Chapter 44 #3
“Jacob, thank you for bringing her to me, son,” he spits the words, forcing a smile as if he’s happy with him. It’s fake as shit, and I want to smack him for even talking to him.
“You can go now.”
His order is clear. He wasn’t asking; he was dismissing him, and I wait to see how Jake wants to proceed. Instead of dropping my hand, he takes a step toward me, and I can feel how close he is. Even though we touch nowhere but our hands, I can feel his warmth at my back.
It’s oddly comforting.
“Jacob!” Randall barks his name, but Jake stays exactly where he is, and I don’t even try to hide the smirk that curves my lips at his act of clear defiance.
“No,” Jake says after a moment of silence. His voice is loud and clear with not a hint of fear, and I watch as Randall silently loses it, looking between the two of us.
He throws his head back and laughs. The sound is on par with the best movie villains I’ve ever heard before, which I guess isn’t saying a lot with how few movies I’ve seen, but still.
“Don’t tell me you have feelings for her.
” Randall spits the words, all traces of laughter vanishing.
Jake doesn’t answer, but I feel his grip get impossibly tighter.
As much as I want to look back at him, now is not the time.
We can talk about all of this shit later, hopefully.
But right now, Hazel is my main concern, followed closely by Charlotte.
If tonight has taught me anything, it’s that Randall isn’t above doing whatever he feels necessary to get to me. Once upon a time, I’d looked at him and thought he wasn’t capable of murdering someone in cold blood, but as I watch him now, I don’t think that’s true anymore.
“She’s mine!” Randall screams, his voice carrying through the cold, otherwise quiet night.
“I’ve worked too hard to have her, and if you think your being my son will save you if you try to get in the way, I will show you just how wrong you are, boy!
I’ve fought to have her, against people far worse than you.
It would mean nothing to me to leave you bleeding on the pavement like the disgrace you are. ”
He’s so loud, it’s a miracle nobody’s heard him yet. He’s screaming like a madman as his chest heaves, his nostrils flaring with every angry exhale.
Brushing a hand through his hair, he pulls himself together before he runs his hands down his suit.
“It doesn’t matter. Either way, Jade is mine, and she will be coming with me.
” He turns his attention back to me, and while his mask might be perfectly back in place, his eyes let me know just how close he still is to the edge.
“Isn’t that right, Pet?” he says
I won’t let Jake get hurt because of me any more than I’ll let Hazel or Charlotte; I could never live with myself. So, as much as I hate the very idea of letting him win, of going with him and being ‘his’ once again, I know that’s what I have to do.
I squeeze Jake's hand once before I pull my hand from his grip. He doesn’t let me go right away, and I know he doesn’t want to, but I’ll knock him out if I have to if it keeps him safe.
Thankfully, it doesn’t come to that. Jake lets me go, and I hear his light groan of protest, but I don’t have time to comfort him.
I make it about five steps halfway between Jake and Randall before Randall gives one of his guys a nod in Jake's direction, and I freeze.
“Leave him alone,” I say, speaking for the first time and thanking my shit luck for holding out when my voice doesn’t crack.
“You're not in a position to be making demands,” Randall says without calling his guys off, and I take a step back toward Jake. The drugs might be fogging my mind, but they aren’t enough to keep me from putting these guys down.
Not even the full glass would’ve done that, and with Jake taking some, I’m even better off than he realizes.
His guy continues toward me, and I take a step back toward Jake before falling into a fighting stance. Randall might know what I can do, but with the cocky grin on this guy's face, I’m going to assume he doesn’t, poor guy.
He attempts to sidestep me, but I move in front of him again, blocking his path to Jake. He tries the same thing twice more before he gives a frustrated huff and lunges for me.
Stupid ass.
He should’ve realized I was faster than him.
I avoid his grab easily, and he stumbles forward when he’s met with air.
I turn quickly and drop to kick his feet from under him.
He goes down hard, his eyes wide with surprise as I catch him off guard, so much so that he doesn’t even have time to brace for the fall.
His chin smacks the pavement, and I hear the hit, but I don’t give him enough time to right himself before I spring up and kick him in the side of his head, knocking him out cold.
I turn to ensure Jake's okay, only to find him staring at me as if he’s never seen me before. It hadn’t dawned on me that he’s never seen me fight until just now, but I don’t really have time to deal with that.
Satisfied that he’s untouched, I turn to face Randall, who’s still grinning as if I didn’t just take one of his guys out in less than five seconds.
“Why don’t you boys go ahead and grab Jade’s motivation for me?” Randall says to some of his other lackeys without so much as a look in their direction.
I don’t like the sound of that.
The few guys don’t go far, only a couple of cars away before they disappear around the side, only to head back toward us a moment later. I also don’t miss the sound of footsteps around us, and without even looking, I know more of Randall’s guys have come to join the show.
The two guys make their way back to Randall at a much slower pace, their posture slightly hunched, as if they’re carrying something between them. My heart drops into my stomach when they get close enough for me to see that they are. Only it’s not something.
It’s someone.
Zander.
I lunge forward without a thought of the consequences. All I need in this moment is to know that he’s okay.
I don’t make it far, only a step or two before an arm wraps around my waist, hauling me back, up off the ground and against their chest.
“Jade, stop.” Jake’s voice is tense and low in my ear, but I can’t stop. I need to know he’s okay. He has to be okay.
Jake’s arm suddenly goes lax around me, and he drops his hold so quickly that I stumble to catch myself.
A moment later, his weight presses against my back, threatening to push me over before he slumps to his knees and hits the concrete at my feet.
Spinning around, I find one of the guys I thought I heard earlier standing behind Jake with a syringe in his hand.
Fuck, he drugged him.
I spin back to find Zander still held between the two of them, his head lolls to the side, and the little bit of his face I can see is much paler than usual.
Something’s wrong.
Please let him only be unconscious. I pray as I stand frozen and helpless. Watching as Randall pulls a gun from his suit jacket and presses it to the side of Zander's head.
It’s a terrifying sight, but it brings me a little relief. Zander has to be alive. There'd be no point in holding a gun to his head if he weren’t.
“Now, this has been a whole lot messier than it needed to be. But I’m willing to let both of them live if you get in the car,” Randall says, nodding toward a car that sits to his right without taking his eyes off of me. “And come with me, like a good girl.”
Some of his men advance on me, and when they grab me, I let them.
"Now, Pet, this wasn't part of the plan, and I would hate to hurt you. I know how fond you are of this one, but if you can't behave, I'll have to put him down."
He’s talking to me. I know he is, but I don’t even spare him a glance as I continue to watch Zander, silently begging him to move, as I watch him searching for breathing or something!
Anything, please!
As if a silent answer to my unspoken prayers, he lifts his head, meeting my eyes and giving me a weak smirk.
“Don't look at me like that, Doll. You know I can’t stand it when you're sad.” A cough racks his body, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as he attempts to smile at me. "Go, I'll be fine."
Randall presses the gun harder into his head, and Zander grimaces in pain but doesn’t stop talking.
“Run, Doll,” Zander pleads with me, but I can’t. I can’t leave him here, any more than I could leave Jake, at least not for good reason, and my safety isn’t a good reason, no matter what he might say.
“I told you this wasn't the plan, but if you continue to fight, you'll force my hand. Do you understand?”
“What did you do to Hazel?” I force the words out of my mouth, needing answers.
“Ah, Ms. Grey. Well, you see, I had intended to use her as my collateral tonight. Just a little something to ensure you would behave. I would’ve let her go, of course, once you were mine again.
But then, Zander decided to play the hero.
Things got out of hand, but don’t worry, the bullet went clean through, and he should survive.
So long as you don't make me shoot him again, that is.” Randall says casually, as if we’re simply discussing the weather.
“Well, that and if he gets medical attention in time.”
“You shot him!” I scream as I begin to fight against the men holding my arms. My eyes move over Zander, trying to see where he got shot, but it’s impossible to know with the way he’s crumbled in on himself.
I’m going to kill him.
“Yes, and I'll do it again. Now decide either you come with me or…” He trails off, not needing to finish his sentence. The gun to Zander’s head speaks loudly enough, and now as I look him over, I can see where his suit jacket looks darker.
I’d thought it was just a shadow, but I’d bet anything it's blood.
Randall wasn’t joking when he said he needs medical attention.
“I’ll go!” I say, freezing, and a smile splits Randall's face.
"Don't you dare!" Zander shouts, sounding more like himself as he struggles in earnest for the first time.
“Just please let me tell someone he’s out here,” I beg Randall, though I can’t pull my eyes away from Zander, more specifically, the dark spot on his shirt that only seems to be growing by the second. I don’t even care if I sound pathetic at this point. I just need him to be okay.
I need all of them to be okay.
Randall considers it for a long moment before he gives me a stiff nod.
“Get in the car, and I’ll let you call once we’re on the road.
We have an auction to get to after all.” I hear the triumph in his tone, but I ignore it, letting out the breath I’d been holding while I waited for his response, but I feel no relief as I worry about whether Zander will make it that long.
“Jade!” Zander screams as I head toward the car. Even though I’ve stopped fighting and agreed to go, his men still hold me, walking me to the car as if I need their guidance.
“Jade! Don’t…”
A thump has me stopping to look back just in time to see him hit the ground, and I cringe at the sight of him.
He’s alive, only unconscious.
I’m roughly shoved into the seat before they slam the door shut. Randall climbs into the driver's seat a moment later. He doesn’t even close his door before reaching over the center console and grabbing my face, yanking me toward him.
I don’t dare fight or resist. My mind swimming with all the ways everything can still go wrong.
What if Zander doesn’t make it? What if Randall doesn’t let me call the guys, and he bleeds out before anyone finds him?
What if he… I cut off the thought, unable to even imagine it.
But the possibility is there. Many are, and I don’t need to add to the endless list of ways this can go from bad to worse.
I don’t respond the way he wants me to as my mind wanders, but he’s quick to pull me back. Gripping my face hard enough that my teeth bite into my cheeks. I push away everything else and do what he wants. That’s the best way I can keep them safe.
When Randall pulls back, he quickly closes his door before turning on the car and driving off. I catch a single glance out of the rearview mirror, seeing both Jake and Zander still motionless on the ground, and my chest tightens.
Please just let them live.