3. Cairo
THREE
cairo
She’s lodged a fucking dresser in front of her door and won’t let me in.
I knew Bay Astor was a fucking brat, but distressed Bay is a whole other level of female emotion I’m not used to.
Carina and Luisa can be emotional and outspoken when upset, deterred, or just at the time of the month, but Bay has completely shut down.
To the point where she’s not answering me at all.
I’d think she escaped, but I hear her rummaging around in there occasionally. Hot Rod and Juice have their squad lined up every-fucking-where so I do my best to give her space as I figure out my own fucking mess.
Before arriving on South Breeze Street, I was told dudes immediately took Torin, and I quickly gathered that they were part of The Nameless.
Why?
Because De Leon either mowed down and killed all my men, or they’re laid up with their own injuries.
However, I wasn’t playing the fucking game of where my brother was, who he was with, or what his full condition was.
Thankfully, my crew intercepted Torin’s convoy, and he’s safely tucked away with our medical team.
Whatever good that is right now.
I’m awaiting word of his second surgery, and I need something else to focus on. Torin’s body is riddled with bullet holes and, honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to ask how many.
Not when Bay was in the front seat of my car when we were on our way to Wallace.
Not when I got word my guys intercepted Torin’s route and got a hold of him.
All I asked was if he’s alive, to have our best doctors woken up, and to keep me updated at all times.
My focus had to be on something else, and it’s currently on the inconsolable female on the other side of her bedroom door. She won’t come out to eat, see her sisters, or speak a word to me.
Torin will live; he’s too fucking stubborn not to.
However, I have nothing on Wallace, but the prick’s muscles probably protected a few vital organs.
“Little T,” I plead for the millionth time, feeling my patience withering away by the hour. “I will keep everyone away from you if you just step outside this door and take a shower.”
Nothing.
This is like speaking to Ozzy, but worse. I can feel every emotion radiating off her, even through the barrier between us.
She’s not budging.
And I’m stuck here trying to figure out what to do.
I’m at a loss.
I told Hot Rod he had twenty-four hours to get Bay to Levi before something happened. He clearly ignored those warnings as well.
Which leaves me with nothing and no leverage to get Bay out of her room. And I will not lie to her and fill her head with promises because I have no way of guaranteeing them. If Levi was fine, he would’ve already called Bay and ended this shit.
But he hasn’t.
If he had, Bay wouldn’t be on a lockdown of her own making. She’d be glowering at me or batting her eyelashes with the request to go see him.
This shit…is a fucking mess.
I feel Ozzy’s presence a moment later, but I don’t bother turning from the door.
Instead, I keep my voice a low mutter for him only.
“She’s not going to come out unless she can see or speak to Levi. You think you could get in?”
“No.”
Great.
My phone buzzes, and I mindlessly pull it from my jean pocket.
VICTOR: Mr. Wildes is out of surgery, sir. Five bullets. One in the shoulder, one grazed his head, two in his gut, and another in his thigh. He’s unconscious and lost a lot of blood.
“And Wallace?”
Ozzy needs to seriously stop fucking creeping up on me. I didn’t hear him approach, but maybe it’s because I can’t stop staring at our brother’s list of injuries.
I shake my head. “I dunno.”
Ozzy remains silent as I inhale a deep breath.
“Watch the door.”
I pivot, rounding his body and going outside to get some well-needed fresh air.
Then I shoot a text to Hot Rod.
CAIRO: Your time is almost up.
HOT ROD: I’m not on your time.
CAIRO: She’s losing her shit and it’s actually terrifying. Bay WILL do something stupid if you don’t give her something.
HOT ROD: Are you incapable of watching her inside a contained house? Because I can send my guys in and you two can LEAVE.
CAIRO: Listen, you dense-ass bitch, this whole being extra bullshit about Wallace is unnecessary. Give the woman something, dude.
HOT ROD: He’s alive.
Well, there’s that.
However, reminding Bay he’s alive isn’t going to do shit but amp up her restlessness about going to see him.
CAIRO: You got anything else?
HOT ROD: No.
Yeah, I’m going to kick this guy’s ass when this is all over.
He can bet on that.
CAIRO: If she does something, it’s on you.
HOT ROD: She has no room to do that. If you haven’t looked outside, it’s on lockdown.
I have.
There are suspicious-looking cars everywhere, and I know Rod sent them. But Bay isn’t some basic-ass bitch who’s going to climb out a window and hope for the best.
She’s going to do something else entirely stupid and reckless.
CAIRO: You’ve got until tomorrow.
HOT ROD: Right.
HOT ROD: I’ll remember that next to the time I gave a shit about what you’ve said.
I scoff and shake my head before pocketing my phone back into my jeans. I want De Leon’s head on a spike, and I have my guys searching for him, but they’re not going to find him.
He’s hiding out, knowing that’s exactly what we’re doing, and biding his time. However, I’m not going to not look for him, either, in case I get lucky.
That doesn’t mean I can’t run through Shoreline Peaks and rummage through his shit, right?
I smile.
Nope.
It looks like he’s going to have a mess to go through.