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But then, when they’d stepped away from each other and the softness of her body was covered again, the haze of pleasure became but a quickly fading sensation. Fear took its place, exacerbated by the fact that his father had found him again. All his thoughts and concerns went to Ellie. No way in hell would he ever risk her life and what remained of her sanity and soul by having her close to the ugliest and most dangerous monster who still walked the earth.
Now, like with everything his father touched, his good intentions had turned against him. Bile rose as he pressed the gas pedal with more force. Maybe Ellie had been detained by the mercenaries his father had hired. Maybe if he drove even faster, he’d get to her before Jamieson Finch could get his hands on her.
“Sam! Goddammit! Slow down, you lunatic.”
With lightning reflexes, Sam blinked, returning back to reality quick enough to evade an impending crash and get the car under control.
“We can’t help Ellie if we’re dead! Now, listen and keep it together. I’ve got a better signal off Ellie’s tracker. I don’t know why the signal isn’t constant, maybe it’s something inside her bag. Anyway, I changed something in the encryption, and we should get a pinpoint in a few seconds.”
“Should? Is that the same ‘should’ you used when you told us we should be safe at your place?”
“Hey! Easy! Do I have to remind you that you’re the one who didn’t know you were being followed all this time? If I’d known, I might’ve been able to see it coming. Contrary to what you think of me, I’m not God, otherwise, I would’ve done things differently, believe me.”
Sam’s only answer was his fist striking the steering wheel.
When Lazarus spoke again, his voice was calmer. “One ‘should’ that I own is that I should have been there for you.”
There was so much unsaid in that sentence. What did his brother know of his state of mind just before he’d accidentally rung Ellie? Lazarus probably knew more about his past than anyone else on Earth, but that wasn’t something Sam was ready to discuss, and most probably never would.
“Take the next right and drive at a speed that won’t get us arrested, please.”
Sam’s brain switched to another state, one he knew well from his time as an operative in the military. Everything that could distract him was pushed deep inside his mind, and only the mission filled his brain, readying his body for action.
With his brother’s directions, they soon entered a residential area with small suburban houses and well-kept lawns. The inhabitants were probably all safe inside at this hour, oblivious to the danger that had entered their safe little haven.
“Slow down a bit. On the left, don’t take the street yet, but the signal is coming from that area.”
Sam did as he was told, and as they passed by, he noticed a gray van that had popped up on the security cameras Lazarus had checked when Ellie was taken.
“That’s a good sign. Now, drive around the block and I’ll find a spot for us to leave the car, one devoid of security cameras as much as possible. We have enough to deal with as it is without explanations to the boys in blue.”
His brother may have cracked a joke, but Sam wasn’t fooled. When Lazarus’ British accent thickened, it meant the game was on.
Twice more he drove the car around the block until they parked in a free parking space beside a closed shop. It wasn’t the most covert place, but at least they had one building between them and their target, and it had to be enough.
The weight of his gun tucked at his waistband wasn’t enough for Sam. He would’ve preferred to be heavily armed, especially when he guessed his opponent was waiting for them with a grin and a cocked weapon.
Under the cover of the duplex, Lazarus signaled to Sam to keep to the right, pointing at a window, and then at the door. There weren’t many entry points; buildings around this part of the city were old and close to one another and didn’t have underground garages, which was good news, but that didn’t mean his dear father, and whatever men he could hire, wouldn’t have a few tricks up their sleeves to make the rescue tricky.
Impatience nagged at him, and he didn’t have to look at his watch to know that several hours had passed since Ellie had been taken from him. The moment he thought about her, his mind was filled with images and sensations. Sam wasn’t used to processing them anymore, for so long he’d refused to think about his feelings and had banished them to the far corner of his mind. She was innocent, warm, enticing, and broken in mysterious ways he couldn’t wait to uncover. He had to get her back. He wanted her safe.
Could he really afford to lie at this moment? He plainly needed her. Maybe it had been the lack of female companionship for so long, as he only allowed women in his life for brief and very rare moments, and once he’d fucked them until his control was back, he disappeared. Women were for one night, and served a single purpose, but he always left them satisfied.
He’d had his mindless fuck with Ellie. His cock tightened at the memory when he should only feel a void, indicating it was time to let her go. Maybe he needed a second round of feeling her shatter under him, but if he really believed that he’d be telling himself another lie.
Lazarus moved and Sam followed, keeping both the building and his brother in his line of vision until they approached the main door. They’d discussed it. It was a get-in-and-get-her-out situation, and the front door, as it faced the street, could be less guarded than the hidden side door. It took skill and time to remain unseen, but it couldn’t be helped.
As Lazarus scanned the street, Sam knelt to work on breaching the door, but the moment his hand touched the knob, the door opened. Not only wasn’t it locked, it swung open.
Lazarus grimaced, and Sam agreed in silence, it was a bad sign.
“My sons, don’t stay outside in the cold. Come and greet your father.”
Hatred and disgust invaded him so fast, Sam swayed at the sound of a voice that reminded him of the worst parts of his existence. When Lazarus shook his head and signaled he’d walk around the building, their improvised plan was stopped short.
“I don’t like waiting. And I doubt your dear Ellie likes it either. So come in you two and let’s have a chat.”
There was no way around it. Gun still in hand, Sam took one last glance at his brother who looked grim, but nodded, before stepping through the door.
