AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Ryan, Ross Ward," the smooth voice came from the other end, making me stiffen slightly.
First, I never gave the man my number.
Second, I couldn't see his call being a good one.
"Ross, what's going on?"
"Not really my place to notice this shit, but I know you have a woman staying with you. The blonde with the busted face. Figure you're not the one who busted it..."
"Of fucking course I wasn't the one..."
"So," he went on, cutting me off. "When I saw her leaving in a fucking panic, I figured I would just take a look out the window. Saw her hit the parking lot and get dragged into a waiting car."
Everything in me fucking froze.
I turned back to my family, my voice like a whip, "Call fucking Hailstorm right fucking now," I snapped, making them all look at me and freeze. They knew me well enough to know I never overreacted. They knew shit just hit the fan.
"Good plan," I was half-aware of Ross saying in my ear.
"They have Dusty," I added to my family as Shane moved through his contacts, being a friend of Reign who could get us in contact with Lo. "Ross, I need the video..."
"I'm already in the office," he cut me off again. "I'll have them text you the information."
"Th..." I started, but he had already ended the call.
"Reign," Shane's voice was firm. "No, it can't fucking wait. Put me in touch with Lo... now. Yeah, it's serious."
"Who called you?" Mark asked, standing, just like everyone else was suddenly.
"Ross Ward. Said he saw something off. Dusty was running out of the apartment so he looked out and she was pushed into a car."
My phone rang again and I swiped, "Ross, what now..."
"He has fucking Dusty," Bry's desperate voice met my ear.
"I know. We're working on it. How do you know?"
"I got a mother fucking picture texted to my phone telling me to meet Dom in Camden or she would pay."
"Bry, listen..."
"I'm on my fucking way. They can't be more than five minutes ahead of me and I'm breaking every mother fucking speed limit in the..."
"Bry, fucking listen to me. You can't just show up there. They won't let her go. They'll torture her and make you fucking watch," I said, my voice a low rumble because my jaw was clenched too fucking tight to speak properly.
"I can't just fucking not go, Mallick. I need to..."
"You're going," I cut him off. "Just give me five fucking minutes to figure out a smarter way."
"Yeah, this is Charlie Mallick. I need to talk to Lo right now," my father's voice carried to me, firmer than I had heard it in a long time.
I stood there as he got her on the line and relayed the situation as quickly as possible then paused to listen to whatever Lo had to say, the entire time, my heart had situated itself in my throat, slamming so hard I felt like I was choking on it. It was the first time I had ever even felt a taste of what panic felt like. And I pretty much concluded that if that feeling was how Dusty felt anytime she got out of her comfort zone, then I would take back every single thing I said about progress and tell her she could stay in my apartment for the rest of her life if that was the only way she didn't feel like this.
You know... when I got her back.
"Right. Sure. I'll tell him. Appreciate you making it a priority, Lo."
"What'd she say?" Shane asked, taking his phone back and slipping it in his pocket.
"She said it was an hour and a half drive and she and her people would come up with a plan on the way. She wants you," he said, jerking his head at me, "outside in ten and she will have you drive with her. The rest of us will follow..."
"Pops, no. Hailstorm has this. I don't need you guys putting yourself..." His brow raise was all I needed to know it was pointless to try and argue. "Fine," I said, moving out toward the front door of the bar and moving toward the street.
"Stop freaking out and think clearly," Hunter warned as he stepped outside with me. "You're not going to help her if all you do is worry about what is happening. If there is anyone who can logistically figure this situation out, it's Lo and her team of experts. Dom might be a big deal in Camden, but Hailstorm is a just plain big fucking deal to anyone. They have their reputation for a reason and they don't go into anything without thinking and planning it out. They will get her back."
As if proving his point, I could see a convoy of black SUVs coming down the hill, just a couple of minutes off.
