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As I stormed through the office building, the receptionist’s voice echoed after me, desperately trying to stop me in my tracks. But I wasn’t about to let anyone or anything stand in my way. I flung open the door, with Sean coming behind me, to Levi’s office with a loud crash, the impact reverberating through the room.
“The fucker took Anna,” I yelled. The atmosphere in the office instantly turned tense, like a taut wire ready to snap.
Levi’s words cut through the tension, momentarily diffusing the receptionist’s concern. “It’s okay, Michelle. I apologize for the disruption. I’ll handle this,” he reassured her, his voice calm and composed. Sean swiftly closed the door behind her, shielding us from any further interruptions.
Levi’s eyes locked onto mine as he leaned forward, his authoritative tone tinged with a touch of exasperation. “First off, this is my office, Wilder. You can’t pull this shit. Second, you need to calm down. I can’t help you if I don’t know what the hell’s going on.” Levi explained.
The adrenaline drained from my body and I slumped down in a chair. The weight of the situation settled as I explained. “She’s gone.” I choked out.
Sean stepped up. He was the only member of the family that I would trust with my life. I told him that he would be going against my father and brother and he only asked me where to meet him. “Quinn’s in town. We think he’s taken Anna.”
“Jesus Christ, Wilder. I’m sorry.” Levi said pulling his hand through his hair.
All semblance of composure had slipped away, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. In this moment of raw emotion, there were only two men in the world I trusted enough to witness my vulnerability. It was Sean and Levi, and it was Anna who had ignited this profound shift within me.
Anna, with her infectious spirit and unwavering love, had opened up a part of me that I had long kept guarded. She had shattered the walls I had built around my heart, allowing emotions to flow freely, unfiltered.
Her presence had touched each of our lives, transforming us in ways we couldn’t have anticipated. It was her love that had broken through the barriers, allowing me to embrace vulnerability and seek solace in the company of these two men who understood the depths of my emotions.
I told them the events of the previous night. I told them about meeting Alexis at Anna’s apartment and I told them about the blood in her apartment.
Sean’s voice broke the silence, his concern evident. “What does Quinn think you’re going to do?”
“He believes I’m seeking vengeance for our mother’s death,” I responded, my voice laced with a touch of resignation. “Quinn thinks I’m planning to expose our father as the one responsible, which would undoubtedly ignite a brutal war with the Kellys. At one point, I was ready to plunge headfirst into that battle, but everything changed when Anna was taken. Now… now I just don’t know.” I explained. I was torn between seeking justice and retribution for my mother and the overwhelming need to protect Anna.
“We need to find her, and we need to find her fast,” Levi asserted, his voice reflecting the urgency of the situation. “What have you done so far?”
“Nothing. I’ve called Quinn, but he isn’t answering.” I explained, my frustration simmering right below my skin.
“I don’t even know where to start. We’ve got to come up with a plan.”
Levi’s words pierced through me, cutting deep into my pride. “You need to get your shit together, Wilder. You’re out of your fucking mind, you’re not thinking straight. Anna needs Wilder Kavanagh right now, the Kavanagh enforcer. Not whatever the hell this is in front of me.” Levi said. I was fucking pissed, feeling a surge of fury building within me. But despite the rage boiling beneath the surface, even I couldn’t deny that Anna was blinding me. I glanced at Sean, who had taken a step back, his eyes betraying his surprise. People didn’t talk to me like that and get away unscathed.
I stood up, full height, towering over the others in the room. “Sean, leave. Go talk to our men and find out who Quinn has recruited since his arrival,” I commanded, my phone rang as I gave the order which I answered on speakerphone.
“Quinn.”
“Little brother. You sound a little angry.” He responded, his voice dripping with twisted amusement.
“Work stuff. What do you need?” I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. If he didn’t know Anna was important yet, my losing control would confirm it.
My gaze darted to Levi, who had turned away, unable to meet my eyes. The weight of Quinn’s actions hung heavily in the air, and I fought to contain the seething anger within me. “I’ve cleaned up the McConnell mess for you. But I suspect you know that by now.”
“It wasn’t fucking needed, Quinn.”
“I think it was. The fewer people who know the truth, the better. Although I’d love nothing more than to eliminate you as well, that would attract too much attention. But I have come up with a solution to make sure you see things my way.”
I didn’t want to hear any more of his twisted justifications. At that moment, I realized that my attempts to downplay Anna’s significance had failed. Now, her survival hinged solely on her value to me. The gravity of the situation settled upon me, reinforcing the desperate need to protect her at all costs.
“Here you go, little brother.”The sound of my brother moving filtered through the speakerphone, the creaking of steps and an echo led me to believe he was in a concrete basement.
“Please.” The sound of Anna’s agonizing screams pierced through the airwaves, filling the room with chilling desperation. Her voice carried the weight of terror and pain as she pleaded, “Please, stop.” The dull thuds of fists hitting flesh continued through the speakerphone.
“That’s enough, Quinn. She’s innocent.” I raged. All the violence and threat I could conjure, I tried to send through the phone. “I will kill you.”
“Oh see, I knew this was more than just a friend. If you are this hung up on her, she must be one hell of a fuck.” Quinn’s voice dropped to a threatening level. “Don’t. Push. Me. Wilder. Perhaps I will have to test her out myself.”
26
