Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
GREYSON
Mason was resting on the wheel of my plane, Tyson standing rigid next to him when we pulled into my hangar. His plane was on the tarmac, his men on guard. Three men stood in the hangar on guard with mine.
“Is it party time?” Tyson said, rubbing his hands.
“There is no party.” I stepped from the car, Riley emerging after me.
“What the hell is my sister doing here?” Mason asked, pushing from his spot and closing in on us.
“She’s pig-headed and won’t listen. That’s why she’s here.”
“I’m not pig-headed,” she quipped. “And stop talking about me like I can’t hear you both.”
“Get back in the car, Ri. There’s no way you’re going into something this dangerous.”
“This plane is better stocked than ours.” I tipped my head to see Angie emerging with a bottle of wine and a bag of chips. Casey’s curls peeked out after her.
“Angie’s right. Riley gets cheese curls. I want cheese curls.”
“And you have the nerve to lecture me for bringing Riley?” I asked Mason.
He sighed, plowing his fingers into his hair. His green eyes that were the match to Riley’s met mine. “They’re all stubborn.”
“Ang threatened to cut me off for a week if I didn’t take her,” Tyson grumbled.
“Yeah, and we had to hear the blow job she gave you on the way here,” Casey said with a disgusted look. “You’re lucky I didn’t throw up.”
Tyson smirked as Angie wrapped her arms around his neck, the bottle thudding against his chest. “It was worth it,” he teased, bringing her hand to his mouth.
“It’s like dealing with a bunch of juveniles,” I muttered. “Did you get the coordinates I sent you?” I needed to bring the focus back, and if I didn’t know better, I would have questioned why Mason kept Tyson around. But I knew better and as much as the man played, he was a beast.
“Got ‘em. But you and Riley are hitching a ride on my plane.”
My hands clenched. “No. We go separately.”
Mason stepped forward, rolling his neck. “I know you like to think you’re in charge—”
“I am in charge,” I sneered, my hackles rising. As much as Riley had forced a truce between us, the feud still existed between me and Mason. It always would. Two alphas trying to lead the pack were bound to butt heads. Raines was the only one content with assuming the beta position.
Riley wrapped her arm in mine, running her hand down my bicep.
“So you keep assuming.” He crossed his arms. “But I’m dissenting on this.
We fly as a team, keep your top men with us and I’ve got Ty.
My men and the rest of yours take your plane.
They fly in first, in case it’s a setup.
We land after, giving us time to know if your brother ambushed the first plane. The Omens won’t know you aren’t on it.”
It was a valid point and a smart move. One my brother would likely not expect. That sixth sense I had about Emerson told me this wasn’t a setup, that he was being truthful, but taking precautions was something I never failed to do.
“Fine, but if Raines pulls his dick out, expect my bullet to rupture his balls.”
“Damn, that’s low even for you, Tides,” Tyson said. “But not a bad idea the next time I need to teach someone a lesson.”
“So no cheese curls for the ride to Seagate? Then I’m snagging some from this plane.
” Casey said, her cheerful personality grating on my patience already.
Ava exuded that same constant excitement, like she’d combust if she wasn’t bouncing around and chattering.
I usually hid in my office the days she came to visit or sent Riley to her apartment so they could do their girl’s day out thing.
Thinking of Ava reminded me of the time crunch, and I glanced back at Den, who looked about ready to explode he was so eager to go.
“Den,” I called to him. “You oversee Mason’s men. When you land, you are not to leave the plane. No one gets trigger-happy. If they do, you put them down. I’m sure Brinks understands the importance of his men having constraint.”
“I do. But it’s Tyson you need to worry about, not my other men.”
Den gave me a nod of understanding and gathered up the men. It would keep his mind off Ava if he was in charge. Otherwise, I would have had him with me. He needed the distraction.
I turned back to see Tyson flexing his muscles. He was ready to hit something and if he was this wound up after a blow job, I didn't want to think of him without the release.
With everyone rounded up, we boarded Mason’s plane.
Riley guided me to a seat she assured me Tyson wouldn’t have been in and waited for my plane to take off.
I leaned forward, my nerves high. We were walking into enemy territory on the guarantee of safety from a man who had been my adversary for twenty-five years.
The chance was high that this could blow up in my face.
That I would end up dead, taking everyone else with me.
“This isn’t like you, Tides,” Mason said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his ankle over his leg. Casey sat next to him, her feet tucked under her, a bag of cheese curls in her hand. “You don’t rush into things.”
I didn’t. The only time I ever had was when I chased Clint Randall down to save Riley. “This is more your thing, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t done it. Remember, I was taking down my enemies when you were still running around the schoolyard.”
Angie’s shrill laugh came from the other side of Tyson. Her head peeked around him. “You mean when Riley was running around the playground.” My jaw ticked at the dig. I narrowed my eyes at her and she shrank back. “Damn, I thought Mason was scary.”
“Does she ever shut up?” I asked Mason.
“No,” Casey said randomly, her eyes focused on her snack, her fingers poised to grab her next victim.
“Ouch, Casey.”
“It’s true.”
“And why don’t you defend me?” Angie asked, elbowing Tyson.
“Cause it’s true, little viper. Your mouth only stops when my cock is filling it.”
My head thumped back in the seat, and I glanced over at Riley, who gave me an understanding smile. She took my face in her hands and gave me a kiss.
“Dealing with your family is going to be the death of me,” I mumbled.
Mason snickered, but I kept my focus on Riley. Taking her hand, I rubbed her thumb with mine. “How are you doing?”
She was worried about Ava but wasn’t showing it. My strong girl, who wanted to run with the big boys and play our game. It killed me that I was putting her in danger, but it had been no use arguing with her.
“We’re going to save her, right?”
The mood turned like a storm on a sunny day. “Yes.”
She swallowed, giving me a nod before she rested her head on my shoulder.
I pulled her into my chest, glancing over to see Mason, his brows knitted.
He knew just as I did that with every hour that passed, our chance of getting Ava back slimmed.
My brother knew it too and waiting wasn’t his strength.
I just hoped he didn’t do something stupid before we arrived.
The first plane landed fifteen minutes before ours. Safely. After ten minutes, my phone buzzed.
What the fuck are you doing out there? Emerson’s text came through.
Making sure you don’t do something stupid, I replied.
Get the fuck out of the plane. I have a plan.
Be there in five.
We landed shortly after, coming to a stop a little too close to my plane for comfort.
“Your pilot sucks,” I told Mason, looking out the window.
Emerson stood at the back of the sprawling house, a pair of large French doors behind him. He had his arms crossed, his muscles bulging below his button down, the sleeves rolled up to show his tattoos. He looked as menacing as he always had.
“Shit, that’s your brother?” Angie asked. “He’s hot.”
“Shut up Anj,” Tyson griped. “He’s old like Tides.”
“If I make it through this day without shooting you, it will be a miracle,” I muttered, standing.
“I’d like to see you try,” he said, taunting me.
I removed my gun and set it on my seat, reading the question in Riley’s eyes.
“Grey?” She rose, but I shook my head.
“What are you doing, Tides?” Mason asked.
“Going to meet my brother.”
Riley’s emerald eyes grew large.
“Look, as much as I’d like to see you dead, Tides, it would crush Riley, so pick your gun up and let’s go.”
I turned my attention to Tyson. “That’s the closest thing to sentiment I’m going to get from you, so I’ll accept your concern, Raines.”
Riley hadn’t sat down, and she shifted my focus to her. “What are you doing?” But I could see in her eyes she knew exactly what I planned.
I pulled my phone out and dialed Den. “Stand down and do not open that plane. You’re going to want to, but no guns, no one but me walks toward that house. Understood?”
“Boss, what are you doing?” he repeated Riley’s question.
“They’re Omens, Den. You can’t see them, but they’re out there.” Everyone’s sight shifted out the plane window. “Stay put until you get a call from me.”
I disconnected and pocketed my phone.
“You’re not going out there alone,” Mason said, standing.
“I appreciate the support, but I am. It may look like only my brother is out there, but Omens are ghosts. My brother taught his men everything he knew. They infiltrate and take down others because they’re good.
If we all go out there, guns drawn, every one of you will be dead before you can get the first shot off. ”
“Not gonna happen,” Tyson said, moving next to Mason.
“Stay put and do not leave this plane under any circumstance until I tell you to.”
I pulled Riley into my arms and kissed her, knowing it might be my last, knowing I was risking everything on a dim connection that told me Emerson was really in trouble, that he needed me. She clung to my shirt while Mason argued with Tyson.
“Stay put, baby girl. If you leave that seat before I give you permission, you’ll suffer the consequences.” She shivered delectably, and Mason grumbled.
Releasing her, I motioned for Mason to come with me to the door. “Open it,” I told the pilot. He started the process as I pulled Mason aside.
“This door gets sealed the minute I’m out. If anything goes wrong, I want her out of here. I don’t care that it goes against your code to not fight your way out. Your sister is my only priority, and you will turn this plane around and get her as far from here as you can.”
He glanced toward the door where the stairs were being lowered. “I don’t run, Tides.”
“For your sister, you will. And if she’s in danger, Casey’s in danger. This is why I didn’t want to bring her, and you didn’t want to bring Casey or Angie.” I looked behind him, seeing Riley with her arms crossed, her eyes creased with worry. “Promise me you’ll protect her.”
“She’s my sister. That’s all I’ve ever done.”
“Then we have an understanding,” I said, heading toward the stairs.
“Tides.”
I turned back to him.
“Good luck.”
Giving him a nod, I descended the stairs, every step I took, heightening my alarms. I was an open target.
One easily taken down. I could almost sense Den’s discomfort.
His number one job since we’d met had been to keep me safe.
He was likely watching my every step, his hand on his gun.
I was sure every one of our men was doing the same.
I didn’t take risks. Mason was right. That was Emerson’s move, not mine.
Slow, deliberate, calculated. That was me.
Not this. Not walking into the depths of hell, vulnerable with every step that led me to the devil.