40. Ethan
40
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The loud bang rang out and the whole place turned to pandemonium. Security came back and told us to stay in the dressing room and wait until they came to get us. Kieran grabbed my pads and started running Ronan through the paces keeping him focused on the fight. Hawk hadn’t called to tell us there was a shooter or a situation on the floor, which kept me marginally calm, but my instincts were telling me I needed to check on Sky.
“Anyone hear from Jake or Declan? Are Skyler and Violet all right?”
Mack has his phone to his ear, putting one finger up telling me to hold on.
“All right. We’re on our way. Get me all the footage you and Xander can of the area and what was happening around Violet when she went down. Have they already contacted on-site paramedics.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand.
“What happened?” I step closer to Mack. “Where’s Skyler? Are they okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll be up in a few minutes. Send Walker down get a staff security shirt and swap places with me. I don’t want Kieran and Ethan going out without coverage.”
“Mack!” I’m in his face, grabbing his shirt collar.
He hangs up his phone and removes my hands from his shirt.
“Easy, brother. Skyler is okay. Violet got swept up in the pandemonium and was knocked to the floor. They guys found her and Sky and helped them to the bathroom to freshen up, but apparently Violet was injured during all the mayhem and is currently being treated.” His words are calm, but I can see the rage vibrating through him.
Something else happened.
“Injured how? Where the fuck is Skyler?” I’m two seconds away from losing my shit.
“Skyler is fine. Jake is with her. Declan is helping Violet. Paramedics have arrived on scene. I’m going there now to see how bad things are and if I can be of any assistance. Do you know who’s watching Carter for her?”
I process everything Mack’s saying. Sky is okay. Violet is hurt. Jake and Declan are still with them.
Deep breath.
“Ethan.” Mack says my name louder. “Who has Carter?”
“Uh, Gabe and Declan talked her into leaving him with Liz. Convinced her he would have a great time on the farm feeding and learning about all the animals. Liz is probably spoiling the hell out of that boy.” Plus, it was the only way to get him under the watchful eyes of the prospects.
“Okay. I’m going to call her and let her know there may be a delay in us getting home tomorrow.”
“How bad is Violet injured?”
“We don’t know yet. We need to get her to the hospital first. But I don’t want Liz caught off guard or little man to be worried about his Mama. I’m also going to tell her not to feed the pigs until we get back.”
At my questioning look, he shrugs and says, “Just in case.”
“Mister O’Rourke.” Security is calling out form the door. “We’re ready for your fighter now.
“What was all the commotion about?”
“Some technical issues. It’s under control now.” As soon as he’s done telling us, and announcements comes over the house speakers.
“We’re sorry about the scare folks. Technical difficulty in the booth! Nothing to be afraid of here. We can assure you everything is fine. You are all safe and can return to your seats in an orderly fashion and we will continue the nights events as planned. Thank you!”
“They’ve asked that you start making your way through the tunnel. Your music will start shortly and then the fight can commence.”
Kieran grabs Ronan and Scotty and heads out.
I follow behind but keep a little distance. Mack catches on to what I’m doing and tells me, “Get your head in the game. Ronan needs you to be sharp for him. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know. But for now. Get your shit together, brother.”
I give him a curt nod.
Looking over at the seats where Skyler should be sitting and seeing they’re still empty has a rock forming in the pit of my stomach.
We go through all the same steps. The refs check Ronan out and give their approval. Me and Kieran head to our corner with Scotty and get our shit set up. The announcer does his thing, and the fight starts without a hitch.
The crowd filters back in in waves. It’s hard to keep my focus on the fight happening in front of me. Thankfully, Kieran is on top of everything and is keeping Ronan on point with his strategy. By the end of the last round, I’m ready to get the fuck out of here and find my woman.
Ronan’s fight went to the cards and ended as a draw. Not quite the outcome we were hoping for, but not necessarily a bad thing for his first fight either. He went toe to toe with one badass motherfucker. As far as I’m concerned, he did great.
We’re all heading back to the dressing room when Mack’s phone goes off. At the same time, mine starts ringing.
“Yeah.” Mack answers his first. “He’s here with me.”
I grab mine and see it’s Hawk calling.
“What’s going on?”
“You and the guys need to get to the conference room, now.” He’s all business and zero fucking around.
Fucking hell.
“We’re heading there now.” I tell him, following Mack and Jameson to the hallway where the elevators are to take us up and out of the arena base level. “What’s going on, Hawk?”
“Violet’s been taken to the hospital for an apparent knife wound. And Skyler’s been taken.”
“Taken where? With Violet?” My heart slams into my chest, my muscles are tense, and I can’t shake the sudden sense of dread.
“Get to the conference room, Ethan.” NO sooner does he hang then we are making our way to the SUVs. Mack takes off down the short distance to the hotel and throws the keys at the valet not wanting to waste any time.
When we get to the conference room, Gabe, Eli, Caleb, Gus, Walker, Hawk and Xander are all already waiting for us.
Out of patience, I grind out, “Where is Skyler? What the fuck happened?”
“Calm down, Ethan. Have a seat. We’re waiting for…”
The door swings open and in walks Vincenzo and Matteo Parisi. “Gabriel, gentlemen. My apologies. I understand we’ve had an interesting turn of events this evening. How can I be of assistance?”
The air of nonchalance is rubbing me the wrong way.
“What the fuck happened over there today?” Gabe’s jaw clenches, flexing his hands at his side.
“Hawk, would you mind connecting your laptop to the tv on the wall there?” Vincenzo pointed to the flat screen behind him. “There should be a usb you can use to connect to it with. Forgive the old school technology.”
Hawk looked to Gabe. When he got the nod, he did as he was asked.
“Please pull up the cameras near the north exit where the ambulance was waiting to pick up your lady friend. Miss Dupree, isn’t it?”
Hawk fast forwarded through tons of footage until he reached the moment thew ambulance pulled into the parking lot.
“Wait.” Mack walks to the front of the room, stopping in front of the screen. “There. Is that Skyler?”
“What?”
Walker and Eli are in on me, wrestling my ass to my knees.
“Let me go! What the fuck do you mean that’s Skyler. I thought she was with Declan and Jake!” I’m thrashing against their hold, but it’s no use, Walker gets his arm under my chin and locks me in a choke hold.
“Calm the fuck down. If we’re busy fighting with you, we can’t find your woman. Which is it going to be?” Eli says sternly.
“I’m good. I’m good.” He’s got a valid point. I need our focus to be on Skyler right now. “Someone please tell me what the hell is happening.”
“Play it forward, Hawk.”
We all watch the screen. Pride wells up inside when I watch Skyler beating the shit out her attacker. It’s short lived though when I see her voluntarily surrender and get into a cargo van.
“Why wouldn’t she keep fighting? What could he have said to convince her to go with him?” Mack tossed the question out to the room. Unfortunately, no one had an answer.
Vincenzo stands, walking ever so smoothly to the front of the flat screen.
“Can you zoom into the back of the van, Hawk?”
Mack leans in closer to the screen. Both he and Vincenzo point at something on the screen.
“Enhance the image,” Vincenzo points, “here.”
Hawk enhances the image, once, twice, three times and we all see it. The only thing Skyler would sacrifice herself for.
A child.
“Fuck!”
“Run the plates.” Vincenzo says, typing something into his phone.
“Already did. They’re stolen.”
“Matteo.”
“On it, boss.”
“On what? What are you doing? What do you know that we don’t?” Gabe stomps around the table standing in front of Vincenzo, looking about ready to bash his fucking head in.
“Mr. Anderson? Was Skyler wearing the dress I sent her?” I nod, not sure I can trust myself to do anything else without disrespecting every single one of these assholes. I love them. They’re my brothers, but they had one job. And now my whole world is in the back of a cargo van with some crazy fucker who thinks she’s the reason his business went to shit, and his ass went to jail.
“Matteo is reaching out to a business associate. Inside the lining of her dress, is a small tracking device. It’s a prototype if you will.”
The room erupts with people talking over one another.
“Why were you tracking her?”
“Does she know you put that device in her clothing?
“Did you already know this was going to happen?”
“Why didn’t you fucking tell us?”
Matteo jumps in front of Vincenzo and pulls a gun on the room.
“Shut the fuck up and sit your asses down! The boss will explain what he knows, but not until you all back the fuck up!”
Tensions are high. We’re all on edge. All except Vincenzo. Though, I think he’s accustomed to high stress situations and locking his shit down.
“Everyone, take a seat.” Gabe demands and we follow his command. “Now, start talking.”
“Matteo, contact our associate and tell them we need to locate Miss Sinclair as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence.”
Matteo puts his gun away and does as he’s asked.
Less than five minutes later Matteo has an address for us.
Vincenzo tells him to share the information with Gabe and Hawk, then turns to the room and says, “I’m sorry to leave you so soon, but my involvement in this situation must end here. Please tell Miss Sinclair we will be in touch upon her return.” He leaves the room with Matteo in tow leaving the rest of us slightly confused and a lot fucking annoyed.
Gabe addresses the room. “Let’s get this shit worked out and get our asses on the road, ASAP.”
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