Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Walker parks his truck under the building in the lower and even more guarded residential parking area.
That’s the other part that doesn’t make sense: if these guys got into the penthouse via the residential elevator, how did they get on it in the first place?
The only access points are in the parking area, which is a level lower than general parking for the building.
The parking areas are both secured with gated entrances that require codes or keycards, and employees don’t have access to the lower residential parking area.
The other access points for the residential elevators are in the lobby, which are right in front of the security desk, or from the floor with the lofts that belong to Wells and Max.
It doesn’t make sense how Rick and Kane were able to get access, let alone do it without anyone noticing.
If they had tripped one of the many alarms, Liam would’ve been notified, as would have my security team here on-site, including Thor who is on-call for Tinsley’s personal security.
There are too many unanswered questions, but I’m getting answers today.
Right after we rescue my girl.
She will come first—every single time.
We walk to the locked residential elevator, and I override it with the code only Liam and I have before taking it to the floor below my penthouse.
It’s killing me not to go right to Tinsley, but we need a plan.
Walker can see my struggle as I glare at the button to my floor and he reaches out to squeeze my shoulder.
Based on what we can see and hear, she’s okay for the most part right now and my girl has even gotten Rick, Debbie Jo, and Kane to confess to some of their crimes while the video feed records—one crime in particular none of us had any clue about whatsoever that Rick was involved in.
Wells is out for blood and Walker may need to give him the speech about intending to take Rick into custody because I’ve never seen Wells like this.
My friend very well may try to kill Rick with his bare hands today between what he did to his sister and what he’s confessed to on the security feed.
And I can’t blame him—not one bit.
He’s destroyed their entire family.
If someone is going to hold Wells back from extracting his own revenge, it sure as shit will not be me.
Liam and Thor walk us through the plan, with Wells volunteering to be the initial distraction necessary.
Walker is going to notify his supervisory agent as soon we set the plan in motion, and I’m glad he’s still on paternity leave so he could be here to help with this.
The logical part of my brain knows that it’s better for Rick to get handed off to the authorities, and there is more than enough to justify getting the feds involved, but my baser instincts want to remove that threat that has caused immense harm and pain to people I love.
That part of my brain wants to detain and eliminate the threat permanently.
Thor hands out earpieces that will keep us all in constant communication.
The brand on the case he snaps shut—LC & Associates—is yet another example of how even though Liam isn’t here, he’s still showing up for us.
I reluctantly give Allie my phone that’s still connected to Tinsley’s.
I can’t listen to the call and do my part to rescue my girl, but none of this is easy.
Tinsley’s cousin gives me a quick hug—which makes Thor growl at me and then immediately apologize—but it provides the shift we need.
It’s go time.
Wells and I walk out of his loft and in an uncharacteristic sign of physical affection, I grab my friend and pull him into a quick hug before he gets on the elevator. “We’ll get her back and end this, brother. Trust the plan.”
He shakes his head slightly. “I know. I just … fuck, Jack. My entire fucking family.” When he initially heard the confessions, he looked white as a ghost, but his anger has brought his coloring back.
“We will bury him. He will never be a free man again, alright? He fucked with the wrong family.”
“Moron.” Wells huffs.
I step back and we bump fists. “Love you, man. Let’s go get our girl.”
“Love you too, brother.” Wells nods before he starts rolling out his shoulders as his face immediately shifts from tense and serious to the jovial mask that he uses to disarm people.
Wells leans back against the wall, crosses one leg over the other, and looks as relaxed as possible.
People always assume Wells is only fun and games, but he is literally the smartest guy I’ve ever met—and he uses that to his advantage when necessary.
But if someone knew Wells, really knew him, they would know that as good as he is as blending in or playing a part, his eyes never lie, and right now, his eyes are an inferno of rage. His casual stance and easy facial expression are enough to distract anyone from the truth of his feelings.
His physical body language is cool, calm, and collected, but his eyes are blazing with fury.
I start moving to the rooftop through the private residential stairs, keeping my feet as light as possible. Thankfully, my years in training with various martial arts have taught me how to be light on my feet—and fast.
My brother chirps in my ear, “We really will get her, Jack. I’m sorry I’m not there.
” We still don’t know exactly where Liam is, but he did confirm he’s somewhere in the Central European Time zone currently, which narrows it down to approximately thirty-three countries, assuming he isn’t at sea somewhere within the time zone.
I open the door to my rooftop oasis. It’s always been one of my favorite spots in the entire building, especially when it’s only friends and family that come up here, but I never thought I would be as grateful as I am for it today—and specifically for my steel spiral staircase off the pool area that connects the rooftop down to my terrace.
When I was building this space, I initially didn’t have the spiral staircase, but Savannah convinced me of it because she thought it was charming and added character to the space. There’s no way my sister could have ever imagined that choice would one day very likely save Tinsley’s life.