Chapter 45
My maggot of a brother thinks I’m a liability and had some whopping diva tantrum about how I shouldn’t go up with him to investigate Brittney’s flat. Instead of being forced to deal with his nonsense, I decided to remain in the vehicle, and Asher – bless his heart – said it would be a good idea if just two of us went and avoided raising any suspicion with the concierge at the entrance of her building.
It”s obvious Asher is trying to maintain his neutrality with the ongoing feud between me and Haze. Back in London, before we left for America, I had to get tested under the orders of Sir Snootington, and that blasted conservatorship he made me sign, but Asher announced that he thought it was a good idea to get tested. Then Jagger joined in on the fun.
Asher is a good guy with a heart of gold. I can understand why if Eden’s not around, he’ll be the first person Storm will greet. Animals can sense the good in people.
I’m glad the dog occasionally growls at my brother.
Bastard deserves the occasional snarl from someone other than myself.
He never even apologized for the yacht incident, and if it weren’t for Ash and my siren’s support in getting my tobacco tested, the bastard would have fired my arse from the band and shipped me back to England.
My gaze is fixed on the street opposite me, my brow furrowed in deep thought as I idly twirl the metal hoop of my lip ring between my teeth and tongue.
Personally, I don’t need an apology from him. I’m not as weak as he is and require confirmation from my older bruv about my worth as his sibling.
Hazey-Pazey can fuck off….all the way off a fucking cliff, and I wouldn’t shed a tear. I’d be relieved to see his self-acclaimed royal arse out of my face forever.
“Have you ever tried meditation?”
I turn to Ash, his words repeating in my head. “What you on about?”
“Your heavy breathing, mate. I can hear your ire through your breathing. You gave up smoking cold turkey. You need something else to relax those nerves.”
“Leave my nerves alone, you weirdo!”
He chuckles and goes back to scrolling on his phone.
After learning it had been tampered with, I tossed my metal box in the hospital trash. I have no fucking clue how anyone could have access to my tobacco, either in the box or extra stash in my room at home. It’s a mystery, but that event seriously got me thinking about things. So a few days ago, I gave up smoking, and Asher only found out after we dropped off Storm at the dog hotel earlier and asked why I hadn’t lit up a fag with all the stress surrounding us.
Maybe Ash is right. I need a new hobby. Smoking sage and fruit tobacco became my only vice when I went clean years ago. Now I’m itching to have something between my fingers and in my mouth to replace my old habit.
Eden’s nipples come to mind. How I wouldn’t give to have one between my fingers right now and my tongue going to town with it.
When we get her back, I plan to spend an extraordinary time between her breasts. Yeah, that should solve my addition to fags.
And Ash doesn’t flippin’ miss the smile that plays up on my face.
“Whatever it is, I don’t want to know.” The bloody bugger has eyes on the side of his head.
Must be all that Buddist philosophy he follows.
Suddenly my phone buzzes an alert, as does Asher’s mobile.
I take a look at it.
“What is this?” I ask, looking at the app and a map. “It must be a virus. Don’t click on the link.”
“No, you plonker,” Ash says, seemingly excited. “It’s the app Rick asked us to install on our mobiles. He gave Eden an alert device so if she’s ever separated from him, it alerts him that she’s in trouble and her exact location. She must have it with her and triggered it.”
His phone rings, and I see it’s Jagger; he answers it on speaker mode.
“Did you get the alert from Eden’s device?” Jagger asks, his voice rushed as if he’s on the move.
“Yes, I assume we all did.”
“We found nothing in the flat and are on our way down. Eden’s location is in the middle of nowhere.”
“On the border of Utah and Arizona. Fuckin’ ell,” I say, reading the tracking alert on my phone app. “How the fuck do we get there?”
“Should we alert the feds?”
“That agent, maybe they can get the local law enforcement over there to act.”
“No,” my brother says firmly, joining in on Jagger’s phone. “There’s a big chance someone in the law enforcement is working with the kidnapper. He might kill her if he somehow gets word that Eden has a tracker and she’s released the alarm.”
“He may have already found it on her.”
I doubt I’m not the only one who felt that shiver go down their spine.
“We need to get to her first before anyone else does. Law enforcement will only attract attention to themselves with all their official lights and sirens. We need to act like the kidnapper, swift and sly.”
“We not fucking trained you, maggot,” I yell at my brother. “You heard Eden. This arsehole is obviously experienced, powerful, and has an entire army of masked men.”
“I am,” Jagger interjects. “Haze is somewhat right. If something goes wrong, it’s on us, but if something goes wrong with the feds, then the guilt of never trying it our way will live with us forever. Only a helicopter can land safely in those parts. It’s about an hour and a half away with one. I’m going to see if the security company can assist us with this. We”ll inform the feds when we’re nearer and can properly assess the situation.”
I have to trust Jagger. He’s been on more rescue missions than any of us. Fuckin’ell, none of us except him has, and he’s done it for the British Army, so I have to believe he knows what the hell he’s doing.
“Let”s go get our woman back!”
We’ve circled the entire area, looking for any signs that might indicate Eden is down there, but it’s not easy. We’ve spotted a few hikers, but they’re easily identifiable by the bright colors they wear and can be spotted from the height we’re flying at.
Eden was wearing all black, making it bloody hard to find her camouflaged in the landscape. From this aerial vantage point, the rugged and intricate terrain of the canyons are a patchwork of earthy hues, ranging from deep russet and ochre to sandy beige. Even her skin color matches the scene!
Come on, siren.
Where the bloody heck are you, darling?
Not counting the pilot, five pairs of eyes are scanning the landscape below. Four pairs belong to me and my bandmates, and the fifth is Carl, our head of security, who stepped in to take over Rick’s position.
He told us about his history with Rick, who was recently identified as one of the two people who died in the car bombing. They’ve been mates since serving in the army, so this mission has become some personal vendetta to find his killer.
The more people eager to end this minging kidnapper, the better for us, and I’m pretty sure this new guy doesn’t have any scruples about dealing with the arsehole in our own personal way. The last thing any of us want is the authorities capturing him and going through some long-winded, bureaucratic trial that the media would have a party with. We’re ending this bastard our own way without the bullshite of red tape.
The vastness of these deep canyons stretches out in all directions. As the helicopter banks and turns, the scale of the canyons becomes even more apparent with their massive crevices and steep walls. I have no idea how Eden managed to arrive here. Or whether she’s alone and why the fuck was she brought here.
“There, check that peak!” Jagger shouts at the pilot. He and Carl are wearing binoculars and can see much better than the rest of us.
I narrow my eyes to pinpricks to focus on what Jaggers’s indicating.
The helicopter circles and lowers closer, and now I’m almost sure that’s Eden with Brittney. You can’t miss her friend’s white outfit from above. Observing further, I spot several bodies lying still on the ground below in the valley.
I almost missed Eden, but it’s that bastard and another arsehole opposite the women aiming their guns at them.
“I can only land inside the valley,” yells the pilot.
“That’s over an hour”s climb, and we haven’t got the equipment for it. It’ll be longer,” predicts Carl.
“Prepare the hoist, fly us over, and get as close as possible,” shouts Jagger, already getting himself ready into the harness and buckling himself up.
As the pilot descends further, everyone below glances up at us, and Eden uses the split second to raise her hand.
We don’t hear her gun go off, but we see the unmasked man stumble back. He’s shot but not fatally and raises his hand again. Eden pushes Brittney to the ground, diving with her as the two men shoot at them. The masked man grabs hold of Brittney, and she’s screaming.
Fuck!
“Get us closer, now!” yells Carl, but Jagger has already descended down. While I can’t hear the gunfire from the loud noise of the helicopter, I see him shooting his gun.
He manages to distract the two men, and Eden escapes, running towards the ledge and looking over.
Don’t fucking jump, luv! For Christ”s sake, I think my heart stopped beating ten seconds ago.
Jagger’s down on the ground. Carl’s fixed two hoists, and he and Haze are on their way down. It’ll be mine and Asher’s turn next, and I don’t hesitate to get into the harness and make my way down to join in on the gunfire now going on.
One more masked idiot managed to climb the mountain, and I don’t think anyone noticed him. My aim is fixed on him as I descend.
Okay, the final drop down isn’t as steep as expected. I didn’t land as professionally as Jagger and Carl did and ended up in a tumble and lost my gun. I scramble around, trying to find it.
Fuck it, I run after the unknown masked one and see him. His gun is directly at Haze’s head.
No!
Fuck no!
No, you fucking don’t!
Without any second thoughts, I dive and drag the gunman’s ankles with me off the cliff. I land with a loud thump on the ground, and the world fades.
I might have actually died.
Fuck.
“Hey G, wake up, bruv,”
Something wet and slimy splashes all over me. I feel confused and disoriented. Slowly opening my eyes, a bright, sharp light shines, and I close them again.
“Fuck,” I grumble and feel a shade pass over me.
“Am I dead?”
“Could be that we’re both in hell. This desert is one flippin’ heat furnace.”
That familiar voice belongs to my annoying brother. I open my eyes to see him hovering over me, blocking out the sun.
“What the hell happened?” I ask, taking the hand he offers and pulling myself up. Fuck, my head and entire body hurt like I’ve been on the piss again. “And why the fuck did you call me G?”
“G as in the useless letter of the word Lasagna,” my brother, the prick, is grinning at me, and I would punch him right now if I had the strength to do it.
Before I can reply, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his embrace.
“What’s this about?” I ask, a little dazed, wondering what my pretentious arse of a brother is doing.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispers, his voice ragged with emotion. “When I saw you go over the cliff with that geezer and the gun. I thought…..”
I pull away from him. His face is tearful and raw.
“It’s not the first time I almost died. And you have a lot of fucking nerve to accuse me of being a user. Are you on molly or something?” I look at him, perplexed.
“You muppet,” he pushes me away. “You saved my life, and I’ve been a right idiot with you. All these years…fuck…” He wipes his hand over his eyes, looks away, and then back at me. “I never stood by you. You’re my little bruv. I should’ve protected you … supported you. You deserve an apology. I’ve been a lousy brother.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my brother this emotional. Not for me anyway, and not in a long fucking time. Gone is that stone-cold, empty stare he used to give me. Instead, he”s returned to a version of himself I barely recognize, a person from what feels like a lifetime ago.
“Noooo,” I groan, overcome with laughter bordering on madness. My muscles ache from the strain of it, but I can”t seem to stop.
Haze looks at me with a mix of confusion and concern, as if I finally lost the plot.
Maybe I have.
“I’m flippin’ pissed at you!” I manage to say between laughs. ”How am I supposed to keep calling you Sir Snootington when you”ve suddenly become so uncharacteristically nice, like a proper brother?”
“You call me what?”
“Never you mind.” I shake my head, trying to focus despite the rush of adrenaline.
“Where’s Eden?” I scan the surroundings, my heart pounding as I realize I”m standing on a narrow ledge on this mountain.
“Fuck,” I mutter, grabbing onto Haze for support as he steadies me.
“Whoa, there. It’s a steep drop.” He warns, gripping me tight.
“Where’s Eden?” I ask nervously, pulling away from him. The image of her with a gun aimed at her head is still fresh in my mind.
“She’s fine, and minger and his army are dead. Eden’s being treated for a nasty cut on her arm by a medic.”
How long was I out? Last I remember, I landed like a sodding sack of potatoes from the helicopter and saw Haze about to get his brains blown out by some geezer.
I fell trying to save his royal snooty arse.
I look up, and I’m only a couple meters from the top.
“What happened?” I ask. “Where’s that bloke I dragged off you?”
“You tripped and dragged him with you over the edge. He’s somewhere with the rest of the bodies below, which our girl managed to tally up.”
“You know what? I’m about to clock you in the head!” I snarl. “I didn’t trip! I dived in because I lost my gun on the way down, and I plunged to grab his ankle as was the only thing I could do!”
“Plunged?” he looks at me as if I have something between my teeth.
“Yes, plunged, dived…” I roll my eyes, fed up with his third inquisition.
“Why’d you lose your gun?”
“Shut up, Haze,” I bark. “You’ve just earned Sir Snootington back. Enjoy!”
I grab onto a rock and lift myself up, but I feel dizzy.
“Fuck,” I growl at my condition. I may have pulled a muscle in my shoulder.
“Use the harness and hoist yourself up.” I look up to find someone from the rescue crew looking down at me from above.
“Here,” Haze holds it out for me and helps me into it.
“Cheers,” I mutter before being lifted up.
As soon as I get to the top, I look around at the rescue operation going here on this mountain. Two choppers are circling the sky, and the sun is as strong as ever. Two black body bags lay zipped up on the floor, and some men pick up another body to put it on a stretcher.
I see Asher and Jagger but the one person I so desperately want to be near is nowhere in sight.
“Siren!” I shout, and people stop and turn. “Siren!” My voice echoes loudly among the canyons.
And suddenly, my desert beauty jumps away from a group of rescue workers and feds.
The air crackles with an electric charge as time seems to freeze.
I breathe a sigh of relief, and the massive smile on her face is infectious. She stands there for a moment, and I take in the scene. Even the wild, open landscape of the surrounding canyons cannot weaken the intensity of my emotions.
“Siren,” My breath catches in my throat, quietly relieved.
Then, as if propelled by an invisible force, she starts running towards me. The rhythmic resonance of her boots thumping onto the hard, rocky surface syncs with the drum of my own heartbeat.
“Fucking ‘ell girl!”
She throws herself into my arms, and I wrap myself around her and bury my face in her hair, hiding my eyes brimming with tears that mirror hers.
The world seizes to exist for us. I hold onto her as if she’s my lifeline, her presence stitching the edges of my soul back together again. Seeing her again and in my arms isn’t a reunion; it’s my rebirth.
“I love you so much, Callum,” she murmurs, drawing back.
Tears cascade down her cheeks. I cup her face in my hands, the rough calluses of my fingers tender against the soft contours of her skin, wiping away the tracks left by her weeping.
“I fucking love you too, siren. So much,” I reply with a fierce sincerity.
My face finally crashes against her with such intensity that it should have caused an earthquake around us, sending tremors throughout the canyons around us. I pour my heart into this kiss. It’s a promise with a little bit of magic that drives her into oblivion.
My world has found color in her presence, and there’s no fucking way I can ever imagine my life without her by my side.
“One, babe. Only one bullet is needed to kill you and me,” I say, pulling away from her lips. “And that ain”t ever happening. Not on my watch, siren.”
I feel a sudden hand on my shoulder, but Eden’s smile grows wide, and the way she’s staring at them, I can only imagine it’s one of the fellas.
I turn my head to find Jagger and Asher standing there, reluctantly letting go of Eden to give each man a brief but well meaningful hug. My eyes catch Brittney approaching Eden. She’s got one of those rescue blankets wrapped around her, and my eyes narrow at the sight of her.
“You’ve got some explaining to do.”
Eden rushes between us. “I already explained to everyone that Brit was conned by Victor.”
Victor? I raise a brow at the bastard’s name. Are we on first-base name with the kidnapper?
“At least that’s what we think he’s called. They have yet to identify him, and he’s dead now, so he can’t clarify it.”
“So, how did you know him?” I ask Brittney. “We saw you on the restaurant video.”
“He used her as a pawn to get closer to me. He couldn”t get close enough with you guys and Rick around me like flies.”
I look at Eden and place my hands on her body to examine her. Other than the shoulder bandage, I don’t see her hurt anywhere else.
“Did he touch you?” I ask, concerned. My face quickly frowns with fury. Glad he was taken down, but I wish I had the satisfaction of doing it.
”Not in the way you think. Just manhandled. His mission this time was to kill me and get a sick satisfaction doing so.”
“It’s true,” Brittney chimes in. “Eden was a champ, actually. Saved my life a few times.” She looks around and leans forward so people around us can’t hear. “Stabbed him in the neck just as he took aim to shoot me,” she says quietly. The stress on her face is evident. Let’s be realistic here; these women aren’t natural-born killers, but they did what they had to do to survive.
I grin at Eden with pride.
“Good girl. Did you use my knife?”
“Left it wedged between my breasts until I found the opportunity. It’s how we managed to escape his underground facility.”
“His what?” I ask, confused.
“Come on, bruv,” Haze appears, sliding his arm behind my shoulders. “I think it’s time we update you on everything.”
“How long was I out?” I ask a little confused and a lot annoyed that I missed all the fun.
“First, we need to get that bump on your head checked,” he says, pulling me away.
I hear a mobile go off, and we all check our pockets. I must have lost mine. Eden says hers and Brittney’s must have gotten lost when they abandoned their bags at the restaurant.
“It’s not mine,” Haze says.
“Not mine,” Asher adds.
We watch Jagger step away momentarily.
“Bruv,” Haze says, draping his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s get you properly checked by a medic.”
“Siren,” I call out, spotting her chatting with Brittney. She looks up, her face breaking into a grin as she realizes I need her by my side. Without hesitation, she rushes over and takes the hand I extend to her.
“Always by my side, lass,” I say, grateful for her unwavering support.
”Always,” she replies, her smile reflecting satisfaction and loyalty.
“That was the Flavia on the phone,” Jagger says as he joins us under the temporary tent set up for us while we wait for the rescue to pick us all up in a helicopter.
“I’ve brought her up to date on our situation. Quantum Records was contacted by a news channel for a statement. The local authorities haven’t given the exact details of what happened, only that a rescue mission was conducted on a mountain. Their spokesperson managed to separate the incidence of the car bomb from this. Since the entire band seems stranded on this mountain and the news helicopter making rounds above us only arrived after everything happened, no one knows Eden was abducted.”
“So?” Eden asks, curious.
”So, here”s the deal,” Jagger announces with a wide grin, capturing everyone”s attention. ”The label wants to release the music video we filmed for Phoenix Rising. They had enough footage from the desert shoot we made to produce a full video, and they want to drop it online in an hour.”
“We haven’t even seen it,” Haze mutters, voicing the concern shared by many of us.
”I agree, we should definitely preview it before it goes live,” Asher adds, nodding in agreement.
”Also, isn”t that a bit fast? How did they manage to put it together so quickly?” Eden questions, her curiosity piqued.
“There’s one other thing,” Jagger’s grinning ear to ear, and we’re waiting with anticipation. “They want us to make our debut entrance at a concert tonight.”
“What?” We’re all a little surprised and lost.
“”They want to buy the footage from the media outlet that caught us on film from the news helicopter,” Jagger explains. ”Then they”ll use it at the concert.”
“What concert?” someone asks, voicing the question in all our minds.
“There”s a concert tonight at the SoFi Stadium,” Jagger reveals. ”It”s a big event organized in support of anti-human trafficking efforts. The organizers agreed to spin a story that Eden was kidnapped by traffickers, so they”ll authorize the release of our music video as a stage backdrop. And our ”rescue” will be staged as we get lifted into a rescue helicopter.”
”So they want us to perform live tonight?” the disbelief among the group is intense.
”At the SoFi Stadium?” another doubtful voice chimes in.
”We haven”t even practiced or done a sound check!” someone else points out.
“We might be able to get one before the doors open,” Jagger offers.
”Is the concert sold out?” another voice queries.
“Yup,” Jagger confirms with a nod.
“Bloody’ ell!” the exclamation sums up the shock circulating among us.
“Yes. Tell them yes!” Eden interjects, her enthusiasm shining through.
”I figured you”d say that, so I already told them yes,” Jagger admits with a grin, knowing Eden”s eagerness all too well.