Chapter 80
BLAIZE
Ichecked my phone, waiting for a text back from Kadence.
I told her I was headed to Bellevue, but she didn’t answer me.
There were several texts that went unanswered, but I knew she was having lunch with Annika and Fallon.
I didn’t want to be paranoid and invade her time with her friends, but I was worried.
ME
Text me back, princess. I know you’re busy with your friends, but please let me know you’re okay.
I love you.
When we pulled to Roseridge, Jethro looked confused as to why we were in his town. He didn’t like me, especially if I showed up unannounced. If I needed something from him, I made contact through Damon.
“You called us, idiot,” Damon hissed.
“No, I didn’t. There is nothing going on in my town for you to be concerned about.”
I looked at Damon. “Did you see Everly? That’s what you said.”
“No, there is no one here. Someone lied to you.”
Damon pulled out his phone and his call log. “You called me, asshole. You said you spotted Everly in your town. Why the fuck would you drag us out here? To waste our time?”
Jethro shot him a look and opened his phone, showing Damon his history and his call log, too. “I didn’t call you. If that bitch was in my territory, I would’ve shot her for destroying my product. I still want my drugs, Blaize.”
“Damon, if they aren’t here, then this is a distraction.”
Fuck.
I called Kadence, and her phone went straight to voicemail. Panic seized my bones as paranoia overtook me. It was a trap to get me out of town. I called Hunter, and she answered immediately.
“Hunter, is Kadence back at the club?”
“The last I heard she was at lunch with Annika and Fallon,” Hunter said. “Is everything okay?”
I looked at my text messages again. “I don’t think so. Find Annika and see if Kadence is with her. I’m on my way back. Make sure the girls at the club stay there or are escorted home.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Her tone was more serious this time as I heard her heels on the ground.
“I think Everly and Ethan are planning their attack. Jethro said he didn’t call Damon, and I’m starting to think Kadence’s phone was hacked. She isn’t texting me back or answering my calls.”
“I’m sure she’s with Ann—fuck,” Hunter cursed. “Annika, where is Kadence?”
“What do you mean?” I heard her question. “She’s with Blaize.”
“Give her the phone, Hunter.” I heard Hunter telling Annika to talk to me, and when she greeted me with fear laced in her voice, I knew something was in fact wrong. “Annika, is Kadence not with you?”
“No. She got a text from you! She left the cafe around one to go to the cliffside. There was a picnic set up. She hasn’t answered me or Fallon, so I thought she was busy with you.”
No.
“Annika, make sure someone takes you home and do not leave.”
“Blaize,” her voice broke, “w-where is she?”
“I’m going to find out. Let me talk to Hunter.”
“What do you need?” Hunter asked.
I needed Kadence safe. I was a fucking idiot and never should have left. There was no reason I should’ve believed anything happened on Jethro’s territory when Westhaven was the main target—I was the target. And now Kadence’s life was in danger again because of me. I needed to find her.
“I’m sending you my location. This is a trap. I’m going to find my girl. Save us when it’s time.”
I disconnected the line, quickly sending Hawke and Hunter both my location, and then revving my bike as I disappeared in a cloud of smoke. When I was thirty minutes out from Westhaven, my phone rang and I connected it to the Bluetooth in my helmet.
“Kadence? Baby?
I heard a feminine laugh, but it wasn't Kadence. “Kadence is a little tied up at the moment,” Everly chortled..
“You better not fucking hurt her.”
“Oh, I'm not going to hurt her much. Her skin is pretty bruised up right now, though. I should let her rest.”
Anger flared through me. “It’s me you want. I killed that pussy you called a brother. You want to kill me, not her.”
“I’m going to send you an address. Come alone. I’ll know if anyone joins you, bitch.”
Before the line disconnected, the sound of Kadence’s scream echoed in my ear, then I heard nothing. My blood froze as my heart thundered in my chest. How long had they had Kadence? Where the fuck did they have her?
My phone dinged again with a location from Everly and a picture of Kadence.
My heart shattered seeing her bruised and battered body.
Kadence was naked with blood dripping from her temple and various cuts scattered across her skin.
There were several bruises forming on her fair skin, and I wanted to kill them for touching her.
Her forest eyes were wide with tears and fear as rough, muscular hands groped her breasts.
I needed her to hold on for me. Everly and Ethan would pay for touching my girl, and I would kill them slowly.
Hold on a little longer for me, baby.
The building was abandoned, and I knew I was walking into a trap.
I might be desperate to save Kadence, but I wasn’t stupid.
Everly tricked us all this time, who knew what tricks she had up her sleeves?
I kicked down the aged, wooden door, walking into the dusty factory and keeping my eyes peeled.
My senses were on high alert, walking into the poorly lit building.
“Everly, where the fuck are you?!” I screamed, my voice echoing off the wall as I looked round the barren warehouse. “I’m not playing this game with you, bitch. Where the hell is Kadence?”
I heard a dark, masculine laughter bouncing off the walls. “Blaize. Blaize. Blaize. I thought you were better than this.”
That voice.
This was Ethan fucking with me. His motherfucking twin was dead.
“I’m going to put a bullet through your fucking head like I did your brother. Get the fuck out here.”
Fear crept up my spine, and I knew I had to run or prepare for ambush.
Before I could move, something hit me and I stumbled to the ground.
Fuck me. A painful groan escaped my lips as I rolled onto my back, wincing in pain.
I was being played, and this time I was the mouse being hunted by the ferocious feline.
Heavy footsteps lingered on the cement ground as I forced myself up.
Pain erupted at the base of my skull, and my eyes were glued to the darkness.
From the shadows emerged the demon from my past sporting facial burns covering his right side and an eye patch like he was some kind of fucking badass at the end of a movie—in my movie he was going to die…
again. He smirked seeing my shocked expression as he walked closer to me.
He couldn’t be here. I put a bullet through his skull before the goddamn building exploded. “Hello, Blaize.” His fist collided with my jaw, and radiating pain erupted in the side of my face as copper filled my mouth. “We have a very important date we can’t miss.”
He hit me again, and my world faded to black.