Thirty-two
Jonah
My truck eats up highway as we blaze down the interstate. Hands vise-gripped to the wheel. Eyes scanning. Exit signs fly by in a blur of green and white. Blake is silent beside me. His head dips to the hand-drawn map then forward and back again.
I play out my strategy. No more polite conversation and deal-making. I know Dominick won’t give up Raven easily. Not after what he went through to get her. He had this planned all along, including hiring Candy to do his dirty work. I should have known.
Inwardly, I berate myself for buying into his bullshit. How could I have been so stupid? Well, that shit ain’t happening again. There are only two ways this confrontation will go. Dominick beaten into a bloody pulp, left begging for his pathetic life, or Dominick dead. And I’ll have to accomplish this while keeping Raven safe, or more importantly, alive. Fuck.
“Turn left here.” Blake’s direction calls me from my thoughts.
A quick turn and we’re on an unpaved road. I hit the four-wheel drive and lay heavy on the gas. Dirt and rocks spit from my back tires as we weave through the narrow mountain roads. My eyes focus on the path ahead.
“Fork in the road.” Blake points ahead.
I don’t have to look at the map to know which way to turn. Milena’s handwritten instructions are branded in my mind.
“Pull off. Park in the trees.” He drops the directions on the dash and grabs the handle for a quick exit.
“Pop the box and grab my Eagle.” I toss him the key to my glove box.
Within seconds the cold metal of my fifty-caliber Desert Eagle warms my hand.
I check the clip. Fully loaded. We hop from the truck and hustle back to the dirt road. I shove the gun into my waistband at my back.
We jog down the tree line, making sure to keep to the shadows. The cool mountain air invigorates me. It’s close to two in the morning. The title fight was only a few hours ago. It feels like ages. I should be exhausted, but I’ve never felt more alert.
We cross to the other side of the road where a small light shines like a beacon through the trees.
“That’s got to be it.” I don’t wait for Blake’s response, and take off toward the light.
The rickety A-frame cabin stands alone in the mass of pine trees, a one-lane dirt driveway leading to it. It’s small, probably two bedrooms at most. This shit shack looks like it’s made of scrap wood and spit. If I weren’t convinced Raven was inside, I’d drive my truck full speed through the front fucking door.
We step closer, cautiously keeping to the dark in the trees. She has to be here. Some deep part of me whispers she may not be, but I choose to ignore it. This is my only chance of getting her back.
Something catches my eye from the side of the shack. I creep closer. Bingo.
“They’re definitely here.” I motion to the hundred-thousand-dollar Benz parked in the trees next to a black Lexus sedan.
“What do you want to do? Just knock on the door and start busting caps in his pompous ass?” Blake’s idea would usually make me smile, but there isn’t a hint of humor in his voice. He’s dead fucking serious.
“Let’s check out the windows first, try to get an idea of what we’re dealing with. If I can’t get a handle on what’s going on in there, I’ll kick the motherfucking door down.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Blake moves toward the cabin.
I grab his shoulder, needing to say something before we do this. “Whatever happens in there, you get her out. Understand?”
His eyebrows drop low. “If shit gets ugly, I’m not leaving you—”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get her out and far away.”
Blake puts his hands on his hips and drops his head, a string of curses flowing in a whisper.
“Promise me.”
He meets my eyes, his jaw tight. He shakes his head.
“Blake, please.”
His gaze swings to the treetops for a second then back to me. “All right. I’ll get her out.”
“Good.” I nod. “Now let’s take this fucker out.”
We run low to the ground to the cabin. I motion for Blake to take one side of the shack, whispering for him to check the windows. We’ll split up and meet in the back.
I edge up under the first window and peek inside. An empty living room. No furniture except for a wooden-framed couch. The embers from an old fire smolder in the fireplace. My eyes scour the area. No sign of Raven.
With my back to the wall, I slide to the next window. It’s frosted glass, probably a bathroom. I press my ear to it. Nothing.
In a few more steps, I’m at the back of the cabin. Blake is just rounding the opposite corner. We meet at a single window, our backs against the wall on either side. The low vibration of angry voices rumbles against the glass, but the words are indecipherable. With a nod, we glance inside.
“Holy shit,” Blake whispers through clenched teeth.
It’s dark in the room, but light from the open door is enough to illuminate the scene. Vince and Dominick surround a small bed. They’re hunched over, like vultures picking away at their prey. I don’t have to see who they’re holding down to know who it is.
Adrenaline shoots through my body, injected by a rocket launcher. The roar of my pulse pounds between my ears. An instinct to kill rushes down my spine, juicing up my muscles. My skin vibrates with lethal energy.
Get the fuck off her!
I need to draw them away, redirect their attention. I grab my gun, point it at the assholes. No. I can’t risk hitting Raven.
With a flip of my hand, I use the gun’s butt, and smash the window. Glass shatters, cutting through the silence and causing Dominick and Vince to spin around.
“Well, fuck. I guess it’s on now.” Blake’s words ring from behind me as I race to the front door.
I kick it open. The walls rattle.
Pop.
Light flashes. I stumble back. Pain explodes in my shoulder and down my arm. I blink, pushing against the nausea and agony that threatens to take me down. The fucker shot me.
“Shit. You okay?” Blake’s question is nothing more than static to my main concern.
Where is she?
I scan dimly lit room, blinking away the floaters from the flash of gunfire. Standing at the mouth of the hallway is Dominick and Vince. Both with guns raised. Vince’s is smoking.
“No, Jonah!” Raven’s voice comes from the hallway. Thank God, she’s alive.
The confirmation sends renewed strength to my mind and muscles.
I straighten from my tortured huddle, sucking air through my teeth. Fuck, this hurts. Then point my gun with my good arm. “Let her go, Dominick.” My voice sounds stronger than I feel.
“You broke into my home, Mr. Slade. I could kill you right here, in cold blood, and get away with it.” Dominick’s voice cracks with anger or frustration. I’m not sure.
“Dominick, please don’t.” Raven’s appeal ends on a whimper.
Is she hurt? I search in her direction, but can’t make her out in the dim light. She’s blocked in the hallway behind the bulk of the dicklicks who brought her here.
“Not true, asshole. In order to get away with it, you’d have to stay alive. And I can promise you, if I go down, so will you.” My aim is steady, head clear. I breathe deep and heavy, working past the pain.
“Well, we can put that to the test, although, I’d rather not have to deal with hiding dead bodies tonight.” Dominick’s tone sounds genuinely put off.
“Cut the bullshit.” I step closer, making sure to speak slowly so he understands. “I will not leave this place without her.”
His lips curl back over his teeth. “Oh, but you will. We made a bet. You lost.”
Waves of failure wash over me. “You had no intention of letting her go, did you? If I’d lost the fight, you’d just walk away?”
A chuckle rumbles from deep in his chest. “Brains and brawn. Impressive. And here I thought you were just a dumb jock.”
I fucking knew it. This guy plays by his own rules. I can’t believe I fell for it.
My injured arm moves on its own accord to steady my aim. “You’re de—” Dammit. Pain blazes at my shoulder.
Vince snorts with laughter. “Not so strong now, are ya? You may have taken me down in a surprise attack at the club, but I dare you to come at me now.”
Blake pulls a large hunting knife from the back of his pants. He spins it in his hand before he takes a fighting stance. He gives me a quick chin lift and focuses on the men across the room.
“Let me go.” Raven pushes at her captors, trying to get past.
My blood screams to get to her, to throw her over my shoulder and kill anyone who stands in my way. It’s my only option. I move. Dominick yanks her to his front, his gun at her head. I stop mid-stride.
“Not one more step, Slade.” His gun is pressing against her temple, her head turned away from the weapon, eyes screwed shut. Her chest heaves with heavy breaths or possible hysteria.
I push the urge to kill down deep. Right now, I need to make sure she’s unharmed.
“Baby?” I need to see her eyes, read in her expression that they didn’t hurt her. They better not have hurt her. “Baby, look at me.”
My gun is on Dominick. His on her. Vince’s moves back and forth between Blake and me.
“Jonah . . .” Desperation laces through my name as her words trail off. She blinks open her eyes and turns toward me.
Her stare is wild, the aquamarine almost glowing against their red rims. A large, bleeding gash cuts through her eyebrow. White-hot fury explodes deep in my chest. Visions of what could cause that kind of wound flash before my eyes. None of them good. I mentally shake away the possibilities of what would’ve happened if we hadn’t gotten here when we did. Going rat-shit crazy won’t help anyone and may jeopardize her safety. I need to focus on keeping her safe.
I lock eyes with her, hoping to God she sees something there that makes her listen. This shit is about to get ugly, and I need her as far away from it as possible.
“Baby, are you hurt? Anywhere besides your head?”
She shakes no. “I want to go home. Jonah . . .” Hysterical cries burst from her lips.
My stomach twists. “I know, baby. I’m here to take you home.” I pin Dominick with a glare. “Let her go.”
“Not a chance.” Dominick pushes the gun harder into Raven’s head, making her wince.
My finger twitches against the trigger.
“You don’t know what they did . . .W-What they were going to . . .” The sound of her soul-shaking sobs rip through the small room.
“I’m finished talking, Slade. Walk away. Now. Or she dies.”
I ignore Dominick. “Raven, everything’s going to be okay.” The look of terror in her eyes has me inching closer to comfort her.
The movement sends Dominick’s gun in my direction. Good.
Vince closes in. Blake follows suit. Tension boils in the air like acid. It’s a four-way standoff. Whoever shoots first, wins.
Blood drains from my shoulder in a steady drip. My vision blurs at the edges. I need to end this before I pass out. “Raven, baby.” I stagger a step. Shit.
“He tried to rape me.” Her words are spit at Vince.
Dominick drops his head with a muttered curse.
My eyes are drawn to her shorts, opened and unzipped. Oh, fuck no. Fire flares in my gut. My vision returns with crystal accuracy, but all I can see is blood. I should have ended him that night in the parking lot. He may think he knows what pain is, but I’m about to give him a lesson in agony.
I swing my aim to Vince, step close, point blank range.
“I’m going to fuck you up, you no-good piece of shit.” My words shake with the force of my anger.
“You better start apologizing, asswipe. My friend here’s about to put a bullet in your brain.” The rage in Blake’s voice tells me he’s walking a thin line of control.
Vince and I face off. My gun to his face, his to my chest. I’m vaguely aware of the other people in the room, but right now I’ve got sniper vision and Vince is in my crosshairs. Kill first, explain later.
“Just fucking end this, Dominick.” Vince’s gun shakes in his hand. I notice he’s not using his other arm to brace the weight of his weapon, but instead has it cradled to his body. “Give me the go ahead to take this guy out. It’s the least I could do after what that whore did to my arm—”
I lower my gun to his groin.
Pop.
“Aargh!” His scream of agony has him dropping to the floor along with his gun. He curls into the fetal position whimpering.
I kick his weapon away. “I warned you.”
Blake scoops it up and aims it at the miserable mound of flesh on the floor. “Won’t be using that tool ever again, eh Vinnie?”
Vince writhes once and then goes still. Probably passed out.
“Big mistake, Slade.” Dominick shouts and the sound of Raven’s cries fill the room.
I swing my gun toward him. His arm visibly flexes around her waist, making her gasp for air. I take aim, but feel my confidence draining along with the blood that flows down my arm.
“You don’t get it. She’s mine. You want to shoot me? Go ahead. But if I die, I take her with me.” He moves toward the door, dragging Raven with him.
I move to block him. It’s a risk, but after everything, I don’t believe he would kill her now. He thrusts the gun hard, forcing her neck to an awkward angle. Fuck.
Losing her once was a pain worse than death. I will not lose her again. I take another step.
“He’s gonna kill her, man.” Blake’s words speak to the raging beast in my head.
My shirt and jeans are soaked in my blood. I fight for consciousness. Blinking hard, I force myself to think clearly. Plans, ideas tumble in my head, heavy as it lists on my shoulders. I’m running out of time. There’s only one option left.
“Fine.” I lower my gun to the ground, then stand, palms forward in surrender. “You win.”
“You too.” Dominick motions to Blake to drop his weapons.
“Jonah?” Blake’s eyes dart from my shoulder to my face, asking the question, Have you lost your mind?
I nod for him to drop his weapons. He shakes his head.
“Do it. He’ll kill her.” I hope my voice sounds desperate.
Blake drops his weapons and gives me a I-hope-you-know-what-you’re-doing look. Me too.
Dominick tries to move past me. I stagger into his path, blocking his way.
“Wait. I just need to say one thing before you go.” My words are a string of slurs.
I shut down my rational thinking. Or what’s left of it. I’m firing on pure instinct. Using the one thing that has yet to fail me. I’m going to fight.
My head drops forward. Weakened from loss of blood, I gather my remaining strength. I’m not looking to beat him, only to buy enough time for Blake to get Raven out of here.
Dominick moves his gun-holding hand around her waist, and digs in his pocket for something. Car keys maybe.
Raven’s sobs tighten my chest, making it hard to swallow.
Hang in there, baby. I have a plan.
“No time for parting words, I’m afraid. If you boys will get the fuck out of my way, my daughter and I—”
“She’s my daughter!”
~*~
Raven
My mom is here. She said I’m her daughter. The ferocity of her words shakes the deepest corner of my soul.
“Milena.” Dominick’s voice sounds bored, but his muscles tense at my back. “What the fuck are you doing here?” He looks between her and Jonah. “You brought them here?” He aims the gun at her. “You stupid, bitch!”
She doesn’t flinch.
“I won’t let you take her.” She steps closer, her back straight, conviction burning in her eyes. “Let her go.”
“And if I don’t? What are you going to do about it?” He shakes with laughter. “Look at you. You’re pathetic and weak.”
“Not anymore.” Her voice is firm, not the slightest tremble. “I’m not that naïve girl anymore.” She pins Dominick with a glare. “Do you remember that night? Twenty-one years ago to this day. Just a few yards from where we’re standing.”
I was born here?
His grip loosens and he leans toward her. “Of course, I remember. You gave her to me then. You didn’t want anything to do with her. Wouldn’t even hold her.”
I twist my neck away from his devastating words. Heartbreak slashes through my body, threatening to drop me to the floor.
“Raven?” My mom’s voice is tender.
Her soft expression contradicts the torture that works behind her dark brown eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I’d lost my parents.” She exhales a quick breath and drops her head. “I couldn’t bear to lose you too. It’s no excuse. I know that now.”
Tears stream down my face as her public apology seeps into my soul.
“You ungrateful bitch, I’ve given you everything. You were nothing when I saved you from your shitty life.” Dominick shouts across the room, throwing his words like weapons.
She sneers in his direction. “I would rather live a thousand lives with nothing than the one I’ve lived with you. You used my fears against me to get what you wanted.” Her voice cracks. “Raven was my baby.” The room reverberates with the emotion behind her words.
Her baby. Warmth blooms in my chest. I stare, shock and amazement freezing my voice.
“But she was never mine, was she? You made that clear from the beginning.”
Goose bumps race over my skin. She was protecting herself. This whole time I thought she hated me.
“I created her—”
“She’s a human being, Dominick. You’re messing with people’s lives. She doesn’t want this.” She takes a step towards us, her shoulders tall and her expression fearless. “Let her go.”
She’s here. Fighting. For me.
Dominick’s gun stays aimed at her. Blake and Jonah stand close, muscles tense, eyes darting.
She lifts her chin in defiance. He’s going to kill her. And she’s willing to die to free me.
I can’t let that happen.
I fight the tears that brim in my eyes. It took strength for her to come here and risk her life. I won’t repay that with fear. I’ve waited my entire life to feel my mom’s love. And now that I have it, I refuse to lose it. We can fight to save each other.
“Your time is up, Milena. And who better to replace you than your own daughter.” He runs the cool metal of his gun down my cheek. “She looks like you. Moves like you.” He grabs a handful of my hair and pulls it, making me cry out. “She probably even fucks like you.”
“Piece of shit!” Jonah’s voice rumbles through the room.
“You stay the fuck out of this, Slade.” Dominick points his gun at my mom.
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take good care of her.” He kisses my cheek. I lean away from him. His grip tightens. Gun cocked. “Good-bye, Milena.”
Jonah moves fast. I’m thrown to the floor. My head smacks the hardwood. Pain lances through my skull, and bright stars flash behind my eyes. I struggle to sit up, blinking. Jonah has Dominick on the ground. They push and pull for the gun in a deadly tug-o-war.
Oh, God.
Blake pulls me up. “Baby girl. Let’s go.”
He drags me to the door, hooking my mom around her shoulders, and pushing us out.
“No!” I squirm in his hold. “I’m not leaving him.”
Blake’s biceps tighten. He’s too strong. “Please, Blake. Let me go!”
He drags us down the stairs. Every step escalates my need to run back. I will never give up my fight for Jonah.
“Can’t. I promised—”
“I won’t lose him!” I’m kicking and flailing.
His steps slow.
“I can’t live without him.” I continue to claw at Blake’s arms. I stomp hard on his foot.
“Shit.” A deep groan rumbles from his chest. “He’s going to kill me.” His words are mumbled beneath his breath.
And then I’m free. My will to save Jonah burns in my muscles as I sprint toward the cabin.
I dart into the room. Jonah and Dominick are still locked in a vicious battle. I slide across a slippery pool of Vince’s blood.
There’s commotion, yelling. I look up to see Dominick’s gun pointed at Jonah’s face. I need to move faster.
A gun. I scurry on all fours. Blood covers my hands. Tears blur my vision. I fumble with the weapon. Crawling toward the fight. Jonah locks eyes with mine. His features twist in undiluted panic. Dominick’s arm gets loose. The gun presses below Jonah’s chin. No! The gun slips from my grip, I scramble for it with shaking hands. I get it, raise my hands to aim, and pray I’m not too late.
Pop-Pop-Pop.