Chapter 33
Crash and Axel hid in the trees next to the open area where Emir wanted Sidney to meet him. She wasn’t there yet, but she was in the car waiting for the time to come closer. There was no sign of Emir, and Crash was anxious that the man had already done something to Allyson.
“She’s fine,” Crash muttered to himself.
“She fucking well better be.” Elijah’s voice crackled in Crash’s ear.
“Any movement yet?” Keith asked through the earpiece.
“Nothing,” Axel answered.
“I’m soon going to have to come in there.” Sidney sounded nervous.
“We got you,” Roger told her.
Before they left the compound, there were several discussions on who would be going, and Roger didn’t give anyone an option. Titus wanted to join them, too, but he was outvoted. He was left standing outside the building as they all pulled away in the vehicles.
Keith had called Sandy to see if Titus had returned to the conference room, but she said he had headed toward the safe house. Crash wasn’t sure if he would ever trust the man again, but he was pretty sure Titus would do anything to protect his daughter.
“Alright, I’m heading in through the path,” Sidney whispered; then there was the sound of a car door.
The only sound around them was the rustling of the trees and the wind whistling through the brush. It was cold, but Crash and Axel kept their weapons aimed at the open field. He was confident that Keith, James, Nick, Aaron, and Roger were in similar stances. Elijah was still in the SUV, keeping an eye for anyone coming in behind Sidney.
“I think he was bullshitting about having more men here,” Axel whispered.
“I think you’re right.” Crash stiffened as Sidney appeared from the trees.
She searched the area as she ambled to the center of the field. Crash scanned the trees to see Emir’s appearance but found nothing. Sidney threw her hands up in the air and spun around.
“I’m here. Where are you?” Sidney shouted.
The next thing Crash saw was her digging into her pocket to pull out her phone. She tapped the screen and put it to her ear.
“Hello,” Sidney answered.
“Hello, Aya,” Emir’s voice crackled through Crash’s earpiece.
“Smart girl to put that on speaker,” Keith chuckled.
“My name is Sidney. Now, where are you?”
“I named you Aya, but maybe Sidney suits you better because of your parentage.” Emir chuckled.
“What is that supposed to mean? I’m here now. Come out so Allyson can go home,” Sidney shouted into the phone.
“Look up.” Emir stepped out from the other side of the field
Sidney put the phone back in her pocket and started to walk towards him. She held her hands in her pockets, where she’d put her gun. Crash could hear her muttering something to herself, but they couldn’t figure out what she was saying.
“Stop,” Emir yelled when she was in the middle of the field.
“Can we stop with the dramatics?” Sidney snapped.
“You think I’m here to take you away, don’t you?” Emir walked toward her.
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Sidney didn’t seem the least bit scared of him.
“I did until I found out the truth.” Emir stopped.
“The truth?” Sidney’s voice cracked.
“Yes, how your whore of a mother allowed herself to be used while she was promised to another man. One I chose for her.” Emir’s eyes narrowed.
“We need to get her out of there,” Roger whispered.
“That’s not my fault,” Sidney continued.
“No, but you must pay the price,” Emir lifted his gun, but someone stepped out of the trees and shouted.
“It’s me that should pay the price.” Titus stalked toward Emir.
“You,” Emir practically growled the word. “I’ll be happy to end you too.”
Emir turned the gun toward Titus and shot, but Titus had a weapon himself, and before Crash blinked, there was a bullet-sized hole in the middle of Emir’s forehead. Sidney screamed and dropped to her knees. Crash and Axel jumped up and ran toward where Emir lay on the ground.
“It’s over.” Axel kicked the gun away from Emir’s hand.
“He’s been shot,” Roger yelled from where Titus was on his knees.
Crash was frantic as he searched Emir for something that told him where Allyson was, but the only thing he found was a phone. He called Sandy to see if she could find something to tell them where the phone had been.
“We’ll find her,” Axel assured him.
In less than an hour, the field was filled with police and more of the NES staff. Elijah called his father and uncle to get an idea of where they could look for Allyson in the area. Lewis told them there were four hunting shacks in the area.
“What if he didn’t even keep her here?” Crash blew out a breath.
“She’s smart, and she’ll find a way to get in touch if she’s not here,” Aaron told him, but Crash wasn’t convinced the man believed it.
Sandy sent them all maps of the area with the cabins marked. Crash, Trunk, and Axel headed to one while the others were divided among the rest of the searchers.
Sidney wanted to help, but Keith convinced her to go to the hospital with Titus and Roger. She went reluctantly, but she was pretty shaken.
“These woods are so fucking dense,” Trunk grumbled.
“It’s why it’s a good hunting ground,” Elijah said from behind them.
“I thought you went to check one of the other ones.” Crash asked.
“I’m not familiar with the other ones, but I’ve been to this one.” Elijah pointed to an opening in the path. “If we go that way, we’ll get there faster.”
Crash thought they were going in circles until he heard someone crying. Axel must have heard it, too, because he put a finger to his lips. They tried to be as quiet as possible. Crash was in front as he turned onto another path, all the air whooshed out of his lungs.
“Allyson,” he practically screamed.
She sat on the ground with her leg wrapped in gauze and sticks on both sides of her ankle. Somehow, she’d managed to position herself in the shelter of some trees, and when she looked up, he wanted to find Emir and kill him again. Her lips were practically blue, and her face red from the cold. Ice had formed on her lashes and hair, but she lifted a hand to reach for Crash, and he dropped to his knees.
“I…I tried… my ankle…” Allyson whispered through chattering teeth.
“We’ll get you out of here.”
Crash couldn’t hold back the sob that erupted from his throat as he picked her up in his arms. They’d found her, and she was alive. That’s all that mattered.
The hospital waiting room was full by the time they arrived. In true Hopedale fashion, the news of Allyson’s rescue had flown through the town. Crash never left her side until they wheeled her into the trauma room.
He was now pacing the waiting room with her dad, sister, and son, as well as his family. Sandy had brought Lily to watch Caleb and Mila so Crash’s family could be with him at the hospital. Sidney had joined them and let them know Titus was okay. He’d been shot in the shoulder but would make a full recovery.
“She’s a tough cookie, Vera,” Lewis said where he sat rubbing his hands together.
It sounded as if Allyson’s father needed to say the words to convince himself everything would be okay. Thankfully, he wasn’t alone, and Vera sat next to him, rubbing his back gently.
“You’re right, dear. She’s tough,” Vera agreed.
It seemed as if they’d been there for hours and probably had been. Several people had brought coffee, and he’d lost count of how many cups he’d had. When he looked up to see Cameron leaning against the wall, Crash walked toward him.
“I’m sorry, Cam,” Crash said as he stood next to the young man.
“Why are you sorry?” Cameron looked confused.
“None of this…” Crash stopped when Cameron raised his hand.
“Unless you’re about to say none of this is your fault, I don’t want to hear it because it’s not. Let’s be glad the asshole is dead, and Mom is safe.” Cameron held out his hand. “You’re good for her, and I don’t know why it took you guys so long to get together, but I’m glad she found you.”
Crash took Cameron’s hand, shook it, and then pulled him into a hug. He had his mother’s forgiving nature and willingness to help. When Crash pulled back, Cameron smiled at him.
“Just don’t break her heart,” Cameron said.
“I won’t,” Crash promised.