Chapter 11 Double-Cross
Double-Cross
I’m woken up by a phone going off. Leo grumbles next to me in bed, before I hear his hand slam against the bedside table. I glance at the clock, noticing it’s almost four in the morning. He starts to settle in beside me. Phone goes off again.
“Fucking…” Leo mutters, picking up the phone this time. “Come back at eight. Fuck off whatever it is.”
He hangs up, tossing the phone across the room. Leo pulls me into his arms, burying his face into my hair. I’m about to fall asleep again when I hear the door unlock. My body tenses, clutching Leo. I feel him reach over to the bedside table again, likely reaching for his gun.
“We have a situation,” Jameson’s voice pierces the darkness.
I instantly relax, realizing its him as I go to turn the lamp on, but Leo stops me. He pulls the blanket up. “You’re naked.”
A squeak comes out of me, hiding under the covers as Leo turns on the lamp beside him. “Here I thought we agreed no more interruptions, how the fuck did you even get in?”
“Ringer gave me his key.”
“I’m gonna kill him,” Leo mutters. “Couldn’t fucking wait—”
“It can’t,” Jameson states.
I rub my eyes, partially sitting up as I keep the blankets over me. Leo looks ready to kill Jameson. “What is it?”
Jameson’s wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, an outfit I thought I’d never see him in. His face is grave, and I notice that he looks…scared. “Jameson?”
“Isaac’s missing.”
My heart drops. Leo becomes rigid.
“What?” Leo asks.
“6pm, he called Ringer, told him to take over bodyguard duty today per Autumn’s request.”
“No, I didn’t,” I rasp, body beginning to shake as a coldness sweeps over me.
“Well, he left for home, but his cellphone went dark at nine. He didn’t give his final check in for the day. His apartment is empty. Not answering his phone. Around midnight, Enigma tried to track him down, in case he’d been captured.”
“And?” Leo asks.
“There’s no footage of him leaving the hotel. But he’s not here.”
I stare at the blankets, gripping them as my mind reels. I feel sick, thinking of my final words to him and our argument. Leo’s arm moves over my shoulders, holding me close as the trembling worsens. What if he was taken? Being tortured? Killed—
“We’ve been trying to track him, but nothing. Thought to wait until morning, but given the abruptness and his actions of late…” Jameson’s voice trails away.
I flick my gaze to him. I ask, “What actions of late?”
Jameson clears his throat, crossing his arms as he leans against the doorway. “You want to finally tell her?”
“Tell me what?” I look at Leo, more questions and fears circling my head.
Leo sighs, almost a look of defeat on his face. “Did he use any codes with Ringer that he may have been coerced?”
“No,” Jameson answers. “Iron Buffalo and Enigma confirmed he turned off the phone and went dark. Never used the emergency button.”
“Fuck,” Leo mutters.
“Leo, what did he do?” I ask as the shaking worsens. A twist occurs in my stomach, and I want to hurl at the thought of something happening to Isaac.
“Get the rest of the Crew up to my office. We need to find him, whether he defected, was coerced, or…”
“Leo, tell me before I pull down the covers and scare the crap out of Jameson.” My voice interrupts him, and he looks at me in shock. Tears form in my eyes as violent tremors overwhelm my body.
“Jameson, go make some fucking coffee.” Leo’s voice is rough. Jameson walks out, and Leo holds me close as his hand strokes my back. “Breathe, dear Watson.”
“Please tell me,” I plead, burying my head against his chest.
“The day he came to the penthouse, we argued. He insinuated I married you out of revenge against my family, that he no longer respected my position, and potentially would leave. He said he’d only stay out of respect for you.”
Everything crashes inside me as I replay yesterday. Tears stream down my cheeks as I cling to Leo, guilt gripping me.
“He’s pushed Jameson and my decisions a couple times these past few weeks. Not to mention, him punching Jameson…perhaps warranted, but not a welcome reaction.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” I mutter against his chest, crying against him.
“Breathe, sweetheart…breathe…”
Leo strokes my back as the panic attack comes full force. My mind becomes fuzzy, blurring my vision as I struggle to breathe through the vice grip around my throat. Everything hurts as the violent shaking takes over.
“It’s my fault,” I sob. “It’s my fault…I drove him away, it’s my—”
“Shhh, it’s not your fault,” Leo reassures me, rocking me as he tugs me into his lap. I curl around him as he cradles me. “Where did you have your argument with him?”
“Foyer.”
“Sombra,” Leo calls out, pulling the blankets over me before Jameson comes back. “He’s locked out of everything, correct?”
“Yes, did that around midnight when we noticed he went dark.”
“Locked out?” I whisper.
“Precautions, in case he decided to turn on us or blackmail. He has enough to do so,” Jameson answers.
Oh, fuck I’m going to be sick. I pull away to stare at Leo in horror, my vision blurry. “He…wouldn’t. No, no…Isaac wouldn’t.”
My heart wants to shatter; insides screaming at the thought of Isaac’s betrayal. No.
“We don’t know that, Autumn.” The softness in Jameson’s voice, laced with pain makes me look over at him. “Anyone can be bought. Even bikers.”
Holy shit. It truly has been only the two of them. A scream claws at my throat, not wanting to believe any of the Forgotten Demons could betray us.
“Jameson, get the footage from the foyer when Autumn was dropped off yesterday afternoon. It’s likely the last time he was on camera, we need to see if there’s any clues of where he went or what he’s planning. Everyone in the top office in thirty minutes. Autumn and I will be up shortly.”
Jameson walks out as Leo holds me close.
“We’ll find him,” he whispers.
Just as I think my panic attack is lessening, I remember what I said to Isaac. What I admitted. Truths that only Leo knew and me. I have no remorse for what I did, but horror begins to eat me alive as I recall my final words to Isaac.
What have I done?
Not even five in the morning as I sit on the couch in Leo’s office, listening to the video footage. Leo and the Crew stand around the desk, watching Isaac’s and my argument.
“…yell at him? Punish him? Divorce him?” I barely recognize my own voice as I keep my knees against my chest.
The men are quiet, but I can hear some muttering under their breaths. It’s raining outside, streaking down the windows. I feel sick to my stomach as I shut my eyes, knowing what’s coming next.
“…carefully placed details he’s created since he was a child, who was abducted for ransom to sell back to his own father!”
I wince, seeing the horror on Isaac’s face again. The numbness. Was it him choosing then to leave? Had he decided it wasn’t Leo who was the monster, but me?
“…what they planned to do. Or that your own brother planned—"
My fingers dig into my skin, wanting to pierce my nails through the bone. A tug pulls at me, wanting to run for the nearest sharp thing. Self-hate rolling over me.
Suddenly, a hand touches my arm and I jerk. Leo gently grabs my wrists, pulling them away from ripping into my sweatpants. He crouches before me, reaching up to stroke my hair back as he cups my cheek. “Look at me, dear Watson.”
My breaths are erratic as I look upon his face.
“Good girl. You’re safe,” he murmurs. I shiver, gripping his hand around mine.
We’re silent as the video continues, the Crew shuffling on their feet until I hear me slamming the door. More silence, and then some tapping that tells me Julio stopped the tape.
“He stands there for about ten minutes, then takes the stairs down. Doesn’t call anyone.” Eerie quiet apart from the tapping of computer keys. “Goes to the office downstairs until 5:30, then goes to the maid service area. That’s where he disappears right after making a call, likely to Ringer.”
I look up past Leo to the others, seeing them all stand there with uncertainty in their eyes. None of them will directly look at me. The ache in my chest worsens.
Leo strokes my cheek again, bringing my attention back to him. My voice is barely a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head, leaning forward to kiss my forehead. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“He pushed you too far, barchen,” Rudy states with a rough voice. I look up at him, who’s frowning. “Not your fault. What he said must have been simmering a while.”
“That’s for sure,” Animal comments, stepping back as he scratches his head.
I glance at all of them, but my gaze lands on Chesty who frowns deeply. He stares down at the computer that played the footage, appearing more perturbed than the others. Jameson starts to pace, releasing a long exhale. “He may have left the city completely, if we’re lucky.”
“Lucky?” Julio asks, stopping his tapping on the keyboard.
“If he’s still in the city, he may have gone to Finstrum or DeLuca. Worse if he decided to contact Renato,” Jameson answers.
“No fucking way,” Chesty mutters. Leo begins to stand up, keeping his hand on the nape of my neck.
“Alright, he was pissed, but to go to another crime boss?” Owen asks.
“He yelled and argued with Autumn,” Jameson rebukes, flicking his gaze to me. “I think we can all agree he’s beyond pissed, given the insinuations he threw at her.”
Julio starts, “Wait—"
“Gonna have to agree with Sombra,” Animal mutters.
“Same,” Rudy says.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. They think he actually turned on us? That he may have even gone to Renato?
“He’s more level-headed than that,” Owen says, crossing his arms as he exchanges a glance with Chesty, who starts rubbing his beard.
“Yet, he thought Leo was using Autumn,” Jameson says.
“Well…” Julio mumbles, and a couple of the Crew look at Leo worriedly. Julio holds his hands up, tilting his head at Leo. “No offense, boss, but you do have a reputation.”
“So, does Autumn, but none of you are going to admit that shit,” Jameson practically growls as he starts to pace.