Gabe

Twenty minutes into the drive across town, I sit in the passenger seat of Ryder’s truck and fire off a text to the lawyer my father told me about, Ross Sterling at Sterling LLC. There’s a lot on my mind right now, and McKenna is number one on that list, but I can’t forget the promise I made.

Tonight, no matter what, this shit with the tabloid will end.

When the swooshing sound from my phone indicates my text is delivered, I glance next to me, at Ryder in the driver’s seat. “What should we expect from Draken?”

“He’s dirty.” Ryder keeps his eyes on the road, one hand resting on the top of the steering wheel. “He’ll play dirty, so we must meet him with equal force.”

I draw in a long breath and glance out the window, watching the city lights whiz by as we move into Pacific Heights. The truck climbs the steep hill, a streetcar matching our speed, and my mind circles back to McKenna. I need her in my arms and safe. Most things I can forgive after some time, and an honest apology, but putting McKenna into the hands of criminals is not something I can forgive her brother for. Not ever.

“Your destination is on the right,” the feminine GPS voice says, and Ryder slows his truck and then comes to a stop at the curb.

I take in the mansion before me, unsurprised at its extravagance. Draken seemed the type to want to show off his money, but I’m unaffected. I grew up with this sort of wealth, only old money is relatively clean money—relatively.

Determined to right so many wrongs, I say to Ryder, “You do not need to get caught up in this with me. I can go in there alone.”

“And miss out on the fun?” Ryder snorts, turning off the ignition and removing his keys. “Not a fucking chance, buddy.”

I pause, considering, but I know I can’t talk him out of this. Besides, having two of us there shows a stronger solid front, and I assume Ryder knows that. “All right,” I say, reaching for the door handle. “Let’s finish this.”

Ryder nods and follows me out of the truck, and by the time we’re climbing the steps, the front door is already opening, Tommy standing on the other side. By his smug expression, I have no doubt that he’s the one who caused McKenna’s injury. I bite back my rage. No matter what, her safety is my priority, my revenge will come later.

“Follow me,” is all Tommy says, opening the door wider.

Once inside, he leads us through the grand house and into a sitting room, where Draken waits in a leather chair, like a king being waited upon by his servants. First, I take note of the two men standing next to Draken, and Tommy, who’s moving a little closer to Ryder and me. Second, I get to the reason I’m here. “I received your text,” I tell Draken. “And I’m here. Where is McKenna?”

Draken glances at Tommy, who’s just over my shoulder, and nods.

“For now, she’s safe,” Tommy says, lifting his cellphone.

The second my eyes hit the screen, my fists clench, muscles quiver to act, showing the others what happens when they hurt what’s mine. McKenna’s locked in an obvious cell with a single hanging lightbulb, dried blood on the side of her face, the bruise by her eye now darker. She’s sitting on the dusty and dirty floor, knees up, arms wrapped around them.

Ryder takes a step closer to me, the warning clear. Calm down.

Reminded that I don’t want Marcus Draken as an enemy, I blow out the breath I’m holding. I shove my hands into my pockets, the desire to kill burning through me. Slowly, I glance at Draken and ask, “What. Do. You. Want?”

Draken is poised, relaxed there in his seat with his hands on his lap, dark eyes regarding me. “I feel that we can do business together you and I, Mr. O’Keefe.”

I can’t hide the fury in my voice, and it comes out in a low growl, “You think kidnapping McKenna is a strategic business move?”

Draken’s smile is swift and equally dangerous. “You are here, are you not?”

I stiffen, done being played with.

It appears Ryder’s right there with me, since he interjects, “I’m growing tired of this exchange.” His voice is much calmer than mine. “You got our attention, and we’re here, get the point of what you want so we can conclude our business.”

Draken doesn’t look at Ryder, his gaze is right on me. “I want Evan’s debt paid.”

It’s then, in the coldness of his words, in the calculated way he’s watching me, that I realize not only is he playing me now, but he’s been playing us right from the very beginning. Because clearly, I wasn’t the only one watching the tabloids and what they were printing about me, so was Draken. I can only guess now that once he realized my connection to McKenna, his plan slowly fell into place.

But how deep this plan goes, I don’t know.

“I take it that you want me to pay Evan’s debt,” is all I say.

A cruel smile creases the corners of Draken’s mouth. “I told you I’m a businessman. Like you, I imagine you will use any advantageous situation to increase your wealth.”

“I highly doubt we use the same principles when it comes to business,” I tell him sharply, but now that I know what he wants, I stay focused there. “But I want you to leave McKenna alone. Will paying this debt make that happen?”

Draken nods, lacing his fingers together. “Receiving my money will end our transaction, yes.”

Everything about this feels wrong. The last thing I want to do is pay some shithead’s debt, considering when this all began with the tabloid, my plan was to ruin the person responsible, not bail them out, but the weight of all this still rests on my shoulders. I need this to all go away neatly, not only for my friends, or for McKenna, but for myself. I want life to go back to nights at the pub and lazy days. And I need McKenna back in my arms and safe. “I take it you want the payment first and then you’ll release them,” I say.

“I want the payment first, plus interest,” he corrects, “and then you can go and get them.”

I’ve already decided there is no amount of money that I won’t pay for McKenna’s safety but Ryder asks, “How much does Evan owe?”

“Fifty thousand plus interest.”

I ask my question knowing I won’t like the answer. “And how much interest?”

Draken gestures at Tommy again, and the suit reaches into his pocket and hands me a piece of paper. I read the amount written there on the crumpled note, and my jaw clenches. But I hastily remind myself this isn’t about Evan, or Draken, this about McKenna. Money is money. Her life is worth so much more. And after this night I want Draken to forget McKenna’s name.

Without a single hesitation in my mind, I reach for my phone in my pocket and open the banking app. It’s not unheard of for me to make large transfers, and I’m only too glad for that now. “What’s the account number?” I ask.

Draken rambles it off, and within seconds the money is out of my account and into his, but it’s money I won’t miss. The blood, the cell she’s in…McKenna is all that I’m thinking about now.

I shove my phone into my pocket. “Where is she?”

Draken glances at the suit standing next to him. “Clint, where are Evan and Ms. Archer staying again?”

I snort at the implication that he doesn’t know, crossing my arms, ensuring I don’t drain the life out of him with my bare hands. Even Ryder next to me has a tight jaw and flat mouth.

Clint reaches into his pocket, offering me a key. “There’s an old factory on the corner of Greenwich and Larkin. You’ll find them both there,” he explains. “That key opens the front door.”

I squeeze my hand around the key, my heart beating a mile a minute. I’m so close to her, yet also so far away.

“While I understand that this was a business transaction, because a debt was owed to you,” Ryder begins, staring down Draken. “I’d warn you, Mr. Draken, to ensure our paths never cross again.”

Draken lifts his chin, and maybe there’s a little respect in his eyes too. “I’m aware of who you are, Ryder Blackwood, and I’m also aware of the hacker you have and that she’s trouble I don’t want. If you stay away from me, I will grant you the same courtesy.”

Ryder nods, but there’s a lot said in the silent space between them. It’s an exchange that Draken wouldn’t have with me, because I don’t have the arsenal of power that Ryder has, an arsenal that could take Marcus Draken out. Call it respect or fear, but it’s there between them, and it’s exactly the final thing we need to ensure Marcus won’t come back for more money.

Ryder finally breaks away, gaze on me, and nods.

“You might need this.”

I stare at McKenna’s purse in Draken’s hand and take it, not giving him a second look.

Just as we’re about to turn and leave, I catch Tommy’s grin, the smug smile I’d expect from him. All the fury that’s been building since day one of this hell engulfs me, and for once, I’m only thinking of what I want . . . what I need. “Just one more thing,” I announce.

With swiftness and efficacy, I lunge toward Tommy, jamming the heel of my palm into his nose. There’s an audible crack and then blood pours from his nose and Tommy drops to his knees.

“You fucking prick,” he roars at me, spitting blood, holding on to his clearly broken nose.

“You hurt what’s mine,” I snarl, and then I set my glare onto Draken. “Don’t come near what’s mine again.”

Dark amusement dances in Draken’s eyes as he gives a slow nod, the type of understanding between men. “It’s been a pleasure to do business together, Mr. O’Keefe. Clint will show you out.”

And just like that I seal my first dirty business deal.

McKenna

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always liked exposed brick and timber in any décor, but from this day on, if I never see an old factory again I will die a happy woman. Dust, mold, and whatever else I don’t want to identify hangs in the air that I’m desperately trying not to inhale. For a while, after Tommy none too gently deposited me here, I’d tried yelling and banging on the metal door that was locked from the outside, attempting to get free.

Within twenty minutes, I knew it was pointless. No one even heard me. No one came.

When my flight instinct kicked in, jump-starting my heart, making this room feel like the cell it was intended to be, I forced myself to remember that I’m not in danger. Not truly. Just as Evan won’t be killed by Marcus because he wants to be paid, I won’t be killed either. Too many people know that Marcus has a motive to threaten me. Which can only mean one thing.

Marcus is holding me for ransom, and there is only one person who would pay to keep me safe, and has the money that Marcus demanded. Gabe. I suppose we all should have been expecting Marcus’s callous move. Still, I realized I’d be out of here soon, and that I’d also owe Gabe money.

So here I’ve sat for the last hour—I guess, since I don’t have my phone on me—waiting, knowing that Gabe will eventually come get me. Because that’s Gabe, my savior in this giant disaster.

Right then, as that thought brushes across my mind, there are voices outside the door. Then, “McKenna?”

I rise. “Gabe?”

The door begins shaking with obvious kicks, dust rising in the air. Two bangs later and when the dust clears, I run into the open arms awaiting me. Gabe’s warmth, his woodsy scent, it’s exactly what I need, and the chill in my body slowly vanishes.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, his cheek resting on the top of my head.

“No, but get me out of this fucking creepy place.”

When I look up into Gabe’s eyes, his brows are drawn as he studies my face, and red-hot fury trickles into the air. “You said you weren’t hurt.” He gently brushes his thumbs across my cheeks, and I cringe when he reaches my mouth.

I reach up to my lip, which apparently split when I hit the ground after Tommy tackled me in Draken’s house. I fight the wince and give Gabe a gentle smile. “I mean, I don’t need to go to the hospital or anything. It’s a small cut from falling that’ll be fine with a little ointment.”

Gabe shuts his eyes for a moment, and when he reopens them, there’s obvious relief in his expression. “I never want to go through anything like this again.”

“You and me both, but honestly, I wasn’t worried.”

One brow wings up, voice hardens. “Please explain to me why being forced into this room and locked inside didn’t make you worried?”

I lean into him, gripping the T-shirt at his back. “Because you’re . . . you . . . and I knew you’d come for me.”

His expression softens, hand sprawls across my cheek. “Next time, I don’t need such a great ordeal to show your belief in me. Just tell me, I’ll believe you.”

I chuckle and lean into his touch. “I think I’ve had enough of loan sharks, bad debts, and tabloids to last me a goddamn lifetime.” My smile fades, and I take a step back. “I take it that you paid Evan’s debt.”

Gabe nods. “Draken didn’t leave me much choice.”

“I’ll pay you back,” I tell him.

His eyes slowly begin to narrow. “McKenna—”

“You two will have to figure that out later.” Ryder’s stern voice comes from the hallway. “We need to get Evan to the hospital right away.”

I move around Gabe, and that’s when I see that Evan’s slumped over Ryder’s shoulder. All the warmth that Gabe brought with him is suddenly gone, drained out of my body, leaving my blood chilled. “Evan.” I shoot forward, toward his limp body, and gently reach for his head, feeling the greasiness of his sandy colored hair, the dust also gathered there. “Is he alive?”

“He is,” Ryder says, striding down the hallway. “But he needs care, and needs it sooner than later.”

When we reach the fork in the hallway, I startle, as Alex’s voice fills the air, “Take a right.”

I glance at Ryder’s hand, see he’s wearing a wristwatch phone. As I follow him down the next hallway, trotting behind him, keeping up, I realize that, apparently, they’d had a plan coming in here, and they’ve got a plan to get us out. But at the speed he’s moving at, dread sinks its cold teeth into me. Evan’s situation is dire, that much is clear.

“Third door on the left,” Alex says.

Ryder opens that door which leads to a large warehouse with old car parts and boxes dirtying up the cement floors.

“Keep going straight ahead,” Alex says. “You’ll see a door there, exit through that.”

I half-walk, half-jog, following behind Ryder, with Gabe at my back, clearly there to protect me, I’m thinking. He could easily keep stride with Ryder. And in between these two men I feel safer than I’ve ever felt before, I realize. My brother sold these men out, and here they are rescuing him. I need to think, figure all this out, but my heart warms around them, changes somehow, opening in ways I’ve never opened up before.

At the door, Ryder pushes it open, and soon, I’m stepping out into a parking lot obviously in the back of the factory, not near San Francisco’s busy streets.

“We’re out,” Ryder says. “Thank you.”

“Later, boss,” is Alex’s reply.

Not a second later, blue and red lights illuminate the sky. I look up and spot an ambulance speeding toward us, with a cop car right behind, telling me that Alex called both, likely on Ryder’s order. When they come to a stop, the paramedics are out a second later and running toward us with gear and a gurney.

The next few minutes become a blur as I watch Ryder lower Evan onto the gurney, his lifeless arm hanging off the side. His eyes are closed, dark circles beneath them. He’s equally dirty and pale, his skin nearly gray now.

“Blackwood, what’s happened here?”

I glance next to me, discover a uniformed police officer striding toward us. Obviously, Ryder wasn’t wrong that the SFPD know who he is, and maybe that lessens a little bit my guilt that we didn’t involve the police from the beginning.

“This is Evan Archer, brother of McKenna Archer.” Ryder gestures to me. “She’s a good friend of mine and reported him missing an hour ago. I tracked his cellphone which led us here. We found him like this.”

The cop wrote on his notepad then without looking up asked, “Any idea what happened to him?”

“Before he blacked out, he told us he got mugged,” Ryder replied, voice steady and confident. “I’m taking a guess that they dragged him back behind here.”

“All right.” The cop finishes writing and then reaches into his pocket and hands me a card. “Call me once your brother is awake and alert, and I’ll come down to the hospital to take his statement.”

“I will, thank you.” I take the card, trying damn hard not to show the tremble of my hand.

The cop looks at Ryder and offers his hand. “Nice work here. Good to see you again.”

“You too, Hennessy.” Ryder returns the handshake.

And just like that he’s leaving, striding back to his car. That’s when I realize that the gray line is even thicker than I knew. But cops have bigger criminals to go after than my gambling-addicted brother, and now I understand Ryder’s earlier amusement when I asked if we should involve the police. To him, and maybe even to Hennessy, Evan is a boy in a game of men.

Ryder steps back, watching the paramedics, and it’s in that second, I have absolutely no idea how I can ever thank Ryder for what he’s done for me and for Evan. “Thank you,” I say softly, reaching for him, holding on to his forearm. Ryder glances at me, and emotion rises in my voice when I add, “I wish I could do something, say something to show you how grateful I am for all you’ve done for me.”

Ryder gives a gentle smile, pats my hand. “You’re with Gabe now, that makes you family.” He glances at Gabe over my shoulder, and they share a long look before Ryder addresses me again. “Keep Gabe happy, McKenna. Do that and consider us even.”

Like he isn’t some hero who helped me when the situation called for him to flip me the bird and let my brother rot in hell, which probably is what he deserves after he sold them out, Ryder turns and walks away. Tears prickle my eyes; I know his request is easier said than done. Gabe and I have a big complication between us now. My brother. I glance at Evan, conflicted. I’m so angry and so happy he’s okay all at once.

Everything should feel good now, we’re back to normal. Evan is safe and out of danger, and yet as I watch while the paramedic straps my tall and lanky brother to the gurney, I know that everything’s changed.

“We’re ready to go,” the paramedic says. “Are either of you coming with him?”

“Yes.” I step forward. “Yes, of course, I’ll go.”

“I’m coming, too.”

I turn around to Gabe and study the intensity in his face, reading the anger in the depths of his eyes. “Go home. I’ll call you when he’s feeling better, then you can talk with him.”

Hurt ripples across Gabe’s features, and I understand the reasons why. But I can’t think about Gabe in all this. Not right now. Because I’ve always been my brother’s keeper, and he’s hurt. He doesn’t need accusations rights now. He needs a doctor and rest.

Obviously taking me seriously, Gabe finally sighs, offering his hand. “Come with me then, and I can drive you.”

I shake my head, feeling torn in a thousand directions. “I’m sorry, I can’t. He needs me.”

A pause. Then, “I need you, too, McKenna.”

I shut my eyes, realizing what going with Evan declares to Gabe, but right now Evan needs to get better, and I need to think, figure all this out. I can’t do that with Gabe there, glaring at my brother until he wakes up. “Please don’t make me choose between you, Gabe.” I open my eyes, and my heart shatters at the coldness washing across his features, as I finish, “Because I won’t choose you.”

“Miss, we need to go,” the paramedic says sharply.

“Sorry.” I pull away from Gabe and jump into the back, taking the seat, staying out of her way. “I’m sorry,” I say to Gabe, tears in my eyes, watching the betrayal etch into his features.

That’s the last thing I see before the paramedic shuts the doors and we’re off, driving toward the hospital with the sirens blaring.

“Kenna.”

I glance down and reach for my brother’s hand. “I’m here, Evan. You’re safe now.”