Chapter Seventeen
Steel
“I wasn’t going to ask, but did you guys ever figure out why Becca leaked those videos?” Raven asks. It’s been several days since her mom arrived. We asked her to stay with us, but she insisted that she stay at Raven’s apartment instead.
The apartment that we keep talking Raven out of going back to. I want her here with us for the rest of our lives.
“It was her petty way of getting back at us for not letting her become a member,” Blaze answers. “Don’t worry, she won’t do anything like that again.”
“Why?” Raven asks. “Is she…you know…alive?”
I grin at her hesitation.
“Yeah, baby,” I answer, tucking her closer against my side. “Once King was finished questioning her, he turned her into the police.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good.”
Blaze’s phone rings, effectively ending the conversation.
“Yeah,” he answers, placing it on speaker.
“Get to Taylor’s house right now.”
Ghost.
“Why?” Blaze asks, sitting up. “What’s going on?”
“Knox is missing.”
The tension in the room spikes instantly. Blaze’s expression hardens, and my grip on Raven tightens instinctively as if holding her close can somehow anchor me against the storm that’s brewing.
“Missing?” Blaze growls, already on his feet. “What the fuck do you mean, missing?”
“Where’s Taylor?” I ask.
“Dead.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” I hear Doc say. He must have taken control of Venom.
“What the fuck happened?” I shout. “Get dressed, baby.”
“I don’t know, brother,” Ghost says. “Reynolds heard a gunshot and rushed over to find Knox missing and Taylor with a fucking bullet in his chest. He’s securing his family in the panic room and heading this way.”
“Got it,” Doc says. “The bullet’s out, and the bleeding has stopped. It missed his heart. He’s going to be fine but pissed. Best get his boy back before he wakes up.”
“Thank fuck,” I sigh. “We’re on our way. Be there in ten.”
The call ends abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. The only sound is Raven’s quickened breathing, her wide eyes darting between us.
“Knox…” she starts, her voice trembling, “he’ll be okay, right? You’ll find him?”
Blaze crouches in front of her, his hands resting on her knees as he looks her dead in the eye. “We’ll find him, baby. I promise.”
I nod, my voice steady despite the chaos churning inside me. “No one messes with one of ours. Knox will come home.”
Raven’s hands tremble as she reaches out, gripping Blaze’s arms. “What do you think happened to him?”
Blaze and I exchange looks. Neither of us wants to speculate out loud, but we both know the possibilities are grim.
“We’ll know soon,” Blaze says firmly, standing and placing a hand on her shoulder. “Stay here, sweetheart. Don’t leave. We’ll call you as soon as we know anything.”
“No,” she says, shaking her head vehemently. “I’m coming with you.”
“Raven,” I start, but she cuts me off with a glare that’s all fire and determination.
“Don’t even try to argue with me,” she snaps, her voice shaking but resolute. “He’s my friend too. I’m not sitting here waiting to hear if he’s okay. I’m coming.”
Blaze sighs, running a hand through his hair. “She’s not going to back down,” he mutters.
“Fine,” I say. “But you don’t leave our side. Not for a second.”
“Deal,” she says, standing and grabbing her shoes with more resolve than I’ve ever seen in her.
Blaze grabs his keys, and we head out.
The ride to Taylor’s place is done in silence. Raven sits between us in Blaze’s truck, and I want to comfort her, but my own mind is out of control. So, I hold her hand, taking as much comfort as I’m trying to give.
Someone took our boy. And for that, they fucking die.
“Stay close to us,” I say, my voice firmer than I intend. I can’t risk her getting caught in the crossfire of whatever’s happening. “We’ll figure this out, but you don’t leave our sight.”
Blaze shoots me a look, one that conveys we’re on the same page. Protect Raven at all costs.
We exit the truck and head for the house. The parking lot and the yard are flooded with vehicles and bikes. Everyone is here.
“Wait,” Raven’s panicked voice causes us both to freeze. I’m looking around for danger, but she shakes her head. “I already see too many faces,” she says, tears flowing down her face. “I’m going to lose you. I won’t be able to see you. There’s too many faces here.”
Blaze turns and grabs something from the truck. It’s the hats we bought for Raven to find us if we’re in a crowded location.
“We’re going to wear these, sweetheart,” he tells her as we place them on our heads. “We won’t take them off for any reason.”
“Thank you,” she sighs. “They even have your names on the side. So sweet. I love you both so much. I’m okay now. Let’s go.”
We’re both momentarily frozen as we take in her words.
Did she mean the type of love that we have for her?
“We’ll come back to it once we’re home,” Blaze says as we watch her walk to the porch. “Let’s go.
“Brother, when we get Knox back and if Taylor doesn’t make it…”
I leave the rest unsaid. He knows what will happen. We’ll lose Knox. He won’t want to push forward without his Papa.
“Update,” Blaze says as we enter the house.
It’s chaos. People are everywhere.
“Taylor’s going to be fine,” Doc says. “He’s already awake and threatening Ghost.”
“Who is that?” Raven asks. “I’ve never heard that accent. I thought I met everyone.”
“That’s Doc, baby,” I explain. “He’s one of Venom’s alters.”
“Oh,” she says. “That was real?”
“Nice to meet you,” Doc says. “Maybe one day, when it isn’t a war zone, we can sit down, and you can tell me all about your face blindness. So interesting. Well, Venom’s pushing to front . Get Taylor to a hospital.”
“I swear, Reynolds,” Taylor yells. “I love you, brother. But if you don’t get out of my fucking way, I’m going to kill you.”
“You just got shot, man,” Reynolds says. “It only just missed your heart. You’re going to the fucking hospital.”
“What if it was Del? Or one of your kids? Damnit, Reynolds, I have to find him.”
“We will,” I say as we enter the room. “Trust us to do this, brother. If you die because we didn’t make you go to the hospital, Knox will never forgive us. Hell, we would never forgive us.”
“Take a deep breath,” Blaze says. “And tell us everything you know.”
“Raven,” he says instead. “I know you’re not a Little, but would you care to come cuddle with me? I need to calm down, and you’re scared. If you allow me to comfort you, I think that will help comfort me, as well.”
“He’s a Daddy Dom, baby,” I explain when she looks up at me. “He has a drive to care for people. And sometimes, Daddy’s need to be cared for. Right now, his Little isn’t here to do that. Don’t feel pressured. Do what feels comfort…”
Raven rushes forward, only slowing when reaches the couch that Taylor’s sitting on.
“How do you want your cuddle?” she asks softly.
He stands and pulls her into his arms. Not even flinching at the pain it must have caused him.
“We’re not getting her back for a while,” Blaze says softly.
When Taylor sighs and visibly relaxes, I decide he can hold onto her until we get Knox back.
“Taylor,” Blaze says gently, stepping closer. “We need to know what happened. Every detail.”
“Okay,” Taylor says, sitting on the couch and pulling our woman onto his lap. Raven simply lays her head gently on the side of his chest that didn’t have a bullet in it.
Taylor’s eyes open, his gaze hardening as he straightens slightly, though he keeps one arm loosely around Raven. “We were in the backyard. Knox wanted to show me something he’d been working on with the garden. It was peaceful. Quiet. Then I heard a sound like someone stepping on a branch. I turned toward it, and before I could react, there was a gunshot. Pain hit me, and I dropped. When I looked up, Knox was gone.”
“Did you see anyone? Anything out of place?” I ask, my voice low and controlled, though rage simmers just beneath the surface.
“No,” Taylor says through gritted teeth. “Whoever it was, they were fast. Professional. They knew exactly what they were doing.”
Blaze’s jaw tightens, his hands curling into fists. “We’ll find him. Whoever did this won’t get away with it.”
“We’re going to need the footage from the cameras,” I say, looking at Reynolds, who nods.
“It’s already being pulled,” Reynolds replies. “King’s on it.”
“Who would want to hurt Knox?” Raven asks softly.
“A lot of people, honey,” Taylor says, his voice breaking as he rests his face on top of her head. “His job is high-risk.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with his job,” King says, walking into the room. “Knox did a stupid thing, and now he’s being targeted.”
“Explain,” Ghost says. “Ambulance is on its way, Taylor, and you will be leaving in it.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I find my husband,” he says.
“I’ll go with you,” Raven says. “I’m just in the way here. I would say that I’d protect you, but I wouldn’t recognize the bad man even if I had his picture in my hand and was looking at his face. But I will stay by your side the whole time.”
Time freezes as I realize the truth of her statement.
“Fuck,” Blaze says, as I’m sure he’s come to the same conclusion.
Someone could hurt our woman, walk away, and she would never know if she looked them dead in the eyes again.
“We’re locking her away,” he says so low that only I can hear.
I nod my agreement. She’s more vulnerable than anyone we’ve ever met.
“We’ll keep her safe,” I tell him.
“What did he do?” Taylor asks King.
“He and your sister have taken it upon themselves to hack a website with known sexual predators,” he says. “They’ve gained access to private webcams and are crashing the sites and sending the information to the police.”
“Is Emily okay?” Taylor asks shakily.
“She’s fine,” King says. “Pissed, but fine. She said they didn’t want to say anything because you would have made them stop.”
“Damn right I would have,” he growls, tightening his hold on Raven. “What the fuck were they thinking? Look at the shit that happened to her the last time she played this game. And, now she brings my husband into it? When he gets home, I’m going to hold him until I can breathe again. Then I’m going to turn his ass so red that he won’t be able to sit for a fucking year.”
“So, I take it someone is retaliating,” Blaze says, his voice tight with controlled fury.
King nods. “They’re coming after him because he got too close. Because he’s exposing the monsters they’re trying to protect.”
“Or it was the monster he’s trying to expose that took him,” Raven says. “Maybe we can ask this Emily person if there was someone that they were currently trying to catch but haven’t been able to yet.”
“Smart,” King says. “I’ll call her now.”
“Or you can just ask me.”
“Damnit, Em,” Taylor growls. “Why are you here?”
“As opposed to what? Hiding away? It’s like you don’t even know me. Who are you holding?”
“Em, this is Raven. Blaze and Steel’s woman. Raven, my stupidly brave little sister, Emily.”
“Nice to meet you, Raven. Knox has told me all about you. We’ll hang out when we get him back. Anthony Taylor, don’t tell Mom you got shot.”
“As if I would, Em. Answers. Now.”
Emily rolls her eyes, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she crosses her arms. “Fine, fine. We were close to taking down a ring tied to a pretty high-profile name. Knox was working on one of their servers when he uncovered files pointing to someone big. A senator, I think. He didn’t tell me much, just that it was bad. Really bad.”
“What kind of files?” I ask, my voice low and tight. “Anything that could lead us to where they might’ve taken him?”
Emily’s jaw tightens. “Maybe. He mentioned something about a property that popped up. A warehouse outside of town. He was trying to confirm its connection before sending it to the authorities.”
King is already pulling out his phone. “Give me the address. I’ll get my team on it.”
“Wait,” Blaze interjects, his tone sharp. “We’re coming with you.”
“No,” King says firmly, his glare unwavering. “This is going to be a bloodbath. I won’t risk you two or your woman.”
“We don’t need your permission,” I say, my voice cold. “This is our family, too. We’re not sitting on the sidelines while you handle this.”
King’s lips press into a thin line, but after a tense moment, he nods. “Fine. But you stick to my plan. No heroics.”
“I don’t know the address,” Emily says. “But give me a few minutes, and I’ll get it. I just need to hack into Knox’s computers.”
“I thought no one could access Knox’s things,” Raven says.
“Oh. I totally could,” Emily says from the other room. “Just give me enough energy drinks and about three months, and I’d get through a layer or two. For now, however, I have his passwords. Got it.”
Rushing back into the room, she hands King a piece of paper. “This is the address he was looking into. So far, he found property taxes from the last three years. And a lease under the name of Bridget Smithton. Who is actually deceased.”
“Good job,” Ghost says. “Ambulance is here. Tyler, you take Raven and Emily with you. Mitchell is tagging along.”
“I already have some men on their way to the hospital,” Mitchell says from his spot near the door. “I wanted extra guards on them.”
I nod my approval. Other than being our MC brother, Mitchell is one of the bodyguards who work the clubs. He works for Taylor, and I know their team of men are top-notch.
Emily steps forward, determination blazing in her eyes. “I’m coming too. With you guys, not Tony.”
“The hell you are,” Taylor snaps, his arm tightening protectively around Raven. “You’ve done enough, Em. Stay where it’s safe.”
Emily glares at him. “I’m not some helpless little girl, Tony. This is Knox we’re talking about. You think I’m going to sit here and do nothing? I’m going, Anthony.”
“She can stay in the truck,” Ghost says. “We may need her if they have security cameras.”
“Damnit, Em, if you take a single step outside of that vehicle, I’ll tell our mother that you want to move back in with her.”
“Evil,” she smiles. “Let’s go. Keep him calm, new girl. Don’t let him sneak off.”
I don’t want to leave Raven behind, but I also don’t want her going and risking her life. Maybe Blaze will stay.
“She’ll have Mitchell, Taylor, and a team of their bodyguards,” he says, reading my mind.
Blaze’s reassurance does little to settle the unease crawling up my spine. The idea of leaving Raven, even with someone as capable as Taylor and Mitchell, doesn’t sit right. But there’s no time to argue. Knox needs us, and every second we waste here is another second he’s in danger.
“Stay close to them, baby,” I say, my voice low as I cup Raven’s face, forcing her to look at me. I don’t remove her from Taylor’s lap. I doubt he’d let me at the moment. “Don’t let anyone out of your sight, and don’t go anywhere alone. Got it?”
Her eyes search mine, worry evident, but she nods. “Got it.”
Blaze steps forward, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “We’ll be back with Knox,” he promises, his voice steady but carrying the weight of unspoken fears. “Please, stay with Mitchell and Taylor, sweetheart.”
Raven reaches out, gripping both our hands tightly. “Be careful,” she whispers, her voice cracking.
“Always,” I reply before reluctantly pulling away. “We’ll see you soon. Remember Taylor, she’ll forget your face if you leave her sight.”
“Don’t worry about her,” he says. “We’ll keep her safe. Just go find my pup.”
Blaze and I follow King, Ghost, and the rest of the team out to the line of vehicles waiting outside. The rumble of engines and the heavy tension in the air make it clear: this isn’t just a rescue mission. It’s a declaration of war.
As we pile into Reynolds SUV, Emily hops into the backseat of another truck, giving us a mock salute before settling in.
“Let’s move,” King orders and the convoy roars to life.
The drive is tense, filled with the sound of static-filled radio chatter and the occasional bark of an order from King. Blaze sits beside me, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles are white. Neither of us speaks, but the shared silence says everything: rage, fear, determination.
When we reach the warehouse, the scene is eerily quiet. The building looms in the distance, its windows dark and foreboding. The only sound is the crunch of gravel beneath our boots as we move into position.
“Emily, get that feed,” King commands as soon as we’re in range.
From the safety of the truck, Emily works quickly, her fingers flying over the keyboard. “Got it,” she says after a few tense moments. “There are cameras covering the entrances and a few inside. I’m looping the feed now.”
“Good girl,” Ghost says. “Stay put.”
The rest of us fan out, weapons drawn and senses on high alert. Blaze and I stick together, our movements synchronized as we approach the side entrance. My pulse pounds in my ears, every step bringing us closer to whatever waits inside.
“Clear,” Blaze whispers as we breach the door, moving silently into the dimly lit corridor.
The smell of oil and mildew fills the air, and the faint hum of machinery echoes in the distance.
“What type of operation are they running here?” Ghost asks. “Are those fucking cages?”
“It’s a whore house,” Emily says through our earpieces. “Well, a better term is a trafficking ring. I’m pulling up their records now. They’ve been using this place as a front for years.”
Blaze curses under his breath, his grip on his weapon tightening. “We’re burning it to the ground when this is over.”
“Focus,” King hisses. “We’re here for Knox. Find him first. We haven’t seen any security. They’re either stupid or think they have nothing to fear.”
“Either way, stupid,” Emily says.
“Let’s check the corridor,” he says. “Emily, keep that feed on a loop in case someone is watching the screens.”
King may not be our president, but he knows his shit. We’ll follow his every command.
The corridor branches off into several rooms, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls. The sound of muffled voices draws us to the left, toward a heavy steel door slightly ajar.
“On me,” Ghost says, taking point. Blaze and I fall in behind him, weapons raised as we approach the door.
Inside, the room is cold and damp, lined with small, rusted cages. Some are empty, while others hold terrified women and men, their eyes hollow with fear and exhaustion. The sight makes my blood boil, but I force myself to stay focused. We’ll deal with them after we find Knox.
“Not here,” Ghost mutters, his jaw tight as he scans the room.
“They’ve got a lower level,” Emily chimes in. “I’m seeing schematics now. Stairwell is to your right, about twenty feet down the hall.”
“Copy,” King says, motioning for us to move.
As we head toward the stairwell, Blaze glances at me, his green eyes blazing with anger. “We’re getting every single one of them out of here,” he says, his voice low but resolute.
“Damn right,” I reply.
The stairwell descends into near-total darkness, the air growing colder with each step. The faint sound of whimpering and distant cries echoes up from below, making my skin crawl.
“Lights,” Ghost orders, and we activate our tactical flashlights, the beams cutting through the darkness.
At the bottom of the stairs, we find another corridor, this one lined with reinforced doors. The cries are louder here, the sound of desperation and despair making it hard to breathe.
“Which one?” King asks.
Emily’s voice comes through the earpiece, calm but urgent. “Third door on the left. I’m seeing a heat signature—two figures. Up ahead at the end of this corridor is a large room full of people. More prisoners, I assume.”
Ghost nods, signaling for us to stack up. Blaze takes one side of the door while I take the other, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Breach on three,” King whispers. “One, two—”
On three, Ghost kicks the door open, and we storm inside, weapons raised.
The scene inside makes my stomach churn. Knox is tied to a chair in the center of the room, blood staining his shirt and trickling down his face. Beside him stands a man holding a knife, his face twisted with anger.
“Drop it!” Ghost barks, his voice like a whip crack.
The man hesitates for a moment, his grip tightening on the knife. But he’s outnumbered, and he knows it. Slowly, he drops the blade and raises his hands.
Blaze is on him in an instant, slamming him against the wall and cuffing him with zip ties. “If you so much as blink wrong, I’ll end you,” he growls.
I rush to Knox, cutting the ropes binding him. “We’ve got you, boy,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me. “You’re safe now.”
Knox looks up at me, his face pale but his eyes defiant. “Took you long enough,” he mutters, his voice weak but laced with his usual sass.
Blaze kneels beside him, helping me lift him to his feet. “You’re lucky we like you, boy,” he says, his tone gruff but affectionate.
“We need to move,” Ghost says, his gaze scanning the room. “Emily, status on the rest of the building?”
“Clear for now,” she replies. “But you need to hurry. Reinforcements are en route. I called them to get the others out. If you don’t want them to know were here, hurry the hell up.”
“Copy that,” King says. “Let’s get out of here.”
With Knox supported between Blaze and me, we make our way back up the stairs and through the corridors. The captives don’t even seem to realize that we’re here. I hate leaving them, but I know they’ll be safe soon.
By the time we reach the vehicles, the air outside feels impossibly fresh, like a lifeline after the suffocating hell of the warehouse.
“Get him to Taylor,” King orders, and Blaze and I help Knox into one of the waiting trucks.
As the convoy pulls away, the warehouse fades into the distance. But the memory of what we found inside will stay with me forever.
Luckily, Knox isn’t seriously injured. He’s going to have a black eye and a swollen cheek for a couple of weeks, but other than that, he’s fine.
“Rest, boy,” I say, gripping Knox’s hand. “You’re safe now.”
Blaze leans back in the seat beside me, his jaw tight. “You do realize you’re in trouble, right?”
“Is Papa okay?” Knox asks, tears flowing down his face. “He’s dead, isn’t he? He’s dead because of me.”
“No, sweet boy,” I soothe. “Taylor was shot, but Doc got to him in time. He’s currently at the hospital, and he’s going to be just fine. When we left, he was awake and holding my woman captive in a cuddle bond.”
“Good,” he smiles. “Then I don’t care if I’m in trouble. My butt’s going to be sore for the rest of my life, and I’m probably never going to see my Legos again, but I don’t care. Papa is alive, and the scumbag who was selling those people's bodies for money is going to jail.”
Knox’s defiant words bring a smirk to my lips despite the gravity of the situation. His sass is still intact, a sure sign he’ll be okay, even if he’s scared and shaken.
“You’ve got a lot more to worry about than Legos,” Blaze says, his voice sharp but laced with affection. “You scared the hell out of everyone, boy. Taylor’s going to tan your ass, and honestly? I might help him.”
Knox groans, leaning his head back against the seat. “Can we focus on the fact that I’m alive, and we shut down that operation instead? Positive vibes, guys. Let’s keep it positive. By the way, I think that asshat broke my nose. Is it crooked? Do you think Papa will let me keep my Legos since my nose is broken?”
“Knox, I’d be surprised if Taylor doesn’t take away all of your electronics,” I tell him. “I sure as hell would.”
“But those are my livelihood,” he gasps. “It’s literally my job.”
“As if he would care,” Ghost says from behind the wheel.
“Alright. Alright. Lesson learned. I’ll leave the heroism to Emily. Why are you guys wearing hats?”
“Emily’s in trouble too,” Blaze answers. “And the hats are so Raven can find us in a crowd.”
“Cool. Maybe we should all wear something that she identifies us with. Maybe a tattoo,” Knox closes his eyes and rests his head on my shoulder. “I’ll think of something.”
The truck grows quiet, the weight of the night settling over all of us. The horrors we witnessed in that warehouse won’t be easily forgotten, and while we saved Knox, we know there’s still work to be done.
Knox and Emily may have started this, but we’re all in it now. We’re going to clean this town up. Raven would never be able to recognize pictures of the predators if we showed her. She’s vulnerable.
“We have to protect her,” I whisper.
Blaze nods beside me, his face shadowed but his determination clear. “We will,” he says, his voice low and steady. “No one touches her. No one even gets the chance.”
Knox stirs against my shoulder, half-asleep but still alert enough to mumble, “You guys talk like she’s some kind of porcelain doll. She’s tougher than you think.”
“She’s tough,” Blaze agrees. “But she’s also vulnerable in ways you don’t understand. And that’s not a weakness. It’s just a reality.”
Knox opens one eye, glancing up at me. “You mean her face blindness?”
“Exactly,” I reply. “If someone came after her, she wouldn’t be able to identify them. Even if they were right in front of her. We can’t let that happen.”
Knox hums thoughtfully, then closes his eyes again. “Well, you’re not wrong. But she’s got you two, and I don’t think there’s anyone stupid enough to mess with that.”
Blaze smirks. “You’d be surprised.”
The truck pulls into the hospital, and the faint hum of activity greets us as we unload. Emily is already waiting, pacing with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. The second she sees Knox, her expression softens, and she rushes forward.
“Knox!” she exclaims, her voice trembling with relief as she pulls him into a tight hug.
Knox winces but hugs her back, his usual sass replaced with quiet gratitude. “I’m okay, Em. Thanks for saving my ass.”
“You’re welcome,” she says, pulling back just enough to glare at him. “But don’t ever do something that stupid again, or I’ll personally make sure you regret it.”
He chuckles weakly. “I didn’t kidnap myself. But, noted. Take me to Taylor.”
As we follow them into the hospital, I glance at Blaze. His expression mirrors my own. A mix of relief and unrelenting resolve.
“We’ll talk later,” I murmur. “About what’s next.”
Blaze nods, his gaze flicking to Raven, who’s standing outside of a room, watching everything with wide eyes.
“Raven, please come back in here,” I hear Taylor call out. “Come sit with me.”
“For now,” he says, his voice softening as Raven smiles and returns to our brother, “let’s make sure everyone gets home safe.”
I follow his gaze, my chest tightening at the sight of her holding Taylor’s hand. She’s our center, our reason to keep pushing forward. And no matter what comes next, we’ll protect her. Always.
“Looks like King’s been training you lot to become soldiers,” someone says. “Great job out there. We couldn’t have caught them without you.”
I turn to see who is speaking, but all I see is the back of an officer as he walks away.
Shaking my head, I follow my brother to get our woman.