55. CHAPTER 50 #2
If anyone can understand at least some of what Saylor has been through, it’s the Sinclair women. Once I get Saylor back, I’ll see if she might be interested in talking to Reese and Sloane. I just have to get her back first.
“Whitney won’t leave,” Thorne says, pulling his phone out. “We’ll have to drag her out kicking and screaming. And if something happens to Dad, and she’s not here—If any of us aren’t—”
“Don’t fucking finish that sentence,” Fox shouts. “Nothing is going to fucking happen to Dad. And I don’t want to hear anyone say fucking otherwise. Dad would want us to handle this shit.”
The brothers go back and forth like we aren’t even in the room. I need them to wrap it the fuck up, or I’m about to walk out on my own and make them follow me.
“We don’t know that they’re any safer in any of our safe houses.” Tate jumps in pushing Fox back. “We thought the medical compound was safe, and then this happened under our fucking noses. We’ll leave them with our best security. Thorne’s already tapped into the hospital cameras.”
“I did too.” Crew holds up his phone like they’re going to give him a fucking sticker or something.
They ignore him and finish their plans to keep their wives safe.
“Are we done?” I don’t have any patience left. “I’d like to go and get my girl now.”
The room goes quiet. Fox nods.
“Good. Let’s fucking go. Someone find me some clothes.” They cut mine off, and I’d go naked before I wear this hospital gown.
Kase steps out while the others continue discussing logistics. The door opens again. Everyone goes tense and spins to see who it is.
My father walks in.
He takes one look at the room and then focuses on me, his eyes wide.
“You’re alive. Thank fuck, son.” He releases a long sigh, relieved. “I thought you were dead.”
“What are you doing here, Dad? How the fuck did you know I was here?” I haven’t talked to him since that day in his office. Too much shit has been going on, and I don’t have time for his bullshit now.
“I heard about the explosion from Malcolm.” Crew’s father. Crew must have already filled him in on everything. My father closes the door behind himself and crosses the room to approach me. “And don’t you think I give a shit if my son is alive or dead? I wanted to know what happened to you.”
Kase reappears with some clothes in his hand. I don’t know where the fuck he got them and don’t give a shit.
“Well, I’m alive. And I’m busy.” I take the jeans Kase found and start working them on. Every movement makes my ribs feel like they’re stabbing through my lungs. “I can catch up with you later if you’re ready to quit fucking meddling in my life, but I have to go.”
“Like hell you are.” Adam looks around the room again. “Something is going on here.” His eyes land on Fox. “Where are you going?”
“That’s none of your goddamn business,” Fox says.
“My son is my business.” My father turns back to me. “I’m not letting you walk out of here to get yourself killed. Not after everything—” He stops. His jaw works as if he’s struggling to speak the next words. “Just let me help you.”
“You want to fucking help?” I pull on the white shirt and stare at him. “Then stay out of my goddamn way.”
“I was a Talon just like you, Axl. And I have a good idea where you’re going.”
He’s not making any fucking sense. “How in the fuck do you know shit about what we’re doing?”
My father stares back at me. What he says next is going to determine whether he walks out of this room alive. His chest rises, and he lets out a breath. He glances back at the Sinclairs. “Can I talk to my son alone?”
Thorne snorts. “Not a fucking chance.”
He turns to face me, putting his back to them, irritation obvious in his expression.
“I lied before.” He looks over his shoulder at the Sinclairs, probably to make sure they don’t attack him.
They all have their arms folded, watching him, and they could decide to kill him at any moment.
“What you have to understand, son, is that Travis Keller has been threatening me. He and some of his friends run a trafficking ring, and they tried to recruit me as a partner years ago. I didn’t want any part of it, but he threatened your mother to keep me quiet.
” My father runs his hand down his face.
“He’s wanted her for a long time, and he has never been happy that he didn’t get her years ago. ”
The room is dead silent. Tate unfolds his arms and takes a step forward, but Fox puts a hand on his brother’s chest to urge him to stay back.
“Keep fucking talking,” Fox says, giving my father a flippant wave.
“I knew he was into some fucked-up shit. And Travis threatened to ruin us and take your mother as his own personal sex slave if I didn’t make you marry his daughter.
He wanted your connections to the Sinclairs.
He thought that you’d be able to tell him what they knew and their next moves.
” My father won’t look at anyone except me.
“I’ve gone along with this shit and kept my mouth shut to protect your mother.
That’s the fucking truth. When I told him that I wouldn’t make you do it and that I’d tell you everything, he arranged to have you killed.
He called me to tell me that he killed you. ”
I rub my temples where my head is starting to ache. “So you’re saying that Travis organized this. Not Justin Carter.”
“Justin is just an errand boy. He’s been doing shit for them for years.
I knew about David Carter’s involvement as well.
I just didn’t want any part of it.” My father shifts on his feet.
“Travis came after you to get to me, and he used the Carter girl to do it. Justin didn’t want his sister mixed up in their world. ”
Priest meets my eye, and I can’t tell what he thinks about all of this.
I don’t know if my father knows what Justin has been doing to Saylor, and I’m not giving him any information.
He seems to be telling us the truth. But if this Travis fuck wants me dead, he’s not going to be happy to learn his plan failed.
If he doesn’t already know. Which only puts Saylor in more danger.
“So what you’re telling me is that your buddy Travis has been trying to get Justin to kill me? And when nothing else worked, he orchestrated the explosion? This seems a bit too convenient, Dad.”
“He’s not a fucking friend, Axl,” my father says through gritted teeth. “I’ve been trying to keep our family safe. Just as anyone in this room would do.” He runs his hands down his face. “Justin only took such a big risk because they are going to let him take his sister and run.”
So he knows that Saylor is alive.
“And how do you know that?” Thorne asks what I was already thinking.
“Travis told me. The Carter family is going to disappear, and I either join the fold or your mother will serve him. He told me where to meet him. I’ve got a feeling it’s the same place you’re planning to go since he told me he’s keeping Saylor there.
I came here hoping he lied about you being dead and to ask the Sinclairs for help. ”
The room is quiet while everyone processes what my father just dropped. Fox is the first to move. He steps past Tate and gets in my father’s face.
“You’ve known about a trafficking operation for years, and you said nothing to my family.” Fox practically spits the words at him. “My father is fighting for his life because of this bullshit.”
“I did what I needed to do to protect my family.” My father doesn’t back down. “You can settle this with me after. Right now, Travis is expecting me at that building, and I came here in good faith to give you the information that I have.”
I look at Fox, trying to determine if he will let my dad come with us. He gives me a small nod.
“He’s coming with us,” I say. I don’t fully trust my dad and I fucking hate it, but nothing is more important than getting to Saylor. “My father will walk in like he’s doing what Travis instructed. The rest of us will follow inside and take him out.”
“Travis doesn’t leave that building.” Fox turns to my father. “You help us get close to the fucker. After that, stay out of our way.”
I grab my phone and check the tracker one more time. The signal hasn’t moved. She’s still there.
Hold on, little heathen. I’m coming.
“Let’s fucking go.”