Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
S axon and Vander circled the warehouse, coming up on the guards at the front door.
Saxon heard Vander murmur in his earpiece to the others, but Saxon stayed focused on getting inside.
He had to get to his Contessa. To Gia.
He jumped the first guard. With two vicious blows, Saxon brought the man down. He lowered the man’s unconscious body to the ground.
Vander scuffled with the other guard. Even though the guy clearly lived at the gym, since he had a bulky body and no neck, and was probably mid-twenties, Vander didn’t have to expend much effort.
With another elbow to the head, the guard slammed into the warehouse wall and slid to the ground.
Saxon and Vander stripped the men of their weapons, then Vander lifted his hand and used a hand signal. He pointed to the door.
Lifting his M4, Saxon nodded. Vander opened the door and they slid inside silently.
Scanning the interior, Saxon took in the shelves and shadows. He waited, then heard shouting toward the center of the space.
I’m coming, Gia. Be okay . She had to be okay.
He and Vander split up. Saxon had no idea how many guards were inside. In the distance, he heard Sackler barking orders.
Saxon paused, and pressed his back to the shelf.
“Anyone seen her?” a deep voice said.
“Just a glimpse. Shot at her, but she fucking disappeared.”
Saxon memorized that voice. That asshole was going down.
“Any blood?” another man asked.
Saxon tensed.
“Nothing.”
He relaxed a fraction.
“Can’t believe that bitch got the jump on Sutton.”
“One down.” Vander’s low murmur in the earpiece.
Vander would do what Vander did best—use the shadows, and pick off the guards swiftly and quietly.
That meant Saxon could find Gia.
He moved forward and darted across to another aisle. He jogged quietly, getting closer to where the guards were grouped together.
Suddenly, a man rounded the corner. His eyes widened. “Who the fuck are you?”
Saxon rammed into the man. The guard swung at him, but Saxon dodged, and punched the guy in the kidney.
The guard shouted, but Saxon kicked him into the shelves.
“Vander.” Ace’s voice. “You have five guards and Sackler inside. There are two heat signatures at the far end of the space in what looks like a cage. One smaller heat signature is up higher.”
That had to be Gia since they were searching for her. She was hiding. Saxon punched the guard again, and the guy flopped facedown on the floor. Clever girl.
“Fuck,” Ace said. “An Escalade with five more guards just pulled up.”
“Rhys, breach,” Vander ordered.
“Incoming,” Rhys replied.
Rhys, Easton, and Ben would come in from the loading bays.
“Where’s Gia?” Saxon murmured.
“Central row, close to the loading bay end,” Ace replied.
Saxon moved quickly, scanning the shelves. She must be here somewhere.
“Ah, Mr. Buchanan.”
Saxon spun. Sackler stood there with two guards. Both had their guns aimed at Saxon. One held a handgun, while the other one gripped a shotgun.
“Drop your weapon,” Sackler said.
Saxon tossed his rifle to the concrete.
“I want you to call out to Ms. Norcross, otherwise my men will shoot you.”
Saxon remained silent.
“She has my diamond,” Sackler said. “Call her!”
Saxon laughed. “She got the diamond, took down one of your guards, and you lost her?”
Sackler’s face twisted. “ Enough . Call her.”
One of the guards fired his shotgun with a boom. The round hit some crates off to Saxon’s right.
“Fuck you, Sackler,” Saxon said.
The man snatched the shotgun off his guard and strode to Saxon. He jammed the barrel in Saxon’s gut.
“Don’t test me.”
“She’s a hundred times smarter than you,” Saxon said. “Your little empire, all the dirty things you do, that ends today.”
“No, Mr. Buchanan, you’ll end today, bleeding here on the concrete.”
“Have you ever used a shotgun?”
Sackler stiffened.
“I didn’t think so.” Saxon snatched the weapon out of the man’s hands and then punched Sackler in the face.
He cried out, blood spurting from his nose, and crashed to the floor. Saxon pumped the shotgun, spun, and fired toward the guards.
The men dove in different directions. The one with the handgun fired, bullets hitting a box above Saxon’s head.
The other guard rose and pulled a knife from his belt. Then he charged.
Saxon swung the shotgun like a bat. It slammed into the guard’s head with a crack and the man flew sideways, collapsing on top of a groaning Sackler.
“Don’t move,” a voice said.
Saxon looked up. The final guard held his Glock aimed at Saxon’s head. His eyes were steady, seasoned. He was no rent-a-cop.
All of a sudden, a shape leaped off the shelf above them and slammed into the man.
The pair crashed to the floor, and the man’s gun flew out of his hands.
Gia slapped at the man’s head. “No one aims a gun at my man!”
The guard tried to cover his head to protect himself but she kept slapping him.
“Okay, warrior princess.” Saxon tugged her up. “I think he learned his lesson.”
“He was going to shoot you.” She leaned down and got in one more smack.
God, he loved her. Saxon snatched up the guard’s gun. It was impossible to love her any more than he did because there was no room left inside of him. One punch knocked the guard out, and then Saxon dragged her into his arms and kissed her.
Damn, he felt weak from the rush of relief. She was okay. She was alive and in his arms. “I’m thinking I’ll lock you up.”
She smiled at him. “Only if you stay with me.”
“I want my diamond.”
They spun.
Sackler was on his feet, nose swollen, blood streaming down his face and soaking into his shirt. He aimed a gun at Gia.
Saxon stiffened. He was an idiot. He’d thought Sackler was down and had no more weapons. He’d been too distracted by his relief to double check.
Rookie mistake.
“I do know how to use this one, Buchanan,” Sackler said.
Saxon stepped in front of Gia. She shoved forward to stand beside him.
He glared at her, but she just lifted her chin, her eyes defiant.
The sounds of fighting echoed from other parts the warehouse. Vander and the others were busy.
“Ms. Norcross, unless you want your brains splattered all over your boyfriend, I suggest you give me what I want.”
With a sigh, Gia reached into the neckline of her shirt and pulled out the diamond.
Hell, it was big. It was the palest pink, and there was something almost otherworldly about it.
Sackler stared at it, his lips curving. “Hand it over.”
“No,” Gia said.
The man stepped forward and shook the gun. “Now!”
Saxon tensed, ready for anything. “Gia.”
Her life was more important to him than any hunk of carbon.
She shook her head. “He can’t—”
“I love you,” Saxon said. “I don’t give a flying fuck about that diamond.”
“You love me?” she whispered.
“I think I always have. From the first time you told me I was an arrogant, know-it-all snob with my head up my ass. I think you were fourteen.”
She bit her lip. “I’m sure I didn’t say that.”
“I think you called me that last week as well.”
Her face went soft. “I love you too, Saxon. Completely.” Her brows drew together. “But I can’t believe you’re telling me this now . With a bad guy holding a gun on us. Of all the times.”
Saxon grinned. “Well, you won’t forget it.”
“Your romance needs work.”
“Oh, I’ll show you romance.”
“Enough!” Sackler roared.
* * *
Albert Sackler looked far less polished and smug than he had earlier.
Gia shot him a glare. “I warned you that Saxon and my brothers would make you regret your choices. You chose to be an asshole.”
Gunshots echoed at the back of the warehouse. Sackler glanced that way nervously.
“Now you have to deal with the consequences. You enslaved women, you bastard,” she spat. “You’ve killed, all for your own greed.”
“Enslaved women?” Saxon’s tone was as sharp as a blade.
“There are two women in a cage at the other end of the warehouse.”
She felt his big body tense. His voice lowered. “Is that what you had planned for Gia, Sackler? Were you going to put my woman in a cage?”
The man swallowed, then he waved his weapon at them. “ Stop talking . Give me the diamond!”
The gun went off and the bullet hit the concrete at their feet.
Gia cried out and Saxon yanked her close, shielding her.
“You want the diamond?” Gia said. “Then you can have it.” She aimed and using every bit of her strength, fueled by all her anger, she wound up and threw it like a baseball.
It sailed straight at Sackler and smacked him between the eyes. With a groan, he hit the concrete.
The diamond bounced on the floor and rolled away.
Sackler made a choked sound. The gun fell from his fingers.
Saxon lunged and kicked the gun away. “He’s out cold.” He looked at her. “Damn, Contessa, you have a hell of an arm.”
“I played softball for years.” She grinned. “I was good.”
Saxon zip tied Sackler’s hands. Next, he tied up the guards. “You’re very good.” He rose, stepping over the diamond.
“Saxon, the pink—”
“Don’t give a fuck about it.” His gaze scanned her body, his face tightening. “Any of that blood yours?”
She swiped at her stained shirt. “No. Sackler killed Lex, and I was standing too close.”
Saxon swept her into his arms.
“It might be some of my blood on my feet though.” She eyed her bare toes and wrinkled her nose. “I had to abandon my favorite pair of Manolo Blahniks in an alley. Then a thug chased me, and I stepped on something.”
“You might need a tetanus shot or stitches, but you sound more pissed about the shoes.”
“I am, Saxon. They were my favorites.”
“I suspect they’re all your favorites.” He pushed her hair back from her face. “I’ll buy you more. I’m rich, remember?”
She tugged his head close. “Hmm, so you are.”
“You’re safe now,” he said.
“I knew you’d come for me. Willow?”
“She’s fine.”
“Good.” Gia slid her hands into his hair.
He took her mouth hungrily. All the emotions inside her coalesced into brutal need for this man. She was alive. He was alive.
This was finally over.
He growled into her mouth, his tongue twining with hers. Gia jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist, and his hands cupped her ass.
Mmm, this made everything worthwhile.
“God, my eyes.” Easton’s deep mutter.
“I need bleach,” Rhys replied.
A growl that had to be Vander’s. “Lucky for you two, this is only your first time seeing this.”
Reluctantly, Gia lifted her head.
Her brothers all stood in a row—each one of them looking badass in black, guns in hand.
Vander surveyed the wreckage around them and bent to pick up the diamond.
“Nice to see you’re all right, Gia,” Easton said.
“Even if Saxon did have his tongue in your mouth and his hands on your ass,” Rhys grumbled.
“Get used to it.” Saxon set her down. “I’m going to marry her.”
Gia’s heart stopped and she stared at him. “What?”
“As soon as I can.” Saxon looked at Vander. “Gia said there were two women being held in here.”
Vander’s mouth flattened and he nodded. “Ben has them.”
Gia rounded on Saxon. “You can’t ask me to marry you now! You have to make it romantic. With a ring.”
“No, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. You are going to marry me. Maybe we can go to Vegas to get it done quicker.”
“Vegas,” she hissed. “No way, Saxon Buchanan. I want a big wedding, with a designer dress that will blow your mind.”
“Okay.” He smiled at her.
The look in his eyes made her heart flip-flop.
“I love you, Gia,” he said.
She melted. “God help us, I love you, too.”
Ace’s voice came through Saxon’s earpiece and Gia could just make out the words. “Guys, you have company.”
“What?” Vander tensed.
Saxon pushed Gia into the center of the group and the men all whipped up their guns.
“Ten men heading into the warehouse, and moving fast,” Ace said.
“Fuck,” Saxon muttered.
Gia swallowed. This was supposed to be over.
Two groups of five men came down the row at either end, trapping them. They were all holding guns.
The men were all stone-faced professionals. A few of them parted, and Kyle Dennett stepped forward. He had one arm in a sling.
The man smiled. “It always pays to let others do all the hard work for you.” He held out his uninjured hand. “I came for the diamond.”
Dammit . Gia muttered a few good Italian curse words. “If we give it to you—” she glared at him “—you’ll leave me and Willow alone.”
Saxon wrapped an arm around her.
“You aren’t in a position to bargain, Ms. Norcross. Willow needs to be punished.”
God, what an asshole.
Dennett’s gaze flicked to Saxon, then Vander. “You’re outnumbered. If you fire, someone will get hurt.”
Vander held up the diamond.
Even in the low light, there was something amazing about it. Gia felt like she could stare into it forever.
Dennett’s face took on a sharp edge. “Finally.”
Damn . Gia didn’t want this asshole to get his hands on the gem.
Suddenly, bodies dressed in black dropped from the shelves above them, landing all around.
Gia swallowed a scream.
The newcomers attacked.
The sound of punches and grunts, and bodies hitting the concrete, filled the air. In seconds, Dennett’s men were down and disarmed.
One tall, muscular man in black body armor, with a mask over the bottom half of his face, stepped up behind Dennett. He pressed a gun to the back of Dennett’s head. His gold eyes glittered above his mask.
Gia shivered. He had fascinating, frightening tiger eyes.
“Who the fuck are you?” Dennett yelled. “I’ll—”
With a quick move, the man slammed the butt of the gun against the back of Dennett’s head. With a sharp gasp, Dennett collapsed.
Gia scanned around. The team in black had taken down all of Dennett’s men—quickly and efficiently.
“Nobody move,” a sharp, female voice said.
Gia blinked. One of these badasses was a woman? She studied them more carefully, and then decided that three had more slender builds and were probably women.
“It’s nice to see you, Lachlan,” Vander said.
The golden-eyed man inclined his head. “Vander.”
“I’m guessing you’re here for this.” Her brother held up the diamond.