5
After driving around Halston aimlessly for what must be hours, I somehow end up at a bar on the outskirts of town that I’ve never been to before. I’m not sure how I managed to get here without crashing my car because my mind was definitely not on the road.
Since I left the Hudson’s mansion, my thoughts have continued to swirl around my head, the image of Sierra on Rafe’s phone being one I’m unable to shake from my mind. It’s etched into my brain and no matter how hard I try to shake it, the image only becomes more vivid when I close my eyes, punching me in the gut every single time.
I had to get away from the house, from the Hudsons and take a time out. I feel so out of control with everything that’s happening it’s like I’m trapped on a runaway train running at a hundred miles an hour without any brakes and I have no idea what to do.
“You want another one of those, buddy?” I glance up briefly as the bartender nods to the empty glass in front of me.
“Yeah, keep ‘em coming.”
I’ve been here a little under an hour, sat in the far corner of the bar with my head hung low to avoid making eye contact with anyone. The last thing I want tonight is conversation. I’m perfectly happy wallowing, using the Whiskey in my glass to help tamp down the sick feeling that curdles in my stomach.
From the outside, the bar looks like a dark dingy place where more than just alcohol is being consumed, but it’s actually not bad. The lighting is dim, and the music is soft, creating an atmosphere that is both warm and inviting. On another day under different circumstances, that’s how it would make me feel, but just lately there’s a permanent tightness in my chest, an uneasy churn in my stomach, a feeling I’ve unwillingly grown used to.
It’s a feeling of dread, of foreboding, of the knowledge that the clock is against us, and the time to find Sierra is quickly running out.
She’s out there somewhere. She could be a mile away or half way around the world for all we know, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
A woman laughs across the bar and my eyes lift to find a woman who looks so much like Sierra. Maybe a few years older, a little shorter and curvier, but the same jet black hair and pretty face, but not a patch on my princess. She’s with two other women I assume are her friends and I can’t help thinking that this is where Sierra should be. Enjoying her life, laughing with her friends and having fun, not locked up somewhere being violated and tortured by some sick cunt who enjoys nothing more than to watch her bleed.
I drown that thought with another drink, just as I set my glass down onto the bar, my phone pings with an incoming text and my heart lurches when I read the message preview on the lock screen. I swipe to unlock it.
Unknown: I have information on Sierra. Come to The Tap House on Eighth. Sit on the left-hand side of the bar and keep your ears open. This isn’t a trick, I swear. I want to help.
Keep my ears open?What the fuck does that mean?
I re-read the message, my heart pounding. Is it a trick? Some sort of trap to lure me in? It could most definitely be a trick, but with Sierra’s life at stake, it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
I’m pulling up outside The Tap House fifteen minutes later. It’s busier in here than the last place, and finding a seat on the left side of the bar as instructed is easy. I do a quick scan of the bar as I head to the open seat, not seeing anyone who stands out to me before ordering a drink.
I settle into my seat and wait, because what other choice do I have?
Half an hour goes by and nothing. Not a single sign or word and I’m starting to think I’m wasting my time. I re-read the text, half tempted to call the number but I decide against it and reach for my drink instead. Just as I tip my head back, my glass at my lips, a conversation behind me steals my attention.
“…Austin won’t be happy about this…”
I turn my head a fraction and notice two guys sat at a table a few feet away out of the corner of my eye, their heads bent forward as they speak in hushed voices, but not quiet enough that I can’t hear.
“He won’t find out. You need to stop being a little bitch and trust me on this or you’ll end up with a bullet in your head right alongside her,” the big beefy one says.
Her? Sierra.
“But we’re under orders, Vik,” the smaller, younger one replies. “We’re not permitted to touch her.”
They’re talking about Sierra, I know it. I feel it in my gut.
“And you’re not permitted to question me, boy. I’m in charge, and you follow my orders. Since when do you care whether I fuck the bitch or not? You sweet on her or somethin’?”
“N—No. It’s just… It’s not right.”
“There’s a fine line between right and wrong, you know that.”
“I don’t want to do this.”
Vik, the beefy one huffs as he leans back in his chair. “I knew Austin should never have hired you. You’re weak. You’re not cut out for this job,” he sneers. “When we start our shift tonight, all you have to do is turn the other way, no one else has to know. Do not fight me on this, you don’t want me as an enemy I assure you. Now, I’m going for a smoke and a piss, give you some time to figure out your answer while you get in another round.”
I glance over my shoulder, watching as Vik gets up and heads out the door, my eyes falling on the younger one before turning back around.
I take another swig of my drink as a figure slides in beside me. “Two more beers, please,” he orders. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him give me the once over before facing forward. “You Alec?”
“You the one who text me?”
“Yeah. I don’t have a lot of time, Vik will be back any minute.” He fidgets with his hands nervously.
“Why are you helping me?” I ask.
“Because I don’t like what they’re doing to her.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, for now.”
“Did she give you my number?”
“Yeah.”
A corner of my mouth curves into a smile. Clever girl…
He glances over his shoulder, his eyes searching for his companion. “Just by standing here talking to you, I’m risking everything.” I feel like it’s a loaded answer.
“Why? What’s Austin got on you? Is he blackmailing you?”
He heaves out a shaky breath. “He’ll hurt my family.”
“My boss, Gage Hudson can protect them. Help me get Sierra back, and I promise you and your family will be safe. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I’m a man of honour and a man of my word.”
He stares at me, searching my eyes for any hint that I’m lying. “What do you need me to do?”
“Tell me where she is and how many men are guarding her.”
“She’s in the basement of an abandoned farmhouse, four miles north of here, just off of Cornham Lane. There’s a dirt track that leads right up to the house. There’s usually four of us, tonight it’s Vik and me and two of the others. Shift change is nine o’clock.”
“Will Austin be there?”
“I don’t know, he just drops in whenever he feels like it.”
“Text me the address of your family. I won’t move on the house until your family is safe, I swear.”
Ollie searches over his shoulder again, wringing his hands just as the bartender brings over his beers.
“I got those, put them on my tab,” I say.
The bartender nods. “Sure thing.”
I turn to face Ollie for the first time. Up close, he looks to be around Sierra’s age. Dark hair, kind face, he definitely doesn’t fit in with Austin’s other men. “If we do this, and we all make it out the other side, I’m sure there’ll be a job waiting for you with my boss. He rewards loyalty, he doesn’t exploit people like Austin does. What’s your name?”
“Ollie Jessop.”
I smile. “Thank you, Ollie. I’m Alec McKenna.”
“I know, the gir—Sierra, she told me about you. We talk sometimes when I’m assigned to watch her. I—I never signed up for this, what they’re doing to her is…” He grits his teeth. “I’ll help you. I’ll help you get her out. I don’t know how, but when the time comes, I’ll find a way. Wait until after shift change. When you get to the house, head through the backdoor that faces south, I’ll leave it unlocked. Head through the kitchen to the basement, it’s a door off to the left before you get to the stairs. She’s down there. And if you get the chance and you see Vik, kill the son of a bitch.”
“I’ll give you word when your family is safe. I won’t let you down, I promise.”
“Neither will I,” he says, offering me a tight-lipped smile before taking his beers and heading back to his table.
He’s only back in his seat for a matter of seconds before Vik returns, seemingly none to wiser.
“Well?” Vik asks Ollie. “What’s it gonna be? You’re either in or you’re out, but let’s not forgot what’s at stake here. Your sister… What is she seventeen? She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” The amusement in his voice is hard to miss.
“I’m in,” Ollie replies grudgingly after a few seconds.
“Glad to hear it. Let’s go. Got a feelin’ tonight gonna be good.” Vik’s chair scrapes back as he stands and I glance over my shoulder to find Ollie’s eyes on me while Vik isn’t looking.
He gives me a tight nod, to which I return before he and Vik leave the bar. I only have to wait a few minutes until a text comes through from the same number, and address.
I take my phone from my pocket and pull up Gage’s number.
Me: Need a favour. Get eyes on the address I’m about to send you, they need protection asap. Can’t explain right now, so need you to trust me.
I follow my message with the address and it takes less than a minute for a reply to come in.
Gage: Consider it done, I’ll let you know once they’re safe. Keep me updated on whatever it is you’re up to, and don’t do anything stupid.
Me: Stupid? Not in my nature.
I only have to wait half an hour before I get a message telling me that Ollie’s family are being watched before I down the rest of my drink and head out.
I’m taking a huge leap of faith by trusting Ollie, and all I can do is hope he doesn’t double-cross me, but for Sierra, I’ll do anything.
The navigation system in my car tells me I’m a few minutes away from the farmhouse and I dig out my phone and dial Max.
“Alec, my answer is the same as it was the last time. We do—”
“I have a lead,” I say, cutting him off.
He goes quiet for a beat. “Explain.”
“I don’t have time to tell you every detail, but I know where Austin is holding Sierra. It’s an abandoned farmhouse just off Cornham Lane, they have her in the basement.”
“Wait, wait, wait. How do you know this?”
“Long story short, I got talking to one of Austin’s guys, he’s being blackmailed and his family has been threatened. He said he’ll help me get her out on the basis his family is protected.”
“Okay, just slow down. I’ll run the house through our system and see if anything crops up, get some more intel.”
“Too late. We don’t have time for that. I’m already here,” I say, pulling up alongside a row of trees to conceal the car, opting to take the dirt track on foot.
“You’re what?”
I take both of the guns and the clips I have stashed in the glove box and tuck them into the waistband of my jeans. “I can’t afford to wait on this, Max, we’re out of time. I’m going in with or without your help.”
He scoffs. “And you’re taking the word of a guy you don’t even know who works for Sloane, are you insane?”
Insane for her.“Certifiably. I know I’m taking a risk, but I’m more worried about what happens if I don’t. If he stays true, I gave my word I’d ensure his family’s safety. He knows that if he did anything stupid, I’d be as much of a risk to his family as Austin is. I trust him.” I have to.
“Alec, I can’t condone this. You’re threatening my entire operation just by being there.”
“And what operation is that exactly, Max? Seeing as you won’t tell me a goddamn thing about it and nothing seems to be happening. I understand you have rules and regulations and reams of red tape, but I don’t and I don’t have time.”
“You can’t do this alone, it would be suicide, man, you’re no good to anyone if you’re dead.”
“I’m not gonna die. You above anyone knows that I’m trained for this.”
“Alec, please just think this through, don’t make any hasty decisions. If you really insist on doing this, just give me a couple of days to work out a plan.”
“No time. I have to go.”
“No, Alec wai—” I hang up, not allowing him to finish his sentence. I knew he’d be against me doing this, hell I would be if the roles were reversed. It’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but it could turn out to be the greatest and with Sierra’s life hanging in the balance, I have to try.
I pocket my phone and climb out of my car, careful not to make too much noise as I shut the door behind me. It’s pitch black as I make my way towards the house, but I’m guided by the faint light that filters from the house about a quarter mile in front of me. The gravel of the dirt track crunches under foot, and with every step I can’t stop my blood pressure from spiking. It sounds so fucking loud out here in the dead of night.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I grow nearer, clutching my gun tight in my sweaty palm, the beat of my heart bordering on a cardiac arrest it’s thumping that hard. I duck down behind an abandoned combine harvester that probably hasn’t been touched in decades, spotting movement on the east side of the house.
A guard paces around the perimeter of the building before disappearing around the far corner.
Now’s my chance.
She’s in there, I can feel it, I only hope she’s alive when I find her.
The way I see it, I’ve got nothing to lose by going in there. My reason for living is in that building, and whether I make it out or not, I’ll do my damnedest to make sure that she does.