Chapter 32
It took everything that Kane possessed not to walk across the room and kill Ken. He hoped he never saw the devastated look on Monica’s face when she realized that she had been betrayed by the one person who should have been helping her find her sister.
“You know you can’t kill him, right?” Charger’s voice broke into his thoughts.
“Says who?” Kane sneered, his eyes narrowed at Ken, who now sat in a chair staring at the floor.
“What’s the plan?” Val walked up, glancing at Kane, then followed his glare to Ken. “You know you can’t kill him, right?”
“That’s what I said,” Charger replied with a sigh. “He’s a piece of shit, but right now we need to focus on getting this little girl back.”
“And he’s the key,” Creed, who had been standing close, added, gaining all their attention.
“What do you mean?” Charger frowned at Creed.
“Let him take her in—” Creed said, then rolled his eyes when Kane started shaking his head. “What?”
“No,” Was all Kane said. There was no way in hell he was going to let one son of a bitch hand her over to another son of a bitch.
“Will you let me fucking finish?” Creed growled, glaring at Kane. “You are one hardheaded asshole. You’re acting like a mated male. She’s just another piece of ass that you are going to walk—”
Kane had Creed up against the wall with his hand on his throat so fast and violently that the plaster cracked. “Watch your mouth when talking about her, Creed. I won’t warn you again.”
“Holy shit, I’m feeling right at home here.” Jared broke the tense silence. “What about you, Sid? You feeling at home?”
“Enough to strip and walk around naked,” Sid replied with a huge grin.
“You strip naked anywhere near me, and I will kill you,” Damon gave Sid a sideways glare.
Kane ignored the Warriors’ usual comedy show as he glared at Creed, who had a huge grin on his face. “You find this funny?”
“Fuck yeah, I do,” Creed said, then grabbed Kane’s wrist, shoving his hand off his throat. “You’re pussy whipped, man. Dammit, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
“Just curious...but why?” Jared cocked his eyebrow at Creed as he and Kane continued to stare at each other. “He taking all the girls away from ya?”
Creed snorted, “He fucking wishes.”
The door opened as more Warriors walked inside.
Creed slapped Kane on the back as he passed him and headed toward the kitchen, where Monica and Raven stood watching them.
Their eyes met before Raven said something, gaining her attention.
Turning, he looked to see Steve, Adam, Jill, Blaze, and Ryker greeting the other Guardians.
“Where’s Sloan?” Charger asked Blaze who was looking at Ken.
“Duncan’s in charge is all I know, and he’s on his way,” Blaze informed him.
“No shit,” Charger looked surprised. “Sloan is taking time off. Has hell finally frozen over?”
“I hope the fuck not,” Creed chimed in. “I got bills to pay. No Hell, means no demons, which means no paycheck.”
Monica walked over, looking pale and unsettled. “What’s the plan?” She asked Kane. Raven stepped up behind Monica.
“Yeah, Kane,” Creed cocked his eyebrow. “What’s the plan?”
“For you not to worry,” Kane answered, giving Creed a sneer, then looked back at Monica. “I’m going to get Dena back.”
When Monica’s eyes narrowed, he knew she was about to go off on him.
“That’s your plan? For me not to worry?” Monica’s voice lowered menacingly. “Are you kidding me?”
“He’s not,” Creed leaned toward her and whispered. “I’m with you...that plan sucks. You want to hear my plan, beautiful?”
Slowly, Monica’s head turned toward Creed, her eyes narrowing even more if that was possible. “If that plan is for you to shut the fuck up, then yeah, I want to hear it, asshole.”
Chuckles filled the air; even Kane had to smile at that, though he wanted to plaster Creed through the wall for flirting with her.
She started walking toward Ken, but stopped next to Kane, staring directly into his eyes. “One thing dipshit is right about...your plan sucks.”
She walked away, and dammit, he was one proud son of a bitch at how she handled herself around his brothers. She gave as good as she got.
“You hit the jackpot with that one,” Creed gave him a nod. “Congrats, my guy. But a word of warning...you let her go, and I’m all over her. Got me?”
“He means well,” Charger stopped Kane from going after Creed. “We need to focus now because it looks like your girl has a plan of her own.” He nodded toward Monica who was pulling Ken up by the handcuffs and heading for the door.
“Fuck!” Kane rushed that way where she had stopped in front of Steve, who was digging through his pocket.
“Yeah, those are our cuffs.” Steve was saying. “I got a master key here somewhere.”
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kane pulled Ken away from her and pushed him back toward the chair he was sitting in.
“I’m turning myself over to Farrar to get Dena back,” Monica said, reaching out and grabbing Ken, pulling him back toward them.
“Over my dead fucking body,” Kane growled, pushing Ken away.
“That can be arranged,” Monica growled back, grabbing for Ken again.
“Okay, children,” Charger grabbed Ken and shoved him into the chair. “Monica, hold on a second, and let’s figure this out.”
“The longer we figure this out, the longer my niece is terrified or worse,” Monica said, her voice calm and even. “If it’s me he wants, then it’s me he will get. Whatever it takes to get Dena home.”
Kane understood her frustration, but this was not how he operated.
He needed to think, and with her planning to put herself in danger, he couldn’t focus.
Knowing she would probably hate him, Kane decided to prioritize her safety above everything else.
Moving quickly toward her, he bent down, his shoulder hitting her in the stomach as he hoisted her over his shoulder.
He turned and walked away from everyone.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Monica yelled, then started hitting him on the back. “Put me down, Kane.”
“Oh, shit,” Steve practically fell out of the way as Kane passed.
“That’s not going to end well,” Val said with a whistle as he passed him.
Kane ignored them all as he climbed the steps and headed down the end of the hallway. Opening one of the doors, he walked in and then tossed her on the bed. When she started to scramble up, he leaned over her, stopping her.
“You said you trusted me.” his tone stopped her cold. “I said I would get Dena back, and I will get Dena back, but not at the risk of losing you. You may hate me, but I refuse to let you walk into a dangerous situation.”
Kane straightened as he continued to stare at her. He noticed her looking around the room, then toward the window.
“Once I lock that door, you cannot escape. We use this to keep people in.” He cocked his eyebrow, exposing the fact that he knew exactly how her mind worked.
“Kane, don’t do this to me,” Monica rolled herself to her knees.
“I’m doing it for you,” Kane walked toward the door. “And for Dena. We both know what will happen to you if you walk into Farrar’s trap. That will not happen on my watch, Monica.”
He then reached down, taking off her shoes as she fought him. While searching for the shoes, he found the AirTag. He pulled it out and then tossed the shoes on the bed. Heading for the door, he turned one more time to look at her, and the betrayed look on her face almost did him in.
“I will never forgive you for this,” She whispered as tears fell down her face.
“At least you will be alive to hate me,” He countered, then opened the door and walked out. He turned and keyed in the code that would lock the door. He didn’t have to worry about her trying the window since it was sealed with bars.
A sadness he had never felt in his life swarmed him. His chest felt tight as he headed down the steps. This was the only way. He knew what he was doing, but dammit, with her in danger, he couldn’t do his job right.
He loved her. The realization hit him, stopping him abruptly on the steps.
He fucking loved her. He rolled his shoulders, forcing the emotion down where it belonged.
If he let himself feel this, really feel it, he would lose the edge he needed.
And right now, edge was the only thing standing between Monica and a body bag.
“She’s gonna hate you,” Creed said when he reached the bottom of the steps.
Kane didn’t look his way. “Good.”
Creed scoffed. “You don’t mean that.”
“No,” Kane said quietly. “But to keep her alive, I’ll live with it.”
He headed to where Ken sat cuffed. Tension was thick in the air.
“What’s the play?” Val asked.
Kane’s jaw tightened. “We give Farrar exactly what he wants.”
That got everyone’s attention.
“You,” Kane said, pointing at Ken, “are going to tell Farrar you broke. That Monica figured it out and that you panicked.”
Ken swallowed hard. “He’ll kill me.”
“Don’t give a shit,” Kane said coldly. “I just need you to get me inside.”
“And you?” Charger asked.
Kane walked to the closet and opened it, then reached for a pair of heavy cuffs with a chain. “I go in as leverage.”
“That’s insane,” Val said immediately, then grinned. “But I like it.”
“What about the guy that got away?” Charger frowned, looking at Kane. “That could be an issue if he has contacted Farrar.”
“There was no other guy,” Ken said, his eyes shifting away. “I didn’t want Monica to know it was me.”
“Adam?” Kane glanced toward where Adam stood listening.
“Truth,” Adam glared at Ken. “Guess that explains why Jax couldn’t pick up any other prints or scent.”
“Jax is the best tracker I’ve ever seen,” Blaze added with a frown, glaring at Ken also. “If there had been someone else, he’d have found him. I’ll reach out to him and call off the hunt.”
Kane reached down, grabbed Ken by the shirt, and pulled him up to his face. “You are lucky I need you right now, you sick bastard.” He pushed him toward Val. “Take the cuffs off him and get the directions from him.”
“You know this is a half-assed plan,” Charger walked up, not really looking that concerned.
“And when has that stopped us?” Kane slung the heavy chain cuffs over his shoulder.
“Never, but as the leader of our fucked-up crew, I felt it was my place to voice my opinion on the matter,” Charger said, then grinned, clapping him on the back.
“Go on. We will give you time, then get set up. Watch your ass. I’m going to be pissed if you get your dumbass killed and leave me here with Creed. ”
Kane grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes as his gaze went to the steps that led to where Monica was locked away.
“Take it from me. I did some pretty fucked up things to my mate,” Charger said low enough for only Kane to hear. “She’ll forgive you,”
“Keep someone here to guard the place,” Kane said, then grabbed Ken as he headed out the door. “Send someone to her brothers and Theo’s, her next-door neighbor.”
Once outside, he pushed Ken in front of him toward one of the SUVs. As they moved, Kane closed his eyes briefly and let himself feel the rage fueling him for what was to come.
He would let Farrar think he’d won.
He would let Monica hate him.
And when it was over?
He would bring Farrar down.
He would bring Dena back.
And if he survived it…
He would spend the rest of his life making it up to the woman he just locked away to keep her breathing.