Chapter 41 #3
Ian was watching me, but only because he needed to make sure I was going to be out of the way.
If it was me he wanted, I would’ve been easy to attack once my parents left.
There wouldn’t be a need for this elaborate stunt, or to wear this disguise.
He wants access to the L&D ward, but not to come for me…
He's after Ashia.
She’s the one that found the evidence and humiliated him in front of everyone.
He could’ve potentially sold the idea that I was insane after my kidnapping, but my wife outed him in the most humiliating way.
The men didn't turn to him once I was taken because they had her.
Every reason he's now an outcast has to do with my wife, and he knows it.
His eyes narrow the moment he notices I’ve come to that realization, and then he pushes off, darting further up the stairs with murderous intent.
I don’t hesitate to follow, managing to catch up at the next landing.
My grip finds the back of his shirt and I pull back forcefully, throwing him into the closest wall to take a swing at him with all of my might.
He raises his hand just in time to block me, and that’s when silver glares against the overhead lights.
It moves quickly towards my side, barely leaving me enough time to grab his wrist and twist, sending a loud crack through the empty space.
He yelps and I throw my head forward, knocking his head back harshly enough to silence him.
I swing again, making contact with his jaw, only to be met with a hit of his own.
White explodes behind my vision, and then darkness.
A swift breeze blows over my neck just before a blast of pain smacks me in the back and shoots down my spine.
I snap my eyes open and drive my elbow down on Satori’s shoulder when he tries to ram me into the wall another time.
Then I shove him away and into the opposite wall and reset my stance.
He smiles wickedly at me as he wipes the blood from his bottom lip, and then he points his knife at me, despite his now-disfigured wrist.
“Why won’t you die?!” He jabs the knife in my direction, but I square up anyway, despite his advantage. “You’re like a fucking cockroach!”
“I’ll definitely outlive you, mother fucker.”
He lashes out with the knife, aiming for my chest, but I dodge from underneath and rise just as I wrap an arm around his torso.
I force him back into the wall in the same way as he did me, when I'm pushed backward, almost thrown.
My grip remains firm, bringing him with me, and then we drop, tumbling down the stairs harshly enough to rattle my brain.
Everything around us spins and twists, pulsing with every hit of the steps until we smack on the next landing.
Pain continues to shoot down my spine, but I fight through it and continue my assault.
We roll again as I force myself on top of him, and all of the anger I've built up comes out in forceful hits.
My fist bashes his face over and over again, not withholding an ounce of strength.
Heat flushes me and builds with every punch, then I'm shoved back again when he thrusts his foot into my chest. I use my momentum and roll over my shoulder, bringing me back to my hands and feet.
He lunges the moment he rights himself and I kick out, snapping his knee in two and sending another loud crack through the stairwell.
I wrap my arm around his neck before he can scream too loudly, plant my foot on the back of his leg, and pull up, stretching him until he grunts.
His arms claw upward at me, but as I squeeze tighter, he sucks in a final breath.
“You fucked with the wrong family,” I spit in his ear, then twist violently, snapping his neck and watching as his weight takes him down the stairs limply. Relief floods me instantly.
It’s finally over.
That truth settles in the empty space as if I’d opened a window.
I can breathe easier. There are no other surprises or corners to look around.
The last real threat is gone, and all that’s left is the miniscule problem downstairs.
I rest against the wall, pulling out my phone and calling my dad, needing to know that they’re safe.
It rings only half a time before the line clicks.
“Did you get Ian?”
Dad grunts a subtle ‘mhm.’
“Yes, he’s been handled, as well as his friend that was waiting in the parking lot.”
My heart beats a little harder. There was someone else? Is there more? I had almost completely forgotten about Michael, the other traitor that left with Satori when he ran from the Attic. Did they recruit more?
“What—”
“You can thank your mother for that one,” he interrupts. I stand completely unmoving as my mind flips through the possibilities of what else could happen. “As far as anyone else is concerned, he tried to mug her when she was walking to the car.”
“How the fuck did they find out we’re here?” I run my hand through my hair, already stepping up the stairs, desperate to get back to Ashia and Emma.
“Well, you see, son, Ian was very cooperative in his final moments—which is how we knew about his friend.” Dad clears his throat. “Tony’s officer did see Satori in the railyard, and when you and your men went to investigate yesterday, they swiped a phone from one of the HEMTs.”
Dread fills me and creates a new urgency in my movements.
“They saw the picture I sent earlier… Whose phone did they take?” I seethe. It’s part of our protocol that cell phones stay on our person at all times to have accurate locations…and for situations just like this. It’s an innocent mistake that could’ve cost us everything.
“Don’t worry about that right now, son. Let Zeke handle it.”
“I need to know if there’s more of them,” I demand.
“Alex is already on his way to the location Ian disclosed. Before his last breath, he swore there wasn’t anyone else, but we’re smart enough to check anyway.
” I take a deep breath through my nose and stop just before the fourth-floor door, knowing I need to get it together before I return to them.
“Your men and I will handle the rest. Get back to Ashia, take care of your family, and for God’s sake, don’t leave that room again until you hear from me. ”