I peek through the tiny gap between the two men who are guarding me. Six other men are in the hallway with Jay, handing him weapons. I immediately recognize them as Vault's guards.
“Get her the fuck out of here,” Jay whisper-shouts to no one as he checks his gun for ammo.
The doors begin to close and I try pawing my way between the two guards, but they push me back.
“What's going on?” I plea.
No answer.
I frustratingly bang the wall behind me with my foot. We reach the lobby floor and the two men escort me out. I'm chewing on my bottom lip, cutting it to shreds, internally freaking out about not knowing what's going on.
Jay was never going to leave Arianna behind. I should have known he wasn't that cruel. What a shitty assumption to make. I feel like a class-A jerk. I do need to trust him more.
I don't realize we've reached the outside until a chauffeur is holding open the door to a black Escalade and the guards usher me inside. One gestures for me to scoot over so he can join me and the other sits up front with the driver. Looking out the open door, I see five men in identical suits and earpieces head into the hotel. The door closes and I immediately try to open mine with no luck.
“You're not going anywhere.”
I screech at the sound of Vault's voice. Directly across from me, close enough I could kick him, but not close enough that we're touching, he's calmly drinking his amber liquor.
“What the hell is going on?” Any minute now I'm going to explode with frustration if I don't get some answers.
The SUV merges into the city traffic and I glance out the window, watching The Fairmont and Jay fade away.
“I can't leave him there!”
“Lily, relax,” He motions for the guard to switch sides with him and places a warm hand over mine, rubbing it with his thumb. “Jay can handle this. He'll be fine.”
I turn my tear streaked face to him. “Please tell me what's going on,” I sound hoarse from the lump taking over my entire throat and chest. “Please,” I unabashedly implore.
“Sweetheart, it's okay,” he lovingly wipes my tears and strokes my cheeks, his piercing blue eyes sincere and compassionate. “He wouldn't go in there if he thought he couldn't make it out. Lazra's time is up.”
I wipe my snotty nose with the back of my hand and he whips a kerchief out of his suit pocket for me.
“He called me the minute you left him, telling me he had a bad feeling, and his old man always taught him to trust his gut. I know the Lincolns. Never met one who isn't spot on with their instincts. Should have listened to him,” now his eyes have turned apologetic and remorseful. “He informed me he was getting you and he's backing out of the deal no matter the consequences. Like the ass that I am, I refused to let that happen. The file is very important to me.”
A “why” pops out before I can stop it, knowing that what's on it is none of my business.
“That, sweetheart, is an entirely different story.”
I'm fine with that answer, since I want to know what Jay has planned. I could give a flying fuck about a damn file right now.
“I blackmailed him with threats I won't repeat to you, but know it was a dick move on my part. He had no choice but to hang up with me and let it play out. Never heard a man on the phone so desperate,” he cringes from the memory and I can tell he truly wishes he had listened. “Not long after, he called back and told me Lazra had you and I owed him my men. I called in my head of security to round up his boys and anyone else he could trust to help out. When Jay arrived, he called me a few choice words before purposely hitting me in the head with the USB.”
A small, silent giggle bunches up my shoulders. Jay can be such a child sometimes.
Vault keeps talking, not noticing my amusement, “I had the dagger ready and handed it over. I have never seen Jay that angry, and I've seen him at his worst. You could feel it, smell it, even taste it.”
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one aware of how he can change the atmosphere with his mood.
“Shortly after he left, my men and I came to the hotel. I paid off the hotel manager with more money than he'll make in a lifetime to leave us be and ignore any noises from Jaxon Henley's suite. I informed him I'd pay for any damages done, as long as he doesn't report us, as well as an extra bonus for him. Then I called my buddy at the police station to ignore any calls regarding The Fairmont. My men waited in the elevator the manager sectioned off so no one would use it, and well, you know the rest.”
“What if he doesn't make it out?”
“He will,” he assures me, not a tinge of doubt in his voice or demeanor. “I doubt her men are better trained than mine or Jay.”
“Arianna's in there too.”
His face pales a touch, “Yeah?”
I nod.
He pats my leg, “She'll be fine too. She's a tough cookie.”
“Sir,” the driver cuts in, “we're being followed.”
“How long?”
“The minute we left. Wasn't positive at first so I made some extra turns, but it's affirmative.”
“What's the plan of action?”
“I'm heading to the usual exchange location. We can take care of whoever it is from there.”
“Good.”
I begin chewing on my lip again. My legs start jiggling from nervousness and unease floods my nervous system.
“Lazra told The Marker you gave Jay the dagger,” I confide, fearful it's him who's following us.
Vault places a hand on my thigh telling it to stop bouncing, “When?”
“Yesterday when we entered your bank.”
The tension I didn't know he was carrying releases and his shoulders loosen back, “That won't be him. He never works that fast. He has to calculate and go over every scenario before he enters any situation. He'll need more than a day. Plus, he'll want to kill Jay and I. He'll need us together to keep to his “three in three minutes of each other” shit he does.”
“Jay told me nobody's stupid enough to try and kill you.”
“Dragoni's different. He'd enjoy having a whole variety of people from all crosses of life coming after him,” he pauses to smirk and drink from his glass, “I'm surprised he hasn't killed me for the fun of it just to see what happens.” He seems entertained by the idea. What the hell is wrong with these people? They're all nuts, every single one of them. Jay included.
I try my best to ignore his intrigue over the idea of being murdered, “Won't your other clients be mad you gave away a possession?”
“They will understand when they hear who's possession it is.”
Our conversation comes to a halt when the Escalade turns into a parking garage in a ghetto part of the city. At least I assume it's a shady part because of how rundown the buildings and garage look, and the overabundance of graffiti.
“Gun,” I give Vault a come-hither movement with my hand, “give me one.”
Vault chuckles, “Sorry, not going to happen.”
“Now!” I shout, “I'm not dicking around. I swear to God I know how to use one and I'd feel a helluva lot safer with one in my hand.
He eyes me, speculating if it's smart or not.
I give him my best “don't mess with me” glare.
He motions for the guard to hand me one, “Jay's going to kill me.”
“Trust me,” I share with certainty, “he won't.” I inspect the Beretta M9 I'm given, “Nice pistol. I've been wanting to get my hands on an M9 for a long time. Mind if I keep this?” I figure he can get more, and this might be my only shot (pun intended) at acquiring one. “Don't worry, I'll pay you,” I quickly add, not wanting him to think I expect it for free.
Vault laughs like he finally understands the joke, but stops when he realizes I'm serious. His features scrunch up like I'm the most bizarre creature he's ever come across and he's not sure how to handle me, “Consider it yours in exchange for your forgiveness that I made Jay send you in for my file.”
I do a little happy dance in my seat, “Sweet! Thanks!�
� The guys at the shooting range are going to shit themselves when they see this, but first I have to make it out alive. No biggie. I'm only about to fill a crater with the sweat from my armpits and vomit up my bagel from this morning.
We park in the back on the third level. There are only two other cars and they are parked closer to the front.
My hands begin to shake.
Yup, I've totally got this under control.
I wonder how good my aim is when I’m this fucking nervous. Shooting has always been for fun, a way to relax and let out stress. Also, it was always a fake target at a shooting range or in a video game, no real threat involved.
I might completely suck.
A dribble of sweat runs down my back.
The guard has Vault and I move to the seats across from us. Vault lets me know his vehicle is bulletproof and we should be fine as long as we stay inside. I know he informed me of this expecting it would bring me comfort.
It doesn't.
The fact that he even has to have a bulletproof car makes this situation worse. Somehow, I have found myself in a world where guns pointing at you and firing is expected and not something to be feared.
This is Jay's normal. My normal and his normal are in completely different realms. Is it possible for them to merge? Or will we forever be trying to force our two worlds to coexist?
I'm relieved when I don't have time to dwell over this new revelation. I become to absorbed in what's happening.
The driver stays behind the wheel. Vault's two guards get out, guns aimed as they head towards the front of the garage where we entered, waiting for the other car to join us.
I keep my gun aimed between the two doors, ready to shoot anyone who opens it.
Vault gently places a hand on my arms and lowers them. “Chill,” he snickers.
“How are you so calm?”
“I'm not. I've taught myself how to always remain level, no matter the situation.”
A black sedan with tinted windows rounds the corner and I suck in my breath. I hear Vault getting his gun ready and he aims it between the two doors.
I raise a brow at him.
“What?” He shrugs. “It's a good idea.”
A smug grin creeps up the left side of my cheek, “I get my side, you get yours.”
He aims for his, I aim for mine.
“Jay loves you,” Vault tells me as we watch the car come to a stop in front of Vault's armed guards. From here I can hear them demanding the driver to get out or be shot.
“Are you telling me this 'cause you think we're going to die?” I half shriek, half yelp.
He has the nerve to chuckle, “We're not going to die.”
Why is no one getting out of that car?
“His dad's done some shit for me I'll never forget. He would be glad his son has you. Jay's not meant for this life. His dad knew it.”
Tears prick my eyes.
Perfect. You're going to cry right now? Pull your shit together, this is not the time to get emotional.
“Think he'd be happy living a normal life?”
“Is anybody happy living a normal life?” He counter offers.
“I think some people are.”
He shrugs in an “if you say so” kind of way.
We watch our men demand once again that the driver exit his vehicle or they will shoot.
“Why isn't anybody getting out?” A funny feeling is twisting in my gut.
“Not sure.”
They inch closer and I'm not liking this one bit; something doesn't feel right, “Should they be getting so close?”
“Lily,” he sighs out my name as though I'm a nuisance, “My men know what they're doing.”
The closer they get, the harder my heart slams into my ribs. It vibrates up my throat and through my arms, traveling out my fingers, making my hands shake and clattering my pistol.
I try concentrating on my breathing. The closer they get to the other car the louder my breathing becomes, reminding me of a scuba diver (or better yet, Darth Vader.)
The men are mere feet away from the sedan when a loud BOOM! Buzzes my eardrums.
The vehicle explodes into flames, taking Vault's men with it, rocking the Escalade like an earthquake, and car alarms go off on all levels of the garage.
“We need to get the hell out of here!” Vault informs me, like the thought never fucking occurred to me. I catch on that he wasn't talking to me as the driver revs up the engine and barrels towards the flaming vehicle that is blocking half of our exit.
“Seat belt!” Vault yells, reaching over me to fasten mine on before securing himself.
The flames of the other vehicle pass over us as we swerve around it and for a moment I let myself believe the worst is over.
The sound of a car screeching, rapidly approaching our level, makes me realize that Quake was right, life's not that easy.
Another car is rounding the corner and both vehicles screech to avoid collision, but it's not fast enough and we fishtail, sending us smashing into the oncoming car, the driver's side meeting their front. The impact jerks us forward, making me think I just drank a Slurpee in one giant gulp and am suffering the worst brain freeze of the century. Through the pounding in my head I'm able to force my eyes to absorb my surroundings, and immediately notice that our driver is slumped over the wheel and not breathing.
Shit. I unbuckle and scramble to the door.
“Lily, what are you doing?!” Vault calls out to me as I'm halfway out the door.
“It's either us or them. I for one don't want to sit here and wait for them to make the first move. I'm guessing it's time to throw down.”
He follows me out and we squat behind the vehicle. I creep towards the hood and Vault takes the back.
I peek around, gun ready, watching for anybody to dare exit the sedan identical to the previous one.
I'm getting used to the adrenaline pumping in every crevice of my body. I welcome the feeling and focus on it, letting it help me zone in and gain clarity. I no longer hear my pounding heart or heavy breathing. Everything fades around me and all I can see is the car, my mind and eyes knowing their target.
Four men get out, their machine guns all aimed at our SUV.
No time to think, just aim, shoot, and kill.
My first bullet leaves the barrel of my pistol, landing between the eyes of the driver. They start firing at the car and I duck back, but not before hitting the man behind the driver in the head, taking him out.
Two more to go.
I can do this.
I focus on listening to the sound of their firearms, knowing I have barely a nanosecond to react when they change mags. The very second I know it's time, I brave it, knowing it's us or them. There is no other way out of this.
With speed and clarity, I round the hood of the car and aim for the two remaining men. I wonder if this is how they got the idea for The Matrix as movement slows down, and I can clearly see my bullet travel towards my first target as I observe the second man turning towards me, knowing if I don't get him down soon I'll have a bullet impaling me. As quickly as I shot the first I fire at the second, watching my bullet slice through the air as shots come at me. I whip around to the safety of the Escalade. I feel the vibrations of their bullets hit the exterior of my ride, followed by dead silence.
“Lily, get in the car!” Someone shouts and everything snaps into view.
Vault is throwing open the passenger door and shoving the driver between the two front seats, before getting into the driver's seat. He has to kick the driver's legs out of the way to give himself enough space to work the gas and brake. I jump in as he tries to maneuver between the sedan and cement wall of the garage. I'm getting thrown around in my seat while I clumsily snap in my seatbelt. I cringe and feel sickened when I'm bumped up and down from driving over the dead bodies.
We make it out of the garage but I don't feel any better. I'm breathing heavier than I ever have and my chest hurts from the pounding my heart is giving it. I try to suck in
air, but my lungs won't suck it in fast enough. Everything around me is getting blurry. I vaguely notice Vault extracting the gun from my hand. He's talking to me but I don't register a word he's saying. I rest my hands on the dashboard and hang my head, trying to regain my composure.
I just killed four men and had the most intense adrenaline rush of my life. My body doesn't know how to come down. Every limb is shaking and all of a sudden I feel like I could vomit.
I do, right between my legs until I'm dry heaving, all over the floor of Vault's expensive Escalade.
“Lily!” He cries, “Are you okay? Did you get shot?”
Oh shit. Did I?
I don't feel any pain, but I know from past experience that that doesn't mean my body's not.
“Lily, answer me!”
I hold up a finger letting him know I need a minute.
The car jolts to a stop and Vault gets out, coming around to open my side. He steps up to grab hold of my face, forcing me to look at him but my eyes won't focus. He's talking but I don't hear it. His hands brush along my body, looking for signs of injury.
I'm being carried in his arms, loose as a rag doll, my mind replaying everything that just happened. The explosion that killed Vault's men, ammunition firing at me, the blood and brains spraying out behind the men I shot.
I killed someone.
I killed four men.
Four.
Oh god.
Chapter 37
11:56am
I become aware of the gold elevators we enter and the feeling of it ascending. I keep waiting for the tears to fall but they never do. I'm in shock. I never thought I would have death on my hands, that I would voluntarily do it. I know I didn't have much of a choice, but that doesn't stop how nauseous it makes me.
I'm slowly regaining my body, my senses coming back to life.
Vault carries me to his office and lays me down on one of his plush leather couches, hair being shoved off my face.
Once again I feel hands all over my body.
“Lily, are you in pain?” Panic is evident in his tone.
I shake my head no, a single tear escaping the side of my eye.
The tear is wiped away and a thumb caresses my cheek.
Marked. Part I: The missing Link Page 31
