Chapter Twenty-Nine
Olivia
W hile Hayes ran to his office at Club Rose, I decided to spend the evening after my workout in the library.
It has been one of my favorite places since living in this house. The books, the décor, and the photograph of my mother and Hayes’ mother; it just makes it feel like home.
Reaching for a book off one of the shelves, I nestle into the sofa with a blanket and start my journey into another world.
BANG
I’m jolted awake with someone banging on the library door. The book that I was reading is laid over my chest and the blanket is covering my feet. I must have fallen asleep reading.
The door flings open, and Alan appears. “Miss Olivia. Come with me, quickly!”
Alan’s stern but worried tone makes me throw the blanket off my body and jump to my feet and follow him down the hallway. His gun is in his grip by his side and his head is on a swivel looking all around.
“What is going on?” I whisper.
“I’m not sure. All I know is Hayes’ red alert went off from his office from the club. Normally that means something is wrong.”
He touches his earpiece in his ear and whispers, “Secure the premises. Only Mr. Ricci is allowed in. Olivia is with me. If something happens, she is the priority, men.”
My heart hammers in my chest, these men are willing to put their life on the line for me. I fight back tears as I know this is not the time for weakness. Something is going on and Hayes has always told me to keep my weakness for after the danger is gone, not during.
Panic will do more harm than good, Olivia . —His voice comes into my head as I review something he has said from our training sessions. — We don’t panic. We stay alert, trust our gut, and survive. Do whatever it takes to survive.
I have never been inside the bunker, but I knew how to get there from Hayes giving me a tour of the house.
He laid out a full map of the property in case I ever needed to get out and get out fast—or hide.
Alan stops in front of the book shelving in the downstairs hallway and pulls out a book that is attached to the latch that opens the door.
“Miss Olivia, go inside. Stay there until I come and get you.” He reaches down to his calf and raises his pants leg, removing an object that is strapped to his leg.
My eyes widen when I notice it is a pistol. “Take it,” he orders, handing it to me.
My shaking hands grab it from him. “Alan, I can’t use this.”
“You can and you will,” he assures me. “If anyone besides my men, myself, or Mr. Ricci comes through this door, you aim and pull that trigger.”
I nod, with a shaky breath, “Is Hayes okay?”
His worried eyes hold mine. “I don’t know. Stay here. I’ll be back.”
And with that, he turns, shutting the door behind me.
The room sensor catches the movement of the door closing and all the lights turn on, making me jump.
I look around the room, a couch and recliner sit on the back wall, a small kitchenette on the other corner, and a wall full of monitors showing the cameras from the around the property.
With trembling feet, I walk over to the monitors on the wall showing me everything the cameras see.
Alan walks back to his men, all with guns by their sides, staying on alert. The hair on my arms raises at the quietness of the property—something is not adding up.
My heart hammers in my chest watching the men stand guard and I realize I am gripping the pistol in my hand so hard it’s turning my hand white.
Quickly deciding to check to make sure the safety is off, I place it in my waistband of my jeans, sliding my t-shirt over it.
An alarm gets my attention back on the monitors. Alan and his men all run different directions, guns raised, as an Escalade is coming up to the gate.
Instead of stopping, the SUV blows right through the fence, slinging gravel as it comes to an abrupt stop at the front of the house.
Alan stands on the front lines, gun drawn, waiting to see who gets out of the SUV.
The door slowly opens, a few men step out, guns at their side, and then I think I might pass out.
My father gets out of the passenger door, walks to the door behind him and yanks someone out of the back with a black sheet over his head.
I know that body, I know those arms.
He has Hayes.
One of Ashton’s men rips the sheet off the man's head, and I must steady myself as I see Hayes’ face. He looks pissed. Not afraid, not worried, but pissed.
Alan raises his gun at my father, and I know there is about to be blood everywhere as these men go toe-to-toe to get what they came here for.
There is only one choice . . . my father is going to kill the man I love if I do not do something and do it quickly.
I run to the door, grabbing the handle that opens it and run down the hallway, through the living room, and out the front door.
“STOP!” I scream, “STOP IT RIGHT NOW.”
Hayes’ eyes widen and flash red. He most likely will not forgive me for this.
Alan grabs me, stopping me before I can step off the porch. I fight him, clawing at his arms.
“Well, well, looks like my daughter decided to join us after all.” Ashton’s voice sounds like sandpaper on my ears. “What the fuck have you done to yourself? Your hair, your body . . .,” he looks me up and down, and then pauses at my nose. “A fucking nose ring, Olivia?”
“What I do with my body is my choice. Not yours, Ashton.” I spit back, standing tall and finally stopping my fight against Alan.
I feel his hand on me, not trusting me not to do something stupid.
I can’t say I blame him.
“Someone needs to be reminded of her manners,” my father growls.
I ignore him and my eyes go to Hayes, who looks like he could shoot me himself.
“Let him go.” I order Ashton and he chuckles. “Why would I do such a thing. If I kill him, I can take you and everything will be just fine.”
I look at Alan, whose pleading eyes are as worried about losing Hayes as I am.
Taking a deep breath, I look at Hayes and mouth, “Forgive me.”
He shakes his head, telling me not to do it.
“Let him go and take me,” I tell my father.
He steps towards me, “Why not just kill him and take you anyway?”
I stand up tall again, knowing I am not the scared, na?ve, weak doe I once was. “Because, if you kill him, I will never stop running from you. And if you kill me, you lose money you could get from trading me. Take me and let him go. I will cut all ties with him and never speak to him again. I will marry one of your men.”
Hayes’ eyes are searing through me. If they were lasers, I would be dead by now.
My father looks at Hayes and chuckles. “You will always be a coward like your father. Too bad I never got the taste of your mother, too.”
It takes everything in me not to run at the man for that. But I’m not about to do something that will mess this up.
Ashton nods to his men and one of them walks up and unties Hayes’ arms before he untapes his mouth.
I look at Alan whose arm still has a hold on me. “I’ll be okay,” I mumble. “Maxwell will take care of me.” I smile and Alan whispers back, “We will come for you. Stay alive.”
I nod, fighting back tears. This could very well be the last time I ever see any of them. My father and his men are ruthless; no telling what he will let them do to me while I’m under his watch. I wish I could give Alan one last hug as a thank you and kiss Hayes.
“One condition,” Hayes says once the tape is off.
My father’s evil chuckle rings out, “Enlighten me.”
“No one touches her. If I find out she’s been hurt or touched, I will personally never stop looking for you. Hell has nothing on the fury I will unleash on you if she is harmed.” He steps towards my father.
“Can't make any promises,” my father says grabbing me off the porch and shoving me in the car.
Alan grabs Hayes and before the car door shuts, I hear him whisper, “She has my pistol, sir. She is armed. She will be okay until we can get to her.”
They both watch as the vehicle pulls off and I finally let the tear I have been holding in slide down my cheek, brushing it away before the men notice.
I have to make it back to Hayes.