Chapter 22 #2
“I just want to go home,” she replies, looking down at the floor. Her knees buckle and I catch her just before she hits the floor.
“Hey now, I got you.”
She leans into me and whispers in my ear, “We know who you are and we know where that bitch is.”
A sharp pain erupts in the soft spot between my vest and my neck, and I cry out as I feel my blood pour out of me. She withdraws her knife with a twist, causing blinding pain. I rush to push her away, as I instinctively reach a hand up to put pressure on the wound.
She rights herself and looks down at me triumphantly. My eyes narrow on her. “Who the fuck are you?”
“The name’s Vivian, Kayden. Andrei told me to tell you that he sends his regards.
” She pauses, watching my face for any sign of recognition.
“Soon you’ll be dead, and Dani gets to learn what it costs to be Andrei’s pet.
Ya know, at first some deranged part of me was envious of how badly he wants her.
But then I got to thinking, it’ll be a pleasure to die today, to finally escape him.
That bitch will take my place to be raped and abused and used until she herself wishes she were dead. ”
My eyes widen in fear. This was a trap, the perfect bait to make their move.
I should have known they were ahead of us, that we would eventually be discovered.
Rage simmers just below the surface at her wicked words.
I discreetly push the SOS button on my vest strap, praying Axel gets here before she can finish the job.
She continues on, oblivious to my subtle move. “Soon, Eden will be no more and your precious Dani will be on Andrei’s leash.”
Her words are punctuated by sharp and deafening shots.
I instinctively flinch down while trying to maintain pressure on my wound as Vivian’s body jerks with each round that lands in her upper torso.
She looks down quickly before raising her face to me with a look that borders on relief—as though the shackles that bind her are finally slipping away.
The knife slips from her grasp as she falls to her knees, a choking sound bubbling up as blood quickly fills her lungs.
Her body crumples to the floor as Axel kneels in front of me, already digging into his pack for the QuikClot dressing to pack into my wound.
As the blood runs in rivers through my fingers, realization at just how bad my injury is has my heart racing as I become lightheaded.
Axel wastes no time cutting my vest strap and shirt for better access to pack the dressing into my wound.
“I got you, Boss. This is hell of a nasty puncture she gave you. Looks like it just missed your artery.”
I wince as he packs the final bits of dressing into the gash, and I sigh with relief after a minute or two when the bleeding slows significantly.
“Thanks, man. We need to go. I’m not sure if you heard anything she was saying, but we have to move.
This was a trap—bait to distract us. We need to radio immediately for everyone to initiate Code Green Level Three.
Eden is compromised. I don’t know if they’ll actually make a move, but it’s no longer safe there regardless. ”
Axel’s eyes widen but he quickly grabs his radio and supplies the orders for evacuation.
Donovan is at the compound and I’m confident he’ll move quickly to get everyone moved to the second location I’ve spent the past few months securing in the event something like this happened.
It’s completely off the grid, with no ties back to me—an endless paper trail that will have even the best investigator or hacker scrambling for clues.
Axel helps me to my feet and I clasp a hand on his shoulder. “I owe ya one.”
“Drinks on you this weekend, Boss?”
I shake my head. “Is that any different from any other weekend?”
“Touchè,” he says with a chuckle.
And with that we move out with the women in tow and a fire blazing at our backs.
Hours later, I end up on Jaxon’s front step, my fist pounding on the thick, modern door. They built this house over a year ago from the ground up, needing an upgrade from Jaxon’s old condo in the city. Planning for children meant they needed more space.
Thinking back on today, I’m proud of my team for how quickly and efficiently Eden was evacuated.
The women were unsettled, and I couldn’t blame them.
Hell, I was unsettled thinking about how closely we came to failing the very people we were meant to protect.
Once I was satisfied everything was under control at our second facility and I got stitched up, I hightailed it over here.
I didn’t bother with changing or cleaning the blood off of me.
If I’m a shock to them, oh fucking well.
Jaxon’s lucky I don’t kick in his door, I think to myself as I knock for the twentieth time.
I peep through the narrow window next to the door, my patience wearing thin. After what feels like forever, Jaxon leisurely rounds the corner in grey sweat pants, no shirt, and rubbing a towel over his wet hair. I roll my eyes as he swings open the door.
“Nice of you to finally come down,” I grit through my teeth as I push past him into the house.
“Yeah, Kayden, come on in. Make yourself at home,” he replies, just as annoyed as I am. “By the way, my security system alerted me to you about ten minutes ago, I just wanted to keep you waiting.”
“Where is she?” I seethe, ignoring his jabs.
“She’ll be down in a minute, but you’re going to listen to me real close, Brother. You so much as raise your voice at her, I’ll lay you out on your ass.”
I pace, running a hand through my hair. “You don’t understand the seriousness of the situation, Jaxon.”
“Of course I don’t. You haven’t told either of us shit!
I know you’re hiding things from us, so if you want answers, we’re going to have to get some in return.
Melody and Dani’s friendship goes back further than how long you’ve known her, Kayden.
Whatever the fuck you have going on with her better be worth all this. ”
I let loose a cold laugh. “Don’t be so sure that Melody has known Dani longer than me.”
“See! That’s what I fucking mean. Cryptic bullshit, Kayden.”
He pauses to take a good look at me before continuing. “Why are you bloody?”
“A tale for another time.”
“Hey, guys,” Melody says in a light tone as she enters the foyer, her hair just as wet as Jaxon’s. “Jesus, Kayden. What the hell happened?” she asks as she takes in the dried blood all over me.
“Again,” I say with a roll of my eyes, “not something I want to get into right now.”
“OOOK then,” she replies with her eyebrows raised. “Think we should take a seat and have a talk about what the hell is going on then?”
Jaxon narrows his eyes at me but motions for me to lead the way into the living room as he tucks Melody under his arm protectively.
They both take a seat on the loveseat, but I’m too tense to sit still. I pace, my jaw clenching in frustration at not knowing where Dani is and if she’s safe.
“First off, where is she?” I ask.
“Somewhere safe. She just text me a few minutes ago that she arrived safely and was going to take a nap,” Melody replies, her brows furrowing at my tone.
My blood chills. If that phone is used outside of Eden, it’s trackable.
“She has her cell phone?”
“No, she has a burner phone I gave her before she left. She didn’t want you tracking her.”
I let loose a breath in relief. “You need to tell me where she is, Melody.”
Jaxon puts a hand on Melody’s knee, making her pause as he speaks up. “We need answers first.”
“I don’t have the time right now. Dani is in danger and every minute counts.”
“What do you mean, she’s in danger? From who? Derek?” Melody asks tentatively as she looks between me and Jaxon.
“Derek is no longer a problem. I’m going to give you key points. The rest can be explained in depth later,” I say, finally taking a seat on the black couch across from them.
“Where do I even start… You know I’m ex-military. What you don’t know is that I run a team of retired military vets in missions to save women from human sex trafficking. Dani was a victim over three years ago. Dani hasn’t always been the name she goes by, though.”
Melody’s gasp is quickly smothered by her hand.
“I rescued Dani, or should I say Jess, from that trafficking ring. Someone purchased her when she was trafficked, but they never got their hands on her because we saved her before the exchange happened. She then met you, Melody, at one of her therapy sessions after that rescue.” I take a breath before continuing.
“All the women get fresh identities. Jess was no exception. She chose the name Dani, she was given everything she would need to start over—to start fresh somewhere safe. Dani, being as stubborn as she is, agreed to a fresh identity, but declined relocation. Well, fast forward to present day and—no thanks to Derek—she’s been found again, and this guy, Andrei, wants her. He’ll do anything to get her.”
“What the fuck, Kayden?” Jaxon exclaims. “Why the hell would you keep this from us? Had Melody known, she never would have sent her off!”
“I know, I fucked up! I didn’t want to involve the two of you in my bullshit, especially with how hard you’ve been trying to get pregnant. It was the only way I knew to keep you guys safe. But I need to know where she is—now—before Andrei gets his hands on her. Please, I’m begging.”
Melody and Jaxon exchange a look stronger than any words.
A resolve steels Melody’s gaze as she looks at me again.
“She’s at our vacation home we recently purchased in northern Wisconsin, just outside of Land O’ Lakes.
It’s incredibly secluded and densely forested.
It’s nearly a forty-hour drive from here, your private jet will be the quickest way. Dani took ours and it’s not back yet.”
Again, my heart skips a beat. “Did you wipe the flight logs?”
Melody’s eyes widen. “No, it didn’t even cross my mind.”
“FUCKING HELL!”
I stand up abruptly, eager to get to Dani. Jaxon stands up just as quickly and places himself between Melody and myself with a warning in his gaze.
“Choose your next words carefully, Kayden.”
“I’m not going to touch her, you ass. That’s my fucking sister-in-law. What’s your problem?” I respond, taking a step forward and seethe at his audacity.
Jaxon doesn’t back down. I’ve always known Jaxon as a defensive asshole when it comes to Melody, but this is a whole other level.
His eyes darken, the threat clear. I hold up my hands and make my way out of the living room.
“Text me the address, I’m going to ready my pilot on the way to the airport. I’m also going to need the number to the phone you gave her, Melody.”
“Sending now,” Melody murmurs, her head downcast as she worries her bottom lip. A second later my phone dings with the information.
They follow me to the front door where I pause with the door open and look back.
“Good, I’m going to call her as soon as I get in the car.
Andrei knows who I am. Which means he’s probably pieced together who my family is.
I’ll call Emilia and James on my way letting them know to expect you.
I want you both to leave now. You’ll be safe with them until this is over. ”
Melody looks up at Jaxon, a hand on her stomach as worry and fear shine in her eyes.
Stalking to my truck, I peel out of the driveway with enough ammunition and rifles to fuel a small army. I have no idea what to expect, but I know I’m not going to take any chances.
Not when it comes to Dani.