Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Dean Anderson
W hat in god’s name is this place? My heart stutters in my chest as we pick our way through bits and pieces of broken metal, glass, and other garbage. The tracker in Ashleigh pulses out strong, telling me we’re on the right track, but why would she come here?
There’s nothing I can see so far that would appeal to someone like her. Stopping at the familiar car, my heart slams in my chest. It’s all I need to confirm she actually is here. Not that I want to think Louis and Preston are jerking me around. They have no reason to.
But seeing her parked vehicle allows me to breathe just a touch freer. Now I just need confirmation she’s alive. Unfortunately, the tracker can’t do that. Even if it did, I probably wouldn’t believe it until I saw her.
I just need to see her.
I need to hear her sweet voice calling out to me.
I need her .
Granted, I don’t know who the other car belongs to. It’s not one I recognize from the people who show up at the initiations and play nights. Doesn’t mean someone didn’t rent a car for this occasion. It’s also probably na?ve of me to think it would be someone I know.
Anyone who knows me knows not to fuck with me.
A soft whimper stops us in our tracks. Up in front, Sergei holds his hand up in a fist. I know that sound. It’s Ashleigh. I have the confirmation I want, but it’s not how I want it. It sounds pained and scared. More than that, it sounds so fucking far away.
Glancing back at the screen, I do my best to calculate, but there’s no good way of knowing the distance. Sergei looks back at me and raises an eyebrow, but keeps silent. I turn it to him so he can see it again and he nods.
Next to me, Grigori gives me as sympathetic a smile as he can. Honestly, if they weren’t with me right now, I’d probably be losing my fucking mind. Both of them keep their guns trained on the ground as they look about, keeping all vantage points in view.
Between the three of us, I’m the liability, but there’s no way in hell I’d let them go for my girl without me being there. Granted, until I saw this place, until I heard the anguished cry flitting through the overgrown trees, I had a far different worry.
When I told her jealousy was tepid compared to my feelings, it wasn’t hyperbole. I wasn’t kidding when I told her I’d take care of the Caldwell problem if he couldn’t understand. But this is different. This is a message. What that message is, I can’t figure out just yet.
My phone jumps in my hand as it buzzes. Thankfully, I had the wherewithal to put it to vibrate before we came out here. Ashleigh. Her name glows in the setting sun, making my pulse trip over itself. It’s not her calling. I know it’s not. It’s whoever fucking has her.
My fingers tremble as rage floods my system. They’re using her to get to me. Whoever this fucker is just signed their death warrant.
Turning the phone, I show it to Grigori and Sergei. They both pause and look at each other. They seem to communicate in a way I can’t understand, but the feeling is mutual. We all know now it’s someone who knows me and wants to use Ashleigh as leverage.
But who?
It has to be someone who knows us both and what she means to me. But that list is very narrow, including the two with me right now. Doctor Andrew wouldn’t care. Doctor Bradley seems to have his mind on other things at the moment.
Bringing up the notes app, I quickly type in a name and show it to them.
Luke?
I hate how much it makes sense.
He knows about us. He felt disrespected by her. He’s a final tie to the Ravens and Wolves. God, why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Grigori’s lips turn down into a frown as he types something on his phone. A few moments later, he pulls up a map with a blinking dot similar to the one tracking Ashleigh. Only, there’s two of them. One seems to be at the track fields at Loftry, and the other is in the administrative buildings.
When the fuck did you put a tracker on Luke and Shelaine?
When Grigori reads the screen, his lips turn up into a sinister smile, but he says nothing.
Who else has trackers on them?
The man has the audacity to shrug and turn back to Sergei, who also acts like he doesn’t know a fucking thing that’s happening. Honestly, maybe it’s best I don’t know.
Is there one in me?
He nods then turns to Sergei, who urges us forward. Part of me feels as if I should be mad that they’ve somehow snuck a tracking device into my body, but if there was anyone I’d want looking for me, it would be these two.
We creep through the brush, dodging broken rides and bits of metal strewn everywhere. Of all places, why here? It still doesn’t make sense.
Another buzz turns my attention back to the phone. This time, it’s Todd.
Todd
Hey. Got the last texts from Ashleigh’s phone. Have you found her yet?
John Anderson
Found her car. Almost to her. I hope.
Maybe this can help you somehow.
Fwd: Caldwell Morgan
Hey. I know what you said, but I don’t think we should end things like this.
I know you have a tendency to change your mind, so I’d like at least one last chance to convince you.
Please, Ash. We have a history together. We could have an amazing future together. Just please.
Look. I’ll be at the devil’s playground all evening if you change your mind.
Caldwell fucking Morgan?
But none of this makes sense. What does this have to do with me? He sounds like a lovesick pup needing to be put down more than a killer trying to lure me out here in the middle of nowhere. Unless he realized we were together and wanted to take out the competition?
That doesn’t make sense either. The times I’ve met him, he’s always come across soft and inept. But then, I guess there’s no stopping it if someone snaps?
I pass the phone to Grigori and Sergei, just so we’re all on the same page. They look up at me, twin frowns marring their faces. At least they’re just as confused as I am.
The soft rumble of a low, male voice rips through the trees, drawing our attention toward the far-left upper corner of this abandoned, dilapidated park. We’re still too far away to make out what he’s saying, but one thing is certain to me. It’s far deeper than what I remember Caldwell’s being.
Either he’s a victim too, or he’s part of the problem. Either way, that makes at least two other people here in this spot. I don’t like it. I detest how exposed I feel, even next to two armed killers like Grigori and Sergei.
I glance at their expression and note the pinched look on their faces. That can’t be good. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen them in their element, so I don’t know how to interpret it.
They cross over the expanse with such quiet lethality. Maybe it’s a good thing I’ve never seen them like this before. It certainly makes me more grateful to have them on my side than against me.
Sergei stops again and points to his eyes then points to something beyond the trees. Grigori slides up beside him and turns to me. Three fingers go in the air then quickly drop to one.
Again, that low, growly voice vibrates through the air, and I can almost make the words. “Why isn’t he answering?”
We all stop and look at each other. Based on their expressions, I’m pretty sure Grigori and Sergei don’t recognize the voice. Unfortunately, I don’t either. It feels familiar, but it’s too far away, too garbled for me to tell for sure.
Shaking my head, I motion for us to move forward. Maybe if I can see him, that will help. As it is, I’m going in blind right now.
A sharp snap thunders out, soon followed by a soft yelp. Red tinges my vision as I push my way past Grigori and Sergei. Strong hands grab onto me, hauling me back. I can’t think, I can’t speak, and I sure as hell can’t reason.
Whoever this monster is, just put his hands on my girl in a violent manner. There is no way they’re lasting the night. Minutes go by as the two struggle to contain me. Ragged breaths rip from my throat as I squirm against the mountain of bulk. But in the end, rational thinking finally wins out.
I sit there on a stump and breathe, pulling air deep into my lungs as I try to calm myself down even further. It’s why I’m the head of the fucking Society. I’ve always been able to be calm in a crisis. Honestly, it makes even more sense now. My fears have all but been confirmed.
With Ashleigh, I can’t think rationally. And I bet that’s what they’re banking on. For her sake, I need to get it the fuck together.
Pulling in a deep breath through my nose, I tip my head back and allow the cool breeze to wash over me. Ashleigh needs me right now. I have to stay strong for her.
Once I’m back under control, we inch forward, doing our best to stay silent in this maze of wreckage. As the sun begins to wane, each step becomes far more precarious.
I keep my sights locked on Sergei. Where he walks, I walk. Grigori takes the rear, keeping an eye out for surprises that may come from behind.
Minutes crawl by like hours until an odd clicking noise catches my attention. Sergei pulls up short and holds up his fist, instructing us all to stop. It’s such a weird sound. Like a pop or a sizzle. Maybe both?
Soon, lights pop up one by one, turning the whole space into a hellish nightmare. What bulbs are not completely shattered coax to life and cast shadows everywhere. A grindy bit of music comes from a nearby ride, making everything feel like a horror movie.
Nothing like a flair for the dramatic. Thankfully, it helps us better see where we’re going. As we continue to pick our way forward, my phone buzzes again.
Ashleigh.
Hold on baby, I’m coming. I’m going to get you out of this.
“You’re fucking him. Aren’t you? Don’t you fucking lie to me. Why isn’t he answering his phone?”
The voice is a bit clearer and damn it all if it doesn’t sound so fucking familiar. It’s a voice I’ve heard before. Not often, but often enough.
If I close my eyes, I can almost conjure a memory, but the face eludes me. I know he’s been at the castle before, but that’s now where my closest memory is. God. If only I could figure this out.
“Why are you doing this to us?” a younger male voice cries out.
That must be Caldwell. At least that means he’s not in on this. Or if he is, this stranger double crossed them. Either way, I put him out of my mind and concentrate on the other voice.
“Shut up. You’ve already done your part. Your pitiful protests have been noted. Unless you want your parents to find pieces of you, I’d suggest you keep to yourself so I can fully concentrate on our lovely girl here. So where is he? Why the fuck isn’t he picking up? Did you two have a fight?”
“I- I don’t know,” my girl whimpers. “Please. I don’t know anything.”
Exhaustion and fear line her voice, and it tears at my heart. I don’t know how much she’s endured or for how long, but I’m pretty sure she can’t take that much more.
“Was he supposed to meet you today? Hmmm? Fuck this pretty little pussy.”
“Please, stop,” she sobs out.
Since there’re no sounds of violence, I can only assume he’s doing something far worse, something far more sinister. Again, red tinges my vision until my breathing changes. He’s fucking touching my girl, hurting her in a way that carries no visible scars.
I was already going to kill him. Now he’ll be lucky if I don’t fillet his fucking dick while he’s still alive to feel it. Sergei and Grigori watch me, their gazes wary as they take a step back. Get it together John. You can kill the bastard later, but Ashleigh comes first. Just focus on Ashleigh.
When Sergei nods again, we start our trek until we get to a few more broken-down rides. From there, a small courtyard of sorts opens up, giving me a good view of what’s going on.
There, off to the side, is a cage with the Morgan boy. He looks a little worse for wear, but nothing a hot bath and a good massage might fix. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Ashleigh.
Her body sways, held aloft by a set of rusty looking chains. They bite into her skin, causing blood to drip down and splatter against her head and shoulders. So far, I can’t see anything else wrong with her, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t injure her anywhere else.
There’s a few cuts and bruises on her face, no doubt where he hit her for not knowing my whereabouts. My lips curl in a silent snarl as I watch him move about her like he owns her. He touches her with a familiarity that has me wanting to rip his flesh from his bones with my bare fucking hands.
With his back to me, I still can’t tell who the fucking guy is. I hate that he feels so familiar, but I can’t place him. Have I slipped that much?
His hand slides down into her pants and disappears beneath the fabric. It doesn’t take a genius to know what he’s doing. Ashleigh screams out and bucks against him, but with her arms trapped overhead, each jerk is just ineffectual.
Rough hands dig into my arms and shoulders. It’s the only reason I know I must be moving forward. They hold me back as he yanks his hand from her pants and shoves them into her face.
“Finally. Knew I’d get you wet eventually. Whores like you always do.”
As if disgusted by her lack of response, he turns his head to spit on the ground. In the muted lights, everything finally becomes clear.
Thatcher.
Fucking Thatcher.
Why the fuck does he have my girl?
Grigori and Sergei both look at themselves then at me. My lips thin into a grim line as I nod at them. I don’t care if he’s a rich tycoon. I don’t care if he’s affluent and possesses more contacts than I can even think of.
He fucked with the wrong dean.
Just hold on for me, baby. Your salvation is nigh.