It hadn’t taken long for the club to put a plan into motion. As soon as my call with Sofia was cut off, my brothers along with my father organized a course of action. We now know Bella is in Fairfield, Washington. Demetri has arranged for his private plane to take us to Spokane. Drive time would have taken well over two hours, with flying it cuts that two hours down to about thirty minutes. Once we arrive at the airport in Spokane, we will make a forty-minute drive to Fairfield. Even though we don’t have an exact address where Bella is being held, my father informed us his men are very good at finding people, and has assured me we will have the information by the time we reach Spokane.

Jake, Quinn, Reid, and Demetri will be making the trip with me, while Gabriel and my brother, Nikolai, will stay behind watching over the clubhouse while we’re away. With the President of Los Demonios dead, there’s not much of a threat, but we’re not taking any chances. We still have no clue as to who Alba’s buyer was, or if he has any hurt feelings at not getting what he’s paid for. People who are sick and crazy enough to buy another human being, for whatever reason, don’t usually give up too easily on their obsession.

Walking out of the clubhouse towards my father’s SUV, I see Victor, his driver, loading several duffel bags into the back. An advantage of flying private is we’re able to bring our artillery. Speaking of, I see Bennett striding over to Reid carrying a familiar black case that holds his .300 Win Mag, he passes it off to him with a lift of his chin.

The drive to the airport is silent. My wandering thoughts have me on edge. Is she okay, what are those motherfuckers doing to her? I clench my hands into fists with the thought of anyone putting their hands on my woman. “Don’t let your head go there, son.” My father speaks from beside me. “Focus on their blood—on vengeance.” He’s right, I need to keep my shit together. I’m no good to Bella if I let my emotions cloud my judgment.

Sitting inside Demetri’s plane, I can’t help but think about the kind of wealth he has. My mother was a single parent who sometimes struggled to make ends meet on her nurse’s salary, while my father was able to afford whatever his heart desired. Logically I know it’s not his fault, but it still hurts to know that my grandfather, my own blood, didn’t think I was good enough...that my mother wasn’t good enough for his son. Cutting my eyes over to my father, I see him staring at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking and I’m startled by the look of devastation on his face. In that moment, I realize he’s hurting just as much as I am, and I need to let my anger go. Bella told me I was lucky to have this second chance with my father. He has shown me nothing but love, patience, and loyalty since coming into my life. I owe it to myself and my mother to give him the same. Something tells me my mom would have wanted it this way.

When we land in Spokane, I watch as my brothers file out of the plane, then I turn to look behind me to see my father talking to the pilot.

“Dad,” I call out.

Pivoting his head in shock, Demetri answers, “son.”

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.

“You’re welcome, Logan,” he answers back with noticeable emotion in his voice. With those parting words, I walk off the plane leaving the ghost of my grandfather behind.

True to his word my father’s men found the address where Bella was being held. We pulled off to the side of a secluded road about a mile from the abandoned house where we knew Jorge, and at least a dozen of his men are located. Jake, Quinn, and I climb out of the SUV along with Demetri and Victor. We remain silent as we ready ourselves. As I’m sliding my 9mm into my shoulder holster, Jake speaks up. “Chances are, these motherfuckers will be expecting us. I’m sure they know by now we killed their president, who happened to be the VP’s father. They’ll be looking for blood,” he cautions us.

Prez is right, there will be no sneaking up this time. We’ll have to go in hot and make this shit quick. I watch as Reid pulls the black case Bennett handed off to him before we left the clubhouse out of the back of the SUV, and takes off in a jog. The dirt road we are on is situated directly behind the abandoned house those sons of bitches are held up in, and Reid is headed off to get in position. The .300 Win Mag that Reid is carrying is the same one Bennett taught us to shoot when we were younger. Reid is an excellent shot and he’s very good at not being seen. My brother is a ghost when need be.

“Alright, it’s show time,” Jake announces as Victor speeds up the dirt road stopping directly in front of the house. We’re barely out of the vehicle when shots are fired in our direction. Demetri is the first to return fire, catching a man on top of the roof, as Jake takes out a man who crept up on the side of the house. I hear several more shots as Quinn and Victor make their way around back, while Jake and I settle up by the front door. Prez gives the signal and on three—boots in the door as I cover him from behind and drill two holes into some fucker’s back as the coward tries to run away. Rushing down the hall I quickly start checking rooms. They’re all empty, except for what I find in the third one that almost brings me to my knees...blood! Blood soaked sheets covering the bed, and my first thought is I’m too late. There’s no way anybody can still be breathing after losing that much blood. “Fuck,” Jake hisses from behind me.

“Jake,” I choke out.

“We don’t know nothin’ for sure, Logan, don’t let your head go there.” I hear Jake’s phone ping. He looks at his message. “Let’s go, Reid has eyes through a window of the basement, he says there’s movement down there.”

Running back into the kitchen, I jerk open the door I know leads to the basement. The squeak of the stairs no doubt alerting whoever is down here to my arrival, but I don’t have it in me to give a shit, I’m on a mission. With my pistol raised, I round the corner, and I’m met with the worst sight I’ve ever witnessed. My angel is hanging from the ceiling, covered in lacerations and with a pool of blood at her feet. It takes me all of two seconds to notice the motherfucker sitting in the chair to my left with his gun trained on me. He’s spewing some shit about how our club killed his father and now he wants me to watch the woman I love die right in front of me.

“Your father was a coward who was caught trying to run and leave his men behind.” I tell him, keeping my gun trained on him.

Catching the small red light coming through the window, I sneer at him, “Let me fill you in on something, motherfucker. The barrel of the gun that was pressed between his eyes, as he stared death in the face—it’s the same one that your sorry ass is staring down right now. The only one dying here today is you.” By this point, we both have our guns trained on each other, but before he has a chance to react to my statement, Reid’s single shot hits Jorge right between the eyes, and I’m at Bella’s side before his body reaches the floor.

Taking a knife from my pocket, Bella’s limp body falls into my arms as I quickly cut her down. She’s still conscious but doesn’t have the ability to hold herself up. Her lips are turning blue and her skin is pale. Laying her on the basement floor, I slip my cut off and cover her exposed body as she slurs, “I love you, Logan.”

“I love you too, Angel. Stay with me.” I say in return.

With shaky hands, I take my belt and tie it above the puncture wound on the inside of her thigh. Scooping her up in my arms, I wince. With the number of cuts on her body, there is no way of moving her that’s going to be painless. Behind me, I hear pounding feet making their way down the stairs. When I turn I see Jake and Quinn.

“Oh shit, brother.” Quinn mutters when he sees the state Bella is in, “and who the hell is that?” he curses pointing to the small shadowy figure lying on the floor in the corner of the room. Quinn swiftly strides over to the unmoving person. “It’s a fuckin’ kid,” he announces, “and she’s beaten all to hell.”

“We got to move now so bring her with,” I exclaim.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I practically run out of the house with Bella in my arms. By the time we load up into the truck, she has passed out. “Go! Go! Go!” I shout at Victor.

“Hospital is ten minutes out,” he clips.

“Baby, please,” I chant as I rock her limp body in my arms. “You’ve got to stay with me, okay? Babe, please. You can’t leave me now. Come on, what the fuck is taking so long?” I bellow. I look around at my brothers, I hate seeing the look of pity on their faces—like it’s over, like she’s already gone. Fuck that shit, I’m not giving up on her.

With the screeching of tires, we pull up to the emergency room. I jump out, still holding Bella in my arms, jogging through the sliding doors while Quinn carries in the other girl we found down in the basement with her. “We need a fucking doctor now!” I yell, drawing the attention of several patients in the waiting room, along with a few staff members milling around. A tall scrawny man wearing scrubs comes running towards me with a short, black haired girl wearing a white coat. No way is she a fuckin’ doctor. She doesn’t look like she’s old enough to be out of high school yet. “I said I wanted a goddamn doctor!” I growl at the woman who is attempting to assist the nurse in getting me to let go of Bella and lay her down on a gurney.

“I am the doctor,” she hisses back at me. “Now, you need to let her go so I can assess her.” She calmly insists, cutting her eyes to Bella whom I still have a death grip on. “What’s your name?” she questions me.

“Logan,” I snap at her.

“I’m Dr. Evans, and I promise I’m going to do everything I can to help...” she pauses.

“Bella, her name is Bella,” I inform her.

“I’m going to help Bella, but first we need you to let her go.” Relenting, I place Bella on the gurney and watch as they rush her away.

I can’t move. I’m frozen to this spot watching as more nurses surround her, poking and prodding as they hook her up to machines. Dr. Evans is giving out instructions left and right. I watch as one nurse runs over carrying units of blood. My brothers stand silently behind me. There’s nothing to be said at this point. A second later the shrill sound of monitors going off fills the emergency room.

“She’s crashing!” The skinny male nurse calls out. My heart feels like it’s stuck in my throat as my legs begin to move on their own accord toward the chaos. I’m halfway across the room when two security guards stop me.

“I’m sorry sir, but you can’t be here.” They inform me.

“I need to get to my woman,” I snap.

“Sir, you’re not allowed, but if you go to the waiting room someone will be with you shortly.” Seeing me about to protest again, the other guard cuts in.

“Look man, I got a wife, I understand. I promise someone will be with you as soon as possible. Let them do their job. Dr. Evans is one of the best. Your girl is in good hands.” Giving in, I allow Jake to lead me back to the waiting area.

Two hours later a nurse approaches us, “Excuse me, sir, Dr. Evans ask that I bring you all to a private family room.”

“What the hell for? Why can’t she come talk to us here?”

“Sir, please.”

“Fuck no! I know why doctors take people in the family rooms, I’m not havin’ that shit. She’s not telling me my girl is dead, you hear me?”

“Logan, come on son, let’s go.” My father urges me.

“No, they’re not going to tell me she fuckin’ gone!”

“Logan.” Dr. Evans cuts in. Calmly walking over to me, she places her hand on my arm. “Bella is in surgery and stable for now. I wanted to bring you to the family room so we could discuss her condition in private. I’m sorry that my instruction alarmed you.”

I slump my shoulders in relief, “Is she going to be okay?” I ask.

“Right now, Bella is stable, but she’s not out of the woods yet. If you all will follow me I will explain her condition to you.”

Nodding we follow the doctor into a private room. I sit and listen to her describe Bella’s injuries. “She has seven lacerations to her chest and torso that will require at least 200 or more stitches, she’s being sewn up now. I repaired the femoral artery in her leg. Whoever tied the belt around her thigh saved her life. Had it not been for that she wouldn’t have made it to the hospital. She’s still unconscious and will most likely remain that way awhile. I want you to keep in mind that even though she’s stable, she is still in serious condition and will be admitted to the ICU for a few days. Bella also had some bruising on her hips and along the inside of her thighs indicating possible sexual assault.”

My body tenses at the mention of rape. “And?” I ask.

“The examination determined she wasn’t raped.” Dr. Evans assures.

“When can I see her?”

“Once Bella is moved to the ICU, she will be allowed one visitor at a time. I’m also going to suggest a counselor come talk to her when she is awake. Bella will most likely have some issues and trouble dealing with the level of damage that has been done to her body. Recovery will be a very difficult road for her. I called in a favor and had the best plastic surgeon in the state come in, he’s working on Bella now. I’ll go check on his progress and send someone to take you to her as soon as possible.”

“What about the girl that was brought in with Bella? How’s she doing?” Reid inquires. Shit, I completely forgot about her. My only focus has been on my woman.

“Sofia has a broken arm and a significant amount of bumps and bruises. She’s awake now and was able to tell us her name and give some information about what’s happened to her. She seems to be a strong girl. I’m going to work on finding her family.”

“Thanks, Dr. Evans,” I say offering her my hand, “and I’m sorry about before. When we first arrived, I meant no disrespect.”

Accepting she replies, “You’re welcome, Logan. Given the situation, your actions were to be expected. You only wanted what was best for the person you care for and believe me, you’re not the first person to question my credibility, and you won’t be the last.” She says in a bit of a teasing tone to lighten the mood. Standing up, Dr. Evans makes her way to the door and adds, “There are a couple detectives in the waiting area asking to speak with someone about the incident involving Bella and Sofia.”

Before I can reply my father cuts in.

“I’ll take care of it,” he says immediately leaving the room.

“Excuse me there, Dr. Pretty,” Quinn draws from the corner of the room. “Would you mind showing me where I can get some coffee?”

The doctor’s face flushes red as she stammers, “Um, sure.” I watch as he walks out of the room throwing a wink over his shoulder as he trails behind the poor unsuspecting woman.

“Fucking Quinn, can’t take his ass anywhere,” Reid scoffs.

* * *

It’s been two days and Bella still hasn’t woken up. The plus is that she is no longer considered critical and has been moved to a regular room. Dr. Evans has been coming by every few hours to check on her progress, and she assures me Bella will wake up when she’s ready. My father has arranged for Bella to have a private room while she’s here, and he’s gotten Jake, Quinn, and Reid situated in a local hotel. With things quiet back home, they refuse to leave until Bella can come home.

It’s almost 9:00 am, and I’m expecting the guys any moment for their first visit of the day, so when the door opens I’m expecting to see my brothers, but what I get is Alba—a very angry looking Alba. She appraises her sister for a moment before she turns her fiery eyes to me. This is not the sweet, timid little sister we have come to know. “You,” she seethes pointing a finger at me. “TWO DAYS my sister has been laid up in this hospital without me. TWO DAYS you assholes have instructed Gabriel to keep me home.”

“Alba—” I begin to speak, but she cuts me off.

“No! If any of you ever try to keep me from my sister again, I will nut punch every single one of you!”

With a brow lift and amused look on my face, I look over at Gabriel who is quietly standing by the door, and I can’t help but chuckle. Her attempt at being intimidating is about as effective as Bella’s.

“She has a fire,” he states.

Whipping her head around Alba growls, “Gabriel!”

“Cariño, sweetie,” He rasps drawing out the ‘r’ making his accent sound even stronger. I watch in amusement as she turns red. Deciding to give up on her intimidation tactic, Alba turns her attention back to Bella. Walking over to the bed she sets her purse down, and then very carefully crawls into bed with her sister.