Chapter 38
My last client was the most difficult client I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. Not only did they change the design five different times, they also kept changing the size numerous amount of times before they decided it was perfect. Once we finished up, I gave Cheyenne the okay to leave before closing the shop.
Back in my car I turn it on, cranking up the heat to fight off the chill in the air. My phone still has no missed texts or calls. I’m officially worried. I dial Cea and Blaze, getting the same thing each time. Nothing. Deciding to give it one more go, I try Blaze’s phone one more time. The phone rings and rings, then suddenly someone answers.
“Mr. Valentino is unavailable at the moment,”
the gruff voice says.
“Who is this?”
I ask, full on panicking now hearing a loud scream in the background.
“Don’t fucking touch her!”
Blaze yells on the other side of the phone from a distance.
“I would say I’ll have him call you back, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible. If I were you, I would forget about them and go back to living your normal life Mr. Wilder.”
The voice chuckles.
“How do you know my name? What the hell are you doing to them?”
I ask in an uproar.
“I know everything. Goodbye.”
The call ends and I freak out, sweat forming at my hairline. I bring up my tracking app. Blaze isn’t the only one that likes to keep tabs.
His and Cea’s green dot are at the same location. I zoom in, noticing they’re somewhere in the country at a large building. I can’t tell if it's a home, a warehouse or what, but I’m about to go find out.
I rush to the house, running inside and digging through the safe I have hidden in my bedroom closet, not even Blaze knows about it. I’ve kept it hidden behind shoeboxes and clothes. Shoving them out of the way, I put in the combination. I scan the stash of weapons I’ve accumulated over the years. Never thought I’d ever actually need them, but after everything that happened with my brother and Ryan, I thought better be safe than sorry.
I grab two knives, pushing them down into my pockets, then proceed to grab a Glock and two boxes of ammo. Snagging my black hoodie, I yank it over my head, situating the ammo into the front pocket. Blaze’s skull balaclava sits on the dresser and I snatch it up, pulling it over my face. Making sure I’m not forgetting anything, I decide I’m ready.
Rushing down the stairs, I head outside. I pass my Camaro, opening the small garage attached. The door glides open to my beautiful Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, shining in her all black paint and red trimmings. I get hard just thinking about her.
Jogging into the garage, I snatch the key off the side of the wall and grab my helmet. I place the gun and ammo into the backpack hanging off the handlebar, then hop on, turning the bike over and revving the engine. Setting my phone onto the stand, I pull up their location.
“I’m coming, my loves.”
Spotting Blaze’s Jeep parked to the side of the road, hidden behind a tree, I pull up next to it seeing it hasn’t been messed with. Parking next to it, I place the key into my pocket, set the helmet on the handlebar, and take off walking.
I make it a mile down the road when I see three SUVs lined up on the side. Two bodies jump into the middle of the road, their AR guns pointed at me. Damnit, why didn’t I have my gun out and ready. I slowly raise my arms above my head, showing them I’m unarmed.
“Don’t move,”
the one on the right shouts, a black balaclava and eye black covering his face.
“Look, I don’t mean any trouble. I’m just trying to get to my girlfriend and boyfriend,”
I say, refusing to back down.
An older man steps out of the back of an SUV, walking toward me. He’s dressed in a suit and tie, looking to be in his forties or fifties.
“Aaron Wilder, I presume,”
he says, coming to face me.
“How the hell does everyone know my damn name?”
I ask, flabbergasted.
The man smirks, before turning to look at his men, telling them to stand down.
“I’m Elijah. Blaze and Cea work for me and I'm assuming you’re here to rescue them, correct?”
he asks, eyeing me with full judgement, but I also spot a bit of admiration in his eyes.
“Yes I am. So if you could allow me to pass through, I’ll be on my way,”
I try again, attempting to side step him.
He quickly places his hand out in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.
“Hold up. How do you expect to rescue them by yourself?”
“I don’t know. But I do know I will or I will die trying,”
I say, getting angry that he would assume anything less.
A low chuckle leaves his voice. “I believe you, but there are over fifty guards surrounding the place. They could take you out in less than a second.”
His words circulate in my mind as a defeated sigh leaves me and I lean back examining him.
“Then what do you suggest?”
He looks back using his hand to call a few of his guards to approach us.
“I have an inside source that let me know they’ve both been captured. Take a few of my guards with you. They know the layout like the back of their hands. I’ll bring the rest of my team in when the timing is right. I’m waiting on a few more people,”
he says, checking his phone.
“Thanks, I appreciate that,”
I say suspiciously.
“Be careful.”
He nods to a guard. “Jake, arm him with a vest and a better gun. I’d like for him to have at least a standing chance,” Elijah mouths off, rolling his eyes.
Jake approaches me, throwing a vest at me and I slip it on over my hoodie. He hands me an automatic AR-15 with a belt of bullets. I load the gun, wrapping the belt around my shoulder and take off toward the mansion, the guards following.
“Hey kid.”
Elijah's voice halts me.
I look back at him, letting him know I’m listening.
“Survive.”
“I plan on it.”