by TL Reeve
“Bexley!” The damage was done. They needed to get a move on, otherwise they ran the risk of being found and outnumbered. She glanced at the guys bleeding out in confusion. Almost like she couldn’t believe she’d been the one to stab them. “Bexley.” He said her name again, getting her attention.
Her eyes were wide, wider than they should’ve been. The color drained from her face when she glanced back at the floor. “I’ll get you out. We can escape together.”
Enzo shook his head. For once in his wasted life, he was going to be the good guy and save all the girls he couldn’t back in Mexico. This young girl…woman, she mattered more than a used up ex-cartel runner who’d never done a damn good thing in his life. “No. Go. I’ll slow you down.”
No.” She shook her head. “T-Together.”
“Get your leg and run.” Enzo nodded to the door. He’d be the distraction while she escaped and called Duncan. “Get your ass to safety then send help. I’m no good to you like this.” He lied to her and saw the truth reflected in her eyes. By the time she brought anyone, he’d already be dead.
Bexley shook her head again, tears building in her eyes. For a moment, he saw his sweet Bella along with all of the bad decisions he’d made over the years. He’d caused all of this, and only he could end it. He wouldn’t take anyone else down with him.
“No,” she said.
He had to bite back his smile at the determination in her voice. He had judged her wrong. She was tough. “Yes, mija.” He did his best to reassure her while lying his fucking ass off. “You can find safety at a place I know. They’ll be expecting you.”
She continued to shake her head. Bexley needed to get her ass in gear and out of there before someone saw them. Enzo quickly gave her the location of the club, his voice hardening.
Just like all the women in his life, she didn’t take no for an answer. She begged again. “C-Come with m-me.”
He ignored her pleas and continued with his instructions. They were running out of time. “Take the phone in my pocket. Call for a ride. Go, before someone catches us.” He tried to gather himself, struggling to keep his voice as neutral as possible. He didn’t want her to freak out even more. He needed her to keep Bella safe and to let his sweet girl and Duncan know his final words. “Go. Please, mija. Go. Tell Bella I love her, and I didn’t rat.”
Footsteps echoed outside the room, and her eyes went wide. “No.”
“Yes. Hurry now. Go.” Enzo lifted his chin to her leg. “Put it on and go.”
Bexley nodded. Her movements were slow and stiff from the beating she must have taken earlier. She grabbed her leg, put it on, and made her way back to the window. Unlike the others in the house, it wasn’t boarded up or cracked.
She opened it with ease then glanced back at Enzo. “I-I’ll c-c-come b-back.”
“Check,” he ordered. No way in fuck he’d let her jump out and be caught once more.
She looked out the window then back at him. Tears filled her eyes. “S-S-Stay alive.” She hobbled out of the window and landed with a thud.
When she didn’t return, he closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer. Naomi, protect this girl. She’s the key to ending this. He took a couple of slow and steady breaths until he was calm and able to think somewhat clearly. He chuckled. The answer stared him in the face. He’d be the sacrificial lamb. He’d planned it the whole time. Now that Bexley was safe, he had nothing to worry about.
Enzo focused on the wall in front of him and did the one thing he didn’t want to. He thought about Bella and how his death would wreck her. She’d been through hell already, but his Bella was strong, and she’d eventually pick herself up by her bootstraps and soldier on. The FBI would help, providing her with the ability to wipe her slate clean and start fresh in a new place with a new name. Enzo just hoped for their sake, the FBI didn’t place Bella in some hick town where it was cold and lacking a Starbucks or a good bagel place. She’d flip.
He prayed Bella would be smart and make the best of the new life, find a decent job. If there was a God, hopefully she’d find a good man to take care of her and provide her with a home and those two dogs she always talked about getting. Maybe Duncan would be the man of her future, offering her everything Enzo never could. Of course, he’d be remiss if he didn’t feel a pang of regret at never getting to see it himself. Duncan could have been the love of his life. Bella would always have his heart too. Though he felt some jealousy, he could accept whatever came his way as long as his Bella and Duncan had each other.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed as he sat there in silence, tied to the chair and waiting with two dead guys at his feet. If he’d been thinking clearer, he should’ve asked Bexley to at least leave the knife behind. Although, she’d need it for protection. At the very least he should’ve had her cut him loose. Enzo hadn’t really been rational though. He was more concerned about getting her free.
Blood dripped from his nose, causing the blob of red on his sweatshirt to grow and stick to his chest. It was a shame; this had been one of his favorites. Bella had gotten it for him before they left for Mexico. He hadn’t had much use for it there, but he’d worn the hell out of it when they came up to Virginia.
Darkness descended around him. Enzo wondered when Raul would return. The beatdown he received earlier was nothing. The minute Raul grabbed a hold of him again, it would be all over. The only sick pleasure he got out of the situation was the fact Bex killed two of Raul’s men. He laughed to himself when he imagined the expression on Raul’s face when entered the room.
The door flew open, and the devil himself walked inside. Enzo wanted to goad Raul because of the shock filling his features. Two of his men were on the floor, dead, and his daughter who had one leg and a cast around her arm did the damage then escaped. That shit had to hurt the man’s pride.
“Did you do this?” Raul snarled. His gaze filled with rage.
“Come on, Raul. How the hell could I do something like this? I’m fuckin’ tied to a chair.” Enzo wasn’t dumb, but he sure as hell could play it when warranted. “Figured it was you who took them out.”
Raul cursed. “Where is she?”
Enzo blinked, acting confused and asked, “Who?”
“The girl.”
Enzo shrugged. “Beats me.” Enzo dipped his chin to the men on the floor. “When I came to, they were already there like that.”
Raul smiled, and it sent shivers down his spines. “She left you.”
“Who left me? Bella? Yeah, they split us up. I told you this.”
Raul backhanded him across the face, and Enzo hissed.
“Not Bella, you fool. The girl who was in here with you.”
If he wasn’t tied down to this chair, he’d have gone at Raul, giving the man the beat down he deserved. Instead he sat there and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Raul rubbed his hands together, anticipation twisting his features. “It shouldn’t be so hard to find a one-legged girl with an arm cast again. I won’t be so lenient with her next time.”
Raul called out for his men, ordering them to come and remove the two dead guys. Blood pooled beneath them and left a trail as they were dragged from the room by their ankles.
“I’m familiar with many forms of torture, this you know, Enzo. But I’m also a fair man.”
Enzo snorted.
Raul’s features twisted into a mask of pure loathing. “Therefore, I’m going to allow you some time to contemplate your future and how you’d like to die. You need to ask yourself, is Bella worth all the pain I’ll put you through, or do you want to just give up her location and die quickly?”
Enzo spat at the man’s expensive shoes. “Fuck you.”
Raul laughed. “I’m afraid, unlike you, I don’t find pleasure in another man’s cock.” They’d always been so careful in Mexico and at home. “Yes, Enzo, I’ve been briefed on both your and Bella’s preferences.” A cruel smirk tugged at his mouth. “And they call me a sick fuck. At least
I don’t allow another man to sodomize me.”
Enzo chuckled. “Maybe you should give it a try. You never know, maybe it would pull that stick out of your ass.”
Raul snarled, backhanding Enzo across the face. “It’s against God’s will.”
“Yet murdering and selling people is okay?” Enzo didn’t care if he was poking a bear. “God’s will doesn’t seem to stop you from doing that and much more, now does it.”
Raul stormed from the room without a second look.
“Hey, jefe, I could use some water or cola and some pain medication if you’re going to make me wait it out.” It didn’t surprise him one damn bit when no one brought him shit. The best thing for him to do was rest. So, he closed his eyes. Raul wasn’t done with him, not by a long shot. His only hope was in the hands of the kid who escaped. Bex had to find Duncan.
As much as he’d been willing to die, Enzo wasn’t ready. He still had so much he wanted to do and say. He loved his Bella baby, and he loved Duncan too. They’d never know his truth if he died in that room. He had to hang on for them. His face throbbed to the beat of his heart, like a jackhammer chipping away at his skull. A heaviness settled over him, and he closed his eyes, praying it wouldn’t be for the last time.
Chapter Ten
Duncan paced the length of his apartment. The inability to make a move frustrated him, adding to his anxiety. It’d been nine hours since Enzo had gone missing. The nervous energy vibrating off of Bella made his skin crawl. He’d thought about taking her to the main floor to work off some of the excess energy, but it would prove how much of an inconsiderate asshole he was. Instead, he replayed the events leading up to Enzo being taken.
The wild sensation at his neck returned, and he cursed under his breath for being so stupid. He’d known they were tailed. Whoever tracked them had been in his apartment building in Virginia Beach. Which meant they would have followed the night he and Omar left to bring them to DC. Shit. If they did track Duncan, it could mean they also knew the layout of Club X and where they could possibly hide for the right opportunity. For all of his and Omar’s training, they’d still missed things.
“You should eat something.” Bella yawned. “You’re going to push through all your reserves with that pacing, plus you don’t want another headache, primo. Not right now.”
He’d been tempted to wave off her concern, but she was right. If he didn’t get something into his stomach, he’d end up hampering the mission not helping. “On it. Thank you.” He glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. Just after midnight. “Want some breakfast?”
She shook her head. “Too anxious to eat. Makes me sick.”
There was a condition for people like Bella he’d heard about before. His da usually weeded out the ‘nervous shitters’ from new recruits. Couldn’t have them soiling themselves in the middle of a mission because their bodies were out of whack. “Sure. I’ll have Omar grab you something gentle then and save it for later. At some point, like me, you’re going to have to eat.”
“I know.” Her voice was weak, cracking with fear and loss.
“Hey, none of that.” He wasn’t good with the whole consoling thing. He could do aftercare because it’d been natural to tend to a person due to the high he got from the scene. This, with Bella, had been more. She meant something to him. He sat beside her and gathered her into his arms. Her slight weight brought comfort to him, and he sighed. “I can’t make false promises, Bella. I don’t know how to.”
She sniffed. “Neither do I.”
“Well, we’re fecked.” He grunted.
Bella laughed softly. “We are.”
He stroked her back, trying to find the words to offer up some peace for Bella. His door burst open. Omar stood there wide eyed, his chest heaving for breath. Duncan tensed. Something had happened. The big man lumbered into the apartment and stood in front of him.
“Paul is with me. We need you in the infirmary. Bex is here.”
A twinge of shock bolted through him. “Say that again?”
“She got out of a car at the gate and asked for help.” He slid his gaze toward Bella. “Said Alé’s name, Enzo’s, and yours.”
Bella was out of Duncan’s lap. The desperation in her eyes didn’t surprise Duncan. She wanted news about Enzo. Duncan took her hand as he stood beside her. “Where is she now?”
“I carried her to Noelle. She’s examining her as we speak.” Omar started out of the room.
Duncan grunted, pointing to Bella. “You’re going with me.”
Bella opened her mouth to protest. “Wait, what?”
“We’re already a twisted mess of anxiety and fear. If Bex is here, we should be able to find out where Enzo is.”
“Thank you.” She sighed. “How do you think she got away?”
He shook his head as they started for the stairs. “I have no idea. Instinct says Enzo might have helped her, but...” He turned his attention to Paul. “Please let me know when Alé and the team arrive.”
“Of course, Master Duncan.” Paul descended the stairs while they climbed.
“It also might mean he’s dead,” Bella whispered, looking back at Paul’s retreating form.
“I don’t think he’ll kill Enzo. Raul is a calculating bastard. He’ll need some insurance, and having Enzo alive is good enough for now.” They passed the security office along with the garden then stopped in front of the first aid area. Duncan tapped on the entryway before stepping inside.
Bex stared at him with glassy eyes. Her school uniform was covered in blood as were her hands. The cast on her arm had been thrashed too. She looked worse for the wear, but she was alive. He approached slowly so as not to frighten the girl. Her gaze locked with his, and she swallowed hard. When Bella and Omar followed, she curled up in a defensive position.
“Don’t you remember me?” Duncan slipped into his American accent with ease. “We wanted to check on you.”
“Agent F-F-Frazier?” Bex frowned. “H-H-How?”
He sat down beside her. “Enzo. How do you feel?”
“T-Tired. S-Sore.” She looked at Bella. “I-Iliana?”
Bella shook her head. “My sister. I’m Bella.”
Bex nodded. Her bottom lip trembled. “M-More lies.”
She took Bex’s good hand and hissed at the reddish-purple marks left behind by whatever Raul used to restrain her. “I hate lies. No more lying. I promise.”
“Can you tell me what happened?” Duncan coaxed. “It’ll help us find your father.”
Bella’s attention snapped to Duncan. “Que?”
Duncan nodded. “Yes. Not now though.”
Bex’s gaze swung to the counter where a phone sat. “T-There. Enzo gave it to me.”
Bella gasped.
Noelle handed the phone to Duncan, allowing him to open it up. He sat back as he stared at the note pad. Bex gave them the address where she and Enzo were being kept. Relief and anxiety warred within Duncan. Enzo was alive. He’d assisted Bex and kept his head so she’d take the phone. However, Enzo was still with Raul. Fear of what would happen to Enzo the minute Raul saw the dead bodyguards shot through Duncan. “Shit, kid. Good work.”
“H-He said to tell you, he loves you, B-Bella.” Bex swallowed hard. “Can I sleep now? I hurt all over.”
“Yeah, kid, you can. Alé is coming.” Duncan touched her shoulder. “Thank you, Noelle. I appreciate you taking care of her. Let me know if you find any significant injuries that can’t wait.”
“That’s just it, besides a few abrasions and bruises, she’s fine. That blood’s not hers.”
“S-S-Stabbed them. A-All of them,” Bex murmured.
“Who, kid? Who stabbed them?” Duncan asked, his stomach knotting.
“I-I did.” Her eyes drooped seconds before her body went limp with sleep or from passing out.
Duncan grabbed his phone, the crack in the screen the only reminder he’d lost control earlier, and called Asher. When the man answered, he relayed all of the information Bex gave Duncan.
“It looks like they’re in a little housing community.”
“Good going. Hang tight. We’re on the way,” Asher replied. “The SWAT teams are gathering as we speak and should be to the club when we are.”
“I’ll let everyone know.” Duncan hung up with Asher and continued down the hall to the stairs.
“Holy shit,” Omar whispered as he and Bella followed Duncan. “That’s one tough kid.”
“A few months ago, I wouldn’t have agreed with you,” Duncan said. “She was kind of pathetic. Leg’s new though. The other one was ill-fitted.”
“What the fuck, Duncan? How does she know my sister?” Bella pressed.
“Your sister was a part of GIP—the Gang Intervention Program. She was also part of the team sent in to watch over Bex. Their job had been to find out what Bex knew about her father and to ascertain whether or not she was involved in any of his activities. Unfortunately, your parents were murdered, hence why Iliana is at R.O.O.T.’s base—to keep her safe. Also, SRT—the Strategic Reinforcement Team has been investigating several other leads.” He glanced at Bella. “Did you ever watch 21 Jump Street? It’s like that.”
“So, it’s been a successful trial run then?” Omar asked, entering the apartment first to give it a once over.
“As far as I am concerned, yes.” Duncan went to his laptop and opened it. “Bella, what you see on this laptop stays in here, understand?”
“O-kay.” She nibbled on her thumbnail. “Is it bad, primo?”
“It’s connectors and tracers.” He pulled up the information he’d gathered on Sasha Torres’s parents, Arlo and Delfia Torres. “They immigrated from Mexico and started their own cleaning business. They weren’t rich by any means, but they were doing well for themselves. Then all of a sudden, they started losing business.”
“Do you know why?” Omar crossed his arms and frowned.
“Million dollar question. However, the business started its downward turn when their daughter Sasha received her scholarship to Princess Anne High School.”
