Chapter Fourteen
Gabriel
Pulling into the parking lot at the office, my phone rings.
It’s Eric, and I throw the truck in park and answer immediately. “Talk to me.”
“Brooke’s been taken, and Trevor is dead.”
Roaring fills my ears as I focus on a speck of dirt on the windshield.
Everything blurs, all sound and light becoming distant.
My body tenses, my chest no longer rising and falling.
My muscles begin to ache with tension, my lungs burning from the lack of oxygen.
Red seeps into my vision, a clap of thunder rumbling against my ribs.
The blood in my veins feels like liquid fire, scorching every cell in my body.
I’m on the brink of something otherworldly.
I’ve never felt anything like this.
I embrace it.
They will die.
“Layton! Did you hear me? Snap out of it!” Eric shouts into the phone, bringing me back.
“What the fuck happened?” Slamming the gear shifter in reverse, I skid back onto the road, smoke billowing from my burning tires.
“I’d been trying to reach Trevor for about thirty minutes.
I wanted to check in, but he didn’t answer.
I rode by to make sure everything was okay, and he was slumped over in the seat with a bullet in his temple.
I ran to the house, but the door was open.
There was a little blood on the floor and she’s missing. ”
“Where the fuck is she?” My knuckles turn stark white, gripping the steering wheel hard enough to snap it from the column.
“There’s no trail. I’m heading over now to get the CCTV footage from the main roads. I need to figure out what kind of vehicle we’re looking for.”
“Trevor. He didn’t see them coming.” I’ll grieve for him later.
Right now, finding Brooke is my priority. “I’ll burn this whole fucking city to the ground to get her back. If Johnson wants a war, he’s fucking got one.”
“I just pulled up. I’ll call you back as soon as I have something.” He ends the call just as I pull into her driveway.
Running across the yard, I open the door and freeze when I see the droplets of blood peppering the floor. It’s not a lot, but enough he probably knocked her unconscious to get her out of the house.
This happened right after I left. Why wasn’t I paying closer attention?
This is my fault, Brooke being kidnapped, Trevor being killed.
Running outside, I jog towards Trevor’s car. My stomach knots with dread as I get closer, seeing his lifeless body.
He was a good man. He didn’t have a spouse or any family. He was a lone wolf who found purpose in protecting people from the bad guys.
There’s so much pressure within me, I feel like I’m about to explode.
He deserved better.
My phone dings with a text message.
Eric: I have a friend coming to pick up Trevor and his car. He will handle everything. I assume you don’t want the police involved.
Me: Send me the address of where you are. I’ll be there soon.
He sends me the information, and I lock up the house. A million thoughts race through my mind, but I focus on one.
Murder.
I’ve never killed anyone, but the idea of watching the life leave his eyes awakens something dormant, something feral.
You don’t touch what’s mine, motherfucker.
Speeding out of Brooke’s driveway, I head for Eric’s location. My phone dings with another message.
Unknown: You pay, or she dies.
Unknown:
The truck skids to a stop in the middle of the road. Horns blare around me, but I remain motionless, my eyes glued to the screen.
Fuck!
The picture is Brooke, bloody, bruised and unconscious.
Her face is swollen, almost unrecognizable with all the blood. She’s limp, lying on a filthy concrete floor. Her shirt is pulled up, revealing bruises all over her stomach.
The pressure in my body implodes.
My fist connects with the dash, a crunching sound filling the cab of the truck as the material cracks. I punch the steering wheel over and over, the horn blaring around me. A loud roar bounces off the windows, deafening me with its agony and rage.
He’s going to die.
The world slowly comes back into focus, and I pull off the road, into a nearby parking lot, sending a response.
Me: How much, when and where?
Unknown: Twenty million. Two hours. The old Kensington factory off Route 16.
Me: I’ll be there.
Unknown: Don’t try anything brave, Gabriel. My nephew has quite a temper. His control is slipping in the company of his ex-wife.
My breath stutters, shocked to my fucking core.
Brian is his nephew?
There’s no way Brooke knew.
How the hell did our pasts come together like this?
Fate brought us together, but I’ll be damned if I let the bitch rip us apart.
Dialing Eric, he answers immediately. “I’m looking through the footage now. I don’t have anything yet.”
“Johnson texted me. He sent a picture of Brooke. They beat the living fuck out of her. She’s in the Kensington factory on Route 16. Her ex-husband is his nephew. I need you with me now.”
“That’s why I couldn’t find Brian. Johnson kept him hidden. I’m with you. What does he want?” The clicking of a keyboard in the background intensifies as he sifts through the CCTV footage.
“Twenty million dollars in two hours.”
“How the hell are you supposed to come up with that?” He shouts, and the noise stops.
The solution is simple. “With a little more time, I could sell the company and make that easily. I wouldn’t think twice about it.
That’s not going to happen, though. When they put their hands on her, they signed their fucking death warrants.
They’re not getting paid, Eric. They’re going to die. You still with me?”
“Fuck yes. Kill them all.” I knew I could count on him. He cared about Trevor, and though he doesn’t know Brooke well, he knows what she means to me.
“Two hours. I’m going to get a bag and set it up as the pay off. Stay out of sight. Once I go inside, you come in. Shoot to kill.”
He sighs, making his disapproval known. “I don’t like you going in alone.”
“I’ll be armed. Stick to the plan.”
“Understood. Keep your cool until I get there.”
“Come prepared.” Ending the call, I drive home to get what I need.
Once I’m home, I grab a duffle bag from the closet.
I fill it with all the cash from my safe.
It’s a couple of million dollars I had stashed in case anything ever happened.
I’ll tell them the rest is in the truck, and they’ll get it when I have Brooke in my arms. It’ll buy me enough time for Eric to come in, and we’ll put an end to this shit, once and for all.
Pulling my forty-five from the safe, I tuck it in my waistband at my back.
Reaching for my snub-nose thirty-eight, I slide it into my boot.
It’s a tight fit, but I’ll have it for back up.
Stopping by my nightstand, opening the drawer, I grab the switch blade, easing it into my pocket.
If I lose both guns for some reason, I’ll still have a weapon.
Hefting the bag over my shoulder, I lock up the house and jump in the truck.
During the drive, I play through different scenarios in my head. I want to be prepared for anything. No matter what happens, I will get Brooke out safely.
Once I turn on route 16, I spot Eric’s car pulled off on the side of the road. As I pass, he nods. He eases onto the pavement, staying a good distance behind me.
The abandoned factory comes into view, and it feels like my whole fucking body is on fire. I want to jump out of the truck and run to the damn place, thinking I could get there faster.
My girl is in there, injured and suffering.
Nothing can protect them from the hell I’m bringing.
Eric hangs back as I pull into the parking lot. There’s only one vehicle, but I know both of them are here. I park the truck quickly, grabbing the duffle bag as I jump out. Rushing to the door, it whines as I push it open.
Stepping inside, I’m met with my worst fucking nightmare.
Johnson and Brian are standing side by side with Brooke between them, on her knees. She’s covered in blood and filth, her matted hair covering her face as her body slumps forward. She’s trembling uncontrollably, and everything inside me dies at the sight of her.
I’m falling into a black hole.
Hate. Rage. Death.
My jaw clenches so tightly, my teeth are about to crack, but I savor the pain.
Pain.
They hurt her.
They’re about to know pain.
“Hello, Gabriel. I’m happy you could join us. I’m sorry for the condition Ms. Monroe is currently in, but I needed you to take this seriously.”
Slowly, she raises her head, and my heart stops.
Fuck!
Her eyes are damn near swollen shut, and she’s marred with bruises like she’s been used as a punching bag. My brain pulses against my skull, and my chest caves, dissolving the last bit of humanity inside me.
I snap.
Pulling the gun from my waistband, I point it directly at Johnson’s head. Just as my finger lands on the trigger, Brian jams a gun against Brooke’s temple.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. As much as I’d love to kill this bitch, I love your money more.” Brian grins, pushing the gun harder against her head.
She whimpers helplessly, her eyes locked with mine. “Gabriel.”
She doesn’t sound like herself, and the bruises on her neck catch my attention. I try to focus, but her pain is overwhelming. Everything she’s feeling slams into me, and I’m losing myself to the darkness I’m not familiar with.
I don’t know how to navigate this without her getting hurt.
If she dies, I die.
“Gabriel.” Her raspy voice pulls my attention back to her.
“I’m here, baby girl. It’s okay. We’re going home.” Trying to soothe her with words, she winces as she tries to smile.
My brave girl.
“Aw, isn’t this sweet.” Brian sneers.
“Gabriel. I love you. I’ll be waiting on the other side.” She gives my words back to me, and my blood runs cold.
She’s willing to sacrifice herself.
“Not fucking happening.” I growl as Eric storms through the door. “Get down!” I shout at her, Johnson taking off through the factory.
Training my gun on Brian, Brooke cries out in pain as she throws herself to the floor. Brian takes a step back to run, but I pull the trigger, shooting him in the stomach. He hits the ground, his gun skidding across the concrete, landing beside Brooke.
Gunshots ring out from the other side of the factory.
I know Johnson is dead. Eric is an expert with guns, and he doesn’t miss.
“Do you hear that, motherfucker? Your uncle is dead, and you’re next.” Stepping closer, I kick him in the face. Blood sprays from his mouth, and the crunch of his bones is music to my fucking ears.
Kicking him in the ribs, he screams in pain, but I don’t stop. Falling to my knees, straddling him, I pummel his face until my knuckles are split open and bleeding. He’s groaning and barely conscious, but I’m not done with him yet.
“Gabriel.”
Bloodlust is all I know.
“Gabriel.”
I won’t stop until he’s dead.
“Layton!” Eric’s voice trickles through the fog, and I glare at him.
His eyes are wide as he stares at Brooke. Following his gaze, my breath hitches. She’s on her knees, with Brian’s gun aimed at him. She’s struggling to hold it steady, her body battered and exhausted.
Sliding across the floor, I settle behind her. Careful not to cause her anymore pain, I steady her arms with my own. “Where do you want it, baby?”
“Where his heart should be.” She takes a deep breath, and I help her aim at his chest.
Brian raises his upper body, blood pouring from his gut. “You fucking bitch. I should’ve killed you years ago!”
Before I can react, she pulls the trigger, lodging the bullet square in his chest.
She doesn’t stop firing.
She continues pulling the trigger even after the clip is empty, the hollow clicking sound filling the air around us.
“Baby.” I reach for the gun, and she flinches, letting it go quickly. She slumps against me, and I wrap my arms around her loosely. I release her immediately when she winces, feeling helpless and angry all over again.
“We have to get you to the hospital. I know you can’t walk. Can you grit your teeth and let me carry you to the truck?”
She inhales deeply, nodding her head.
My brave girl.
“Eric, get the door. Follow us to the hospital.”