CHASE

 

For the first time, I’m thinking that this could actually work. There’s chemistry between the two of us, which I had felt was there before but after tonight, it’s only intensified. I’m not the type to fall for women. Not even close. I’m also not the type to randomly hook up with women, either.

I have somewhat of a reputation as being a ladies’ man with the other men back at the firm, but they have no idea what happens behind closed doors. I drop a few ice cubes into two glasses and then fill them with cherry-flavored whiskey.

Crash.

A loud noise steals my attention from the bedroom. I freeze in place for the shortest period of time, perhaps half a second, before I race into action. Rushing towards the bedroom door, I throw it open with the weight of my body to find an empty bed and the blackout curtains blowing in the breeze.

I scoop my gun off the nightstand and run to the window as I hear a blood-curdling scream.

It’s Summer.

When I look out the window, I see a man dragging her backwards down the long alley that’s behind my apartment. I kick my feet over the edge of the windowsill and drop down onto the fire escape right outside. My mind is racing. My heart is racing even faster.

How could I have been so stupid to let her out of my sight?

With my hands gripped around the tubes on either side of the ladder, I let gravity do the work as I slide down to the second story and then jump over the railing, landing hard on my feet against the asphalt alley.

When I recover to a standing position, the next thing I see is a horrifying sight that takes me back to when this all began. I see Summer being pulled backwards into the back of a black van and a gloved hand gripped over her mouth, muting her screams and cries.

The van tears away before the back door is even pulled shut. Traveling in a straight line, there’s no way I’d be able to catch up with them, so I start computing alternative options. A light bulb goes off in my head and I immediately cut through the alley to my right. I run as fast as I can down the slim alley, jumping over a knocked over tin trash can. When I think I can’t possibly run any faster, I push myself to the limits.

The buildings whiz by me. Everything is a blur except for the tunnel vision of the road ahead. Lights flicker in the distance as the van rounds a corner just down the way.

I break out of the alley just as the van careens around the corner. Making a split decision, I throw all caution to the wind and just go for it. I launch myself forward and somehow manage to cling onto a rafter on top of the van. My feet kick outwards as I try to steady my grip. Just when it feels like I’m about to fall off, I manage to land my other hand on top of the same rafter and hold myself there.

My phone rings in my jeans.

“This better be fucking important,” I grumble under my breath, steadying one hand against the rafter as I retrieve my phone and push it between my ear and head. My grip loosens so I shift my other hand back on top of the van and pray that I don’t drop my phone. “Chase Carter.”

“Hey, it’s Marcus.”

“Skip to the chase, buddy. Long story short, Summer’s been kidnapped, but I’m on the back of the van.”

“Do they know you’re there?”

“I’m sure they’re about to find out, which is why I need you to hurry the hell up with whatever—”

“Okay, okay. That number you sent me earlier? I managed to ping the location. It’s an old abandoned warehouse just up the way from the hideout.”

“Send me the address and send anyone that’s available,” I grunt out and look up to find myself losing my grip once again. “And hurry.”

“The only person available is Dom and he’s already on his way, but he’s coming from downtown.”

“Great,” I grind out. “Where are the twins?”

“They’re offline.”

“Gotta go.” I hang up the phone and drop it back into my pocket just as the van rounds a sharp corner. My body sways with the direction of the van and I almost fall off. It’s time to make my move.

Using the strength of my arms, I grit my teeth as I reach down and rip one of the two back doors open. As the door swings open, I reach for my gun and ready it just before swinging my body forward and launching myself into the back of the van.

Summer’s eyes, with duct tape over her mouth, go wide as she sighs with relief. But we’re not out of the woods, not even close. The two men—the driver and the passenger—twist around to see me kneeling in the back of the van. Before they can do anything stupid, I aim my gun squarely at the passenger, knowing the driver is already too occupied to do much of anything.

“Give me your phone,” I demand, pushing myself deeper into the van and towards the two henchman who’ve messed with the wrong girl. The driver shakes his head defiantly, but the passenger must have more of a will to live because he passes me his phone without hesitation. I force my way in-between the two of them and reach across the passenger to push open his door.

He turns to me with wide eyes and protests, “No…”

“Yes.” I give him a hard shove and his body bends like cardboard, rolling sideways out of the van. The driver’s attention is elsewhere from where it should be—the road ahead—so I jump into the passenger seat and aim the gun squarely at his head. “Focus on the road or I’ll send a bullet through your thick skull.”

He does as commanded, swallowing nervously. I almost feel sorry for this guy for what I’m about to do to him. Almost. I cock my head over the man’s shoulder and take note that we’re passing over a bridge before we connect to the highway.

With the gun still aimed squarely at his head, I reach across the way and push open his door.

“What are you doing, man?”

I force a smile and wave him off. “Just getting some fresh air.”

Just as he’s pushing his feet against the brakes—he’s not too stupid to know what’s about to happen to him—I lean back into my seat and kick my feet out, connecting with the man’s side. He’s sent flying out of the side of the van and over the edge of the bridge. In the distance I hear a loud splash as I finagle my way into the driver’s seat.

But I don’t do it fast enough.

The van careens against the concrete walls of the bridge, sending sparks flying behind us. Once I finally manage to regain control of the vehicle, Summer manages to free herself from the ropes binding her to pull the back door shut. She jumps into the passenger seat and rips the duct tape off of her mouth.

“We have a location,” I say to her and pass her my phone. “Can you put that into the GPS?”

“I’m on it.” She navigates us towards our location and then looks to me, her chest heaving with a potent combination of exhaustion and rage. “I’m ready to end these people.”

This girl’s got a fire in her soul, and it burns especially bright in her eyes. And I think to myself, Yeah, I could love this girl. Someday.