27. Aiden
Aiden
I didn’t tell Isabel everything. Not because I don’t trust her, but because I didn’t want her to worry while I figured this out.
She can tear into me later, once this mess is over.
I’ll even let her punish me for it, let her decide what that looks like.
Beg for her forgiveness while burying my head between her legs, worshiping her until the only thing she can think about is me, every other thought gone.
But that only happens if we make it out of here.
After we dropped Merial at the hospital and Jen was stitching me up, a few things crossed my mind. The entire meeting felt like a set up from the beginning. Even Trent clocked it.
Too much effort for the outcome. Getting us to the barn, tying up the ladies, wiring the place with enough explosives to level it—only to allow a last-second escape.
That’s not a mistake. That’s designed. And if it was… then we walked straight into it.
It was all too perfect.
Which is why as soon as Jen finished playing doctor, I insisted Teddy hand over the scanner so we could sweep for trackers. We carry one in our go-bags for situations exactly like this. When something feels off, you don’t have time to second-guess it.
Didn’t take us long to find it. Embedded under her skin, below the waistband of her jeans, close to her spine. She didn’t feel it go in. Between the adrenaline and the razor wire digging into her, she wouldn’t have.
Once we found hers, we called Silas and had him check his daughter. He had his own scanner—I didn’t ask why—and found hers in the back of her upper arm.
Unlike us, he wanted hers out immediately and planned to call one of the Doyle doctors. In the meantime, he ducked into a small market and grabbed aluminum foil to block the signal. Pauly’s idea.
Does it always work? No. However, it made Silas feel better and bought him time if it worked.
While we were focused on the trackers, Trent and Drake slipped through. My men were tied up helping me map out how to turn this in our favor and bring Rurik to us. It was risky. We needed more bodies to pull it off clean.
So, I made the call while Teddy took the scenic route. By the time he landed, our backup was already in position. After that, it was a waiting game.
Trent dropping by unexpectedly wasn’t part of the plan, but it worked. He was the diversion we didn’t know we’d need, and so we leaned into it.
Rurik checks his watch again, and I take the opening, “You expecting someone?”
His sense of control falters for the second time since entering the kitchen. His shifts, ready to make a move.
That’s when I fire my gun.
The shot cracks through the room, splitting the wood of the doorframe beside his head and stopping him cold.
“Next time I won’t miss,” I warn. “I figured you’d piece it together when all but one tracker stopped working.”
“So, you’re willing to risk her friends’ lives after all?
” His eyes darken, but he doesn’t balk. “Saves me the trouble of pretending Lawerence’s death wasn’t intentional.
Trinity won’t die. Not yet. She’ll be auctioned off instead.
I hear the price is near five million after I shared that last video. My buyers love seeing them cry.”
Then his gaze shifts to Isabel, something perverse settles in his expression. “I’m not sure she’ll last long. Doesn’t have the same resilience you did, my sweet little princess. There’s something about watching a woman fight for her life.”
The fucker smirks, and it takes every ounce of strength I have not to end him now.
“Once you killed Marvin, the price just kept going up, topping off at fifteen before your friends busted up our glorious party.”
Isabel’s breath catches as she whispers, “Kill him. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
I don’t look at her. Can’t. Not now. It’s time.
Two things happen before I can pull the trigger. One, I’m expecting.
Bear barks.
It’s the signal I was waiting for.
When Isabel drops to the floor, I’m ready to take the shot—but hesitate when two women walk in laughing like they haven’t just stepped into a shitshow.
They freeze as the scene unfolding around them registers. Their entrance throws everyone, and that costs us. Rurik sees his opportunity, grabs the woman closest to him as he presses a knife to her throat.
“I’ll kill her.” The coward uses his latest victim as a shield, voice rough with panic.
But she doesn’t react the way he or I expect. No scream. No fight. She looks as calm as a cucumber.
That’s when I see it—
The flash of steel as she drives a knife into his leg, precise and deep. He drops instantly. The knife in his hand clatters across the tile, and the other woman is already moving, scooping it up before it settles.
“Good job, Anna. You hit the femoral nerve perfectly.”
Behind me, Isabel rises to her knees, her hands on my legs as she peeks around me. “Gabby?”
“Hey, little sis. Sorry about the delay. Had to convince the boys that Anna and I could handle this way better than them. You know how cocky men are. They hate being shown up.”
Gabby turns her attention on Rurik, squealing in pain, his hand clutching the dagger buried in his inner thigh. “I wouldn’t pull that out if I were you.”
Rurik glares up at her. “Fuck you, you stupid cunt.”
“By all means.” Gabriela crosses her arms, completely unfazed. “But I’m pretty sure she nicked your femoral artery. I’m no doctor, so I can’t say for sure.” She glances over her shoulder. “Good thing Isabel is.”
Anna reaches out and puts her hand on Gabriela’s arm.
“Oops. My bad. I was only aiming for the nerve. Guess I got a little carried away when he threatened to kill me.” She shakes her head, then shrugs.
“Kinda of a dick move, honestly. Especially since we just wanted to see if Wylan’s blueberry pancakes are as tasty as Alma claims.”
“You fucking cunt.” Rurik drags himself to the wall and props his back against it, blood soaking through his pants. “You will pay for this.”
Lowering my weapon, I reach for Isabel, pulling her to her feet. “Your sister and her friend are badasses. Now I get where you picked that up.”
“Stop flirting.” Gabby’s voice snaps from behind me. “Let her check on the patient before he does something even stupider.”
“You okay with that?” I take her chin in my hand, keeping her focus on me. “If not, I can have Lane send in Jen.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got a few things I’d like to ask him.” Isabel rises onto her tiptoes and brushes a quick kiss over my lips. “Don’t go far. I’ve got a few questions for you too.”
Not a request.
I watch her move past me, joining the others. Can’t tell if she’s pissed about me misleading her or if she’s locked into what needs to be done. Either way, now is not the time to push it.
Trent’s chair scrapes against the floor as he stands.
“Don’t.” I turn to look at him, already knowing what he’s about to do.
“Don’t?” He lifts an eyebrow, pressing his palms flat against the table. “Don’t do what exactly? Do you really think she’s capable of getting the answer she wants?”
He has a point.
“Maybe not,” I admit. “But she deserves the chance to try it her way first.”
A wordless battle takes place between us. He doesn’t like this. Hates not being the one in control, making the calls. He’s building up an argument, but then backs down when the most animalistic cries of pain I’ve ever heard fills the air.
It rips our attention back to what’s happening across the room.
I can’t decide if I’m proud or concerned when I see Isabel kneeling next to Rurik, her thumb pressing into the wound on his leg. She’s not easing up. Doesn’t second-guess it. Just holds the pressure and waits.
A minute stretches out.
His cries sharpen, climb, turn desperate as sweat pours down his face. There’s nothing fake about it. Nothing controlled. Just pain.
She pulls back, relieving the pressure, and he proves that some men never learn when to shut the fuck up.
“I should have let Tank and Urick finish teaching you that lesson.” He squeals, again, when she presses down, loud enough to set Bear off, his howl echoing through the house.
This time, she doesn’t stop. No break. No mercy. Pain so intense it becomes unbearable, and he breaks. Vomits. Then goes limp, toppling over on his side into his own mess.
Trent’s laughter fills the room. Loud and sharp.
Then it cuts off like a switch flipped.
I turn just in time to see him clutching his chest before he drops, landing hard on the tile floor next to me.