Chapter 46 #2
Luca leans in and whispers something into Bella’s ear. She gives him a small nod. He slides his hand up her spine and grips her neck, pulling her in for a deep and disgusting kiss.
“Fucker,” Ty grits as he shoves off the the bar.
“Don’t react,” I order, even though I’m about to lose my shit.
Bella gently untangles their mouths and places her fingers on Luca’s cheek. He takes her hand and presses his lips to the back of it. Luca offers Brett a seat at their table. Bella smiles at them both faintly before walking off.
“Ty,” I say. “You’re up.”
Ty sets his drink down and strides toward her.
“Caleb, get to that room,” Nate orders.
I set my champagne down and slip back into the house. I’m only in the guest room past the kitchen long enough to toss my mask on the bed before the door creaks open.
“Caleb?” Bella breathes, her mask clattering to the floor when she sees me.
I close the distance in a few strides and haul her into me. One arm locking around her waist and the other cupping the back of her head, holding her steady as she starts to quake.
“Shh, B,” I hush. “It’s gonna be alright.”
She pulls back, her eyes streaked with tears. “W-what’s happening?”
I take her by the hand and guide her to the edge of the bed. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
She sinks down onto the mattress.
“Zeke got that message to Knox,” I explain, crouching in front of her. I reach out, my fingers grazing the cold, black-and-white metal collar clamped around her neck. “He’s workin’ on these. Won’t be long now, hun.”
She sniffles, her chest hitching. “How long?”
“Tell her that once I get the—”
“You tell her.”
“What?”
I rip my phone out, thumb through some contacts, and hit call.
“Hello?”
“Knox, you’re on speaker.”
Bella’s eyes widen. “Knox!” she cries, snatching the phone out of my grip. “Knox are you here?”
“Hey babe,” he replies, his voice calm. “I’m not there, there… but we’re close by.”
“W-we?” she asks, her voice trembling. “Who is we?”
“Just me and Nate.” I can hear the strain in his voice as he lies to her. “We’ve got the van parked a few blocks down the road.”
She nods frantically, swiping a stray tear off her cheek. “How long is it going to take to get us out of here?”
“I need you to listen to me, Bells,” he begins, his tone shifting into something more clinical. “Really listen to me, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers, her steel eyes wet when they lock onto me.
Knox exhales. “Briggs, give her the device.”
I slide the band off my wrist and hand it over.
Her brows pinch in confusion. “A hair-tie?” she asks.
I hear Nate huff a dry, humorless laugh on the other end of the line.
“It’s not a fucking—” Knox cuts himself off and clears his throat. “It’s not a hair-tie Bella. I mean, yes it technically is, but just put it on your wrist.”
She obeys and carefully slides the elastic over her skin. “Now what?”
“Hold on.” The faint, rapid clicking of keys sounds through the speaker. “Okay, good. I’ve got a strong signal. I can see you.”
“Knox,” she snaps, her patience fraying. “What is this thing?”
“For one, it’s a GPS tracker,” he says. “And two, Laing and I loaded that thing with enough code to stop Luca’s remote.”
“Thank God,” she gasps, her shoulders dropping. A fresh wave of sobs break loose as relief floods her. Bella sways, her center of gravity giving out as she tips forward into me.
I lunge upward to catch her, my hands locking onto her shoulders to keep her from slamming to the floor.
“Shh,” I murmur, my voice vibrates against her hair as I rub my palms over her shaking shoulders.
She rakes her fingers through her dark waves, her elbows digging into her knees as she finally finds the strength to pull back and look at me. “Okay,” she breathes, trying to steady herself. “So can you get this thing off of me yet?”
Silence stretches through the speaker. It goes on too long and I see the panic flare back into her eyes.
“Knox!” she snaps.
“Not yet,” he admits. “This is the part I need you to stay calm for.”
She lets out a shaky sigh. “Alright.”
“You have to go back to Luca.”
She bolts upright, damn near knocking me onto my ass. “What?!” she shrieks.
“B, stop.” I push myself to my feet and grab her wrist. “Calm down.”
“No!” she yells, yanking free from me. “N-n-no I-I can’t go back there.”
“You have to,” I whisper, reaching out again. This time, she lets me take her hand. “Bella listen to him and sit down before you fall.”
We both take a seat on the bed.
“Bells,” Knox continues, his voice heavy. “You have to go back because deactivating that remote is a two-step process.”
“The hell does that mean?” she asks, her voice rising.
“It means that you have to provoke him.” He pauses. “Just one more time before I can fully override the signal.”
She gapes at me, shaking her head in a frantic no. “You want me to what?!”
“Once he activates your collar, the code on your wrist will engage,” Knox explains. “After a few moments, your wristband will override the remote and kill the signal for good. Then—and only then—will it be safe for us to move in.”
“Knox I can’t,” she whispers, fingers curling into her dress at her sides. “I’m not strong enough.”
“What the hell?” Knox snaps.
There’s scramble on the other end of the line. Static. Knox and Nate’s voices tangling with his.
“Bella?” his deep voice rings through the phone.
Her entire body jerks. The poor thing almost hyperventilates when she hears the sound of her father’s voice.
“Dad?!” she gasps. “You’re okay?”
“I’m alright,” Roman says, his voice trying to stay steady for her. “Sabine took good care of me. No need to worry.” He clears his throat. “But I’m not here to talk about me. I’m here to talk about you.”
“About me?” she asks.
“Yes,” he confirms. “About the strongest and most magnificent daughter a man could ever ask for.”
She lets out a small, broken scoff. “I’m not—”
“You are,” he cuts in. “What did Irina tell you about me that first time?”
She nods slowly. “She said you were a monster.” Her voice quiets. “And that my mother was scared of you.”
“And you weren’t afraid?” he asks.
She hesitates. “A little.”
A quiet huff of amusement comes through the line. “And even though you were a little afraid, what was the first thing you did when you saw the big, scary Italian monster she warned you about?”
Her lips twitch despite everything. “I pulled my gun on you.”
“Right in my face,” he laughs. “Didn’t even back down for a second.”
“That’s not the same.”
“Maybe not,” he agrees. “But that strength is still there. The same strength that got you through Miami.” He swallows. “And your father’s death.”
Bella sucks in a deep, rattling breath.
I reach over and take her hand in mine.
“That fucker took you from me. Twice now,” Roman continues, his voice dropping into something darker. “He killed your father and God knows how many others along the way just to get you in that house.”
Silence.
“Are you going to let him get away with it?” he presses. “Or are you going to stand up and fight like the Russo I know you are?”
She’s quiet for a moment, glossy eyes staring at me as she squeezes my hand. “I’m gonna fight.”
I nod.
“Good,” Roman says. “And I’ll be right here. The whole time.”
“What?” she asks.
“I’m not leaving this street until Luca is dead and you’re back in my arms.”
Her breath hitches. “R-really?”
“You’re my daughter. The best thing that ever happened to me, and…” He pauses. “I should’ve been there to protect you.”
She wipes at her face with the back of her hand, careful not to drop the phone. “It’s okay.”
“No it’s not,” he grits out. “I’m your father. I should’ve been there. I missed too much, but I’m not missing another second. Not again.” His voice softens slightly. “I’ll be right here the whole time.”
“O-okay,” she sobs while nodding.
“I promise I’ll be the first face you see the second Lex brings you out of that house.” He sucks in another deep breath. “I love you, Bella.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Her voice breaks on the word dad.
She leans into me, pressing her forehead into my shoulder.
“And Bella, don’t ever—”
“Ugh, guys,” Ty’s panicked voice cuts in. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What is it?” I ask.
Her head snaps up.
“Luca’s on the move.”
“What?!” I rasp.
Brett’s smug laugh comes through the line. “So… good news. I just sold fifteen M4s. Bad news, the fucker’ll probably be dead before we get paid.”
“Too bad,” Ty snorts.
“Yeah, he kept lookin’ around for her,” Brett adds. “Couldn’t stall him anymore.”
“Fuck,” I say, pocketing my phone. “He’s coming.”
“Izzy?” Luca’s voice sounds from the hallway. “Izzy where’d you go, my darling?”
Her eyes widen. “Get in the closet.”
“What?”
“Just get into the closet,” she snaps, shoving my mask into my hand. “I have an idea.”
“Wait!” Knox screams in my ear. “Tell her to wait for the signal.”
“Knox says you need to wait for his signal,” I say nearly stumbling as we hurry toward the closet.
“Okay,” she whispers, pushing me harder. “Just get in there.”
I step into the closet and she slams the door shut. I hear her heels clicking as she walks back over to the vanity in the corner.
The door creaks open.
“Darling?” Luca asks. “What are you doing in here?”
“Oh,” she says, her voice soft and sweet. “I was sick of my hair getting in the way of my necklace so I came in here to braid it real fast, love.”
My stomach twists at the sound of her voice. Way too high-pitched and way too happy for all he’s put her through.
“That’s better,” Bella chirps. She must be finished with the braid because I can hear her ushering him to the door. “Now, let’s get back to the party. I didn’t spend all this time planning it for us to hide in our guest room.”
The door clicks shut.
“That was close,” I whisper, running a hand down my face. “Ty, head back to the truck. I’ll meet you there. Brett, stay inside like planned in case that fuck tries to talk to you again.”
“Understood,” Brett confirms.
“See if you can get him to pay for the M4s,” Ty snickers.
“Ty!” I snap.
‘What?” he laughs. “Might as well squeeze him for what he’s got before Lex puts a bullet between his eyes.”