Chapter 52
“Hurry the fuck up.”
“You’re the one struggling!”
I can’t tell the difference between them without seeing their faces, but from their voices, I surmise it’s the same two officers from before.
I know I’ve got to get my body moving. They’re dragging me somewhere. My boots catch something on the ground, halting my momentum every few seconds.
My throat vibrates with a groan.
“Fuck, he’s waking up. Hurry!”
Flexing my hands, I begin opening my eyes. The floodlights from the vehicle in front of me are nearly blinding, forcing me to close them again. The sun is completely gone, causing worry to etch into me.
How long have I been unconscious?
Both my arms are up, used to pull me toward whatever destination they’ve chosen.
In my peripheral, my truck comes into view on the left.
To my right, a metal railing not more than ten feet away continues to pass as we move.
Ahead of me, towering cliffs covered in snow; behind the vehicle, a road about twenty feet away.
“Get him in.”
I roll my ankles, feeling them pop, and the sensation in my legs sharpens. I’m mobile. My muscles no longer feel affected by the taser from before.
They stop, and one shifts to move under one of my arms. The instant I’m lifted, just enough to get my feet solid on the ground, I throw myself against him. His grunt is followed by a loud creak of metal as he hits the truck. I step back and drive an elbow into the second officer’s nose.
I’ve never killed anyone, and it’s never been in my nature to want to. I’m not afraid of violence, though, and while some have called me a gentle giant, I’m more than capable of proving the opposite.
With his step back, I thrust my boot into his chest and watch him stumble into the metal railing. Fear and regret flash across his face. I feel no sympathy as he screams and tumbles backward.
I’ve got no idea how far the drop is. Five feet? A thousand? I don’t care either way, as long as it incapacitates him.
“Omar!!”
I turn, roll my shoulders, and drive a fist into the man standing before me. His head snaps back, hitting the metal of my truck.
Before he can fall, I grab his throat and shove him back against the car for good measure.
Blood spills from his nose in waves as his eyes dart around before crossing.
Damn… didn’t mean to hit him that hard.
“What the fuck do you want?!”
He grumbles something, and I release his throat, before resting my entire forearm across his chest and pinning him up. I do a quick check on his person, grabbing his gun and tossing it aside, along with a baton and taser.
“Speak, or you’ll join your friend.”
“Y-You k-killed him.”
“And you’re next,” I seethe. “What the fuck do you want?!”
As he shakes his head, I throw a punch into his side. His whimpering comes with, “N-Nothing! It’s Michael Harris! Officer-fucking-Harris!”
My entire body rushes with chills.
“Just gotta get the other one, then our job’s done here.”
Were they talking about…
“Where is Ayden?!” I rush out. “You better not have fucking touched him.”
His head shakes violently. “N-No, we couldn’t. There were people at your place. Please. We just wanted a way out of this small-ass town.”
“And you were going to what?!”
I finally look around. We’re on a turnoff, but I don’t recognize it at all. Not that I’ve driven every road in Maple Falls and the surrounding area, but judging by the unpaved surface, this isn’t meant for public access.
To my left, where my truck is facing, there’s a drop-off. No guardrail. My heart rate spikes.
“Were you going to have me drive the fuck off this cliff?”
Watching this grown-ass man start crying makes disgust churn in my stomach. Is he seriously acting like this, like what I’m questioning him about is somehow unjust?
“I’m sorry. Please.”
Grabbing his shoulders, I smash my forehead against his and let him drop to the ground with a solid thunk.
I kick his weakly moving body and lean into the driver’s side of my truck.
The keys are in the ignition, and I’m nearly out of gas.
I don’t remember how much I had before getting pulled over, so I can’t gauge how far we’ve gone.
I do a quick search through the bed of the vehicle, but my phone isn’t here or on me.
Dropping to my knees, I start rifling through the groaning officer’s pockets, finding his car keys and a cell that isn’t mine.
“Where is my phone?” I ask, not-so-nicely.
It takes him a second, but when he lifts his hand and points over toward the railing at which his partner fell from, I groan.
“Motherfucker.”
I grab the keys and his phone and immediately dial Ayden. It rings. And rings. And rings.
Nausea churns from my stomach to my chest, the acidic sting rising in my throat. It goes to voicemail. Instead of hanging up and trying again, I let it beep.
“Ayden, it’s me. Please answer the phone, love. I know you don’t recognize the number, but it’s me, Keo.” I pause briefly. Through a shaky breath, I murmur, “I love you so goddamn much. Please be okay. I’m coming home. I’m coming back to you, and we will work this out. I’m so fucking sorry.”
I hang up and dial again, letting it ring over and over until voicemail picks up again.
Instead of going back in for another call, I send a text.
Sunshine, it’s Keoni, please answer me. Or call me.
I slip the phone into my pocket and slap the officer who is attempting to get into a position to crawl away.
“Where the hell are we?”
He stammers, words spilling out, mixed with apologies.
Thankfully, we’re in the Alpine Mountain range that partially surrounds Sapphire Valley, which means we aren’t cities away.
His brown eyes, red-rimmed and wide, stare up at me. There’s a plea in them, and for a brief second, I wonder if he has a family. If a partner would miss him if he didn’t come home.
Then I remember he was ready to end my life. Ayden would’ve faced another funeral. He would’ve been the one to hear that the person he loved wasn’t coming home.
In full clarity, I have no remorse for the actions I’m preparing to take. I grab him by the bicep and drag him around my truck’s open door. He screams and thrashes, fingers digging into my wrist, but adrenaline has taken over—I feel no pain, even as he breaks my skin.
When he starts kicking, I turn and slam my boot onto his shin, breaking the bone instantly. His shrill scream echoes in my ears, hitting a void. I’ve never cared less about anything in my life than the thought of taking this man’s life.
Once we reach the ledge, I drop him right at it.
He soils himself as he crawls away, dragging his injured leg behind him.
“Please—please, I beg of you.”
My eyes fall to half-mast as I stare down at him. “Beg to your god, not me. They’re more likely to answer your pleas.”
I slam my heel into his shoulder, sending him tumbling backward.
His screams break up as he collides with rocks, but I know he hasn’t reached the bottom by the time I turn my back. I don’t wait for confirmation he’s found his death. Instead, I move quickly to the black Dodge Charger.
As I’d suspected too late before, it’s a civilian car. No police equipment in sight. There’s more gas in this one, and as much as I hate leaving my truck—likely to be found later with two bodies at the bottom of a mountain—Ayden is more important. Getting back to him is all that matters.
Once inside, I navigate the windy, nerve-wracking road while trying to dial Britt’s number from memory. Five-five-six-seven… or was it something else? Every attempt is met with a gruff old man answering instead.
I try two more numbers, when finally, it’s her that picks up. “Hello?”
“Britt, it’s Keoni.”
“Oh my fucking god! You goddamn ASSHOLE!”
“Listen to me, I don’t have a lot of time. Where is Ayden?”
She sighs. “He isn’t the one I’m worried about—”
“I am. I fucking am! I was attacked by those same two police officers we reported for spying on Ayden. Something is wrong!” I shout, voice raw. “Three-way me to Calista. I know you have her number.”
“O-Okay. One moment.”
I hear a beep, and then the phone ringing. “Are you okay?” Britt asks.
“No,” I answer curtly.
I’m not. I’m sure physically I’m hurting somewhere. I’ve got blood on my wrist, but I feel nothing. Mentally? I’m sure if I sat to think about it, I’m definitely not okay.
“Hello?! Britt?” Calista answers the phone frantically.
“Calista, it’s Keoni.”
“Oh my god, thank fuck!” Her words come out in a hushed panic. “You need to come back to Sapphire Valley, now!”
I groan as I navigate off the windy road and peel out onto a paved one. A red-and-white “DO NOT ENTER” sign lies broken as I keep driving down the mountain.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“Michael’s at the cabin. I rushed to Starlight because Ronan and Levi are out looking for you. I called them but they’re about thirty minutes away…”
I have to keep myself from shouting and punching the dash. “Did you call the police?”
She hesitates, before letting out a soft whimpered cry. “N-No… Michael came in an officer’s uniform. I didn’t know it was him. I-I had no idea, and I didn’t trust anyone. I’m worried who else could be—”
“You did the right thing. Britt?”
“Yes?”
“Can you call Dom?”
“I’ll call them now—”
“No!” Cal cuts her off. “No… Keoni, where are you?”
“I’m on my way. Why the fuck wouldn’t we want to call Dom?! He’s probably closer—”
“Levi said not to get anyone involved…”
“I don’t give a fuck! Ayden’s life is in danger.” My shout bounces around in the car. “Fuck! What about the goddamn billionaire?! Does he have a gun?” I swear my entire body is shaking, but I have to stay focused. The last thing I can afford is to lose it and careen off this road.
“He doesn’t have a gun…” She pauses, and I can hear footsteps, before she continues, “Ezra wants to help, but police were here again on Christmas, and if he gets involved… Jayde made him promise to stay out of it.”
I’m about to lose my goddamn mind. “Fine. Thank you, Cal. Call Ronan and get their ETA.”
The phone beeps without another word. “Britt?”
“I-I’m here.”
“I…” I pause. She’s my friend, but confessing to her that I just killed two people may be stupid. So, I divert. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh… Keoni, I—”
I hang up the phone and dial up Ayden again. As expected, no response.
I’m coming. Please, please, hold on.