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“Little bit. We’re ready. Pogo is in his kennel and Quin is downstairs. He told me to tell you no funny business this time.” Savage rolls his eyes and pats my hip. I stand and he follows close behind me. He puts an arm around my shoulders and we start to leave the office. We’re almost at the door when my phone rings. Honestly, I haven’t had need of my phone. Damon texts me off and on, but he can barely get away, what with his stepfather and step siblings being dicks to him. I haven’t heard from Cris even though I’ve called and texted him since the last time he asked for money. I think Savage added more than the three grand I asked him for so Cris is probably content with the payday he got.
Stopping at the office door, I pull my phone from my back pocket. I don’t recognize the number, but I answer anyway. “Hello?”
“Abel?” I might not know the number but I recognize the voice. It’s Sean, Cris’s best friend. What the hell?
“Yeah. What’s up? Cris okay?” I ask, but I’m sure he is.
His next words chill me to the bone. “He’s hurt, bad. He was in a car accident and—”
“Where is he?” I cut in. My hands start shaking and I feel lightheaded. Savage sees the change in me and walks me over to the chair in front of his desk and sits me down. He kneels in front of me and rubs my thighs. I grab one of his hands and grip it tightly. I try not to let the tears fall, but it’s hard.
Sean rushes to say, “Mercy General. He said to tell you to go to the apartment and grab his go bag. Some bad people are after him.”
Of course, bad people are after him. I told Cris, over and over, to stop breaking into people’s houses and stealing their shit. I’ve told him that one day, someone will try to get their shit back. I told himto stop that shit because he’s all I have!Now, he’s hurt and there are people after him. I know Savage and I are supposed to leave next month, but I have to see my brother. I have to help him any way I can so no one tries to kill him.
Taking a deep breath to get my heart rate under control, I tell Sean, “I’ll be there. Tell Cris I’ll see him soon.” I hang up and lower my head, tears streaking down my cheeks. Looking back up at Savage, I murmur, “It’s Cris. He’s hurt. I gotta go. I have to see about my brother.” I plead with him, hoping he’ll let me go see him. I’m not asking for permission, but it would mean a lot if he would trust me enough to do this and know I’m coming back to him. Because I am. While I love my brother, he didn’t choose me. He would never choose me. I chose to love Savage, so Savage is who I’ll be with. That won’t change.
Nodding, Savage stands and pulls me into a hug. “Of course, baby. I’m sorry. Take Michael with you. He can bring you back when you finish visiting with your brother.”
“No.” Savage looks like he wants to argue, but I hold my hand up. “Michael was one of the people who held him captive.” He gives me a look and I rush to say, “I know why they did it. But he’s hurt. I don’t think he wants to see the person who kidnapped him. And you know Michael won’t leave my side if he is tasked to come with me.”
“You either take Michael, or I’m coming with you.” I gape at him, but he doesn’t change his mind, his tone leaving no room for argument. I know he’s deadly serious and it wouldn’t do to have Savage put himself in danger when I’ll already be worried about Cris.
Giving up, since it’s not really worth a fight and it’s keeping me away from Cris, I nod and draw a hand through my hair. “Okay, yeah.” Wiping a stray tear from my face with the pad of his thumb, Savage raises my face to kiss me lightly on the lips and I hold on, gathering strength from his touch.
Rushing to my room, I grab my wallet and keys, stuffing them both in the pockets of the jean jacket I have on. Savage was on the phone with Michael as I was leaving his office, so he should be ready by the time I get downstairs since he and Quin are always close by.
Before I leave, I run back into Savage’s office where he’s sitting in the chair I just vacated. I throw myself at him, hugging his neck tightly. “I’ll see you soon, baby. I love you.” Before he can answer back or before he can lie about loving me, I rush downstairs to where Michael is waiting. I give him a small smile that he returns, and we head out.
The drive to the hospital is scary. Whenever a car gets too close or drives beside us too fast, I flinch. My leg won’t stop shaking and I’m feeling very skittish, making Michael cast worried glances my way. All of my family has been involved in terrible car accidents. What’s to say I won’t be next?
When we pull up to the hospital, Michael shuts the car off and opens his door. I lay a hand on his arm and he looks at me questioningly. “Please, can you wait for me out here?”
He shakes his head. “Savage told me to bring you.”
“And you did. But Michael, my brother is hurt, and it could be serious. I don’t want him afraid that one of the guys who kidnapped him in standing over his bed.” Michael doesn’t look phased about Cris being afraid of him and I figured he wouldn’t be. When it comes to Savage, there’s no remorse for what any of them do. “Just do this one thing for me. Let me visit my brother in peace. It’ll probably be the last time I see him.”
Michael’s face softens, and he nods. While it’s true that this will probably be the last time I see my brother, I need to get away to get his bag for him. If people are coming for him, he has to have everything he needs to get away. Waving at Michael, I slide out of the car and head towards the emergency room entrance.
After I walk through the ER doors, I look around and find the side exit. I casually make my way over, hoping an alarm doesn’t sound when I press the bar. Trying to look like I’m simply leaning against it, I put my weight on it and the door pops open without so much as a creak.
Quickly, I duck out and speed walk around the building, ending up on my street. The hospital is only six blocks up from the apartment and I make it there in no time. The go bag isn’t heavy, just a change of clothes, some emergency cash, a fake ID, and a false passport. Not sure where he got those from, but whatever. He has it and he’ll be able to get away when he’s better. I’ll be back before Michael knows I even left the hospital.
Trotting up the stairs, I look down at my key ring to find the one to our door. Before I can find it, I bump into someone. Looking up, I don’t recognize the man—who hasn’t said excuse me by the way—but I smile and apologize anyway. I step to the side and he moves in front of me. Glaring at him, I open my mouth to curse him out when I feel a small prick in my neck. Hand flying to my neck, I turn around and see a blurry figure behind me. Then my legs go limp and all I see is black.
Chapter Twenty-One
Abel
Icomeawakeslowly,the cold bringing me around. The burn in my wrist gives me that last push to consciousness. I try to bring my arms in front of me to rub away the pain, but I can’t move them. I try again, but nothing. Blinking my eyes open slowly, I see I’m in a large, windowless room, almost like an unfinished basement or a warehouse. There are poles dotted here and there and the insulation is showing on the wall. It’s dark and dank, and what looks like a light layer of water is on the floor. Yep, definitely a warehouse.
Looking around, I try to see if there’s someone hanging around in the shadows or any cameras that might be mounted that will let someone know I’m awake. Not seeing anyone, I decide to get this show on the road. “Heeeeeyyyyy! Untie me dammit!” I yell, hoping to get someone’s attention. No one answers. “What the fuck! Let me the fuck go, you fucking fucks!” Still nothing. “You limp dick fucker! Let me go!”
Shortly after that unoriginal insult, I hear a door open behind me. I’m not sure why I didn’t think about looking behind me. I’m not against a wall, so I should have considered that.
This behemoth of a man steps in front of me, smoking a cigar and dressed sharply in a suit. He’s big. Like really big. At least six six, two hundred plus pounds. Wide shoulders, thick chest, and large arms. He’s a handsome man, sharp features, jet black hair and cold eyes. I shiver when I look into them.
When he speaks, his voice carries a thick Russian accent. “What is this limp dick?’
