“Listen to me. Take all of our savings andleave the country. Do not go to the police or the FBI, I don’ttrust them. He has informants everywhere. Take my mom and brothersand go to Stuttgart like you’ve always wanted to. I will find youthere. It may take me a few years, but knowing you’re still alivewill give me the motivation I need to keep going. I risked a lot toescape him so I can warn you, but there’s a GPS tracker on me sohe’ll find me soon. Please don’t make this escapeto havebeen in vain. Please, Jason.”
Jason was silent for a few seconds, hisvoice shaking when he finally spoke.
“I don’t know if I can do that. I can’t justabandon you.”
“You’re not abandoning me. You’re removingthe leverage he has over me from the equation. If I have nothingleft to lose, then I’m that much more dangerous. I will bring himdown, Jason, I promise you, but I can’t do that if he can continueto hold you against me. Do you understand?”
He didn’t say anything, and I could tell hewas debating with himself over this.
“Jason! I’m serious!” I yelled at him.
“Yes, all right, fine,” he finally said, andit broke my heart to fucking pieces.
I could hear the sirens getting closer andpanic rose all over again.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. Warn everyone, packup, and leave right this fucking second. Get my family out of thecountry now. Don’t wait. I will find you, I promise. Just don’tgive up on me, okay?”
“I love you, Jaden Wilder. You kill this guyand come home to me, you understand?” he said, soundingstronger.
“I love you, too, and I swear I will. Nowrun.”
I took everything I had to hang up thatphone, but I had no choice.
I placed the phone back on the counter andthanked the girl before heading out of the door and booking it backto the bike. But the moment I reached it, three cop cars withblaring sirens and flashing lights pulled into thealley.
Now that I had completed my mission, I had anew goal in mind. Time to have some fun and make myself famous.
~*~
At 6:35 in the morning, I had completed mymorning 7k run and finished things off with some bench-pressingwith Scott as my spotter. I was staying at my apartment in upstateNew York, working the final agreements for a new contract with ourarms dealer here. As Scott spotted, we discussed potential setbacksif this new contract didn’t pan out the way it needed to. I knewwhat I expected, but I never let my guard down when it came tobusiness.
The door to my weight room opened with oneof my guards rushing inwithhiscell phone clutched to his chest. His face was glossy with sweat,and his eyes were lit with obvious anxiety. What the fuck happenednow?
“Sir, there’s been a situation,” hepractically squeaked.
I completed my fifteenth rep of 525 poundsand set the weights back into place, sitting up to wipe the sweatfrommy brow with my arm. I heldmy hand out for the phone, and he quickly handed it to me.
“What,” I said sternly. It was too early forthis shit.
“Sir, there’s been a bit of a situation, butI don’t-”
“I’m aware there’s a situation, asshole.Now, what it is?” I practically spat to Eric. I hated when peopletried to beat around the bush with me.
“Jaden’s escaped, sir.”
My mind instantly went blank as I ponderedwhat he had just said. She what?
As my comprehension of his words connected,rage began to simmer my blood to a boil.
“What,” I said dangerously, slowly risingfrom the bench.
“I’m not sure how she did, but she managedto start a fire outside of the house and took off on the Panigale.Her GPS signal shows she made it into town, so I don’t know how shemade it past the perimeter with her collar activated.”
Son of a bitch …
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Isshe, at least,wearing a helmet?”I asked beyond annoyed and pissed off.
“I don’t believe so, sir,” Eric replied.“But Hagen has already been informed. He and his men are searchingfor her right now, along with Colin and Tristan. Ken and I arealready on the road, as well, and the fire has beencontained.Though there was a significant amountof damage and several men were injured.”
