August’s body thrummed in the passenger seat. Anger, so monstrous and consuming, seeped from his pores. He kept his fingers curled around his Glock, and his free hand was balled in a fist on his thigh. He’d get revenge. He’d deliver justice.
The fucking bastard had played them. Had even sent a picture of Gigi to dupe him. That’s what pissed off August the most. Alvarez had Gigi. He’d killed Todd and gotten his retribution. He didn’t need to kill her, too. He didn’t need to play this fucking head game.
Now they were at war. Because even if Gigi was unharmed and in one piece, he was going to take down Alvarez.
“Did you get anything?” Rami asked from behind the wheel, lifting his gaze to the rearview mirror.
“Dare is working on it,” Toth said.
“We’re almost in city limits,” August said. “Maybe we should have asked Dana. She probably would’ve been quicker even with limited resources from the hospital.”
“Bro, it’s only been half an hour. He’ll get back to me. He knows the situation is urgent.”
The highway curved down the mountain and Seattle stretched out below. The city lights twinkled in the darkness. The black sky falling almost seamlessly to the obsidian ocean. The beautiful view only intensified August’s need to have his woman in his arms.
Had it really been only earlier that day he’d hugged and kissed her goodbye while she promised a big meal when he returned? Had it really been only hours before that he’d stupidly left her behind?
He hadn’t prayed much in his life. The memory of mumbling pleading words to the heavens while he’d been half dead on the jungle floor struck him. At that time, he’d wanted to live but had also been resigned to the possibility that he wouldn’t.
This was different. If something happened to Gigi, if he failed to bring her home, he’d never be able to live with himself. His mistakes would haunt him forever, and the stinging pain in his heart told him he wouldn’t survive her absence.
When had that happened? When had he gone from simply wishing he could have done things differently two years ago to not being able to live without her?
Maybe in the moment she’d called him from the diner, her voice frightened. Or the moment he’d seen her get shot at and watched Sherry fall. Going off the bridge and into the water had certainly shaken up some of his deep-rooted feelings for her.
In truth, there hadn’t been a point when his feelings for Gigi reemerged because they’d never left.
Even when she gave him the cold shoulder after Ivy’s rescue. He’d been hurt, but dammit, he’d loved her then and he loved her more now.
The stinging in his heart spread up his neck and prickled his eyes. If he was given another chance with her, he’d do better. He’d guard her with his life every fucking day if she’d just come back to him.
Where the hell are you, Gigi?
Toth’s phone rang. “It’s Dare,” he announced, putting his brother on speakerphone. “Yeah?”
“The senator and his wife are at their home in Seattle.” Toth rattled off an address.
August quickly punched the street name and number into Maps on his phone. The automated voice kicked on. Fifteen minutes away. With Rami’s driving, it’d be less than that.
Satisfaction rippled through him. Someone would pay for the setup today, and if that someone was the shady senator, so be it.
Toth thanked his brother and disconnected. “You know he’s gonna have guards on duty. We’re gonna need to figure out what the plan is.”
“Kill every one of them.” August’s response came out hard and flat. He didn’t give a fuck about anything right now.
“That’s cool and all, but Sav’s pregnant. I’m going to be a dad in a few months, and I’d prefer not to spend that time in jail. So we’re going to need to do something else.”
August scrubbed his hand over his face, annoyance flaming his cheeks. He didn’t blame Toth one bit. August was asking a lot of them already. But Jesus, he couldn’t think. The only exchange his brain could conceive of was bullets for information.
“I agree,” Rami said. “We’ve got Tasers. We’ll go in quiet and take out the guards, but we’re not killing anyone on his property if we can help it.”
“Can’t promise that if Alvarez is there,” August fired back.
Rami exhaled through his nose. “Fair enough. But you want Gigi back before you do anything permanent.”
August rocked his jaw back and forth. Logically, he knew that. That was the hard part. Logic didn’t play well with love. “I like your idea,” he said slowly, taking great effort to regulate his voice—because if his friends knew how far gone he was, they probably would’ve left him at the side of the road.
“Are you gonna hit him again?” Rami asked wryly.
August shrugged. “Probably. I’ll give him the chance to fess up first.”
“And if he knows nothing? You know that’s possible, right?”
“Then he’d better hope Alvarez wants him alive because he’ll be our new bargaining chip.”
“Oh, Jesus,” Toth murmured.
August glanced at the back seat. “I wouldn’t worry too much. The guy’s laundering for the cartel on American soil. That’s decades of prison time. Us going to his house and roughing him up a bit is peanuts by comparison.”
Toth grunted and Rami shrugged in acknowledgment.
“Besides,” August added, “neither one of you would hesitate to do the same if Ivy or Sav were in Gigi’s position.”
“Nope, damn right about that,” Rami concurred.
Toth clapped August hard on the shoulder. “Glad to see you’ve finally admitted you’re in love with Gigi.”
August rolled out of Toth’s hold. “I didn’t admit shit to you. Anything I’ve got to say about my feelings for Gigi will be said to her.”
“You love her.”
August didn’t look behind him because Toth’s dumb grin would only annoy him.
Rami chuckled then stopped. “Ah, fuck. We’re going to be in-laws.”
Toth let out a laugh. “August is going to be your kids’ godfather.”
“Shut up, man,” Rami grumbled.
“You’ll get Gigi as a godmother out of the deal, so that’s good.”
“Look,” August said, looking at Toth then Rami, “I appreciate the distraction and all, but if you both don’t close your lips and focus on getting us there, Gigi might not live. You realize that, right?”
“Easy.” Rami slid him a glance, his blue eyes glittering with menace. “We’re here with you for the long haul. Gigi’s coming home. I fucking promise you that.”
August shook his head solemnly, wishing he could take his friend’s word for it. “You can’t promise anything.”
The flow of traffic was almost dizzying to August’s battered senses. Every mile felt like a goddamn marathon. His chest ached as if a wire were twisting and cinching around his main artery.
Toth leaned forward. “No, but you’ve got a team willing to risk their lives to make sure she comes out of this. Alvarez is still angry and wants to stir the pot. He knows that if he touches Gigi, he’ll have hell to pay. We killed the previous leader of the trafficking ring when he went after Ivy. Alvarez just wants to prove his rank.”
August’s stomach churned. “And he’ll make an example out of Gigi.” The thought of what Alvarez could be doing to her right now made bile heat his esophagus. They were on borrowed time. “Drive faster.”
His friend didn’t say anything, and was already traveling fast, but he sped up. When all this was over, he’d thank Rami and Toth. Not now. Right now, all he could do was survive minute to minute. Second to second. And hope to hell his heart didn’t explode before they reached the Radcliffes’ place.
The GPS instructed them to take the next exit. They’d arrive in a few long-ass minutes. Turning off the highway, Rami steered the vehicle toward one of the upscale ends of the city. The road stretched long and winding, and thick trees surrounded large properties set back far from the street.
“His property will be gated,” Toth noted calmly.
Rami chortled. “As if a gate would keep anyone out.”
“No shit.” August rubbed his thumb over the handle of his gun, the cool steel giving him only a small amount of comfort.
They drove a little further, and the phone announced that their destination was on the right. August got rid of the annoying voice and Rami pulled over on a dirt road parallel to the trees that lined the senator’s property.
Rami loaded his weapon. “You got the drone?” he asked Toth.
Toth was already opening the hatch. The drone was a necessary piece of equipment for any kind of extraction or mission where they were going in blind.
“Yup.” The little machine fired up and Toth sent it high, navigating with a tablet. “We’re about a hundred yards from the house.”
Good. Less than five minutes on foot. August shoved the Glock in his waistband and then grabbed his AR-15. The feeling of the heavy metal in his palms filled him with deep satisfaction.
If this thing didn’t scare the shit out of Radcliffe, nothing would.
Rami passed August a small earbud, and he tucked it in place. Rami did the same and held on to Toth’s while Toth scoped out the area.
“I see four guards outside. Not sure how many are inside, but my guess is the same or fewer.”
“Not bad odds,” Rami said.
Toth brought back the drone, and the metallic spider buzzed as it lowered. He quickly packed up the machine and tossed Rami and August Tasers from a bag in the back. He kept one for himself. Taking the earpiece from Rami, he jerked his head. “Let’s move.”
Armed to the teeth, they trekked through the pine trees. Twigs snapped, and they swatted low-lying branches out of the way as they moved swiftly toward the senator’s home.
Keeping his gaze high for cameras, August vibrated with tension. Coming in like this, they might be met with gunfire. They had to be ready for whatever went down. Radcliffe was surely shaken and heavily staffed.
The house came into view. An eight-foot wrought iron gate surrounded the grounds.
“There.” August pointed to a rotating camera above the covered patio. After quickly slipping his weapon through the bars, August grasped the metal and hauled himself over. Rami and Toth did the same. Tall cedar and spruce trees lined the fence, keeping them hidden from the camera and anyone who might look in their direction from the house.
Rami brought his finger to his ear. “Test.”
His voice rasped in August’s head. Both August and Toth gave a nod of acknowledgment. “You go west,” August instructed Rami quietly. “You east,” he said to Toth. “And I’ll get the fucker securing the back.”
Toth gave him a hard stare. “Don’t kill anyone if you can help it. Tase and restrain. Let’s get in and out without landing our asses in jail before you can get to Gigi.”
August gave one nod. “Copy that.”
He’d restrain himself until Gigi was safe. After that, he’d slaughter every bastard who’d hurt her.
* * *
A rough arm clamped down on Gigi between her neck and shoulder, yanking her backward. She opened her mouth, her lungs ready to release a guttural scream, but a cruel hand slammed down over her lips.
Devastation struck her. No. She’d been so close. Had risked everything to escape—twice—and failed. Whatever they’d planned to do to hurt her was probably compounded now. She’d never get away again. They’d make sure of it.
“Fucking bitch.” The snarl made tiny bumps of apprehension break out on her skin.
She fought and twisted, but Marko lifted her off the ground and carried her into the backyard. Alec walked ahead of them, limping.
Marko stumbled up the steps awkwardly and dragged her into the house. Saltiness from his sweaty palm touched her lips and made her shudder. Vomit sat at the back of her tongue, and if it weren’t for the anxiety gripping her throat, she probably would’ve spilled her cookies.
“Take her back to the room,” Alec commanded, a gun hanging loosely in his fingers.
“No,” Gigi whimpered against Marko’s hand. She didn’t want to beg. Didn’t want to go down a pathetic, sobbing mess. But dear god. She didn’t want to die like this. Scared and alone.
She had nothing to bargain with. They wanted nothing but to please their boss, which probably meant killing her slowly and painfully. There was no way out.
When they reached the hallway, Marko released his hold and gripped her biceps instead. Drawing her back to his front, he brought his lips to her ear. “No one can help you now.”
The wisp of his breath over her earlobe sent a shiver racing over her flesh. She choked on a plea, but his fingertips bit harshly into her muscle. She winced, and he propelled her down the short hallway. Micha stood near the open door of the room across the hall from Gigi’s, her ears back and spine straight. Either she too was pissed at Gigi or she disliked the anger and tension radiating from her owners.
Marko tried the door handle and the wood didn’t budge. She cringed knowing the dresser was still blocking their entry. He sent her a fiery gaze, then slammed his shoulder into the door repeatedly. After several tries, and Alec’s help, they pushed the door open the remainder of the way.
“Get in there.” Marko shoved her into the room and her knees connected with the floor. Pain shot up and down her shins, but before she could stand, Alec seized her throat in his grip.
The air squeaked from her lungs as he pulled her high on her knees and brought his face down close to hers. “You’re going to fucking pay for running away, cunt.” His eyes glittered like ruthless stones, but behind the anger was excitement.
Oh, dear god. He wanted this.
He’d enjoy every minute.
Pain gripped the tendons and cords in her neck. Blood filled her face, and her cheeks tingled with the need for oxygen. Her chest contracted and a raspy grunt escaped from her lips.
Her vision waned and black dots blotted out Alec’s loathing smirk. He brought the gun to her face, the metal cool and menacing against her cheek. None of his words penetrated the thick fog closing in around her, but his tone held promise and rage.
Alec’s hand loosened and air rushed into her lungs, infusing her cells simultaneously. Gigi gasped and grabbed her throat. She fell forward on the floor, her face resting on the wood. Angry shouts sounded around her.
“You’re protecting her,” Alec snarled.
“No, I’m not. I don’t care what you do. But if you’re smart, you’ll wait to hear from Alvarez.”
“Once he’s done with her, she won’t be any fun,” Alec said with a snort. “Get out if you don’t want to watch.”
Alec’s fingers sank into her hair, dragging her across the floor. Gigi let out a scream of agony as she was tossed onto the mattress. Her back bounced on the springs, and her body registered what was happening before her brain did. She tried to catapult away, but Alec pinned her down.
Gigi sent a terrified glance around the room. It was empty.
A sinking sensation pulled at her organs. Marko had left. The door hung open, dangling freedom in front of her as if taunting her.
Alec’s hands were rough as he tore at her clothes. She kicked and fought, punching and scratching, but he only laughed as if wanting her to fight more.
He bent forward and sank his teeth into her cleavage. She screamed and jammed her fist against his head. He laughed again, pinning her hands down and lifting his face to smirk at her. Blood dripped from his lips.
Gigi’s head spun. She kicked and bucked, but he didn’t fall away.
Desperation filled her. She’d rather die than let him touch her. The sound of her shirt ripping was like a bucket of ice water on her face.
There was no escape.