Chapter Twenty-Seven
Parker
“Here, Tildy. Goddammit, woman, you drive like a fucking spy in a Bond movie.”
She laughs as she pulls over. “Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment,” I gripe, opening the door and clambering out on the side of the road, trying to keep my breakfast down.
I had her drive while I changed out of my suit and Armani’s and into the black tactical pants, boots, a skin-tight thermal jacket over my Under Armour, and gloves with grip.
“It’s all about perspective, love. Now, you bring me back my daughter and my son-in-law, you hear me?”
I barely rasp out a “Yes, ma’am” when she’s already peeling off in the direction of the Winters’ estate, for sure to watch the massacre unfold behind the screen.
I shake my head and look up at the sky for just a second, knowing time ain't on my side.
I look down at my watch. Twenty-two minutes.
Twenty-two minutes is all I get before the Cosa Nostra comes to get their Capo dei Capi and the Bratva comes to get their Pakhan.
Me? I’m getting my girl.
Fuck.
I start running, keeping to the wooded area as much as I can.
Even with the snow and the bitter cool air, sweat begins to coat my brow.
I pull up the mouth portion of my jacket, so the cold air doesn’t freeze the little sacs in my lungs and kill me before I even get to Sabrina.
I look down at my watch and shake my head; I’m only a mile away.
I continue on my path, remembering the only portion of the back fence that didn’t have glass on it was towards the corner.
I crouch down when I spot a few guards standing around and look down at my watch again.
Fourteen minutes. A mile in eight minutes after having been shot ain’t so bad. Except I am a little lightheaded. I pause to catch my breath.
I glance around and grab a nice-sized rock, throwing it against a tree in the opposite direction that I’m going.
One guard hits the other and makes a motion with his hands.
The second guard shakes his head but then reaches for his gun.
They each hold it out in front of them, the black glocks dark against the white of the snow.
I look up at the cement wall where there’s a pillar with a lamp above it and tilt my head.
I have only one shot here, and I can’t waste it.
Can’t be afraid. I take a deep breath in, let it out, and dash out of the forest. My thighs burn when my right leg splits up; I use the grip of my boots to drive down, and my left leg catches the pillar, giving me one extra push.
I groan when I catch my torso on the edge of the fence, knocking the wind out of me.
I take a gulp of air and push myself up.
Fuck me. This is definitely not as easy as it looks in the movies.
I pull my leg up and roll, just enough, grateful there are fucking vines crawling up the inside of the wall.
It must be an area they don’t check often.
“Alexi,” I whisper.
“I’m here.”
I turn over and try to find the thickest vine, shoving the toe of my boot into it. It breaks and I land on my back. “Hollyyy Joseph, fucking Mary and Jesus… Harold… Christ.” I cough.
“Parker?”
“Gimme a sec,” I grunt and take a few deep breaths, making sure I’m not seeing stars.
“Fuck me. I fell. But I’m in.” I turn over on my side and then up on all fours with a groan.
“I’m getting too fucking old for this shit.
” I can hear Aleksi trying to stifle his laughter, but his chuckles ring through the earpiece.
I rise to my full height and shake my head. “What’s your ETA?”
“Seven minutes.”
“Alright. I’m sticking to the wall. Going in through the shed. Grab the duchess.”
“We would. But there’s just one problem with that.”
My stomach falls through my ass. “What did she do?”
“He’s taking her down there. She’s currently using Kane as a human shield.”
“Fuck!” Damn my aching body. “Aleksi—”
“Don’t. She hasn’t passed any guards yet. But she has him by the collar of his jacket. We have no audio, but we have visuals. Stay on track. Five minutes now.”
“Well, can you hurry it up?”
“No. We're in a tank.”
“A TANK?!” I whisper-scream. “How did you get a fucking tank?”
“High friends in low places.”
“Aleksi—” I stop, hearing the familiar low purr of a tank going as fast as it fucking can. “Is that you?”
“Yup. Stay away from the left wall!” I can hear the absolute glee in his voice.
“Oh, fuck me, Aleks.”
He laughs like a fucking madman. “Ahhh… I’m not feeling very gay today, Savage, but maybe tomorrow.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head and dart into the tree line, away from the wall, and wait for quite possibly, the worst distraction ever.
“Savage?” I hear Mav’s voice in my ear.
“Yeah?”
“Cover your ears. Quick. Don’t need for you to get triggered.”
I obey quickly, and it’s like a fucking movie.
They don’t crash into the fucking wall or the manor.
No. They use the fucking gun and start shooting into the wall of the manor.
My eyes go wide and I stay hidden in the trees when the guards come out screaming.
It ain’t just the guards. It’s people that were in the house.
Syndicate members we’ve been watching through the cameras.
I shake my head. With the distraction, and my side already aching, I run to the tool shed on the grounds, open the door, and sneak inside.
As soon as I’m in, I have to let my eyes adjust to the total darkness. The ground beneath my feet isn’t made of wood, it’s made of concrete. I know for goddamn sure it’s not in any way, shape, or form used to store tools. The door behind me locks. Fuck. Okay.
I tap my toes around the ground, and the tip of my boot hits something, causing it to jingle.
Trap door. Okay. I bend, look for whatever my toes hit, and find the latch.
Opening it, a bright fucking light almost blinds me.
The stairs leading down are so white they look fake, like I'll fall through them and end up in a different dimension.
Shit. This place is already fucking with me. “Aleksi?”
“Yeah?”
“Found the entrance. It’s a trap door. I’m going in.”
“Be safe. We’ll be there soon.”
I nod even though he can’t see me and begin my descent into the white abyss waiting for me. I go, unafraid. Because my pink dagger is waiting for me. The demons on my back scream in excitement.