Chapter 88
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
FRASIER
I raced through the town at over a hundred miles an hour on a back road. Calix had just gotten off the phone with Cairo and Kai, who had paid off the cops and were heading toward the shipping yard.
“Arch should’ve come with us,” Calix said, running a hand through his hair. “She’s definitely not alone. This is probably a setup, and they have guys waiting at the shipping yard for us. She’s not going to be there.”
“Relax,” I growled. “She’ll be there.”
But honestly? I was just as worried. Astrid might not be there. She might not even be in Redwood, or the state, or the country at this point. I didn’t know what the fuck they were planning to do with her, but she wouldn’t be left alone if it was anything big.
“How the fuck am I supposed to relax?!” Calix snarled, hitting the dashboard with his fist. “Between my sister and Astrid, I …” He stopped mid-sentence, his voice cracking. “What she did to her … I … I don’t …”
Slowing down just enough, I placed a hand on his shoulder, peered over at him, and squeezed. “I know. I know. But we’re going to find Astrid alive. She’s going to be here, and she’s going to be safe. Landon is right behind us.”
Calix ran a hand over his face and nodded. “I fucking hope so.”
I did too.
Once we hit the shipping yard, I turned off my lights and parked toward the front. Several cars were parked sporadically around the lot, all empty—at least the ones that I could see into. Calix and I exited the car, meeting Landon behind us. Cairo and Kai pulled in next.
“She’s here?” Cairo asked quietly.
“Sure fucking hope so,” Calix said.
“Yes,” I said, not knowing if it was a lie or not.
Who knew if Astrid was here? Who knew if we’d all get out alive? All I could do was be strong, not only for her, but for Calix too. Knowing that his own sister had ratted Astrid out to these fuckers … was taking a toll on him.
Kai opened the trunk of Cairo’s car and tossed Landon a machine gun. My eyes widened when he threw one my way too. After peering at Calix for a second, Kai handed the last one to Cairo, which was probably a smarter idea than giving Calix, in his state, a loaded weapon.
“I don’t know how to use this,” Cairo whispered.
“Aim and shoot,” Kai said. “You’ll learn quick.”
Just as Cairo was about to respond, Landon started toward Pier 8, Kai following after him. I clapped Cairo, then Calix on the shoulder, and headed in their direction. This was our chance to get Astrid back.
Safely.
The wind whipped across the pavement. Kai and Cairo went one way, Landon another, and Calix and I a third, surrounding the container almost at all sides. It was oddly quiet, and while there were cars in the lot, it didn’t seem like anyone else was here.
Was that a good or bad thing? I wasn’t sure.
Landon or Kai didn’t seem concerned.
Suddenly, a man approached the container’s entrance with a loaded gun in his hand, his gaze traveling around the yard. Before I could react, Calix was running toward him, grabbing him by the head, and slamming him down onto the pavement.
My eyes widened, and I ran toward them. But Calix was already on top of him, slamming his head into the ground repeatedly until his screams vanished and Calix’s hands were covered in blood.
Holy shit, I didn’t think Calix had it in him.
Landon tugged a key out of the man’s pocket and nodded to the container. “Take it. We’ll watch for others.”
Calix snatched the key from him and headed toward the container, a different guy than the one who had been almost hyperventilating in my car. Or maybe it was the same emotional one, but this time angry.
After shoving the key into the lock, Calix yanked the chains off the container doors. It creaked open, and in the center of the metal container, Astrid was there, tied to a chair, duct tape across her ankles and wrists, hair matted to her forehead.
And not breathing.