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War has been on edge since they instigated their plan to smoke out Jefferson. I haven’t seen him anywhere. I act as natural as I can, knowing that he is out there. Orion wasn’t wrong in taking the offensive in this situation. The waiting is the worst. Realistically I know that full measures have been taken to secure my safety, emotionally I feel that he is lurking close and I must be prepared for anything.
I sense that something is amiss. I take off the headphones. I feel the door to the studio rattle. No one has knocked. No one but Vi is expected and she would be screaming down the house for me to open up or she would call my cell to tell me she is here. The guys would be calling me on the burner phone or would be knocking until they were heard. This is wrong. This feels wrong.
I grab my cell and make my way to the panic room. I hit the button and slide inside, securing it shut just as I hear the front door of the studio slam against the wall.
“Where are you hiding, sweet Maddie?” I hear that voice. The voice that’s seeping through my bones turning them to ice. Fear crawls up my throat. I smother it with thoughts of War and his brothers just outside. This will only take a few minutes, I tell myself. Stay quiet. Wait for the Calvary as instructed. I take three deep breaths and hear him walk across the room, throwing open closet doors and turning furniture over.
“Maddie, darling, I have come to take you home.”
I squeeze my eyes shut in an effort to shut out the sound of his voice.
A door slams. I think War and Orion are here. I was told to stay put until they say it’s safe to open the door with the code given to me.
“Who are you?” I hear. Oh my God, it’s Vi. Please run, I say silently.
“I’m here to deliver a package to Miss Maddie Holden of the Smoking Guns,” Jefferson replies.
“Sorry, she’s not here,” Vi says, “If you want to leave it, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“My orders are to deliver it directly to her,” he returns.
“I can’t just leave you here to wait for her,” Vi volleys.
I hear footsteps. Then I hear a slap and Vi groans. “You bitch. Do you think I don’t know that you and that disgusting group of sex-craved demons are the reason my pure sweet Maddie has become a whore?”
Furniture is being tossed. I know Vi is fighting to get out the door. The door slams shut. “Sit the fuck down, bitch. We’ll wait for Maddie together.”
I dial the emergency phone Risk installed. It’s picked up immediately. “We’re coming Maddie. Two minutes,” I hear Orion say.
“He has Vi,” I whisper. I hear him yelling at her and demanding she tell him where I am. Vi refuses and he hits her again and again. “He’s hurting her. I have to help her.”
“Jesus Christ what is she doing there? She is supposed to be covered,” I hear the anguish in his voice. I hear her scream. Jefferson is hurting her.
“I’m going out. I can’t wait. He’s going to kill her.” I hang up and take the gun out of the box. I load it like I was taught. “Never again is he going to take anything from me!”
* * *
War
I hear Orion yell in anguish. I look at him and know that something is very wrong.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“He’s in the studio and has Vi.” Orion is blaming himself. I already see it on his face. He is reliving the past horror only it’s happening now.
We are approaching the studio. Avoiding the windows. Demon is at the back door with Risk. Cris is climbing in through the roof to the attic. Guard is at one window; the other brothers are spread throughout and Orion and I are approaching the front.
The sounds of gunshots go off inside the studio. I break down the front door to see Maddie holding Vi in one arm and a gun in the other. Blood is splattered on her clothes and hair. Vi is gripping Maddie’s face. “It’s okay, Honey. We’re okay. You saved us,” she whispered.
The guys are all in the room. Orion is down on his knees. Taking Vi in his arms. “Baby, what did you do?” he says hoarsely.
I pick up Maddie and put her in my arms. She struggles. “No, I can’t leave her,” she cries.
“We are bringing Vi inside the house, Kitten.” I try to console her.
She relaxes in my arms when she sees Vi in Orion’s. I yell out to Cris, “Get an ambulance over here. Now.”
* * *
