by Lilah Blake
Chapter 8
The rest of the drive was silent. Alexa was recalling several things that seemed off about Matthew. When they arrived at the warehouse, she wondered if there would be anyone waiting for them. But it appeared to be deserted.
“They’re gone,” Alexa gasped as she looked over the warehouse from the outside. It was fairly obvious that it was empty inside. She frowned as she glanced over at Matthew. “We shouldn’t even waste our time here.”
“It’s the best lead we have right now,” Matthew argued. “If we can find some idea of where they went, then we might be able to find Nick.”
Alexa fell silent as she studied her partner. She didn’t want to suspect what she did, but she couldn’t help it. It seemed obvious now, as he walked cautiously into the warehouse, that he had been in on it all along.
“Nice watch,” she had mumbled only a few weeks before. It was brand new, and expensive, and she was surprised to see it on Matthew’s wrist after he had just been complaining about falling behind on his mortgage.
“Nice is an understatement,” he quipped and then gave her an earful about exactly why it was worth so much money, and all the functions it had. Alexa hadn’t thought much of it then, but now, when she looked at it wrapped around his wrist, she was certain there was much more to that watch than just a stroke of good luck. That must have been when he first took the bribe. She couldn’t believe she had been so blind.
“Hey, careful,” he warned as they began to move slowly through the warehouse. “You can never know what to expect with these types.”
“Yeah, not just with them,” she mumbled and shook her head. Matthew glanced over at her in confusion, but ignored her comment as he continued to search the warehouse for any sign of the Death Adders.
“Lookie here,” he smirked as he hooked one of their leather jackets on his thumb. “Looks like they really did leave in a very big hurry,” he shook the jacket out and smoothed his fingers over the fine leather.
“You can’t say they don’t have good taste,” he laughed.
Alexa was horrified as she watched him slide his arms into the sleeves. She stared at him as he pulled the leather jacket across his chest and cast a glance in her direction.
“What do you think? Could I pass?” he asked.
Alexa stared at him, too dumbfounded to speak. Seeing him in the jacket made it even more obvious to her that he had been the one who revealed the truth about Nick.
“Look, Alexa, I was just trying to lighten the mood a little,” Matthew frowned when he saw the grimace on her face. “The truth is,” he hesitated as he walked closer to her. “There’s not really a reason to rush.”
“How can you say that?” Alexa demanded, searching his eyes for any sign of the man she had once assumed him to be.
“I can say that because it’s the truth,” he replied and met her gaze. “It is pretty clear Randy is not one to be very forgiving,” he continued. “The truth is, as much as I hate to say it, Nick was dead the moment that he was taken.”
Alexa shook her head firmly. “You don’t know that, you can’t know that!” she protested and lunged forward as if she might even strike him. In the same moment his cell phone began to ring, and he turned away to answer it. Alexa managed to get a hold of herself before she followed through with tackling him. The last thing she needed to do was end up in handcuffs.
“Are you sure?” he said into his phone, his voice becoming dark with emotion. “All right, all right, let’s get out there,” he commanded. When he hung up the phone and turned to face Alexa, his expression was one of a mixture of elation and concern.
“Maybe for once, you’re right,” he smiled a little. Alexa’s heart was still pounding with the desire to strike out at him.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean that, I just got some information about the Death Adders. They’re planning a rally tonight, and there’s going to be a special ceremony early tomorrow morning.”
“And?” Alexa asked as she continued to watch him suspiciously.
“I think that if they do have Nick, then they might keep him alive, at least until the ceremony,” Matthew explained. “They might make an example out of him at the ceremony.”
“Example,” Alexa whispered, the word making her stomach churn.
“They’ll stage an execution,” Matthew sighed as he stepped closer to her. Alexa thought for a moment that he intended to comfort her, but instead he met her gaze with a harshness he rarely used with her.
“You need to take this time to realize something, Alexa,” he said in a cross tone. “If it weren’t for luck being on your side, it would be your execution too.”
Alexa swallowed thickly as she stared back into his furious eyes. She wondered if he was trying to tell her, that in some way, he had worked to protect her. There was no other explanation for Lou not taking her as well as Nick. Why had she been left behind when Randy certainly would have been more than happy to execute two cops?
In the shadows, Nick felt eyes upon him. He knew that they were still there, watching him. The fire was crackling so loud that his head pounded with every spark. He was certain that if he moved even slightly the blood would begin flowing from his nose again. He had been beaten so badly that one eye was swollen shut, while the other stung every time he opened it. His bottom lip had been mutilated, and his bare chest was covered in marks from both the hot pole, and also a leather strap, that for some reason, one of the Dern brothers preferred to use. The entire time he struck Nick, he spoke to him about the beauty of the sound of the leather cracking and just how amazing of an art torture truly was.
Nick was too delirious with pain to argue. He knew it would not have mattered if he did. Now with his hands bound tightly around the tree he was pushed up against. He had no way to escape. He was alone, in the woods, and the sky above him was filling with stars. It would not be long before the other gang members gathered to celebrate, and also to execute Nick. He couldn’t help but think of what they might do to him, how he might finally be done in. He didn’t want to think about it, but his mind seemed to be obsessed with it. He was certain that there was no way for him to evade the inevitable. His mouth was covered in duct tape, and his feet were shackled with a chain. He was completely bound.
“Won’t be long now,” he heard whispers from a few yards away from him. He recognized the voice as belonging to Lou. He knew that Lou was the most angry, because he had been the one to propose Nick as a member to Randy. Nick was sure that he had endured a fairly severe interrogation in an attempt to ensure that Lou was not a cop as well. Apparently he had managed to prove it, because he was still alive.
The only comfort that Nick had was the knowledge that Alexa was safe. As much as he wanted to be saved, he didn’t want her anywhere near the campgrounds. He didn’t know why he had been taken, and she hadn’t, but he could be grateful for small blessings, and that was one. If he had to see her bound and waiting on death before him, he was certain that would be worse than any torture the Dern brothers could dole out.
As he closed his eyes once more against the sting of the air, he heard the sound he expected would be the signal of his demise. The revving of motorcycle engines as the other members of the Death Adders began to approach.
He lifted his head, and closed his eyes again. He knew that he didn’t have much longer. He was the reason why the Death Adders had lost their warehouse, and more than that, to them, he was a traitor.
Chapter 9
Randy stepped out beside the growing campfire. In the light of the flames reflected on his face, Nick could see the anticipation gathering in his expression. He was certain that Randy was looking forward to this moment. As the men and a few women began to gather around the campfire, each taking their respective place beside the stone that their blood had painted, Lou walked up to Nick. He untied his hands from the tree, but left his feet shackled. He led Nick towards the campfire. Nick was surrounded by the most elite members of the Death Adders,
each one armed to the teeth. He knew that if he fought against Lou, he would be taken down immediately. But maybe that would be preferable to the fate that he was facing.
“Ah, Nick,” Randy smiled. As if inviting him into an embrace, he extended his arms. Nick tensed, and resisted, but Lou shoved him forward. Randy wrapped one arm around Nick’s shoulders and turned him to face the gathering.
“Nick here, is an undercover cop, did anyone know that?” Randy asked, and gave Nick a firm punch in his side. Nick would have normally easily absorbed the punch but in this case, he was already bruised with a few broken ribs, so the strike was especially painful. He started to instinctively double over, but Randy pulled him back up. Everyone in the gathering was muttering to each other. Many of them had not known that Nick was an undercover cop. The news had not reached them yet.
“Not only did he deceive his way into our fold but he has now betrayed us on the deepest level,” Randy went on to explain. “So, tonight we are going to have a very special bonfire, a bonfire that will teach a valuable lesson. If any of you, ever even think of speaking to the police, if you ever consider being disloyal to the Death Adders, this will be your fate as well,” he exclaimed, his once friendly tone becoming threatening.
He grabbed Nick and pushed him towards the fire. Nick struggled against the shove, as he did not want to end up in the flames. Was he really going to be burned alive?
“Not so fast,” Randy chuckled. “We need to have a little fun with you first,” he kicked some dirt towards Nick’s bare feet. He had not even been given the opportunity to put on his shoes.
“Who wants first strike?” he asked as he looked around at the other Death Adders. Nick closed his eyes and wondered if he was better off burning.
There were plenty of volunteers. They actually began to form a line. Before the first blow could land, they heard the telltale sound of smoke bombs being shot into the area.
“Cops!” Randy shouted as loudly as he could before the smoke began to fill the area. The Death Adders began to scatter in all different directions. They were running for their freedom, and for their lives, as many would not survive the rival gangs they would be forced to share a jail with. Randy held tightly to Nick’s arm, not yet ready to give up on his revenge. As the smoke billowed around them he raised his weapon and pointed the barrel of his gun to the side of Nick’s head.
“Was it worth it?” he asked him, his voice thick with hatred.
Nick slowly opened the eye that wasn’t swollen shut, despite the fact that it was burning from the smoke filling the air. He smiled faintly, and replied with complete confidence.
“Yes, it absolutely was.” He drank in the sight of Alexa, her long hair loose and flowing, her cinnamon eyes full of determination, as she barreled into Randy before he could pull the trigger. She and Randy tumbled into the campfire.
“Alexa!” Nick shouted and lunged towards her, but the shackles on his feet prevented him from being able to reach her. The flames were growing around her and Randy as they wrestled for control of the weapon he held.
“Alexa!” Matthew shouted as he ran forward with a hose. He sprayed the campfire, and in the middle of it all, Alexa managed to wrench Randy’s gun away from him. She was still gasping for breath because of the smoke when Matthew pulled her up out of the doused campfire.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his question mirrored by Nick. Alexa stared at the man with uncertainty before she settled into Nick’s arms. As Randy was being handcuffed, Nick was being set free from his shackles.
Alexa had a few cuts and some surface burns, but Randy’s large frame had extinguished most of the flames before they had a chance to harm her.
“Your hair,” Nick murmured as he gathered up the ends of it which had been singed by the flames.
“I don’t care,” she replied as she looked up into his eyes. She could see all of the damage that had been done to him. She knew he had suffered an immense amount of torture.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked with surprise.
“For thinking it was more important to be with you, than to keep you safe,” she answered.
“Alexa,” he hesitated and studied her closely. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Mr. Banks was right. We never should have been in that cabin together. If we hadn’t been there, Lou might never have found you and this,” she gasped as she looked over the burns and cuts all over his chest. “Wouldn’t have happened.”
Nick grasped her face gently, his palms caressing her cheeks as he looked down into her eyes, the best he could with the injuries he had.
“I would go through this a thousand times, if it meant, that I had the chance to be with you,” he murmured.
Alexa was stunned by his words, and more by the fact that it was clear that he meant it. Despite his bottom lip being swollen and sore, he managed a soft and sensual kiss. All around them the Death Adders were being taken into custody. Not far off, Matthew was watching, right alongside Mr. Banks.
“Well, it wasn’t the bust we were hoping for,” Mr. Banks said quietly. “But you were right about Alexa, she is fantastic at what she does.”
Matthew smiled proudly and nodded a little as he adjusted the watch on his wrist. “I told you she was.”
“Do you think she’ll be interested in the job?” he asked casually.
“As long as you include Nick as part of the deal, I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to accept it,” he laughed.
Once Nick had been seen by the paramedics, he declined a trip to the hospital. He didn’t have any life threatening injuries and he knew the most they would do for him was tape him up. While Nick was being treated, Matthew told her a little bit more about his role in her encounter with Nick. He confessed that he did know more than he told her, but that was because he had strict orders not to tell her the whole truth. Mr. Banks had been interested in taking Alexa on as one of his detectives, and he didn’t want her to know that she was being watched for the position. However, no one had expected things to unfold as they had. Reassured that Matthew was not actually working for the Death Adders, Alexa felt a little embarrassed for ever thinking it in the first place. Luckily, she had never accused him.
“Here,” he tossed his keys into her hand. “I’ll get a ride home, all right?” he smiled faintly, knowing that she would want to spend some time with Nick.
“Thanks, Matthew,” she smiled, though she had not forgotten the tone he had taken with her. It was a good start to apologizing, but she was certain she would milk it for a few more days to get the best coffee and the first choice on where they would be having lunch. As she walked over to where Nick sat on the back of an ambulance, she couldn’t believe he was the same person. His face was so distorted from his injuries, that the only way she could recognize him was by his dark curls.
“Do you want to be alone?” Alexa asked him as she sat down beside him. He took her hand.
“With you?” he grinned. “Yes,” he tugged lightly at the hand he held.
“I’ll take you home so you can rest,” Alexa offered, and reached up to lightly tug a few strands of his hair away from his swollen eye.
“Will you stay with me?” he asked hopefully.
Alexa smiled as she recalled how it was not long ago that she considered spending the night with a man to be too much of a commitment.
“Always,” she replied.
Next book in the Series: Betrayed (Divided Loyalties 3)
All Books in the “Divided Loyalties” Series
Book 1: Protected
Book 2: Revenge
Book 3: Betrayed
Copyright and Disclaimers
© Copyright 2013 by Lilah Blake - All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely c
oincidental and unintentional.
- From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Publisher for any injury, damage or financial loss sustained to persons or property from the use of this information, personal or otherwise, either directly or indirectly. While every effort has been made to ensure reliability and accuracy of the information within, all liability, negligence or otherwise, from any use, misuse or abuse of the operation of any methods, strategies, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein, is the sole responsibility of the reader.
Any copyrights not held by publisher are owned by their respective authors.
All information is generalized, presented for informational purposes only and presented “as is” without warranty or guarantee of any kind.
All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
All Books in the “Divided Loyalties” Series
Copyright and Disclaimers
