Chapter 26 Reaper
The electric fence looms before us, a twisted testament to Blackstone’s fortress of cruelty. The hole we cut last night has been patched, but it doesn’t matter. We’re going in through the same spot. Why reinvent the wheel when it worked so well the first time?
Scar glances at his phone, waiting for Matrix’s signal that he cut the electricity to this section again. “Clear.”
“Hold on, Ace,” I mutter under my breath, my pulse hammering in my ears.
As soon as Scar, Talon, Nitro, Tucker and I are through the fence, we pull our knives out of our cuts. The plan is to get as far as possible without alerting the guards. We don’t have time to fuck around, so we don’t wait for the guards to pass.
Hiding behind a tractor, we huddle together, ready for the first guard. With a surge of fury, I launch myself around the huge tractor tire and tackle the guy. He’s big, muscle-bound from years of pumping iron on Blackstone’s dime, but I’ve got something he doesn’t, a reason to fight that goes deeper than any paycheck.
My fists are swift and precise. There’s no time for hesitation, not when every second could mean the difference between life and death for Ace. The guard’s bones crack under the force of my blows. His grunts turn into gurgles. He’s trained, sure, but he’s not prepared for the storm that is a father’s wrath. Within moments, his limp body hits the ground, and I’m up, scanning for the next threat.
A trio of guards materialize from the darkness. The moment they spot us, it’s on. Talon rushes one guy while Tucker engages another. Scar pounces on the third guy before I can get to him. Chaos ensues as they fight the guards.
“Behind you!” Scar’s voice cuts through the chaos just as I hear the sickening crunch of Talon’s boot connecting with another guard’s skull.
I spin and kick the guard running toward me right in the shin, taking him down. Before he hits the ground, I’m on him. Knee to neck, I press until it snaps.
Nitro’s blade slashes the last guard’s throat, spilling blood on the field. And then it’s silent once more.
We move like shadows across the field, leaving a trail of bodies in our wake. These men are paying a blood debt for every second they’ve kept my son from me. I have no doubt everyone on the grounds is aware of the kidnapping. Why they didn’t double their patrol is beyond me. But I’ve got a feeling this is just the beginning. Once we get inside, shit’s gonna get real.
“Got the keycard,” Nitro whispers, holding up the plastic like it’s a trophy. His eyes are hard, reflecting the same burning need for justice that fuels my veins.
“Inside, now.” Scar’s command comes out as a growl.
We slip through the door, our presence an invisible blight on the mansion’s opulence.
“Split up,” I order, my voice barely above a whisper. “Find Ace.”
“I’ll take the living room,” Scar says before heading in that direction.
“Library.” Talon points before leaving us.
“Hallways,” Tucker says, since he’s the least familiar with the mansion’s layout. He’s never been inside before, but he’s seen the crude map we drew for him.
“East wing,” Nitro finishes, the glint in his eye telling me he’s ready to tear this place apart brick by brick if that’s what it takes.
“Basement,” I say, the word tasting like bile in my mouth. It’s where my nightmares started, but I’ll be damned if it’s where they’ll end.
As we split up and venture into the depths of the opulent mansion, fear and trepidation stew in my gut. I’ll never fully get past the visceral reaction I have to being inside this place, but I can’t let that stand in my way. Nothing will stop me from getting Ace back. Not Blackstone. Not his guards. Not even my own dark past. I’m bringing Ace home to his mom, and God help anyone who tries to stop me.
I clutch my gun tightly to my chest, feeling its cold metal press against my racing heart. Dreary gray halls of the mansion I once called a prison surround me, each step bringing back memories I’d rather forget. But there’s no time to dwell on the past. My focus is on finding Ace.
Dimly lit corridors stretch before me, casting eerie shadows over antique furniture that cost more than most people make in a lifetime. The tension is palpable, and I can’t shake the feeling that danger lurks around every corner.
“Stay focused,” I mutter, trying to ignore the rising unease threatening to swallow me whole.
As I move silently from room to room, my eyes scan every inch of space for any sign of my son. When I reach the kitchen, my breath catches in my throat. There, just beyond the gleaming stainless steel appliances, stands the door to the basement, the dungeon where I spent four agonizing years as Blackstone’s prisoner.
A shudder runs through me at the thought of descending into that hellish pit, but I know Ace could be down there. Gripping my gun even tighter, I force myself to approach the door. The air crackles with tension as I slowly reach for the handle.
Just as my fingers brush against the cold metal, I hear footsteps rushing up behind me. Instinct takes over, and I spin around to face the threat. But the assailant is quicker than I expect, landing a solid punch to my wrist. Pain shoots through my arm, and I drop my gun with a curse.
“Didn’t think you’d come, Reaper,” the assailant sneers, his eyes filled with malicious glee. I’ve never seen this man before, but he knows me. Blackstone probably told the guards about each member of the club. That’s how this fucker knows who I am.
“Wrong,” I growl, lunging forward into a fight fueled by desperation and rage.
We trade blows, our fists connecting with brutal force. But this is my territory, and I know every corner of this room like the back of my hand.
I grab a skillet from the stove and slam it against the side of his head. He staggers but recovers with a snarl. I dodge his clumsy swing and sweep a leg out, tripping him onto the floor. Before he has time to react, I snatch a blender from the counter and bring it down hard on his skull.
Blood splatters across the pristine tile, and the guard lies motionless at my feet. Panting, I wipe the sweat and grime from my face with the back of my hand.
“Rest in hell, you bastard,” I whisper, grabbing my gun off the floor and turning back to face the door leading to the basement. Stuffing my gun in my cut, I eye the guard. I can’t just leave him lying there.
Dragging the lifeless body of my assailant into the pantry, I close the door behind me. Blood streaks across the pristine white tiles, a grim reminder of the battle that just took place. The kitchen’s a wreck. If anyone else comes through it, they will know shit went down and they’ll alert the others, but I don’t have time to deal with it.
My eyes fall upon a knife block on the counter. Although I already have one strapped to my leg, a backup could come in handy. I grab a blade with a razor-sharp edge and grip it tightly.
“Stay focused,” I tell myself, pushing open the door to the basement.
Every muscle in my body tenses as I descend the stairs, memories of my imprisonment threatening to overwhelm me. My heart quivers, and I struggle to fend off the panic clawing at my chest.
“Get a grip. You’re not here for yourself. You’re here for Ace.” That thought alone is enough to keep me going.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I brace myself for the horrors I once knew all too well, expecting to find damp stone walls and the cries of kidnapped children echoing off the cold floor.
Instead, I find myself standing in a remodeled TV room, complete with plush couches and a massive flat screen TV.
“Damn.”
Daisy had told me the FBI searched the basement and found this room, but I didn’t fully believe her. Blackstone must’ve remodeled to hide his twisted secrets from the world.
“You sick bastard,” I whisper, rage simmering beneath the surface.
I scan the room, but there’s no sign of Ace. Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. I have to find him before it’s too late.
“Focus, Reaper,” I tell myself, racing back up the stairs.
“Reaper,” Scar whispers as I reach the top. “I searched Blackstone’s office and the library, but no sign of Ace. I’ve got a bad feeling …”
“Basement’s clear,” I interrupt, my voice strained with urgency. “Only one place left to look.”
“Blackstone’s bedroom,” Scar spits, visibly shuddering at the thought. I’m sure he’s feeling the same dread churning in my gut. The idea of Ace being with Blackstone sends a wave of nausea through me.
“Let’s hope we’re not too late,” I whisper, clenching my fists. We can’t fail him. We’ve got to get him back before Blackstone destroys him the way he did us.
“Scar,” I say, my voice low and urgent, “find Talon, Nitro, and Tucker. Head upstairs using the servant’s stairs. I’ll take the main staircase.”
“Stay sharp,” Scar warns me, his eyes filled with concern. “There’s no telling what we’ll find up there.”
“You too,” I reply, my grip tightening on my gun and the knife I’d grabbed earlier.
As I ascend the grand staircase, my senses are on high alert, each step bringing me closer to Blackstone’s twisted room of pain.
Plush two-inch thick carpet covers the stairs, masking my assent. The luxury of this place sickens me. It’s a stark contrast to the suffering that took place beneath these polished floors. My back tenses as anger rushes through me. I refuse to let this monster win. Not again.
As I reach the top of the stairs, I glance to the right, down the hallway. A guard, unaware of my presence, walks away from me with his back turned.
This is my chance.
I rush him, channeling every ounce of strength into a ferocious strike aimed at catching him off guard.
“Ugh!” The guy grunts as I stab the kitchen knife into his shoulder. A second later, my fist connects with the back of his head. Years of riding the open road has honed my reflexes, but I know better than to underestimate any of Blackstone’s men.
The guard stumbles forward but recovers quickly. He rips the knife out of his shoulder and tosses it away. He rushes me, retaliating with a vicious punch of his own. The mansion resonates with the sound of fists meeting flesh, echoing through the gilded halls.
“Didn’t think it’d be that easy, did you?” the guard sneers, wiping blood from his mouth.
“Never do,” I grunt in response, circling him warily. We’re both sizing each other up, searching for weaknesses.
“Your boss is going down,” I tell him between clenched teeth. “And you’re going with him if you don’t get the fuck out of my way.”
“Over my dead body,” he spits back, lunging at me once more.
“Your choice,” I reply, bracing myself for the fight that lies ahead.
We exchange blows, both of us determined to come out victorious. Sweat drips down my face, but I don’t bother wiping it away.
“Is that all you’ve got?” the guard taunts, smirking through his swollen lip. He doesn’t know what he’s up against. Not yet.
I reach for the knife concealed in my cut. I could use my gun, but that would make too much noise. So far, no one seems to realize we’re inside the mansion. The element of surprise is on our side, and I intend to keep it that way.
“Shouldn’t have thrown the other one away,” I growl, brandishing the blade.
The guard’s eyes widen, but only for a moment. He’s fast, dodging my first swipe with ease. “You think a knife scares me?” he scoffs. “I’ve seen worse.”
He must have experience in knife fights because his speed is impressive. As we continue to clash, fatigue begins to take its toll on both of us. Our bodies are bruised and battered, but neither of us is willing to give up.
“Just stay down,” I growl as we trade blow after blow.
The mansion’s grandeur becomes a treacherous battleground as our fight spills into different rooms and corridors. We dodge priceless antiques, leap over ornate furniture, and use the mansion’s architecture to our advantage in a high-stakes game of survival.
“Reaper, you fool,” the guard sneers, his voice strained. “You’ll never save your son.”
“Watch me,” I snarl, gritting my teeth.
Beneath the surface of our physical confrontation lies a deep-seated animosity born from years of bloodshed and betrayal. Blackstone’s men have taken so much from me and my club. I won’t let them take Ace, too.
At a critical moment, the guard lands a powerful kick to my side, sending me crashing into a wall. My body screams in protest, but my spirit remains unbroken. I refuse to let my son down in his darkest hour.
“Give up already,” the guard growls, advancing toward me.
“Never,” I gasp. I can’t let this bastard win.
Using the last of my strength to lunge at him, knife outstretched, I mount a fierce counterattack, slashing like a wild man. I slice at the guard with relentless precision, forcing him onto the defensive.
Our battle continues, each of us refusing to yield. My heart thunders and adrenaline surges through my veins. The pain from my injuries is nothing compared to the thought of losing my son.
“You’re a dead man, Reaper!” the guard shouts, his voice strained under the pressure of my onslaught. “Maybe Blackstone will let us all have a crack at the kid when he’s done with him.”
“Never!” I roar, lunging at him with renewed fervor.
In a climactic showdown, our eyes lock one last time. The guard’s eyes widen with shock and fear, while mine blaze with fury and resolve. With a final, decisive blow, I drive the knife deep into his chest. He gasps, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth, before collapsing to the floor, lifeless.
“Should’ve stayed out of my way,” I snap, pulling the knife free and wiping the blade on his uniform.
The guard’s lifeless body lies at my feet, a satisfying reminder of the cost of this mission. I take a deep breath and steel myself for what’s to come. The bedroom door looms at the end of the hallway like a dark omen, but I’d walk through hell to get my son back.
Scar and Talon jog down the hall toward me.
“We took out a bunch of other guys,” Scar says.
“The west wing is clear.” Talon shifts his knife from one hand to the other.
“Check the rest of the east wing. I’m heading to Blackstone’s bedroom.”
“We’ll come with you,” Scar says.
“No. Not this time. I need you to hold everyone else off, so I can focus on him. I know you want him dead as much as I do, but he’s not holding your son hostage.”
“We got you,” Scar replies, his voice tense. “Be ready for anything. You don’t know how many men he has behind those doors.”
“Always am,” I say, clenching my jaw as I stalk toward the door.
Each step feels heavier than the last as memories of that room resurface to torment me. The double doors leading into his bedroom loom over me.
As I reach for the doorknob, I can’t help but think about the horrors that could be waiting behind it. Is Ace okay? What has Blackstone done to him?
“Please let me be in time,” I plead silently.
I twist the knob and throw the door open, gun drawn, ready for a fight. My eyes dart around the room, quickly scanning for any threats. The lavish bedroom is bathed in shadows, making it hard to see anything clearly, but there’s no sign of Blackstone or Ace.
I run into the ensuite bathroom.
It’s empty.
“Damn it!” I curse under my breath, my frustration boiling over.
Where the hell is he?
Footsteps pound down the hall. I whip around but lower my gun when I see Scar. “What?”
“Tucker found a hidden passage,” Scar pauses to catch his breath. “He found a blueprint in Blackstone’s office. It leads to a secret room.”
“Fuck! Where?”
Scar’s already running down the hall toward the main staircase. “The basement.”
“I already checked it.”
“There must be a hidden door.”
“I’ll go and look, but finish searching the second floor and check the attic just in case he’s up there.”
“On it,” Scar says.
As soon as I’m back in the basement, I search the walls. Running my hands over every inch of the one where the TV is mounted, I struggle to detect anything out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, I find a small, almost imperceptible seam. Pressing my palm against it, a hidden door swings open, revealing a dimly lit corridor.
“Found it,” I mutter.
Stepping into the passage, I move deeper into the shadows. I knew Blackstone never stopped being a monster. Unless Blackstone built the room recently, the incompetent fucks at the FBI missed it when they searched the basement. Fuck those guys.
My heart stalls as I reach the end of the corridor and confront another door. This is it. Whatever lies behind this door could change Ace’s life forever. Taking one last deep breath, I kick the door open, ready to face whatever nightmare awaits me inside.