Chapter Twenty-Five #2
Cyrus rushed toward the door, but he kept his eyes on her.
She darted her gaze around the room. She looked like a cornered animal looking for any means of escape.
Just seeing her in this condition had Caine balling his fists as an unfamiliar feeling plagued him.
Helplessness. There was nothing he could do at the moment to comfort her.
Not that he’d even know where to start. But I’d fucking try.
“Keely.” Caine tried to soften his tone. “Cy’s gonna get the first aid kit, and I’m gonna clean you up.”
He hadn’t even finished his sentence, and she was shaking her head, the tears streaming down her face at rapid speed.
“Fuck,” Ridge whispered, circling around his back. “What do we do here, Caine?”
This was bad. The Underground didn’t allow for witnesses. Ever! He cupped his mouth, staring down at her. Had she been anyone else in the world, he wouldn’t have hesitated. There were rules and an oath he’d taken to Oz and the organization. Since joining, he’d followed them all. Until now.
Caine wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her, and he’d protect her at all costs, even if it meant turning his back on the Underground. He stalked toward the stairs with Ridge following close behind.
“Call Nash. Tell him to get down here.” Caine made his way to the bodies.
“Then call Ace. Tell him there’s been a slight delay and they’re not to show up for another hour.
Make it convincing, Ridge. If he gives you any pushback, remind him that if Anders’ crew sees any member of Killcreek, it puts the entire plan in jeopardy. ”
“And Anders? He’s gonna want to know why there’s a delay, especially” —Ridge glanced down at the bodies— “when he can’t get in touch with his guys.”
Fuck!
“I’ll call Anders, and you make the others. Now, Ridge.”
He nodded, pulled out his phone, and walked to the other side of the room. Caine needed to think and come up with a valid, believable excuse for the delay in the deal. Up until now, he hadn’t suspected a thing. This could change everything.
It was another thirty minutes before Nash arrived.
Given their location and the proximity to the X-Lounge, he’d made it in record time.
Caine had kept himself isolated on the second floor, busying himself with the clean-up.
He needed to do something to distract himself from going back downstairs and forcing Keely’s hand.
Cyrus had given him an updated report. Keely wouldn’t allow anyone to tend to her injuries, not even Jared, but she’d calmed down slightly.
He’d helped with the remaining clean-up, and they were just finishing when Nash arrived.
Caine met him halfway across the room.
“This is a problem,” Nash said, dragging his hand through his hair.
Yes, it was.
“How much did she see?”
“The aftermath.” Caine drew in a breath. The only thing that could’ve made this situation any worse was if she’d actually witnessed the murders.
“And her injuries?” Nash narrowed his gaze, and Caine stepped toward him, unappreciative of the insinuation.
“She fell down the fucking stairs, Nash. Do you really think I’d lay a hand on her?”
Nash carefully eyed him, and lifted his hand. “No, but I wanted to make sure no one else did.”
Zeke. It made sense why Nash would be suspicious, but had Zeke touched Keely, he’d no longer be breathing.
“Alright, where are we at?”
Caine sighed. “Called Anders. Told him we had a delay because of police activity in the area. There was some type of bust downtown, so it was a valid reason, and he bought it. It gives us about an hour.”
“And his guys? Will he reach out?” Nash asked.
Caine shook his head. He’d covered all the bases with Anders. “I told him all phones had been confiscated once they arrived. Protect the integrity of the deal in the event they were being tracked by a girlfriend or wife. He thought it was a smart idea.”
Nash smirked. “And Killcreek?”
Ridge stepped up. “Told Ace there was a delay. No doubt he reported back to Inez, but he seemed to take it in stride. Said his guys would be here in an hour.”
“Okay, so we need to get Keely out of here before they show up.” Nash eyed Caine. “You’ll make her understand, I assume.”
Nash was asking a clear question without actually saying the words. Making her understand meant giving Keely everything. All of him and his life and position in the Underground. It meant keeping her. Caine didn’t hesitate with his response.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Then we take her out of the equation, and we can still move forward.”
“Just one problem,” Ridge said. “None of us or Jared will say anything about Keely. But Jessie and Zeke? How do we contain them?”
Fuck!
Nash didn’t seem as concerned as him.
“Zeke won’t be a problem. I’ve already cleared it with Oz. Once this deal is done, Zeke is going to disappear.” Nash smirked. He would finally get his revenge on the guy who hurt his woman. “But until then, one of you will be with him at all times to ensure he doesn’t breathe a word about Keely.”
That would definitely work. Zeke’s presence was only needed until they reached the secure location where Killcreek would be waiting to ambush Anders and his crew. Zeke wasn’t even going to get out of the car. The intended plan was for him to drive back with them. It would work out perfectly.
“And Jessie? Inez hears about this, Keely being a witness?” Cyrus blew out a heavy breath. “She’s not gonna let that go.”
“You could always ask Jessie?” The feminine voice from behind had all of them turning.
Jessie was a few feet away. Caine, and obviously the others, hadn’t even heard her come upstairs.
“Will this be a problem?” Nash asked.
Caine drew in a breath waiting on Jessie’s response. He needed to hear the correct one, or it wouldn’t fare well for her. He would protect Keely at all costs.
“All Inez needs to know is that the plan was successful. And if it is, she’ll be none the wiser to this little snafu.” Jessie smiled and started down the stairs.
Fair enough. Caine would make sure nothing else went wrong and this deal went through without any issues.
He switched his thoughts to solely focus on Keely.
There was no time to waste getting her out of the warehouse and out of sight.
Keeping her safe and protected was his only goal.
Nothing else would go wrong. Caine started through the warehouse with the others until Nash stopped and cocked his head.
Caine squinted, hearing a low female voice.
He could barely make out what Keely was saying.
“Jay?” Her voice was faint.
“Jay!” There was a hitch in her tone.
Then a panicked shrill, “Caine!”
It was followed by a gunshot.
Fuck!