Chapter 9 Bronn
brONN
Killing the engine, I cruise along the deserted road until my car comes to a stop.
Seth traced the car Adrianna was taken in and he’s back at base following up on the plates. Seth’s specialty is behind the scenes, it’s my other army buddies who greet me with a solemn nod as I get out of the car.
Kieren and Lyle are like brothers to me. A career spent in the field relying on each other will do that.
Kieren runs a hand over his dark stubble as he approaches. His hair flies in the wind and he looks like he hasn’t slept in days. He’s not been himself for the last few months and I make a mental note to find out what’s up when all this is over.
Lyle nods curtly and saunters over with two of his men from the Underground Crows MC. Lyle joined the MC club when he came out of the forces, and this isn’t the first time we’ve called in his MC brother’s when we need some muscle.
“Appreciate your help.” I nod to the two bikers.
“We had a man waiting at the turn pike,” one of them, who introduces himself as Pans, says. His mouth is set in a grim line and there’s a haunted look to his eyes. “We took a gamble on either here or the docks. Looks like we got lucky.
“And they didn’t notice they were followed?”
“Our guy was in a tow truck, inconspicuous. And these guys who took your woman are thick as shit.”
I nod in agreement. Two guys in an old Toyota. I could have run them off the road, but I couldn’t risk Adrianna getting harmed.
My fists clench thinking about her. She must be terrified, and if those thugs have laid a finger on her, I’ll fucking kill them. I’ll probably kill them anyway for putting her through this.
Lyle gives me the low down on what he’s managed to scope out of the building. There’re two men, and they’re armed. But we don’t know if there’re any more people inside.
We’ve been up against much worse than this, but never with someone I cared about at the center of it all. If things go wrong, she’s the one that could get harmed.
The thought makes me pace anxiously. I want to hit something, but I can’t risk making a sound. Instead, I punch my fist into my palm and channel my anger into getting her the fuck out of there safely.
We’ve got surprise on our side and intelligence. But something’s making me uneasy.
“Don’t think this will be easy because they’re stupid. Stupid men do stupid things. Adrianna needs to be unharmed or I swear to God I will go Rambo on their asses. Whatever happens to me in there, number one operative is to get Adrianna out safely.”
Kieren gives me a questioning glance. I guess he’s figuring out I have feelings for this woman, because yeah, I fucking do. I love Adrianna, and I’ll die protecting her.
We go over the plan and break up, approaching the warehouse from different angles. The two Crows stay back, letting our reunited special forces team handle the action.
Bending low at the waist, with my gun in hand, I duck between two buildings. Jogging down the alleyway, I stay low, counting in my head as I approach the entrance to the warehouse.
When I get to ninety-eight, I’m in position alongside the warehouse with my gun drawn.
At ninety-nine, I go completely still. Ready.
One hundred. I lunge around the corner and kick in the door. At the same time, Kieren comes from the other side, and we run in together.
There’s a guy with a cellphone to his head, and I put a bullet in his forehead before he knows we’re here. Yeah. You mess with my girl, that’s what you’re gonna get. I feel zero regret as he slumps to the ground.
We step over his body, guns raised, checking our surroundings.
Adrianna is in a chair, her hands tied behind her, a terrified look on her face.
A figure rushes out of the shadows, but before I can shoot, he’s grabbed Adrianna off the chair.
“I’ll fucking shoot her if you get any closer.” He points a gun at her head, and just for that, he’s already a dead man.
She whimpers and her eyes dart to mine.
She’s terrified, and I’ll fucking kill the fucker. My vision blurs red, and I’m about to lunge forward when Kieren puts a hand on my shoulder.
“He’s serious, man.”
Seething, I lower my piece. But I keep the safety off.
Adrianna’s eyes meet mine, and her terror turns to relief. She thinks I can save her.
Be strong, baby girl, I think, trying to convey reassurance with my gaze. But I’m too fucking angry.
She’s breathing heavily, but her posture is straight and there’s a determined look in her eyes. She’s strong. It’ll take more than this asshole to break my girl.
I swell with pride.
“I’m going to leave,” says the dead man. “And you’re going to let me, or this rich bitch gets shot.”
“That’s what you think, motherfucker.” It comes out as a snarl, and the man hesitates.
“Go easy, Bronn,” Kieren mutters. “Let him think he has the upper hand.”
What this fucker doesn’t know is Lyle is crawling silently along the beams above him. We just need to keep the asshole talking.
“What do you want?” Kieren asks because I’m too angry to chit chat.
“I told you. I want to leave.”
“You gonna go without your money?”
Blondie hesitates, then he laughs. “Fuck the money. I just want to get out of here alive.”
Then the asshole slides the gun down Adrianna’s cheek and along the ridge of her chin.
My blood seethes. I raise my gun at the same time that Lyle jumps down from the rafters. He’s not where he needs to be because I got impatient, but the movement is enough to make Blondie jump.
When he does, Adrianna swings her arms up, breaking free of her ties. She whacks Blondie in the side of the head with both her arms. It’s enough to send the gun skittering across the floor.
Adrianna darts out of the way, and I take my shot, hitting Blondie right between the eyes. He goes down hard, and I don’t give that fucker another thought.
Adrianna runs into my arms, and I enfold her in them, pulling her tight.
“I knew you’d come for me,” she sobs into my chest.
“I’ll always come for you, brat. Always.”