Chapter Forty-Seven
Landon
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
My phone sounds on the table and Allie hands it to me. I set my Uno cards down and click on the speaker as I answer Lachlan’s call.
“Hey Lach. What’s up?”
Raven jumps on the table and scatters the cards everywhere.
“Raven!” Allie whisper yells and starts picking up the cards.
“Are you busy?” Lachlan asks.
I can hear the seriousness in his voice and Allie must too, because she pausing shuffling the cards.
“No. What’s up?”
The sound of a car door echoes through the phone, “Check Resilience. Priority One.”
“Allie girl, pass me my laptop please.”
She does and I open my laptop to a Priority One flashing on the screen.
Missing Person Priority Level 1:
Mission ID #: 52362
Clara Drew
Age 27
Last Known Location: Seattle, Washington
Date Reported Missing: 10/25/24
Threat Level: Red
Team Activated: Blackbird
Team Lead: Landon
Notes: Tracking device placed on captive, placed by parent, came back online. Captor is a known stalker. Immediate rescue. Injuries unknown. Female assistance advised due to captive having PTSD from previous stalking situation.
“Shit.”
“I’m still in Calgary. Are your brothers available or do we need to activate Aries?”
Looking at Allie, I hesitate for a moment before answering. I have been back at work for a few weeks, but have stayed home while organizing the missions. The comms systems coming in handy more than ever.
This is different. We need all hands on deck since Wes is out of town.
“Go,” Allie says, not an ounce of hesitation or anxiety in her voice.
“I’ll handle it Lach.”
“Sounds good. Call me later with an update.”
As soon as he hangs up, I call Gray and Noah on a group call, both of them picking up on the first ring.
“Where are we going?” Noah asks, not bothering to say hello. They have Resilience on their phones and were probably waiting for me to call.
I rattle off the address as Noah hops in his Jeep and heads over to the Hideout to gather supplies.
“Gray. Did you read the notes?”
“I did. Logan is getting ready.”
“Wait, Logan is going?” Allie asks, pausing playing with the kittens.
“Yeah. The victim suffers from PTSD from a previous stalking experience, so we were advised to bring female back up. Which for Team Blackbird is Logan, Harper, or Lainey.”
She is silent for a moment and I know she is probably worried about her best friend.
“Can I come?”
Her words shock me. “Allie. You mean the world to me. You are the strongest person I know, but you saw how these can play out. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“If Lo is going, I want to go.”
“Allie.”
“Don’t mean to interrupt, but didn’t you come to my house and basically force my now fiancé into going on a mission?”
My eyes roll at Grayson’s comment and I’m about to tell Gray when Allie crawls into my lap. “If Logan is going, I want to go. I’m on Gray’s side.”
My head drops to Allie’s back. I know this is a losing battle and we need to get on the road. “Fine.”
“Good. We will be over to pick both of you up in about ten minutes.”
Allie moves to stand, but I lock my arms around her. “Please don’t try to be superwoman. It would kill me if anything happened to you.”
She kisses the tip of my nose and smiles, “I promise.”
“Good. Now go get ready. You can borrow one of my shirts if you need to.”
Allie stands. “I know.”
Rolling my eyes, I smack her ass and follow her upstairs.
Tonight should be interesting.
Allie
Logan and I are in the backseat of Grayson’s truck talking as Gray and Landon go over the game plan while waiting for Noah to finish scoping out the property.
Logan was excited when she heard she wasn’t going to be alone and admitted that missions have been difficult since she got hurt.
Both boys turn around to face us, serious expressions on both of their faces.
“Alright. This is how it’s going to go. Our captive’s name is Clara. She met some guy online. They went on a few dates and she decided to have an overnight with him, but never came home the next day. Her parents had a tracker on her phone, but the captor disabled it. I’m not sure how, but the tracker came back online tonight, and that’s why we are here. We do not know if the man is violent, so Grayson, Noah, and I will go up and stun him. Gray will bring Clara down to you both and then ride to the hospital. If she needs medical attention, you both can help, but I suspect she will need more emotional assistance than anything. Do not get out of the truck under any circumstances unless we tell you. If there is a hint of uneasiness or danger. Leave. Any questions?”
Leaning into Logan, I fake whisper, “Smack me. Robot Landon is now hot.”
Logan and Gray laugh as Landon narrows his eyes at me. “Watch it Allie Girl. Don’t think just because we are on a mission, I won’t smack your ass in front of everyone.”
Grayson groans and falls against his seat. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Hey! This is on you, brother. You were the one that wanted Allie to come along. Deal with it.”
Logan and I both fall back against the seat in a fit of laughter.
“All clear. Ready to go. It appears that he is sleeping, and the captive is in a room upstairs. She is awake and trying to pick the lock on the door, but it’s pointless because it has a padlock and deadbolt.” Noah’s voice comes over the comms systems.
“I’ll grab the bolt cutters from your jeep. See you soon,” Landon says and jumps out of the truck and opens my door.
I turn to face him, and he rests his hands on my legs. “Please don’t get out of the truck. If anything feels off or you hear us tell you to leave, please do. Promise me.”
He holds up his pinky and even though the idea of him asking me to leave if the situation becomes too dangerous makes me sick, I loop mine through his. “I promise.”
Landon’s shoulders relax, and he pulls me into a hug. “Come back to me,” I whisper into his ear.
He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. “Always Bluebird.”
Noah’s voice echoes behind us and I know it’s time to go and Landon presses a soft kiss to my lips. “See you soon.” Another quick kiss and then he and his brothers walk up the driveway.
Logan and I both climb into the front seat and sit in silence for a moment, both of our guys going into an unknown and unsafe situation.
My eyes are locked on the place where the boys just disappeared when Logan says, “Tell me everything.”
“Tell you what?”
Logan leans against the driver’s side door, adjusts her messy bun atop her head, and pulls what I assume is Grayson’s hoodie back into place, her eyes narrowing at me. “You and my future brother-in-law. Tell me everything because I knew you two were more than friends, but I’m dying to know how you turned Mr. Robot into a man that just melted at your feet.”
“He did not melt at my feet.”
“Oh, he did. The Landon I once knew would never hesitate to bring someone on a mission if it meant the best outcome for the captive. So spill.”
Sighing. I tell Logan everything from him being just a stranger to me seeing him as a way to escape to knowing this man was my other half and once I’m done, her mouth drops open in shock.
“Holy shit, Al. That is a lot and honestly kind of unexpected.”
“Oh, I know. Every day I ask myself how I got from looking at him as a stranger to him being everything I never knew I wanted, but needed.”
“I’m really happy for you Al. If anyone deserves love, it’s you and Landon.”
I nod and look out to the dark driveway. “Thanks, Lo, but I can say the same about you and Gray.”
Logan shakes her head. “I’m serious. I always wondered who would come along and be the person to put Landon in his place. Did I expect it to be you? Honestly no, but I’m happy it is. You both have gone through hell and back and at the end of the day, you still found your way back to each other and that’s beautiful.”
Looking back at the window, “It is. It really is.”
I am just about to ask Logan about getting in with Gray for a tattoo when static comes over the comms system inside Gray’s truck. “Incoming ladies. We need help with Clara. But do not get out of the truck. The dickhead ran off and we can’t find him.” Landon’s voice sounds calm, but I can hear the slight panic and Logan and I look at each other, both nervous.
Seconds later, a girl comes running down the driveway, Grayson walking fast behind her, his mouth moving.
Clara runs around the cars, her clothes ripped and an obvious healing scar on her face. She tries to get into Noah’s jeep, but it’s locked and then she sees us, a terrified expression on her face.
Logan opens the truck door and jumps out. “Logan, no!” Grayson and I both yell, but she doesn’t care and tries to catch Clara’s attention.
“Dammit, Logan,” I mutter and jump out of the truck.
I’m about to round the truck when Landon and Noah come running down the driveway. “Get out of here. He just came running down this way,” Noah yells.
“Clara. Please. We are trying to help you.” Logan calls out to Clara as she runs to hide behind the Jeep, everyone crowding around all corners of the car.
In the blink of an eye, a man comes sprinting toward Landon with a knife. My heart drops and before I can think, I sprint over, grabbing the knife I had the feeling to put in my waistband. The man’s arm raises and just as he is about to stab Landon in the back, I drive my knife straight into his spine and he screams out in pain.
Everyone spins around and Noah dives to tackle the man, who is already dropping to his knees in pain.
Landon jumps over the man and wraps his arms around me, bringing me back to the truck, but stopping right beside it, his hands roaming over my body, checking for injuries. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice panicked.
My hands go to his face, my thumb brushing back and forth over his cheek, “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” He pulls me tightly into his arms, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace.
“Hell yeah Allie! That was badass!” Noah yells from across the road, causing Landon and I to look over. The man groans on the ground, the knife sticking straight out the middle of his back. Noah kicks him and looks down at him with disgust, “Shut up, you stupid fuck! She could have gone for your neck, but nooo. Don’t worry though, you will soon know what it feels like. Now hush, I’m trying to talk to my new favorite badass.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. I should be running away screaming and terrified, but being here with these people feels oddly fulfilling. And that’s only confirmed further when I see Grayson and Logan crowded around Clara as she tries to explain what happened.
Landon turns his attention back to me to and is about to speak when Noah interrupts him. “Seriously Lan. Al jumped out of nowhere like a damn flying spider monkey. This asshat went down instantly. It was like the coolest action movie in real life. Fucking badass doesn’t even cover it!”
Landon shakes his head and looks down at me. “I thought I asked you to stay in the truck?” His words sound serious, but his voice conveys the exact opposite, an almost happy tone.
Tossing my arms out to the side, I say, “What did you want me to do? Let you get stabbed? No thanks.”
Landon chuckles. “I don’t even know what to say to you now Allie Girl.”
Standing on my tiptoes, I wrap my arms around his neck, my thumb brushing against the scar on his shoulder. “I think a thank you may suffice, but you don’t have to. Take this as a repayment for me stabbing you.”
His eyes roll and he lifts my feet off the ground. “No repayment is needed, but thank you,” he says.
I press a quick kiss to his lips and say, “You’re welcome.”
“Alright. Now that I am no longer having a heart attack, can you please go help Lo and Gray and I’ll deal with Noah’s new toy?” Landon asks, setting me on my feet.
“Yup!”
“You are going to be to make me bring you on missions from now on, aren't you?”
Patting his chest, I smile up at him, “Yep, because clearly you need a protector or flying monkey, as Noah said.”
I turn around to head over to Grayson, Logan, and Clara when I feel a smack on my ass. “Careful Bluebird.”
I don’t bother turning around. “Yeah. Yeah.”
Landon mutters something behind me and I continue walking. I know I should be terrified at the idea of my best friend almost just getting stabbed and maybe I will once the adrenaline wears off, but all I feel right now is pride in myself and I will hang onto that feeling as long as I can.