Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“You’re not gonna shoot me, Jane.”
She arched her brow. “Are you sure about that?”
Am I? What did she actually know about Jane? Nothing.
Addison pressed her palms together. “Please, don’t do this.”
“Get in the car.” She cocked the gun. “Now.”
Addison was out of negotiation tactics, especially with a weapon involved.
She was left with no other choice but to follow Jane’s instructions.
If anyone had presented this scenario a week ago, Addison would’ve laughed.
Jane pulling a gun on me? No way. But she was living the reality.
She slowly walked to her car, peering around in hopes someone would see them.
But there was no one around. She opened the door and got in.
When Jane got into the passenger seat, she considered trying to make a run for it.
There was a good chance Jane was bluffing.
But there was always the chance she wasn’t.
*
Jane gave her step-by-step instructions on when to change highways and where to turn once they arrived in the city of Lawry.
She still had no idea where they were going or who Inez was to Jane.
When they turned down the industrial road, her heart started to race as panic set in.
She’d been here before and not too long ago.
Unlike last time, the sign was lit up. The Bowery.
“Shit.” Addison eased up on the gas.
Jane jerked her head and lifted the gun, which had been laying on her lap the entire ride. She didn’t aim it at Addison, but having it so close sent a shiver up her spine.
“What?” Jane’s voice shook.
Addison swallowed the knot in her throat. She was not in the position to make demands, but she’d plead her case.
“I can’t go to that club. I pissed off the owner, and I’m sure he’d love nothing more than to wrap his hands around my neck and watch me take my last breath.”
It was dramatic but quite possibly accurate.
Jane’s brows knitted, and she peered out the window. “We’re not going there. Turn left.”
Gladly. Addison pulled into the highrise parking lot across the street. It was near empty, which seemed strange considering how big the apartment building was. Jane motioned for her to pull into the spot closest to the entrance.
“Come on.”
Addison remained seated, gripping the steering wheel. “You asked me to bring you here, and I did. Now, can I go?”
Jane stared back at her for a few seconds. It gave Addison a little hope, which was quickly dashed when Jane shook her head.
“Please,” she begged.
Jane sighed. “You’ll call Cross and tell him.”
Damn right, I will.
She steeled her features. “No, I won’t.”
“Of course you will. I would if I had someone protecting me, and I was just kidnapped. It’s the natural thing to do.” Jane rolled her eyes. “But I can’t let you go.”
This was crazy!
“So, what?” Addison scoffed. “You’re gonna kill me?”
Jane scowled. “Not if you get out of the car.”
Jesus! She opened the door and got out. There were two men standing at the door.
It was the last place she’d expect to see doormen.
Though, they seemed too nicely dressed. Jane had tucked her gun in her bag.
She expected the men to question them, but they opened the doors, allowing them inside.
They took the elevator to the seventh floor.
Addison was already planning her escape.
It was a big building. They’d have to have at least two emergency stairwells, possibly fire escapes.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know where they were located.
When the doors opened, Jane waved for her to get out first. Addison scanned her surroundings. The hallway looked as dated as the exterior. The cheap carpet was multi-colored and had faded decades ago.
They walked down the long hall. Two doors down, a woman in her seventies was standing in the doorframe smoking a cigarette. She squinted with the smoke billowing around her face.
“You don’t come here unless I send for you. How hard is that to understand?” Her booming voice echoed off the walls.
Was this Inez?
She side-eyed Jane, who seemed to shrink under the scolding but continued toward the old woman.
When Jane stopped a few feet away, Addison followed suit a foot behind her.
This was like deja vu. Another interaction with people who seemingly knew each other in an awkward situation.
Of course, this time she’d be no assistance.
I have no idea what the hell is happening!
“I had no other choice, Inez.”
The woman’s nostrils flared, and she waved her hand, spreading ashes over the floor.
“You always have a fucking choice,” She snapped. “And this wasn’t the right one.”
“I saw one of them.” Jane’s voice was low, which seemed to silence Inez. But not for long.
“Where?”
“At the clubhouse.” Jane paused. “He must be friends with them. He said he remembered me, and that” —Jane cleared her throat— “we had a good time.”
Inez drew in a breath, showing no signs of softness, but she gave a subtle nod. As if they were having a silent conversation, they stared at one another for a minute. Addison backed up a step, and when she did, Inez jerked her gaze and glared.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Addison shrugged. “The hostage.”
Inez widened her eyes, pinning them on Jane.
“I needed a ride.” Jane said.
“So you bring a fucking stranger to my home?”
“I panicked. I needed to get out of there, and she had a car.”
Inez shifted her gaze to Addison shooting her a harsh glare. “And you agreed to give her one?”
How is this my fault?
“I only agreed when she pulled a gun on me.”
“For fucks sake.” She pointed to the apartment. “Get your asses inside. Fucking crazy ass little shits!”
Addison took offense to being lumped in that category but she wasn’t going to say a word.
Two minutes in this woman’s presence told her Inez was unstable.
They walked inside and down the short hallway that opened up into a living room and kitchen.
It smelled like a combination of stale cigarettes and something sweet.
Banana bread? It was an odd combination.
Inez walked into the kitchen, pointed to the stool at the breakfast bar, and Jane immediately sat, folding her hands and twisting her fingers. Addison stood near the wall. Distance was important with both these women.
“From the fucking beginning.”
Jane swallowed and sighed. “I was at the clubhouse cleaning up the empty bottles cause they were having a party. Some guy came up to me. Said he knew me, and I told him he didn’t, but he followed me and then grabbed my arm.”
“You know him?”
Jane gave a curt nod.
“From where?”
Jane’s eyes welled, and she whispered. “You know.”
Inez’s jaw squared, and her eyes hardened. Addison wasn’t following the story, but the older woman seemed to know what she was saying.
“I had to get out of there.” Jane’s tone was laced in panic.
“Why didn’t you go to one of my boys?”
“They’re part of it.”
Inez shook her head. “No, they ain’t. You were safe with them.”
“But he was there. They must know him. And I don’t trust the club.”
“Fuck!” Inez slammed her hand on the counter.
“I’m sorry.”
Inez scoffed, pacing around the small kitchen and lifted her chin to Addison. “Apologize to her. You’re the one who sealed her fucking fate.”
What?
“You can’t hurt her,” Jane’s voice shook.
Inez’s gaze darkened. “You put a gun to this woman’s head, held her hostage, and brought her to my fucking home.
” She raised her brows. “And you’re giving me orders?
You’re a lot fucking crazier than I gave you credit for.
” Inez walked across the kitchen and grabbed her phone.
She tapped the screen lifting the phone to her ear.
“Get the van around back and come up. I’m gonna need this clean. ”
Jane gasped and looked over at Addison in horror. What?
Jane leaned across the counter when Inez lowered her phone.
“You can’t kill her!”
What? Addison visibly flinched. Kill me? Was that what the call was about? Killing her? I’m the victim!
Inez planted her palms on the counter. “You got no say in how I handle your fucking mess. Next time, maybe you don’t involve an innocent fucking bystander. ’Cause I’m telling you now” —she kept her eyes locked on Jane— “her blood? That’s on you.”
Addison felt her head get light, and she swayed, hitting her back against the wall. Her skin prickled as the blood drained from her face.
“But she’s Cross’s,” Jane spouted.
“Bullshit!”
Jane shook her head. “No, I swear. They’re together.”
“We are.” Addison blurted.
Inez glanced over, scanning her face. “He’ll get over it.”
What? Addison glanced down the hall at the door. There were several locks, but she could probably get out before either of them caught her. Jane might not even try. And she could definitely outrun a woman in her seventies. The men downstairs would be an obstacle but surely there was a back exit.
She slowly started formulating a plan when Inez opened a drawer, pulling out a gun and placing it on the counter. Her eyes were trained on Addison as she smirked.
I can’t outrun a bullet.
“You can’t do this!” Jane said.
“I didn’t. You did!”
Jane darted her eyes between them. “The club will never forgive you.”
Inez laughed, which sounded so strange in this situation. “For Cross’s piece of ass?”
Jane gulped. “No, for Knox’s heart.”
The room was drowned in silence. Inez’s brows knitted tightly, and she slowly angled her head.
Her eyes dropped to Addison’s breasts. Her heart was practically pounding out of her chest at the moment.
The seconds felt like minutes. There had to be a connection between Inez and Knox.
She just wasn’t sure if it would work in her favor.
When she finally looked up, Inez’s eyes softened, slightly. “You’re Addison.”
“Yes.”
Inez shook her head, grabbed a bottle of vodka on the counter and a glass from the sink. She poured a heavy serving and shot it back as if she was drinking water. She slammed the glass down. “You all are gonna be the fucking death of me with your bullshit.”
It seemed Knox would once again save her life.
****
Where the fuck is she?
The meeting lasted longer than expected.
By the time Cross got out, the party had almost doubled in size, making it harder to find Addison among the crowd.
He’d managed to find Cleo, but she said when she got back from the bathroom, she couldn’t find her either.
Cleo had assumed she was with Cross. Wraith had offered to check the back while he walked out to the front porch after checking his room.
Still no sign of her. He’d called several times, but it went straight to voicemail.
Cross was walking inside when Cue opened the front door.
“You find her?”
Cue shook his head. “Cypher’s checking the cameras.”
Just as he was about to walk in, Ace came through the door with his phone to his ear. They’d been in the meeting together so he wouldn’t know her whereabouts. He stepped to the side, and Ace stopped in front of him.
“Tell me what’s going on, Inez?”
There was a small stretch of silence.
Ace furrowed his brows. “You want me to describe Addison? Are you serious? Why?”
Cross straightened his back. “What the fuck is going on?”
Ace waved his hand. “Long blonde hair, green eyes, about five eight, five nine.”
Ace pinned him in his stare. “Yeah, she’s Cross’s.”
Cross watched his president but couldn’t get a read on him. Not initially, but the longer Ace listened, the more his face transformed. His eyes hardened, and the lines in his forehead became pronounced.
Ace lifted his gaze and cupped his mouth. “Yeah, we’re coming. Be prepared, Inez.”
Ace shoved his phone in his pocket.
“What the hell is going on?”
Ace dragged his hand over his mouth, scanning his face. Whatever he was about to say was going to piss him off.
“You can stop looking for Addison. She ain’t here. She’s in Lawry at Inez’s.”
What?
“Inez couldn’t say much on the phone, but our Jane Doe ran into someone she knows, got freaked out, and left, taking Addison with her. Now, let’s go.”
That made no sense. She wouldn’t leave without saying anything. Even if not to him, she’d tell Cleo. Or answer his calls.
Cross grabbed Ace’s arm. “What are you not telling me, Ace?”
Cue stepped next to him. “Yeah, that makes no fucking sense. Why wouldn’t Addison call Cross and tell him?”
“’Cause Jane pulled a gun on her and forced her to drive to Inez’s place.”
What the fuck!