Chapter 29 Bush
The music from the fashion show has long since faded, but the energy in the loft still crackles like static.
Leaning back against the exposed brick wall, I watch the work crew dismantle the runway.
The long strip of polished platform that only an hour ago held a parade of models and flashing cameras is already half gone.
Workers in black shirts move with practiced efficiency, unscrewing supports and stacking the pieces onto carts.
Chrome stands beside me, his massive arms crossed, his expression neutral, but his eyes tracking everything.
Smoke lounges on a chair he dragged over from the seating area, boots stretched out in front of him.
Hunter and Rattler hover near the edge of the stage, watching the teardown like it’s some kind of show.
“Hell of a turnout,” Smoke says, rocking his chair back on two legs.
“Packed house,” Chrome agrees, running a hand through his beard. “Zara’s pieces were a hit.”
My chest tightens at that. Pride swells there, warm and heavy.
Zara was glowing up there. When she and Tony stepped onto the stage to accept the applause, the whole place erupted. The other designers received approval, but I can’t help but feel that Zara was the star. The cheers and camera flashes were just for her. I don’t care what anyone else says.
“Damn right,” I mutter.
Across the loft, racks of clothing are being wheeled away while designers gather portfolios and garment bags. The excitement hasn’t faded. People are still buzzing, talking loudly, replaying the show.
Two familiar figures stride toward us.
Viper and Bianca.
Both women have changed back into their normal clothes, but they still look like they just stepped off the runway. Bianca’s laughing at something Viper said.
“Look at this crew,” Viper says as they reach us. “Standing around like bouncers at a retirement home.”
Chrome snorts.
“Just making sure nobody causes trouble,” he says.
Bianca grins. “You boys missed the chaos backstage.”
“Chill and Izzy still back there?” Hunter asks.
“Yeah,” Bianca says. “Izzy’s packing up her makeup and equipment. Chill’s helping Tony pack up the clothes and accessories. We offered to help, but they said they’re almost done.”
I glance toward the backstage area. I don’t see Zara, but I remember she mentioned something about meeting a buyer. A hotshot from the area with lots of money and an eye for fashion. I hope he’s offering her the chance to pursue her dreams so she’ll have another reason to stay.
Still…
My eyes drift back there again.
That’s when Tony bursts through the curtain. He looks like a man who just realized his house is on fire. His eyes search the area before shifting to find me.
“Hey,” he calls, scanning the room again. “Have you seen Zara?”
Every muscle in my body tightens.
“No,” I say immediately, pushing off the wall. “I thought she was backstage with you.”
Tony shakes his head, running a hand through his hair.
“She was supposed to meet a buyer. The event coordinator said the guy wanted to talk privately.” His eyes dart around the loft. “I figured she’d be back by now.”
A slow, cold weight settles in my chest.
Chrome straightens.
“How long ago?” he asks.
“Twenty minutes. Maybe thirty.”
That weight drops straight into my stomach like a brick.
“Let’s find her,” I say.
The mood changes instantly as we split up to search. Hunter and Smoke check backstage. Rattler and Bianca move toward the side corridors. Viper and Chrome check the restrooms while Tony and I search the dressing rooms and storage areas. Instead of finding Zara, we find nothing.
Tony and I push back out onto the main floor just as the others regroup.
Hunter shakes his head.
“She’s not backstage.”
“Nothing in the side halls,” Bianca says.
My pulse starts pounding in my ears.
“Hold up,” Hunter says as we hear the unmistakable sound of the freight elevator. But it isn’t coming from behind us. A large metal door recessed into the brick wall opens to reveal a second freight elevator. Inside, two crew members are wheeling empty carts.
My stomach drops.
We move fast.
The event coordinator stands nearby, arguing with one of the stagehands. I grab her shoulder before she can walk away.
“Where’s the buyer my girl was meeting?” I ask.
She blinks, startled.
“Zara?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, she went to speak with him about twenty minutes ago,” she says. “He said he was interested in investing in her line.”
“Where?” Chrome asks.
The coordinator gestures vaguely toward the back.
“Somewhere over there, I think.”
Before I can press her further, a crew member pushing a cart slows as he passes.
“You talking about the girl with the blonde hair and black jacket?” he asks.
My heart slams against my ribs.
“Yeah,” I snap. “Have you seen her?”
He nods.
“Yeah. Some guy was helping her into the freight elevator. Said she needed air. Looked like she wasn’t feeling good. However, she didn’t look sick to me. More like sleepy.”
My blood turns to ice as fear grips me.
“Downstairs,” Chrome growls.
We move fast. Rattler and Hunter push the workers out of the freight elevator so we can all cram in.
It seems to take hours rather than minutes to get through the other floors before we hit the lower level.
We burst outside as a group. I spot Arson first and gesture for him to come over. Ice and Piston follow him.
“Did you see Zara leave?” I demand.
They exchange uneasy looks.
“No,” Arson says slowly. “But… lotta people coming and going after the show. Could’ve slipped past.”
Rage and panic twist together in my chest as I drag a hand through my hair, pacing.
“She’s out there somewhere.”
Smoke pulls out his phone.
“I’ll call Mode and Maestro,” he says. “Have them sweep every camera in the area. Building security, street cams, traffic cams. We’ll find something.”
“Do it,” Chrome says.
I stare up and down the street, my chest tight and burning. All I can think about is Zara. Where the hell is she?
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, the screen lights up with a name. Fred Sutherland. Zara’s father. A cold dread floods through me. This can’t be good. Bracing myself, I answer.
“Fred?” I answer after connecting the call.
“They have her,” he cries out. “They have my baby! You said you would protect her.”
“How do you know they have her?” I ask.
“They sent me a video. She’s tied up and unconscious. They said they’ll rape her on camera if I don’t pay them back the money I stole. I don’t have it. What am I going to do?” He’s crying on the other end.
“Wait, what do you mean by video?” Smoke asks. “Did they send you a video? Can you send it to Bush’s phone? We might be able to locate her if we have it.”
“They sent me a link. I think it’s a live feed,” Fred chokes out. “I’ll send you the link.”
My phone dings with a text message from Fred. I click on the link, and my world crashes around me. I grip the phone hard as I see my Zara tied to a chair. She’s slumped forward, and I can tell she’s unconscious. I hope she doesn’t wake soon.
“Fuck, we need to find her,” I say to Chrome.
“Send me the link,” Smoke orders.
When I do, he studies the image on the phone for so long, I’m ready to pound him.
“Do you see anything that can help?”
Before he can answer, the video changes.
The camera switches angles to reveal five members of the Bushrangers.
Vandal stands in the middle with the others at his side, except for Jinx, who must be handling the camera.
Vandal’s standing behind a table with ropes fastened in such a way that it ignites my rage.
“If you don’t transfer the money to our account within the next twenty minutes, we’re going to strap your little girl to this table, strip her down, and take turns raping her while you watch. We won’t stop until we have the money or until she’s dead. Your choice, motherfucker. Tick tock.”
The camera swings back to focus on Zara.
She’s awake now, and the horror on her face says she’s heard the threat.
Tears trickle down her pale cheeks. I desperately want to reach through the screen and grab her.
I want to assure her at least that we’re going to find her and rescue her.
However, I can’t do either. I can only sit and watch her suffer the horror alone and unprotected.
“We need to find her,” I growl.
“We’ll find her,” Chrome assures me. “Trust your brothers.”
I glance around at the men surrounding us and know that I’ve never trusted anyone more than I trust them. They’ll burn Chicago to the ground alongside me until we find her; however, Chicago is a big city.