44. Rurik
FORTY-FOUR
RURIK
“It’s them. I watched them carry him into the house.”
“Keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t move him. We’re on our way.” Locke hangs up and adds another clip to his belt. “Let’s go.”
We pile into his blacked-out SUV with only our personal weapons and the extra ammo we keep at the Vault. It’s going to have to be enough.
I’m restless and amped, and the darkness in my brain keeps trying to take over and rip anyone who gets in my way to Ash into a million pieces.
I can’t sit still, and I want to fall asleep at the same time.
The two drugs are wreaking havoc on my system, and I’m expected to be in a car and remain any sort of calm.
I’ve thought about killing Mikel every day for two years. I’ve wanted it so badly I can taste it. I wanted him to rot for what he did to Mom and our family, but none of that carries the weight I once thought it did. I only care about Ash.
The drive isn’t far, but every minute takes a year. And for the first time in my life I’m terrified. I didn’t think I could feel fear.
But I’m scared Mikel will do something to him. Or disappear with Ash. Mikel has a lot of contacts so getting out of the country quietly wouldn’t be hard and if I lose him here, I may never find him.
“How do you want to do this?” Locke asks when we near the place.
“Go in silent. They won’t expect it.”
Tactically, it’s a terrible position to go into without recon or knowing how many guys are in there, but we don’t have time. Every minute Ash is in there alone with Mikel is another minute he could be hurt.
“He must have spent the time he was at The Velleity hiring a team.”
“I agree. I also don’t think we have time. I think this is only a place to regroup before he leaves the country.” Locke and I might have our disagreements, but he’s exactly who I’d want having my back.
We meet up with Kiho and Finn who’s jumping into this without questions a lot better than I could have hoped for. They fill us in on the little bit of scouting they did while waiting. There’s no lights on in the place, and it looks abandoned.
“You’re sure they’re in there.” I roll my wrists and crack my knuckles.
“Positive.”
We discuss what we’re doing for a few minutes and get a plan together. I’m not a complete hot head.
Locke grabs my arm before we start. “Are you sure you should be the lead on this?”
“I’m way more sober than anyone else here.”
He searches my face but nods. “Let’s go.”
Half of us go in the front, and I lead a team around the back. I kick open the door and take out the guy sitting just inside it before he even looks up from his phone. Shots fire in the front of the house while they do the same.
They are clearing rooms, but I’m just looking for Ash. I find what looks like the basement door and know it has to be where he is.
I run down the stairs, gun raised.
Mikel stands in the middle of the room with a gun pointed at a sleeping Ash.
My rage curls in like a fog on a black night. But it slows time and makes my head clearer. It takes the little emotion I have out of any decision. I’ve always called it my super power.
“What is this? If you can’t have him, no one can?” I ask, keeping my gun pointed at his head.
“He was mine before he ever was yours.” Mikel acts like this is finders fucking keepers.
“How do you figure?” I give him half a second to think we’re having a conversation, then side-step and shoot him in the dick, sure he won’t shoot Ash.
He howls and goes down, dropping his gun, and I’m on him, kicking the gun out of reach before pressing my barrel to his forehead. “Because he’s not yours. He’s mine.”
“I’m your father, Rurik.”
The stairs creak, and I’m sure the rest of them have joined us but I’m not focused on them.
“No, you’re not. You donated some DNA, and I can’t wait to kill you.”
“Over a guy? Surely you aren’t so blinded by infatuation.” Mikel puts on his negotiating voice.
“Not over a guy. Over Ash. The second you touched him, you signed your death certificate.” I stand over him bullet in the chamber, letting him suffer these seconds knowing he’s going to die.
“He was offered to me! It was just business. An arranged marriage of a type. Astor belongs to me.” Mikel tries to sound fucking reasonable, and it makes me even more mad.
“You can’t enforce a contract from hell,” I spit.
“You’ve no idea what I’ve done for you. I cannot believe how ungrateful you and your siblings turned out.”
“I am who I am in spite of you, not because of you.” I change my mind and holster my gun before I pick up Ash.
“I wanted him buried like that. Make sure he’s stable then put him in a coffin and bury it in the backyard.
Then I want it guarded so he doesn’t escape.
I want it to be slow. I want him to suffer the fear of being trapped in his own mind. ”
“I got it.” Locke brushes past me and shoots him in one foot.
“I want in on this.” Nik puts a bullet in the other with scary precision.
“You guys are just making him bleed out faster!” I’m not really mad, though.
“I’ll get mom’s doctor to bandage him up.” Locke re-holsters his gun. “She’ll probably want in on this anyway.”
“If you guys get your pound of flesh, I want mine.” Viv approaches my crying, sniveling, piece of shit donor. “What’s even left?”
Mikel begs her not to hurt him. It’s pathetic, and I’m happy he’s so embarrassing in his final moments.
“Hands. It will make him less annoying in the coffin too.” Locke says without emotion. “Kiho, can you leave your bike and go with them so I can make sure this is all cleaned up?”
“Sure thing, Locke-kun.” Kiho tosses his keys at him.
I don’t stay, carrying Ash up so Kiho can get a good look at him. He follows me up wordlessly, and I lay Ash in the back so Kiho can do quick vitals. He’s got medic training and is pretty good in a pinch.
“He seems unharmed. I can call my family’s doc to meet us back home to get a full work-up.”
“Please.” I just want to get Ash in bed and wrap around him.
Everyone except for Locke joins us, and we ride back in silence.
I get Ash cleaned up and settled in my room before the doctor gets there. It’s quick, and he agrees with Kiho’s assessment. Ash is just knocked out and needs to sleep it off.
I curl up around him as soon as I can and kiss his temple. “You’re safe. And I promise to keep you safe.”
I wake to his voice sometime later. “Tell Viv she needs to work on the hangover part of her fucking drugs. My head is killing me.”
I just laugh, still half asleep but realize Ash has no idea any of it happened. He doesn’t remember. That’s going to be a fun story over breakfast.