4. Lennie
FOUR
LENNIE
I woke to men yelling and gunshots ringing out through the warehouse. My head and ribs pounded as I lay on my side, still bound to the chair.
I heard voices shouting in Spanish, followed by a sharp cry, then silence. I tensed as I saw a behemoth figure walking my way, but recognition dawned on me as the man came into focus. It was Bohdi, Kade’s third in command.
I tried to call to him before a coughing fit consumed me.
Bohdi closed the distance between us in several strides before kneeling on the ground next to me. He wiped the hair from my face. “I got you Len, I’m here.”
Relief flooded me at the familiar face. Bohdi was a friend but also one of the most lethal of Kade’s men.
He had also grown up with us, and his loyalty to Kade had earned him his role.
I knew I was safe the minute I saw him. Most people feared the giant of a man but I knew him to be a big teddy bear.
He was known as “The Viking” to his foes, but to me, he was just Bohdi.
My friend who was obsessed with horror movies and chocolate.
But right now, he was a living, breathing Viking, killing anything in his path to get to what he wanted.
He quickly went to work cutting the ropes that bound me before helping me sit up. My head swam from exhaustion and pain, but I knew I’d push through. I needed to get the fuck out of here.
Before I could try to muster out a word, Bohdi cradled me in his arms and ran toward the exit, over and around the dead bodies littering the floor. How he’d single-handedly taken out a dozen men was beyond me. But then again, this man was made of muscle and grit.
Once we reached his Mustang, he placed me on my feet before helping me into the passenger seat. He briefly scanned the area before running to the driver’s side, jumping in, and ripping out of the parking lot.
After putting a few miles between us and the warehouse, he pulled over, reaching into the back to grab a cold water. He handed it to me without a word. The condensation soothed my sore wrist as I cracked it open and downed half the bottle in one gulp.
“There’s more water if you need it,” Bohdi said, putting the car back in drive and racing down the road. He grabbed his cell from the center console and speed-dialed Kade.
Kade picked up after the first ring, his voice booming through the car speakers. “Did you get her?”
“Yeah, she’s with me,” Bohdi responded, unperturbed by the lack of niceties.
“How many are dead?” Kade asked.
“Eleven, boss. Including Stefanos.”
“Is Lennie okay?” Kade’s voice faltered.
“She’s alive. Pretty banged up from what I can tell,” Bohdi responded, giving me a once-over before looking back at the road.
“I’m okay, Kade,” I said hoarsely.
“Len, I am so sorry to get you mixed up in this.” Kade’s voice was pained.
Before he continued his apology, I spoke up again. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Boh, I am going to send you an address for where Lennie can get checked out.”
“On it, boss.”
They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.
Bohdi remained quiet, focused on the road. Ten minutes later, we pulled up to a medical examiner’s facility. My brow furrowed; I may have been in bad shape, but I certainly wasn’t dead and needing processing.
Bohdi parked the car and turned to unclip my seatbelt.
“The doc here is great. Dante will get you sorted.” I recognized the name of one of the Elite Squad’s team members.
He had been vital in helping get his teammates the necessary medical attention they needed after their headquarters had been blown up.
I hadn’t had a chance to meet him personally yet, but I knew from how he was regarded that I was in fact in good hands.
I nodded my head before opening my door. Bohdi rushed out of the car and over to my side, looping a muscular arm around my waist to help me into the building.