Using the strength of my core, I raised my legs and kicked him as hard as I could. It barely made a dent, but it did get him off-kilter, which meant I could sit up and get my hands in front of me again.
It made no difference. He dragged me up, threw me onto a table, akin to a massage table and tied me down, before he proceeded to hit me in various parts of my body until I nearly passed out.
But when his sister bent down to snarl at me, I was so disgusted that this cow was defying the girl-code, I waited until she was close and bit her cheek as hard as I could.
Something cracked the back of my head, then everything went black.
* * *
Finch
“You were right,” Alamo said.
“Yeah, but there’s a keypad on the door. How the hell are we supposed to get in without the combination?” Dash asked.
Alamo ran a hand though his hair. “He’s right. It could be anything.”
“Maybe we can blast the lock,” Badger said.
“If he hears us coming, he’ll kill her for sure,” I said. My mind raced, barely able to focus. I was going insane with the thought of being so close to her but still unable to reach her. To protect her from Vitaly. That smug Russian prick would pay if he hurt her. Suddenly, I was hit with a bolt of pure clarity and blurted out, “1776.”
“What?” Alamo asked.
“The code! Try 1776.”
Alamo did as I instructed, and the pin pad flashed green. Not only was it the year of America’s independence, it was also the year the Bolshoi Ballet was founded. Considering the fact Vitaly was extremely proud of his lineage, I took a guess.
Of course, the only reason I knew any of this was because I’d had to grill Grace on all things ballet when she was studying for her entrance exam into PBC. It was a longshot, but it was one that paid off.
“What the fuck?” he asked in total amazement.
“I’ll explain later, let’s get down there.”
I led the way to the bottom of the staircase, my Maglite providing our only light. At the bottom of the stairs was a large room with floor to ceiling shelves lining all four walls. On those shelves where gallon jugs of water, canned goods, and non-perishable food stacked high and deep. At the end of the giant doomsday pantry was a doorway that led to long, left and right hallways, illuminated by LED baseboard lights. The basement was sleek, looked newly constructed, and was nothing like the rest of the house. It also looked like someone had spent considerable time and money on this secret underground lair. Soundproofing included.
At the end of each hallway was a single, very serious looking door. We split up, with me and Badger taking the door on the left, leaving Alamo and Dash to check the on the right. No sooner had they began walking when the door opened quickly with a whoosh and a distracted young, raven-haired woman appeared holding a wad of gauze to her face.
“I can’t believe that little bitch bit me,” she muttered to herself as she marched, head down, straight into Alamo’s chest. She let out a high-pitched scream, dropping the gauze to reveal a bloody right cheek.
“Hey there,” Alamo said, sounding unsure. None of us knew if we were encountering another one of Vitaly’s victims, or something else. However, before Alamo could react, she cleared things up by producing a three-inch blade and sticking Alamo deep in the abdomen.
Before he fell to his knees, Alamo cracked his assailant directly in the forehead with the butt of his gun, and she dropped like a stone onto the carpeted hallway floor.
“Aw, shit man, I’ve never hit a woman before,” Alamo said, falling to his side, blood pouring from his gut.
“Call 9-1-1!” I shouted to Dash, who immediately reached for his phone.
“Alamo!” Badger yelled as he began to apply pressure to the wound.
“Tell her I’m sorry I hit her okay?” Alamo said, his color greying.
“Jesus, man, he’s bad!” Badger cried out as door number two swung open.
I couldn’t see anyone standing in the doorway, but this door opened in the same whooshing fashion as the other, leading me to believe they were activated hydraulically.
“Nadia! What the fuck is going on out there?” I heard Vitaly call out.
I turned to the others, held my index finger to my lips, and took two silent steps toward the door before he called out again.
“Nadia, you spoiled brat. You’d better not be throwing one of your tantrums or breaking anything out there! She barely even nipped you. Besides...” he said, his voice getting louder. “...I made sure Remington paid for what she did to your pretty face.”
He looked up from cleaning his hands with a bloody rag as he said this, and our eyes connected. I raised my gun and he dropped his grin. I didn’t hesitate to squeeze the trigger and put two holes directly into his chest.
“Remington!” I cried out as I ran to the doorway. Vitaly was still alive and conscious when I reached him, but appeared unable to move, so I stepped over him and ran into the room to find Remington.
“Frisk him,” I heard someone say behind me.
Knowing they’d make sure Vitaly was taken care of, I focused on finding Remington. I almost passed out when I saw her. She was strapped to a table. Her ankles and right arm were bound, and she had been beat to a pulp. Her left arm was free but was clearly broken, hanging down like a mangled bird’s wing.
Fearing the worst, I watched her chest until I saw the labored rise and fall that assured me she was still breathing. Determined to keep her that way, I rushed in and took in the damage.
“Oh, my God baby, what did he do to you?” Tears streamed down my face as I gently kissed Remington’s bloodied face. A face that at that moment barely resembled her. Her eyes were closed, lips parted, the left side of her face was already darkening with a giant bruise, and a gash ran from along her cheek, leaking blood.
“Remi, babe, I need you to wake up.”
She didn’t respond.
There was so much fucking blood, I didn’t know where to start or whether or not I should move her. What if something was broken?
“The ambulance is coming baby. Just hold on okay?” I said as I removed her restraints. At least I could do that. I heard Vitaly’s moans from the doorway and whispered to Remington, “I’ll be right back, I promise.”
I couldn’t do shit about Remington, but I sure as fuck could do something about the asshole who’d done this to her. I walked to Vitaly and bent down, so he could see my face clearly.
“Please... help me,” he sputtered as blood poured from his mouth.
“I’m not here to help you, you son-of-a-bitch. I want you looking into my eyes when I send you to hell.”
I squeezed the trigger again. Point blank. Right through the motherfucker’s heart. As the echo of the .9mm rang out through the hallway, I could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulance.
“Give me that,” Dash demanded, and took the gun from me. I dropped to my knees and felt Vitaly for a weapon.
“This was on him,” Dash said, passing me a knife.
I grabbed the bandana I had in my pocket, wiped the knife down, pressed Vitaly’s fingerprints all over it, and placed it on the ground next to him, curling his fingers around the hilt.
“Was he left or right-handed?” I asked to no one in particular.
“You need to get the fuck outta here,” Badger pressed, still holding pressure on Alamo’s wound.
“I am not leaving Remington,” I said and took the gun back from Badger.
“I don’t know who’s comin’, Finch. I don’t know if they’re friendlies.”
“It’s fucking self-defense, Badger.” I rose to my feet. “It’s all good.”
“Doc’s not gonna like that you shot this asshole. We don’t do that.”
“We do when one of ours is being threatened, brother, and you well know it. Pretty sure if Quin was in the same position, you wouldn’t hesitate. Did you see what the fuck he did to Remi? Go look and tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing.”
“Jesus, you’ve got balls of steel.”
I shrugged and headed back to Remington to wait for the emergency vehicles.
“Goddammit!” a voice I didn’t recognize echoed through the house.
“We got another one!” Doom called out.
I made my way toward the noise in case my brothers needed backup, and found a man I didn’t recognize, gun drawn, F.B.I. written across his Kevlar vest.
“What the fuck did you do, Doom?” he growled out.
“Got somethin’ for ya, Dalton.” Doom shoved an older looking man to the ground and settled his foot in his back. His hands were ziptied behind him, so he was immobile for the moment. “He was hidin’ in the attic. Meet Yegor Sokolov. Vitaly’s uncle, and brother to one Captain Vasili Sokolov of the Iolanta. Remember him?”
“Poppy’s captor,” Dash provided.
“One in the same,” Doom said.
“Number six on the F.B.I.’s most wanted list,” Dalton said.
“You’re welcome.” Doom nodded. “I’m assuming you can take control of this scene?”
“Yeah, man, I’ll take it from here.”
* * *
Remington
I forced gritty eyes open and quickly decided I was totally over waking up in dark rooms. Pain shot through my arm and I cried out, trying to shift away from the discomfort.
“Baby?”
“Merrick?” I whispered, searching for him in the darkness.
“I’m here, honey,” he said, leaning over me. “Gonna get you something for the pain.”
“Where am I?”
“Hospital.”
“Where’s Vitaly?”
“Dead.”
I gasped. “What?”
“Let me get a nurse. I’ll explain everything as soon as you’re feeling better.”
I reached for him. “Wait.”
He leaned over me again. “What, honey?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” He stroked my cheek and kissed me gently. “Let me get you some pain meds.”
I nodded, and he left me, but only for a minute, returning with a pretty red-headed nurse who was admiring my man a little too much for my liking.
“You’re awake,” she said, leaning over me with a smile.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I grumbled, and she chuckled.
“Good to see you have a sense of humor.” She shot something into my IV and I instantly felt relief.
I also felt happy and high.
“Better?” she asked.
I giggled in response.
She patted my arm and nodded. “I’m going to get the doctor. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Merrick sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. “You feeling good?”
I nodded. “My mouth is dry, though.”
“I’ll get you some water.”
He helped me with the straw and I drank deeply. Water had never tasted so good.
A doctor walked in a few minutes later and pulled up my X-rays. “You have a pretty clean break, considering. A cast will suffice, no surgery. You have some contusions on your face as well, but nothing is broken, and I don’t see evidence of a concussion, despite the beating. We’ll keep you overnight, get you sorted with a cast, and you should be able to go home before lunch.”
“Did you test me for rabies?” I asked.
“Were you bit by a rabid animal?” the doctor, asked, concerned.
“No, I bit the bitch who was helping her brother beat the shit out of me. Just want to make sure she’s clean.”
The doctor relaxed. “We ran bloodwork for several possible infections. All are clean.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’ve got a call button right next to you, and if you have any questions, let the nurses know, okay?”
I nodded. “I will. Thank you.”
The doctor left, and Merrick was by my side again. “You still feeling good?”
I nodded. “How bad does my face look?”
“Don’t wanna talk about that right now,” Merrick said.
“It’s that bad?”
“Baby, you’re beautiful. Nothing will ever change that, but it means I have to explain how many hits that asshole got in before I found you, and I don’t really want to go there.”
“Who killed him?”
“I did.”
I burst into tears and he stretched out on the bed and pulled me against him. “You crying because he’s dead or because I shot him?”
“I’m crying because you saved me and made it so he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yes,” I hissed. “I love you. I was a twatwaffle to you and you still saved me.”
His body shook, and I knew he was laughing.
“Don’t laugh at me. I’m injured.”
“Twatwaffle?”
“Scientific term for bitch.”
“Baby, we both had culpability in the argument. We’ve apologized, it’s done. Now it’s time to get you home and we’ll figure everything else out once you’re feeling better.”
“You still want me to come home with you?” I whispered.
“Jesus, Rem, did you think I’d change my mind over some dumbass argument?”
“Yes, kind of.”
He kissed me gently. “I love you. Nothing’s gonna change that.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, honey, I promise.”
“Can we get a new sofa?” I asked.
“You don’t like my sofa?”
“No. It’s leather. I hate leather.”
“Why do you hate leather?”
“Because it’s all squeaky and shit,” I said. “I want to lie down on a couch without hearing it.”
“Okay, honey, we can get a new sofa.”
“Thanks, Tweety.”
“You’re welcome Eeyore.”
His phone buzzed and he checked his screen and swore.
“What’s wrong?”
“The rabid bitch stabbed Alamo in the stomach. It’s touch and go. They think she nicked his liver.”
“Oh my god, Merrick. Is Jasmine okay? You should make sure.”
“Don’t know, honey. But she’s surrounded by family, so gonna let them take care of her. You are my priority.”
With him holding me, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until the next morning when it was time to be fitted with a cast.
* * *
Jasmine
“Where is he?” I demanded, rushing into the emergency area of the hospital.
“They just wheeled him up for surgery,” Badger said, pulling me in for a hug.
I pushed him away. “What happened? All of it, Knox McKellar. Don’t filter.”
“Gonna fuckin’ filter a little bit, Jazz,” he warned, and filled me in.
“The bitch is here too? The one who stabbed him?”
Badger nodded.
“What’s her name?”
“Nadia Popov,” he said.
I nodded and headed to the elevator.
“Jazz, where the fuck are you going?” Badger demanded, jogging to catch up to me.
“I’m not telling you, unless you’ll agree to be my lookout.”
“Fuck me, Jasmine. No.”
“Then, kindly walk away, Badger.”
“Jazz.”
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside.
“Alamo’s gonna fuckin’ kill me,” he complained as he walked into the elevator with me.
I smiled without mirth as I tried to keep my composure. I needed the muscle memory of my southern upbringing to lead me where I needed to go.
Arriving at reception, I stepped to the desk and smiled.
“May I help you?”
“Yes,” I breathed out softly, hoping for a worried tone. “My friend was brought in and I’m worried sick. Would you please tell me which room Nadia Popov is in?”
“Let me look.”
Badger
hung back, which I was glad for, since he was wearing his badass biker gear and looking scary as hell, even if he was adorable.
“She’s under guard, ma’am.”
“Oh, my word,” I said, placing my hand on my chest. “Is she in danger?”
“I can’t say. I’m sorry.”
“Is there a waiting area on her floor? I just want to know if she’s okay.”
“Ma’am, I am bound by the rules of this hospital.”
I crossed my heart. “I promise I won’t bother anyone.”
She sighed. “There’s a common waiting room on the fourth floor.”
I gave her prayer hands. “Thank you so much.”
Turning on my heel, I headed back to the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
“What’s your play here, Jazz?” Badger asked.
“You’re gonna find her room for me and figure out how to get me in.”
“Fuck me,” Badger rasped.
“Not my type, buddy, but thanks for the offer.”
The doors dinged open and Badger pulled me aside gently as we stepped out. “Need you to think about this, babe. It’s not a good idea.”
“You have no idea if it’s a good idea or not.”
“You goin’ after this bitch while she’s in a hospital bed isn’t a good idea.”
I shrugged. “Who said I was going after her?”
“Jazz.”
“If you’re not going to help me, go ahead and leave, buddy. I’m good.”
“I’m not fuckin’ leavin’ you, Jasmine, and you know it. Alamo’d have my fuckin’ head if I did.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then, help me.”
He shook his head as he sighed. “Follow me.”
I grinned in triumph and followed him.
Badger pointed to a chair in the hallway and whispered, “Sit there for a sec.”
I sat and pulled out my phone, so it looked like I was doing something useful. At least forty-thousand minutes went by and still no Badger. Security and real police officers roamed the floor, one of them even winked at me as he walked past, and I dropped my head again in an effort not to make eye-contact with anyone.
Jesus, where was he?
I saw him just as I was about to abort the plan and he handed me a slip of paper, but kept walking.
412.
I had no idea where he was going, but I didn’t ponder it as I made my way toward room 412.
“Officer Hernandez, there’s a phone call for you,” I heard as I approached the room.
Road to Freedom Page 14
