Chapter 25
Rory
I cradled Kat’s limp form in my arms, my heart pounding frantically. Her face was pale, a trickle of blood running from a gash on her forehead.
“Kat, come on darlin’, open those beautiful eyes for me,” I pleaded, gently patting her cheek. Her skin felt cool under my touch, and I could see a nasty gash on her forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me now, not after everything we’ve been through.”
The car was fully engulfed with flames, casting an eerie orange glow. Smoke stung my eyes and filled my lungs, but I gathered her closer, readying myself to pick her up. That’s when I heard footsteps approaching from behind and a wave of relief washed over me. It must be Declan and Connor. We could get Kat to safety, get her the medical attention she desperately needed.
“Over here!” I yelled, my voice raw from the smoke and the sting of unshed tears. “She’s hurt, we need to—”
And that’s when I remembered Declan wasn’t back yet. The words died in my throat as I turned and found myself staring down the barrel of a gun. The man holding it was built like a brick shithouse, with a face that looked like it had been carved from granite. His cold blue eyes regarded me with detached interest, like I was an insect he was about to squash.
“Well, well,” he drawled in a thick Russian accent. “What do we have here?”
I tightened my grip on Kat, my mind racing. What the hell was taking Declan and Wren so long to get back? “Why the fuck didn’t you leave with the rest?” I asked.
“Because the boss has plans for her.” He grinned at me, and I wanted nothing more than to smash my fist in his mouth but didn’t.
“With that car exploding, you could have killed her,” I spat between clenched teeth.
He shrugged. “Meh, but we didn’t.”
“Look, man,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “We don’t want any trouble. Just go.”
The Russian’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Oh, but I think we do want trouble, Mr. Hennessy. Or rather, my boss does. Like I said he wants her.”
A chill ran down my spine. This wasn’t some random thug – this was one of Volkov’s men.
“Your boss can go fuck himself,” I spat, anger overriding my fear.
The Russian clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “Such language. But no matter. My orders are not to kill you... yet.” His gaze shifted to Kat, and I felt my blood run cold. “The girl, however, she comes with me.”
“Over my dead body,” I snarled, pulling Kat closer to me.
The Russian shrugged. “If you insist.”
I saw the butt of the gun swinging towards my head, but I was too slow to avoid it. Pain exploded behind my eyes, and I felt myself falling backwards. And this time I saw stars as my world started to close in around me. The last thing I heard before succumbing to the darkness was the Russian’s voice, cold and amused: “Sweet dreams, Mr. Hennessy. When you wake up, your little friend will be long gone.”
My last conscious thought was of Kat, and the terrifying knowledge that I had failed to protect her.
∞∞∞
I awoke with a pounding headache, the taste of blood in my mouth from biting my tongue. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was or what happened. Then it all came rushing back - the warehouse, the explosion, Kat...
Kat!
I bolted upright, ignoring the wave of dizziness that threatened to send me back to the ground. My eyes frantically scanned the area, but there was no sign of her. Flames still licked at the vehicle, casting an eerie glow on the front yard of the estate.
“Kat!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “KAT!”
Only silence answered me. Panic clawed at my chest as I stumbled to my feet. How long had I been out? Where had they taken her?
“Rory!”
I spun around to see Declan and Wren getting out of their car and running towards me, their faces etched with concern.
“What happened? Where’s my father, where’s Kat?” Declan demanded as they reached me.
I rubbed the goose egg size bump on the back of my head and winced. “Your dad is in the house with Connor. And Volkov’s men,” I growled, the memory of the Russian’s cold eyes making my blood boil, “they took Kat. I couldn’t... I failed her.”
Wren put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not your fault. We’ll get her back. ”
Declan grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet, his expression hardened. “Damn right we will. No one takes my sister and gets away with it.”
I nodded, pushing aside my guilt and self blame. There would be time for that later. Right now, Kat needs us.
“We need to move fast,” I said. “Every minute she’s with them...”
I couldn’t finish the thought. The idea of what Volkov and his men might do to her was too horrifying to even think about.
“I’ll get men combing the streets,” Declan said. “We’ll find her, Rory. I promise you that.”
∞∞∞
The hours crawled by like years as we scoured the city for any sign of Kat. Every lead turned into a dead end, every possible hideout empty. The frustration and fear were eating me alive.
“Nothing,” I growled, slamming my fist against the dashboard as we pulled away from yet another abandoned warehouse. “How the fuck can they just disappear like this?”
Declan’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “We’ll find her, Rory. We have to. ”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to push down the panic threatening to overwhelm me. “What if we’re too late? What if Volkov’s already...” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.
Declan’s jaw clenched. “Don’t think like that. Kat’s tough. She’ll hold on until we get to her.”
I nodded, trying to believe his words. But the image of Kat, scared and alone, possibly hurt, kept flashing through my mind. I should have protected her better. I should have never let her get involved in this mess.
Just then, Declan’s phone rang. He answered it quickly, his voice tense. “What is it?”
I watched his expression change as he listened, hope blooming in his eyes. “You’re sure? Alright, we’re on our way. In the meantime, keep searching.”
He hung up and immediately made a sharp U-turn, tires squealing.
“What is it?” I demanded. “Did they find her?”
“One of our informants spotted a group of Russians entering an old meat packing plant on the outskirts of town,” Declan explained, his foot flooring the gas pedal. “It’s not much, but it’s the best lead we’ve had all night. But just in case, Connor is still on it.”
My heart raced as we sped through the dark streets. Hold on, Kat, I thought fiercely. We’re coming for you.
∞∞∞
After sneaking in and searching the empty building, we knew it was a bust.
And as we drove back to the estate, my mind raced with possibilities. Where could they have taken Kat? What did Volkov want with her? The image of her unconscious body being dragged away haunted me despite not seeing it.
“We need to think this through logically,” Declan said. “Volkov wouldn’t risk taking her out of the city so soon. He’ll wait until the heat dies down.”
“But where?” Wren asked, her voice tight with worry. “He must have dozens of safe houses.”
I closed my eyes, trying to focus past the throbbing in my head. “The notebook,” I said suddenly. “The one we found at Marcus’s place. It had addresses - places where they kept the trafficked women.”
Declan nodded grimly. “Good thinking. We’ll start there.”
As we pulled up to the estate, I was out of the car before it had fully stopped. We burst into the house and went straight to Declan’s office, where Connor was waiting with a grim expression.
“Any news?” I demanded.
Connor shook his head staring at a laptop. “Other than Tomas is sound asleep up in his room with Ian and Charlie standing guard in the hallway, nothing yet. But I’ve got our tech guys working on tracing Volkov’s known associates, cell phones, anything that might give us a lead.”
Connor spun around on his stool and looked at Declan. “The hospital called. Apparently they tried calling you. Anywho, they want to know when you will be bringing Tomas back.”
“They are the reason why Volkov took him in the first place! Call them back and tell them they can go fuck themselves. He’s staying right here.”
Connor nodded. “With pleasure.”
As he walked off to make the call, frustration and fear gnawed at my insides, I paced the room like a caged animal. “It’s not enough. We need to do more. Every second we waste...”
“We’re doing everything we can, Rory,” Declan said firmly. “But we can’t just charge in blind. That’ll only get Kat killed.”
I knew he was right, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. As the others pored over maps and made phone calls, I found myself staring out the window, my mind filled with memories of Kat. Her unwavering fierceness, her quick wit, the way her eyes lit up when she smiled...
I silently vowed that I would find her, no matter what it took. And when I did, I’d make Volkov pay for every second of fear and pain he’d caused her.
Suddenly, Connor’s voice cut through my thoughts. “I think I’ve got something!”
We all crowded around his laptop as he pointed to a blinking dot on a map. “One of Volkov’s lieutenants just used his credit card at a gas station out near the old industrial district.”
“That’s got to be it,” I said, already heading for the door. “Let’s go.”
As we geared up, strapping on bulletproof vests and checking our weapons, I caught Declan’s eye.
“We’re bringing her home,” he said, his voice full of quiet determination. “No matter what it takes.”
I nodded, a grim smile on my face, as I stuck a Glock in each of the holsters wrapped around my thighs. “No matter what it takes.”