Mia
I’d hurried.
I really did.
I’d already gathered my things and Garrett ’s laptop and was headed for the door when Hadley called.
She needed me to resend the pictures I’d taken of Willow.
I would’ve waited and sent them when I got home, but she sounded absolutely frantic.
There was some issue with the invitations, and she had to get them reprinted.
I hated to put her off, so I rushed back to my office and sent her the files.
It only took a second.
A second too long.
Someone was there. No doubt about it. I got up from my desk and tiptoed around front to see who it was. That’s when I saw him—the man dressed all in black who was working diligently to get inside.
I was about to tell Wrath what I had seen when I realized our call had dropped. I was about to try and call him back when the shadowy figure started to fumble with the lock of the office door.
He seemed determined, his hands moving swiftly and urgently. I could hear the faint sound of tools scraping against the door, heightening my anxiety. With every failed attempt, the intruder's frustration grew, evident in his agitated movements and muttered curses.
I knew it was only a matter of time before he got inside, so I turned and started towards the back entrance.
I hadn’t gotten far when I heard a loud thud followed by an even louder thud.
I hesitated for a moment, listening to see if he’d made his way inside, and that’s when I heard a knock followed by, “Mia! It’s me! Open up!”
I stepped back around the corner, and relief washed over me when I saw Riley standing there and the man in black on the ground at his feet. I rushed over and unlocked the door, letting him inside. “We’ve gotta go.”
“Who was that?”
“No clue, but there’s more where he came from.” Riley stepped over the man’s body, then came inside and locked the door behind him. “Two more just pulled up in a van. We gotta move.”
“Where? How?”
“Go around back. I told Cody to meet you there.” He glanced back at the door to see if anyone was coming. “I’ll keep watch here until you’re both in the clear.”
I didn’t question him. I simply rushed back to my office, grabbed my things, and darted down the hall. When I reached the back door, I stopped and took a couple of deep breaths.
My heart was pounding.
My palms were sweating. I would’ve given anything to go back in time and stop myself from ever looking on Garrett’s stupid laptop, but it was too late for that. Someone had to have known that I’d found the images, and they had come for me.
I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I eased the back door open and checked to see if anyone was there.
The sun had set and it was already starting to get pretty dark, but I could still make out the back lot.
There was an alley to the left and a road to the right, and neither seemed to have anyone around.
With great hesitation, I stepped outside and whispered, “Cody?”
The office door had just closed behind me when I heard a commotion to my left.
Terrified, I quickly turned to look down the alley, and my heart stopped the second I spotted Cody stumbling into view.
His eyes were wide with horror, and he was clutching his chest in a panic.
Clearly in agony, he dropped to his knees.
I was about to rush over to him when his head reared back, and his lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
And just like that, Cody was dead. I was absolutely stunned.
All I could do was stand there and watch as the blood pooled around his body.
I looked around, praying for someone to be there to help—possibly a car driving by or someone walking down the street, but there was no one.
And as far as I knew, no one was coming.
The men had used silencers, so no one had heard them kill Cody, and no one would hear them kill me. Like it or not, I was alone.
I could hear the two men talking around the bend. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I could tell they were close. Too close. It was only a matter of time before they figured out where I was, and that was a thought that had the hairs on the back of my neck prickling against my skin.
I had to get out of there, but I had nowhere to go.
They had me cornered. My only choice was to run to the parking lot, but there was no way for me to get there without them seeing me.
I was trying to figure out another option when I spotted Riley near the main road.
He was motioning for me to come to him. Out of pure fear, I hesitated, and in that brief second of hesitation, gunshots rang out again, this time aimed at Riley.
He took a hit to the shoulder, but that didn’t stop him from firing back.
Several rounds were exchanged, and at first, it looked like Riley was holding his own. But things quickly took a turn when Riley was shot a second time. He inched back, shielding himself behind one of the adjoining buildings while I was left in the open.
I had no choice but to stand there and fearfully await my fate.
I could see one of the men charging in my direction. He was coming for me, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop him. I’d lost all hope when I saw Wrath’s SUV whip around the corner. It came to a screeching halt, and seconds later, the doors flew open.
Then, as if emerging from a dream, he appeared. His eyes, usually so calm and gentle, now blazed with a fiery resolve and were fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. Time seemed to stand still as he aimed his weapon at the man and fired, killing him instantly.
His shots were not silenced.
There was no doubt that someone had heard it.
But Wrath seemed unaffected by the thought as he continued towards me.
With every step, his presence grew stronger, his strength and determination radiating off him.
At that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay.
He’d come for me. Without a word, he wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me into an embrace that chased away my fears.
I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the scent that was uniquely his, and cried, “Cody... They killed Cody.”
“Gotta get you outta here, babe.”
“But Cody... and Riley... Riley’s hurt, too.”
“I know, but you first.” He released me from our embrace, then turned around and stood with his back to me, shielding me with his body. “Stay behind me.”
I did as he said and followed him towards his SUV. We hadn’t gotten far when more shots rang out, but Torch was there to cover us until we made it over to the SUV. Once I was safely inside, Wrath turned to me and ordered, “Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“We gotta see about Riley and Cody.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “It’ll be okay. Just lock the doors, get low, and hold tight.”
As much as I didn’t want him to go, I knew he had to, so I nodded and watched as he closed the door. As they walked away, I heard Torch tell him, “We gotta hurry, brother. Only a matter of time before the cops show.”
“Yeah, I know. Let’s get this done.”
I watched as they made their way over to Riley.
Wrath bent down and spoke to him. Torch stayed with him while Wrath rushed over to where Cody had been shot.
Seconds later, he rounded the corner, and I could no longer see him.
I tried not to panic, but several minutes passed and there was still no sign of him.
I was becoming worried when I finally spotted Wrath walking in my direction.
He had Cody slung over his shoulder, and he had one of the men who’d shot at us walking next to him.
His hands were bound, and Wrath had his gun at his back.
As soon as they reached the truck, Wrath ordered, “Unlock the doors and get up front. I need you to drive.”
I nodded, then unlocked the doors and climbed over the console. He put Cody in the very back, then got in the back seat with the stranger. As soon as he had the man secured, Wrath told me, “Drive over and pick up Torch and Riley.”
I started the truck and whipped over to the side of the building where Riley and Torch were waiting.
Torch helped get Riley to his feet, then they both got up front with me.
Riley was in bad shape. He was bleeding from both his shoulder and his side.
Knowing he didn’t have much time, I pressed my foot against the accelerator and sped towards the clubhouse.
I had my focus on the road when I heard Torch say, “We got her. She’s fine, but we’re gonna need Doc to prep the infirmary. Riley’s been shot.”
There was a brief pause, then he said, “Yeah, he doesn’t look good, but he’s hanging on. Just make sure Doc’s ready. We’re five minutes out.”
He hung up the phone, then turned to Riley and said, “Hold on, brother. We’re almost there.”
Riley nodded, and the truck fell silent.
I didn’t have to look back to know that Wrath was staring at me.
I could feel the heat of his stare against my skin.
I couldn’t tell if he was angry or relieved or both.
He had every right to be furious with me.
If I hadn’t gone back into the office, then those men would’ve never come after me and I wouldn’t have put them all in danger.
Most of all, Cody would still be alive. The guilt of that weighed heavily on my heart.
I wanted to apologize, but I had no idea what to say to them.
By the time I worked up the courage to say something, we were pulling through the front gates and chaos erupted.
The second I parked, Savage and Hayes rushed out to the SUV and helped Torch get Riley out of the truck.
As they helped him inside, Wrath pulled the stranger from the back seat and led him around back.
I had no idea where he was taking him or why, but I knew better than to question it.