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ChapterTwenty
“That is amazing!” Sage laughed in delight and pointed at the screen over the fireplace.
“Grandpa helped me pick the music,” Robin said with a mischievous grin. He was spending two weeks with his mother’s parents at the beach and had made a funny video about his adventures. It was cheeky and adorable but Lavender was rather proud at how well-edited the video was. He made a note to suggest film production as a possible hobby or career and would look into good schools.
“I could have watched hours of that,” Lavender said sincerely but Robin shrugged it off.
“It was just something to do.” He turned as his name was called. “Grandma’s back! She went to get ice cream.”
“You’d better go, then!” Sage said and blew Robin a kiss. Lavender did as well and they wished him good night just as there was a knock at the door.
“Were you expecting anyone?” Lavender asked Sage. He shook his head so Lavender looked at the monitor. “Front door,” he told the security system and the view of the porch’s camera came onto the screen.
“It’s Speed!” Sage said as he hurried to let him in. Lavender knew something terrible had happened the moment Sage opened the door and Speed stepped into the house. Whatever it was that made SpeedSpeedhad been extinguished. He was a corpse as he dragged himself into the living room and his gaze was flat, hollow when he found Lavender.
“What happened?” Lavender urged as he went to him. His gut ached and Lavender felt a chill as tears burst from Speed’s eyes and his lip trembled. He tried to speak but Speed’s voice failed.
“Can I get you—?” Sage started but Speed shook his head quickly, never pulling his eyes from Lavender’s.
“You were right,” he said, his voice a strained, gravelly whisper. Speed swallowed hard and was shaking as he fought to hold onto his composure. “You were right all along and I knew it but I thought…” Speed’s hand was shaking as he scrubbed his brow. “I fucked up and it’s all over. Blake’s gone and I don’t know if I can get him back!”
“What?” Sage cried and ran to the kitchen to get his phone, Lavender assumed.
“What do you mean?” Lavender asked as he reached for Speed’s shoulders and gave him a shake. “Where’s Blake?”
“Francis took him. It’s been him all along and I was so stupid.” Speed’s voice crumbled as he fought back a sob.
“No, no, no!” Lavender shook his head and pointed at Speed. “This doesnothingto help Blake. We can talk about how foolish you’ve been and why you should have listened later.”
“But if I had listened to you—” He started to argue so Lavender gave his cheek a firm slap, startling Speed.
“Later,” Lavender ground out with a hard, threatening look. “What happened? Tell me everything.”
“I don’t have a lot of time. I have to get the rosary and then Francis will tell me where to deliver it. He says he’s locked Blake in his Corvette and will blow it up if he thinks his phone is being tracked or you’re coming after him.”
“Jesus!” Sage whispered, holding his phone against his chest. “Lane and Aiden are on their way. Should we call everyone else?”
Lavender pushed out a hard breath. His eyes stung and his chest felt tight at the thought of what Blake might be going through. He didn’t know if he’d be the one to put an end to Frank Leary but Lavender was more than ready. The desire grew into fury when he imagined how Lane would feel when he learned his baby brother was trapped in the same car that had nearly killed him and Aiden.
“Yes but we’re going to be subtle,” Lavender said once he could control his tone and his temper. “I’d hoped to give him a little more time but we have to call Reginald back from Blackhurst.”
“We can’t touch Francis’s phone or give himanyreason to think we’re tracking him,” Speed protested but Lavender held up a hand.
“Shhhh!” He smiled gently as he gave Speed’s arm a firm squeeze. “This is how we handle a family crisis. Reginald and Paul would want to be here and we’re going to need them for much more than technical support,” he explained. Speed nodded, grateful as he offered a weak, half smile.
“Thank you. Tell me what to do. All I want is for Blake to live. I don’t care about what happens to me or Francis anymore.” He was so hopeless and scared, it concerned Lavender almost as much as knowing they were at Leary’s mercy.
For the moment.
“What I need,” Lavender began as he pushed Speed’s shoulders back, straightening them. He gathered Speed’s face in his hands and searched his eyes until Lavender was sure he was focusing. “is for you to get your act together. I need you to be the insufferable smart-ass we all know and loathe. Blake is counting on you to do exactly what you do best and save him. And yourself,” he added heavily.
“I think we’ve got a very slim chance of getting Blake out as long as he doesn’t try anything and set Francis off. But Francis won’t give Blake up if he can’t take me with him. He just won’t,” Speed vowed.
“Fuck Frank Leary,” Lavender said simply. “It is inconceivable that some washed-up gangster could outsmartyou.Not when you’ve got all of us to back you up. And I guarantee Leary’s working alone. No one would be foolish enough to help him. It would be like signing your own death warrant.”
“That’s… Thank you but he doesn’t need any help. He’s already got Blake and there’s nothing I can do to stop him if he decides to blow up that Corvette right now!” Speed’s voice got higher and trembled with panic. Lavender shushed him soothingly.
“He wants you to suffer, Speed,” he whispered. “This is the best part so he’s not going to rush, is he?” Lavender asked. He waited until Speed was calmer and listening. “He wants you to believe your life is over and for you to flail and make mistakes. I’ve been here and I understand how helpless you feel butthe bestthing you can do for Blake is to keep a clear head and make every moment count.”
