Chapter 64
Bane
I watch Slade on Nexin’s tablet, which shows the feed from an outside surveillance camera they had hacked into. When she had seen Randolph, I could tell she started to spiral.
I'm about to shoot Tag in order to end this op, and ram through the gates to get Slade, kill Randolph where he stands, and take Slade, consequences be damned. I’ll gladly live my life on the run if it meant her mind isn’t fractured.
But then her spine snaps straight, her face flashes briefly with a hatred so potent and lethal that it came from the depths of her soul, and she touches the tattoo—my brand, my mark, me—on her throat.
She's back.
And she's determined. Not broken, not fractured, but strong and recreated from the fires of hell. Rising from the ash just like a phoenix.
“I want to talk. Make a deal.” She moves around to the back of her car. Inhaling softly, as if stealing her spine to do this and reinforcing her walls to remain in control.
“You can do this, Slade,” I encourage. I don’t want her to, but for now, this is the plan in play.
“I’m good. I’m ready,” Pix reassures.
Hearing Pix’s steady, strong voice eases some of my tension. It isn’t just Slade I’m worried about; it’s my sister. And not only for being placed in the hands of a psycho, but because Pix is caged in a small, dark, confined space, which could be her own trigger from the hell she endured as a child.
“Everything is set and ready to go,” Len adds. She and Ryn are somewhere out of sight but close, while I’m in a vehicle with Tag, hidden from view, and Rolf and Nexin are in another.
“I get to walk away after I give you this,” Slade bargains, standing at her trunk.
Intrigue and curiosity flash across Randolph’s face. “A gift? For me?” He grins, walking closer. “How thoughtful of you, pet.”
My teeth grind at his calling her that and at what he plans to do to her.
“Easy, tiger.” Tag glances at my hand gripping my weapon. A HK416 assault rifle that Tag had given me—one that is high-end in the military, likely procured through Adamus Jones. I relax marginally while my finger twitches as I continue to watch the scene unfold on the tablet.
Slade’s look of determination and resolve hasn’t wavered.
Randolph reaches the back of the car, and Slade opens the trunk, revealing her captive inside. But when the earpiece in my right ear comes to life and I listen to the male voice with a slight Japanese accent, who I’m assuming is Kotan Luo, my blood runs cold.
“Digits and Sam just caught wind that there’s a group of fifteen headed toward the warehouse. Criminals, intent on taking Slade since Randolph has her and won’t be paying anyone the bounty. They know about the auction and the international network.”
Fuck.
I don’t know how Digits and Sam found all this out, or how the criminals did as well. But right now, my sole focus is Slade.
“We’re muted on Slade’s feed right now.” Tag assures me she can’t hear us. “We could have a war zone on our hands outside the warehouse.”
“The feed needs to be broadcasted to have Randolph expose himself and the others.”
As much as I was just contemplating stealing Slade and running, I know this is the best option.
And if we don’t bring Randolph down and expose the ring, then this is all for nothing and the threat against Slade will continue to come for her.
Especially if there are more criminals who know about the plans for her.
This needs to be shut down now.
“We can’t have the altercation happen here,” I say to Tag. “And the police and FBI teams are too small to stop this dead in its tracks.” I scan around. “A block north is perfect. There are buildings with good roof cover, and we can pin them in.”
“What do you suggest is the plan?”
“I have EMP grenades and a rocket launcher. We have a shit ton of automatic weapons.” I grin. “What do you think the plan is?”
His jaw works. “You can multitask, listening and talking to Slade to keep her steady while doing that?”
I double-check the magazine of my gun, ensuring it’s full before snapping it back in. “For my woman, I can do anything.”
Including sending fifteen criminals who are gunning for her straight to fucking hell.