Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
W ith her head resting on the wall and tears welling behind her closed eyelids, Gigi couldn’t summon any calm. Sadness closed in around her, stealing all hope.
The hard truth was that she had only hours, if not minutes, before Alvarez arrived and decided to either put a bullet in her head or sell her to the highest bidder. If he chose to keep her alive, there was a good chance he wouldn’t cut out her tongue, as Alec had mentioned earlier. That’d only make her harder to sell... probably.
She’d rather a quick bullet. At the thought, tears rolled down her cheeks.
No, she wouldn’t prefer immediate death. Because if she didn’t die right away there was at least a chance of escape. A chance to survive and find August. He wouldn’t stop searching for her. She was as certain of that as she was that Alec was a demon in human form.
They’d found Ivy. They could find her, too.
She just had to stay alive. Not anger Alec again, or Alvarez if she could help it.
Outside, Micha barked. Had someone arrived at the house? She couldn’t look out the window with the cardboard back in place. Her nerves bounced, and she opened her eyes as if doing so would help her determine who was outside. Could it be August? Had he found her?
Or was it Alvarez?
She inhaled a shaky breath as voices drifted from the front of the house. She sniffled. Devastation clawed its way up the back of her throat. There was no chance the new arrival was August because there sure as hell wouldn’t be comfortable chitchat. Who’d have thought the blast of bullets could offer comfort?
Right now, that’s what she prayed for.
Bullets. Violence. August storming in and shooting every one of Alvarez’s men.
None of that happened. No forced entry. No battle cries.
Just conversation.
Footsteps scuffed down the hallway. Gigi squirmed. With her arms bound behind her, she couldn’t do a damn thing to protect herself. She wet her lips as the snap of the metal lock opening echoed in the tight space.
The door swung open and Marko entered. His expression stoic, he barely skimmed her face as he stood to the side to let the man behind him enter.
It had to be Val Alvarez. His eyes swam with scrutiny as he raked his gaze over her face and body. His ebony hair was streaked with gray, and wrinkles surrounded his eyes.
His thick eyebrows drew low as he took in the bloodstained mattress. “What’d you do?” He wheeled on Marko, who held up his hands and took a step in retreat.
“Wasn’t me. Alec started to, um, touch her. Micha got scared and attacked.”
Alvarez’s eyes widened and became sharp. “Where is she hurt?”
“Not her.” He nodded toward the door. “Alec.”
The older man’s eyebrow rose. Then he let out a sneer of laughter and rambled something in Spanish. Marko smiled, seemingly amused by whatever Alvarez had said.
“Alec!” Alvarez screamed.
A minute later the door across the hall creaked open, and then Alec entered the room. He’d tied a white shirt around the worst of the wounds on his arm, but blood still stained his skin. His face held a little more energy than it had before, but the red cracks in the whites of his eyes revealed he’d been sleeping.
“Hey, boss.” Alec cleared his throat and dragged his eyes Gigi’s way. Sparks of hate lit up his haggard face.
She had no doubt that if they were alone, he’d pounce.
Alvarez tipped his head to the side and looked at Alec’s arm. “Son, what happened?” His English was good. This was something they wanted her to hear.
Alec shifted awkwardly. “Micha bit me.”
Gigi almost smirked at the meekness in her attacker’s tone. But she hid her smile because the last thing she needed was the attention on her when something was going down with Alvarez and one of his men.
“That looks like more than a bite.” Disdain dripped from Alvarez’s comment.
For a moment there was silence.
“She attacked me,” Alec said, his tone tense.
“Ah, I see.” Alvarez circled Alec. “Why would she do that? Micha is a good girl, yes?”
“She’s fucking dumb,” Alec spat.
The tension in the air amplified. “Dumb? Mmm. Let’s see.” He whistled. “Micha!”
The pit bull padded into the room, greeted Alvarez with a snuffle in his palm, and then sat when instructed.
“Micha, watch him .” Alvarez’s voice boomed with authority as he pointed at Alec.
Micha stood straight, her back rippling with muscle. The fur around her spine stiffened, and she let out a menacing growl. Alec stumbled back until he hit the wall. Gigi jumped at the sharp shift in energy.
“Looks pretty smart to me,” Alvarez commented.
“All right,” Alec blurted. “She’s smart. I just meant she—She attacked me instead of her.” He threw the accusation in Gigi’s direction.
Alvarez brought his attention back to Gigi. He rubbed his fingers and took a step closer. “I see why your boyfriend wants you back so badly.”
Gigi bit the retort on her tongue.
“You going to keep her?” Marko asked.
Alvarez turned. “Why? Do you think she could make me a lot of money? Did you two try her out?”
Gigi’s eyes widened. Her stomach clenched, and every instinct told her to bolt. Sweat collected at the nape of her neck, the fine hairs there attuned to the continually shifting tension in the room.
Marko looked at him blankly. “No.”
“But you did.” Alvarez slid his gaze to Alec and gestured at Gigi’s shirt. “Looks like you started without me.”
Alec shrugged. “Didn’t get very far because of your bitch dog.”
Alvarez’s lips turned down at the corners, and he nodded as if in understanding. “Rule number one—don’t touch my merchandise, sí?”
Alec’s nostrils flickered. “Sí,” he blurted.
“Good.” Alvarez pulled a gun with a long silencer attached from the front of his pants and trained it on Alec. “And don’t call my dog a bitch.”
Gigi pulled her knees into her chest and hid her face.
Crack!
Gigi shrieked and squeezed her eyes shut as she heard blood hit the wall. Her chest thumped. Sirens of panic screeched in her head.
She held her breath. Her lungs burned with the need for air, but she didn’t move. When no bullet entered her skull, she slowly opened her eyes. Alec was sprawled on the floor, his head turned toward her, his eyes glassy and unblinking.
A whimper leaked from her lips. She hoped Alvarez couldn’t hear it over his own voice as he spoke to Marko.
She needed to tear her eyes away, but she couldn’t. Even in death, Alec made shivers rake over her skin. His presence still hung in the room, his spirit haunting every breath she took. Never mind the fact that his brain matter decorated the yellowing taupe paint behind him.
“You got anything to say, amigo?”
Gigi swiveled her head toward Alvarez and Marko.
Marko shook his head. “No, boss.”
“Good. Set up the room. I want an easy cleanup and good lighting.” Alvarez stormed out of the bedroom.
Gigi sat forward. Hysteria gripped her ribcage. “What does he mean?” she whispered.
Marko kept his gaze down.
“Hey,” she growled.
His eyes, dark holes of despair, met hers. For a minute, pity surrounded her heart. Maybe if circumstances had been different, if Marko had been dealt a different hand, he might not be such a bad guy. But he’d lost too much, and the fear of meeting Alec’s fate was prominent in his sunken gaze.
She wet her lips. “I can still help you,” she said, striving for a tone that didn’t sound desperate. “Please.” She searched his gaze for any sign of the compassion she’d seen earlier. “We don’t need to end up like him.” Without looking at Alec’s lifeless body, she jerked her head in his direction.
Marko swung his gaze to the body then to the doorway and back to her. “The setup is plastic. Less mess for cleanup. I guess he wants you dead.”
Gigi gulped and drew back her head. “I—I.”
“He probably wants to get back to Mexico. Things got sloppy here.”
Fuck. She’d still rather die than face trafficking, but she also wanted more time. She wasn’t going to get it.
“The lighting is for the video to send to your family.” He lifted a shoulder. “Taking responsibility for your death shows he’s above them.”
A terrified breath left her, and the sound was foreign to her ears. “Please. Don’t let him do this. I just need to stall and he’ll find me.”
Marko’s eyes narrowed into mean slits. “Your man already failed once. Should’ve shot Alvarez when he had the chance. There’s no turning back now.”
“You’re a coward,” she said, her voice filled with indignation. “He’ll do to you exactly what he did to your family and Alec.”
Tension radiated between them, and then Marko’s face fell. “You’re right, se?orita.” He flipped the mattress onto its side and propped it against the wall before looking at her again. “Unfortunately for you, I am a coward.” He picked up a folding chair and opened it beneath the window. “Now sit. Your time’s up.”
***
“I’m not waiting for the fucking drone.” August didn’t hide his impatience as he slipped on the gloves Rami had handed him and Toth so they wouldn’t leave fingerprints behind. He was incapable of discussion right now.
“Be smart,” Toth said admonishingly, as he slid out of the back seat. A second later, the hatch opened and he pulled out the drone.
“This is bullshit. I’m going in.” He tucked his earbud into place and got out. “Let me know what you find.”
“Ghost will be here any minute,” Rami reminded him.
He didn’t give a fuck. Wouldn’t even acknowledge that statement because with or without Ghost, with or without the drone footage, he was going into the goddamn house.
He moved briskly down the long-ass alleyway. They’d looped around the front of the house first for a quick scope of the area. Two SUVs were parked in the driveway, and considering how shady the neighborhood was, the expensive vehicles were a damn good indication they’d found the right place.
The sky was dark. Even the moon was shielded by clouds, and if August hadn’t committed the location of the house to memory, he might’ve had a hard time finding the house form the back. But the chain-link fence came into view and he tightened his grip on his AR-15.
Breaking into a jog, he hustled to the side of the garage and crouched, scanning the property. A light shone from behind the drawn living-room blinds. A shadow moved inside, but only one from what he could see.
The other light inside came from the window next to the living room. This one looked weird—something solid blocked the glass, and there was a rectangle of illumination around it.
His skin tingled. That had to be where they were keeping her.
Unlatching the gate, he slipped inside the yard. The long grass swayed in the breeze and brushed against his ankles. He moved carefully, scanning the place as he went. The basement windows were dark. She had to be on the main floor. Question was, how many men were guarding her?
Rami’s curt voice met August’s eardrum. “Ghost is here. We’re on the move.”
“I’m going in.” August kept his voice low as he inched closer to the bedroom window. His forearms clenched as he shouldered up to the house. The window was about five feet off the ground, which was the perfect height for him to glance into.
He didn’t hear voices, just something that sounded like furniture being moved. August turned his head an inch so his ear was almost touching the glass. Fucking stupid cardboard prevented him from seeing inside and gauging where Gigi was, if she was there at all.
“I need a visual,” August said quietly into the mic.
“I can see you outside.” Toth’s hushed voice came through the speaker. “Two people are in the room. One near the window by you and one a few feet away. There’s another person in the living room, on the phone, maybe.”
August grunted in response. He didn’t dare speak again knowing someone was so close. For all he knew, inches separated him from Gigi. He couldn’t just shoot through the fucking window without knowing for sure who was on the other side.
The drone could reveal only so much. Toth was able to see heat spots and movement within buildings. Otherwise, unless the threat was outside, he couldn’t give specifics.
August’s mind whirled with possibilities. He’d have to get into the house. It was the only option. There was no other way to see inside the room. Which meant he’d kill whoever was in the living room then go for the bedroom.
Breaking away from the outside wall, he skirted toward the deck, which was only about a foot off the ground.
“Going in through the back,” he announced to his team.
“Ghost should be at the front of the house in a minute or so,” Rami said.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Toth yelled.
“What?” August hissed as he reached for the back door. He placed his hand on the knob, but instinct made him pause before turning it.
“Dog!” Toth shouted, jostling August’s ear canal.
Grrrr
Ah fuck.