow up in my face. I noticed some of his men creeping around in the bushes and did the first thing I could think of, I climbed a tree and waited to see what was going to go down.

  Ace was pushed through the window and from my vantage point I watched helplessly as two police officers took hits. I had no idea what happened to Buck or Keller, but I hoped they were okay, but with no plan I had no idea what to do. Last time, I tried to run them down with an SUV and I was so pissed that I missed Barnes and his slime ball friends. This time wouldn’t be that easy. And that bastard had gotten to the storage locker before I could get any grenades. I was gonna kill Brock for ratting us out. I trusted that man, why in the hell did he do this? That was one puzzle I still had to piece together.

  I saw a silver box attached to the wall and an idea struck. The sun was in the process of setting, and I knew if I just gave it a few more minutes my plan might just work. Shimmying down the tree, I walked over to the box and cut the lock off. I had found the bolt cutters in the weapons room at GTT. After what Trey had done, I decided to keep a set in my bag at all times. I wouldn’t be left cuffed to a bed again.

  The box was just what I had thought it was and I started flipping switches. All the power to the entire property went off and I ran like hell to the window. Trey was already there, pushing Shelby unceremoniously out the window. Ace grabbed her, through her over his shoulder and started running to the other side of the property where we left the car.

  Buck and Keller were dodging punches and fighting to get away from the group of men holding them. They were too close and I wasn’t that great of a shot, so I just stood there watching until I got an opening even I couldn’t miss. When they finally got free and ran for the window, Buck jumped through it head first and pulled off a pretty spectacular roll before landing on his feet. Keller was less graceful.

  “Kenzie, go get out of here,” Trey yelled and I took off running.

  I got to the car and turned waiting for Keller and Trey who were almost there. Another fifty feet and we’d be home free. A man stepped out the front door, a sniper rifle in his hands, and I watched in slow motion as he pulled the trigger and… missed. He cursed and pulled it again this time hitting Keller in his left shoulder.

  They were ten feet away but it felt like miles. I lifted my gun and opened fire while Buck ran over to help Trey carry a moaning Keller to the car. After loading him up, we took off barreling down the road. I watched out the rearview mirror as the man said something into his comm devise before he turned and walked away.

  “What the fuck is going on? Where is my son?” Shelby was freaking out and I looked over to sneer at her.

  “What’s going on? You almost just got us all killed because you were throwing a fucking tantrum. That’s what’s going on.” I got in her face. “Poor spoiled little princess had to get her way didn’t she? Doesn’t matter that two cops died and another got shot, does it? As long as you get your glory. As long as it boosts your career.”

  I was raging and Trey put a calming hand on my shoulder. He didn’t have to say anything. I knew my eyes were murderous. How dare she watch everything that just happened and have the audacity to be pissed?

  “I’ll drop you off at your apartment Shelby but if you get in another situation like that, you’re on your own. I won’t put more lives in danger because of you,” Trey said with a deadly calm and I had no idea how he could be so calm. “We’re done. I’m filing for custody as soon as this mess is over.”

  Suddenly, I was exhausted. There was no time for sleep though. Keller was still moaning and Buck had taken off his shirt to help stop the bleeding.

  “He needs the hospital.”

  “But…”

  “I know it’s dan
gerous, but look at him. He’s lost a lot of blood and I don’t think there’s an exit wound. We need the hospital now.”

  Ace nodded and headed towards the nearest hospital. I looked in the front seat at Shelby and grinned. “Looks like you’re gonna have to call a cab to get home, princess.”

  She shot me a glare, but I was all out of fucks to give. She put people in danger. She put Trey in danger. I still hadn’t reconciled that fact that he was there and alive. The fear that rushed through me when I saw the man take aim still hadn’t left. The bitch did anything stupid like that again and she was going down.

  After this incident today, any kind of anonymity I may have still had with Barnes may have been gone. The problem with that was if he knew who I was he could hurt Ellie. It was the reason I couldn’t be seen. I tried to keep the woman who raised me out of this as much as possible.

  I knew that if he saw my face he would recognize me and go straight to Ellie. As soon as I had a free minute I needed to call Brock and talk to Kim. I didn’t think she would let him use her own mother as bait but after all that had been happening I was really beginning to wonder.

  I had no idea which one of them sold us out. Maybe I should just call Ellie instead. I quickly banished that idea. Ellie was a stubborn old woman and didn’t do anything for her own safety. So, regardless if they sold us out or not, I was going with the idea that Kim wouldn’t put her own mother in danger.

  We got to the hospital and the guys lifted Keller between them. He cried out in pain as Buck moved his shoulder. When the guys got him inside I stood by the car and placed my call.

  “I need to speak to Kim, now,” I said when Brock answered the phone.

  “Well hello to you too, Kenzie.”

  “Cut the crap, Brock. I don’t have time for your pleasantries right now. I know one of you sold us out. I don’t know who but it doesn’t matter right now.” I huffed in exasperation. “Put. Kim. On. The. Phone.”

  “She’s not here,” he sighed.

  “What do you mean she’s not there? Are you saying what I think your saying?”

  “She went back to him,” he growled. “She said after today he wouldn’t need someone on the inside anymore because he would recover the last evidence in existence that could put him away.”

  “She was the fucking mole. We sent someone to your storage locker to get explosives and it had been cleaned out.”

  “I should have known, as well.” He sounded as disgusted with himself as I was with him. I felt so stupid. Marie had tried to warn us but I wouldn’t listen. I should have known better than to think that Kim actually cared about her daughter or justice when she left her daughter in the hands of a pedophile. Brock continued, “I always have been blinded by that woman and she was playing me from the start.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Brock. She had everyone fooled,” I said angrily. “I guess it doesn’t matter that he’s probably seen my face now because she probably told him everything.”

  “I’m coming back to the states immediately. The only reason I left was for her. There’s no reason to hide anymore. Are you still in LA?”

  “Yeah, we will be here for a while,” I replied sighing, glad that Brock was still on our side.

  Trey walked out and I hung up quickly. When he wrapped his arms around me, I crumbled. I was tired and betrayed and just miserable. “Hey, what happened?” He kissed my temple.

  “I found out who tipped Barnes off.” My words were muffled by his neck. His body stiffened.

  “Who?” he growled.

  “Kim, she’s been playing us from the start. They probably set it up so she would be found. That’s why it was relatively easy getting Twitch back that first time.”

  “She was never his prisoner. She was a willing participant. Shit. Tasha is gonna be crushed.”

  “Tell me about it. It also explains how they found the compound. I always wondered how they found it and knew what to do to get in.”

  “Marcy and Mac both nearly died in that fire. And for what? We weren’t even close to finding anything out yet.”

  I gasped loudly when it hit me and looked up at Trey in horror. I knew exactly why they were trying to kill us so badly. “The fucking video!”

  “What are you talking about?” Trey asked me in confusion.

  “Everything’s my fault. I told Kim about seeing the video. That’s what they were trying to get. She also knew that I was staying at the compound. She couldn’t possibly know Marcy was there though.”

  “Shit. No it’s not your fault. He would have come after us anyway,” he said rubbing soothing circles on my back. “He knew we were digging. His crazy ass mother in law Millie made sure of it.”

  “It’s all my fault. I got Bob involved and they followed you to his house and ran you off the road. Mac was right. Everything that’s wrong in your lives is because of me!” I cried. “You’re all better off if I leave.”

  “What? No! I’m not better off without you. Kenzie how could you say that?” He grabbed me by both arms roughly forcing me to look at him in the eyes. I didn’t want to look, knowing what I would see. I couldn’t bear it. It would kill me to walk away from him this time. But at least he would still be around—I really was a plague on those I loved. My own mother died because of me. My friends were nearly killed twice because of the things I had done in my vengeance.

  “Come on, let’s go home. Buck said he would stay and watch over Keller.” He led me to the back seat and opened the door. I flopped in the car and noticed Shelby looking at me smugly.

  “What the fuck are you still doing here?”

  “I heard your conversation and it sounds to me like you’re right. Stay away from Trey. If something happens to my son, I’ll kill you myself.”

  “Get the fuck out of the car Shelby,” Trey said angrily and ripped her door open.

  “You’re not just going to leave me here, are you Trey?” She batted her eyes at him and I nearly gagged.

  “Nope. I already called you a cab. It should be here in a minute,” he replied walking around the car and hopping in the other passenger seat.

  She huffed and shot me a murderous glare to which I replied, “Hey princess, you almost made your son an orphan today even though you said you wouldn’t go! So, why don’t you shut your fucking mouth?”

  She gasped and Ace smirked as he started the car and we drove off.

  I wished I could be happy about the way that conversation ended and didn’t have to do what I knew needed to be done. Not one for prayer or God or any of that stuff, but I prayed then. I prayed that when this was all over, Trey could forgive me and move on with his life. I prayed that he would find love again. He shouldn’t be punished for loving me. I was going to make sure that never happened again.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  TREY

  Something was off. Kenzie was stiff ever since she spoke to Brock earlier. I tried to convince her that she was wrong and I wanted to punch Mac for planting that seed of doubt in her brain.

  There was some pretty heavy encryption on the thumb drive we grabbed from Bob’s house. Kenzie was trying to hack into it. She was sitting off by herself on the couch, and since I had no idea how to fix this I called the one person I could think of who would know.

  “Hey, Trey,” Mac said groggily.

  “You have to help me, bro. She’s gonna leave. I know it.”

  “Why? What happened?” he asked more alert.

  “Someone has been leaking information to Barnes all along.”

  “I had been wondering about that,” he replied. “How he kept finding us wherever we went. I haven’t spoken to Millie since we figured out her role in all this, so I knew it couldn’t have been her. Wait… do you know who it is?”

  “Yeah, Kim.”

  “Shit!” Mac swore. “You’re telling me that Kim is the leak? Tasha’s mom? The one that is sitting out on the deck with her right now crying about how Brock betrayed her?”

>   “What the fuck!” I yelled and Kenzie looked over at me in shock. “Get out of there, bro. She’s dangerous.”

  “She’s crying and those tears don’t look fake,” Mac said after a moment.

  “You all need to leave. I don’t know who to believe at this point, whether it’s Brock or Kim, so I say we distance ourselves from both of them. I’m calling Griffin. He’ll know what to do.”

  I hung up on him and noticed Kenzie staring at me with shock. “What the hell is going on, Trey?”

  “Kim’s at the house in Louisiana. She told Tasha that Brock betrayed her and she left him.”

  “What? But, Brock said… shit. Who do we believe?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m calling Griffin. He’ll know what to do.” I dialed Griffin and he answered on the second ring.

  “This better be an emergency.”

  “You all are in some deep shit unless you listen to me,” I responded.

  “Trey? What’s going on?”

  “Your new house guest. How did she find you?”

  “Kim? I don’t know. She just showed up at the door like an hour ago, why?”

  “Kenzie spoke to Brock earlier. He said Kim has been playing him from the beginning. As in, years. That she’s actually been on Barnes’ side all along. I’ve got to tell you man, after leaving her kid to a pedophile, definitely puts some serious doubt into her, but who knows.”

  “Well shit, you think they’re both playing us?” Griffin asked thoughtfully.

  “Either way, you all need to get far away from her. Just to be on the safe side.”

  “I’ll talk to Mac and see what he thinks, but I’m getting Kay and the kids out of here.”

  “Convince Mac and his family as well. He and I just spoke, he’ll go along with whatever you say. I have Mikey already.”

  “What? I thought they were in Iowa?”

  “It’s a long story but it ends with Keller getting shot and winding up in the hospital and me filing for sole custody of my son.”