Hazel
The Saved
My body is lifted and I crack my eyes open seeing my father not wearing his mask carrying me through the cage I was being held in.
“Dad?” I whisper, my voice cracking from not having any water for however long it’s been.
“Yes, baby. You’re safe now. We got you.” he assures me.
“How did you find me?” I rasp and he looks down at me with a smirk peeling at his lips.
“We got a tip and we came but no one was here. The cage they put you in was open and not a single trace in sight. It’s very odd.” he says as the bright sunlight blinds me. I slam my eyes closed as he places me in the truck. Prince comes to my side, cupping my face.
“You good sis? I was fucking worried!” He growls and I nod.
“I’m fine, I just want to get home. Where’s mom and Jaxon?” I ask but he shakes his head.
“They stayed back. Hopefully waiting for us to get back.” he says as I swallow thickly.
If they are there and what I saw was true.
I’m going to kill him. I’m going to take my knife and slam it into his neck while smiling at him.
As everyone gets into the trucks, I lean my head against the glass of the window not wanting to look at anyone.
I don’t want to talk either. The information I have I need to keep to myself for now.
This is mine to handle. I don’t want to involve my fathers in this.
At least not yet. I just need time to figure out my next move and that will be decided once we pull through the gates of the compound.
The ride home is quiet. Jameson keeps trying to get answers out of me but I don’t want to talk which only makes my father and him argue.
At least Dario knows when to stop. Jameson doesn't; he just keeps pushing and pushing. I’m not my mother.
I don’t bend for them. I’m more of a brat than she is and I don’t care.
I was literally kidnapped and held in a cage.
When I’m ready to speak I will but for right now.
I just want to get home. I pray that the video I saw was fabricated.
Staged. Because if it’s true I don’t know what I will do.
My fists tighten in my lap the closer we get and my heart rate picks up, hammering wildly against my chest. Please please please let her be okay.
Please don’t make me kill the one person I love.
The person I’m so fucking in love with. The only man in this world that can stop the earth from spinning just because he smiled at me.
I just don’t want to believe it. And who the fuck is this Checkers guy?
That I will definitely discuss with my fathers.
That is something they without a doubt need to know.
We pull through the open gates which has me on edge.
We never leave them open even when we are home.
Dario pulls into the driveway and I immediately notice Jaxon's G-wagon is nowhere in sight but Mom’s is.
I get out and run into the house right for the living room.
“Mom, mom!” I shout but she’s not in here.
The others all pile in and chaos ensues around me.
Phones are taken out. Calls are made and the room spins.
“Hazel! Hazel!” Spade yells as I fall onto the couch and everything goes black.
Waking up, I scream, thrashing around until someone yells grabbing a hold of my arms and legs.
“Hazel. Baby. Daddy is right here. You’re safe. You’re okay.” My father Dario says.
“Princess calm down. I promise you are safe.” My dad growls but tears fall from my eyes and I can’t seem to catch my breath.
“Mommy. Where’s mommy? Is she okay?” I scream and the room goes silent.
“Let me give her something?” Jameson asks.
“It won’t hurt her, right?” Dario responds
“I’d never give her something harmful but if she doesn’t calm down, she will hurt herself.” I look up and see Dario nod then Jameson leaves the room. I try to sit up but Dario doesn’t let me.
“Just calm down, Hazel. Please just chill out.” he begs but I can’t help it and panic.
“I need her! Where is she? Where is Jaxon. I’m going to fucking kill him!
” I shout, my throat raw from lack of water and all the yelling I’m doing.
I don’t care though. No one is giving me the answers I need.
No one is saying shit. A sudden pinch to my neck has my head lulling to the side and my veins warm giving me a sense of comfort I didn’t know I needed.
Arms lift me and I’m placed in a lap while a cool rag is wiped against my brow.
“Daddy’s here baby. Just calm down. Rest a bit.
It’s okay. I promise it’s okay.” he says but his tone is different.
It's like the words he’s saying are a lie or he’s trying to convince himself but his emotions are getting the best of him.
His lips linger on my cheek and a tear falls from him landing on me.
My eyes shoot up to his and it’s like looking in the mirror at myself.
I wear those same eyes. I lift my hand and wipe his tears away then cup his face.
“Don’t cry Daddy. Please don’t cry. I will kill him for what he did. I fucking promise you that. He’s a fucking traitor.” I spit and his eyes burrow in confusion.
“Who, Hazel? Who is a traitor?” he asks and I take a deep breath.
“Jaxon. He-he,” But I can’t get the words out. I know what I saw. I know what that checkered fuck told me but how? Why? This isn’t Jaxon. This behavior is not him. I know the real him and he’d die to protect the ones he loves. He’d never hurt our mother.
“Princess, what did Jaxon do?” My dad asks as he crouches next to the couch, kissing my forehead. Spade and Ryder come into the room with Prince and Preston behind them. All eyes are on me and I swallow thickly.
“Everything.” I say, closing my eyes for a second.
“I need more than that. Let’s start at the top. While you were in that disgusting cage. Did you see anyone?” My father asks and I nod.
“There was a girl and four men. All wearing those stupid anonymous masks from that movie V for Vendetta. Fucking cliche if you ask me but the girl. She had the most gorgeous blueish green eyes I’ve ever seen and she looked so fucking familiar.” I say and they all nod, shifting around the room.
“What else, Princess.” Jameson asks. Again pressing me like he did in the car.
“There was a man talking to me on a loud speaker. He knew exactly who I was. He took me because he didn't want me to blow up Amar’s house. I was messing with his plans but what got me was he said that he was the one who took Priest—”
“Do we have a name?” My dad growls and I nod.
“Checkmate.” I state as my dads all look at one another.
“Who the fuck is Checkmate?” Prince asks but no one says anything.
“That’s not all. Checkmate said Jaxon was in on one of his games. He’s the one who let the men in here to take Priest. Do I believe it? No, I don’t and I even said as much then the prick had one of the masked men give me a phone with proof.” I tell them as more tears stream down my face.
“Well? Was it?” Ryder chimes in and I shake my head.
“Not for that. I pressed play on the video and saw Jaxon,” I spit “And mom standing in this room. He had a gun pointed at his head then—” I choke.
My heart pounds in my chest as they all wait for me to finish.
“He pointed it at her and pulled the trigger. He fucking killed her! He killed my mom!” I scream and my father squeezes me tighter as my dad gets to his feet.
“If he killed her where the fuck is her body? Where the fuck is he?” He roars as Spade comes up to him trying to calm him down but Jameson swings punching Spade in the face.
Ryder gets up and it’s pure fucking chaos.
Everyone is yelling and screaming. Bones breaking echo the room until a gun shot goes off freezing everyone.
“That is enough!” Gramps yells, taking a step into the room. “What the fuck is going on?” he spits but my dad storms from the room and no one says anything.
“Flynn, Jade is missing. To make a long story short. Hazel was taken. We went to find her. Jade and Jaxon stayed back to talk. Hazel saw a video of Jaxon shooting Jade but when we got back here. Jaxon’s G-wagon was gone.
The gates were left open and Jade is not here.
” He tells him and my grandfather slams the bottom of his cane against the wood floor which has me narrowing my eyes.
I sit up and look around the room then it dawns on me.
“Where’s the rug?” I ask, getting to my feet but stumble. Dad grabs me and I steady myself.
“What?” he says and I look at him with wide eyes.
“Moms favorite area rug. Was right fucking here. Where the fuck is it?” I spit and his eyes widen.
“We need to look at the cameras again. There has to be something somewhere. You don’t just waltz in and out of here, take two people along with a fucking rug and not be seen.” Spade yells.
“I’m going to head to Daggerspoint to meet with Caspian.” My father tells us and I look at Prince.
“Where’s my phone?” I ask and he reaches into his pocket and hands it to me. My fathers and grandpa talk in hushed tones behind us so I look at both of my brothers and narrow my eyes.
“I need to get the fuck out of here—” but Jameson coming back in the room with a duffel bag stops me midsentence.
“I’m out! I’m going to get the answers I need. I will not be back until I have her fucking body.” he says and I walk over to him.
“I’m going with you!” I state but he shakes his head.
“No you are to stay here with your dads and brothers where I know you are safe!” He commands and I take a step back. His eyes are void, almost black with a hint of blue and he smirks at me. Ryder comes to stand next to me, pulling my arm back.
“If you touch my nephew I will fucking kill you!” He spits which only makes Jameson grin. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
“I’ll do what I need to do to save my wife.
” He says and my heart drops in my chest. Could he really kill one of us for her?
What am I talking about? Of course he would.
My mother is his entire world. Yes she gave us life but she gave him a life he still doesn’t think he deserves and without her in his mind he thinks he’s nothing. Which I know is bullshit.
“Even kill your son?” Spade interjects and I brace myself for his next words.
“He’s not my son! If what Hazel says is true then he’s dead.” He states simply and those words hit home, making me get into his face.
“Does that mean I’m not your daughter? And Prince?
Because we aren’t your blood?” I ask and his eyes snap to mine.
The person I see is not my father. He is something far worse.
Then it dawns on me. I’m not sure if anyone else realizes it but fuck it.
I straighten my shoulders before he can answer that question and break my heart more than it already is.
“Carver! You find my mother and you bring her to me. If you happen to find Jaxon you do the same! Bring them home without harm. If Jaxon truly hurt my mother I’ll be the one to make him pay.
” I say in a commanding tone. Making sure my words hit just right.
His eyes look me up and down but I continue.
“I will make sure there’s not an ounce of blood left in his body.
I will tear him to shreds limb by limb like you taught me.
I promise you that. But only if you bring me my mother and him unharmed.
Do we have a deal?” I ask and he smiles something wicked and nods.
“You have yourself a deal, little carverette.” he says and I let out a breath as he takes the duffel bag and leaves the house. Ryder pulls my arm and spins me to face him.
“What the hell was that? How did you know?” he asks and I shrug.
“I saw the change happen. He’s angry and he is going to cause a lot of bloodshed. I needed to speak his language in order to keep everyone safe.” I say and he nods then laughs.
“You really are your mothers daughter,”
“Don’t ever forget it.” I smirk then take a deep breath. I need to get out of here. I need an escape. The more I stand in this room the madder I get. I take out my phone and send Jaxon a text.
Me:
You better run and you better hide because when I find you, I’m going to rip you to shreds that not even your dental records will be able to identify you! You Traitorous mother fucker! I’m coming for you Jaxon! You will pay for what you did!
Closing out the thread, I slide my phone into my jeans and head for the garage.
Grabbing the keys to my mothers G-wagon, I climb in, turn her on and leave the compound.
Once on the highway I shut off my location and head for the city.
I need to do my own recon and I can’t do it in that house.
First I need a shower then it's time for a game plan.
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