Grayson (This is Our Life Book 1) (18 page)

Animal nods. “On it, sir.” And I’m no longer concerned about Styx.  Johnny’s got his back.

“Radar, you’re our eyes and ears.  Keep me posted as we go.  Any signs of hostiles, alert me immediately,” I instruct, following Styx’s exit.

“Roger that, boss man.”

Styx, Johnny, and I gear up for the upcoming confrontation with our nemesis.  The image of the girls so worn and helpless will haunt my nightmares for years to come.  I’m barely holding it in and am relying on my instincts and training to help get me through the next several hours.  I’m not sure what’s in store for us, but one way or another I’m going to get my girl and bring her home.

Hunger and fatigue have settled into my body.  We’ve been left alone, and Savannah hasn’t woken again.  Her breathing is shallow and she hasn’t moved in several hours. Hopelessness and despair plague my waking moments.  My neck feels broken from falling asleep in the position I’m in, and delirium is beginning to show in my thoughts.  My head weighs heavy on my shoulders and I’m struggling to lift it when the lock slides across the door of our prison and in walks Beauty.  My heart begins to beat quickly, because I know he’s here to rescue us!  Thank god! We’re going to be rescued!

Then he greets me and fear consumes every part of my being. “Hello, little one.”  My mind registers that he’s not wearing army fatigues, and the turban on his head isn’t part of the issued gear either, causing me to tremble uncontrollably.  It’s the disguised man standing in front of me. Everything clicks in place, and I realize now what I couldn’t piece together before.  He’s Grayson’s second-in-command, and I’ve seen him with Grayson at TMC a few times.

“You asshole!” I scream.  “You did that to her!  You hurt her!  If I weren’t bound to this chair, I would kill you! You coward!” 

I continue my tirade, struggling to free myself from the ropes and draining the last of my energy. 

He moves about the room with a devilish smirk on his face before stopping in front of me, gripping my cheeks between his fingers and squeezing hard. 

“Tsk Tsk, little one.  Your temper is unbecoming of your sweetness.  You should be careful what you say to me, or your friend will suffer the consequences.”  He chuckles and releases my cheeks with a flip of his wrist, sending my head in the opposite direction.

“I bet you’re asking yourself why would someone like me want do something like this?” he questions and waves his hand in the air.  “Is it the thrill of being caught or outsmarting your commanding officers?  Hmmm, maybe it’s for religious purposes or better yet, maybe I was abused as a child?  No...none of those, although they’re valid points, yeah?  Let me enlighten you, little one...a long time ago, I was approached by a powerful, wealthy man who showed me the path of righteousness paved in gold.  Money and power.  What more could a man ask for?
Oh, the most important…revenge on the founders of Trident Security.
”

He stops in front of Savannah.  “She’s breathing still.” Then he lifts his leg, rears back, and kicks her in the back, rolling her onto her stomach, eliciting a small cry of pain from the already wounded woman.

“Stop! Please stop!  I’ll..I’ll do anything, but please, please stop!”

I’m yelling at the top of my voice as he turns toward me and smiles.

“You just did, little one.” Then he walks away, leaving the door open.

I arrive at the checkpoint at exactly the given time.  My phone alerts me to a new email with a new set of coordinates to follow.  A new picture is attached, and it’s worse than the previous one.  It’s Savannah, and she’s being held down by several men while someone is cutting her body.  The caption reads,
The little one is next
.  My heart is pounding as adrenaline flows.  When I find this son of bitch, he’s going to suffer a long and painful death.  He knew my weakness and is exploiting it. 

I jump back on the Harley, following the GPS to the next location checkpoint when Styx’s voice rumbles on the com link.  “She’s in bad shape, Grayson.  Doc did a preliminary diagnosis based on the last photo, and she needs immediate care.  Broken bones, loss of blood, possible internal damage...”

I understand his concerns.  First and foremost our priority is the extraction of the girls and then the possible takedown of the cell’s second-in-command, brotherhood style.  Once we find their location, it’s lights out, motherfucker!

“Boss man, you’re coming up on the warehouse district.  It’s mostly deserted buildings.  No civilians.   Location should be on your right.  Styx and Animal are in position.  Sensors are picking up seven warm bodies.  Two off to the far right of the complex. Five near the front,” Radar reports.

I pull forward, turn the engine off, and kick the stand out.  I place the helmet around the handles and start walking toward the only entrance into the building.  My palms are twitchy with anticipation.  Action towards the abomination I once believed was my friend.  That’s when I hear her.  A gut-wrenching scream.   I start to run when Radar comes over the com, “Stop, Grayson.  It’s a trap.  Ella’s okay.  My feed is showing someone hurting the body on the floor.” As an afterthought, he adds, “Must be Savannah.”  It takes every ounce of discipline not to take off running toward that sound.  The sound I know is Beauty’s calling card to me.

“Roger that, Radar,” Animal says.  “Damn, Styx is leaving his position.  I repeat he’s left his position.  Heard what was going down and took off.  I can’t locate him from my position, but gotcha covered, Cap.” Then gunfire erupts around me.  Dust kicks up where a bullet ricochets off the clay pavement, and I’m sprinting toward the building for cover. Dodging left to right in a zigzag pattern to avoid being hit.  Ducking into the doorway, I let off a few rounds, trying to taking down hostiles as I go.  It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, and I’m firing again, taking down my marks.  Three more left to eradicate.  I take stock, allowing my senses to control my actions as I make toward the corner the girls are being held.

Animal reports, “Styx has entered the building, Cap.”

No sooner has he reported than I hear two shots followed by bellows of pain, and he’s by my side, looking for the last culprit, Beauty. I give him a nod and proceed.

“Animal, get down here now.  Radar, we’re going black.  Let’s finish this, boys.” 

I’m ready to hold Ella in my arms.  Touch her all over, making sure she isn’t hurt and caressing every inch of her body.  I want to be the one to console her and help her get past the nightmarish ordeal she’s been involved in.

When Animal arrives, we slowly make our way among the pallets, searching for our target.  I lead and motion to Styx and Animal to fan out.  We approach the doorway from different angles.  One of us should make it to them.  Styx motions toward an open door, and I know we are almost there when the stench hits me; human waste and blood.   

My fear is that he’s with the girls, and I dread the upcoming confrontation.  We’re hugging the wall when I give the signal.  I enter the room and take in my surroundings.  Beauty is standing behind Ella with a gun pointed at her head.  She’s draped over his body, providing a shield against my gun.  I only have one shot, but I’m not willing to take that chance with Ella’s life.

He grins and exclaims, “Checkmate, Capt’n.  I win.  Place your weapon on the ground and kick it toward me.” 

I hesitate, and he pushes the gun further into Ella’s temple.  She yelps, and silent tears freely fall from her beautiful blues.  She’s looking directly at me, conveying all the love she has in her heart.

“Now, Capt’n.  My patience is wearing thin.  Me and the missus have places to go, people to see.”

I don’t want to be without my weapon, but I know my brothers have got my back.  I slowly bend down, place my firearm on the floor, and then give it a nudge with my foot to send it in the direction he had said.

“Let her go now.  I’m here,” I command him with a firm and even tone.

He caresses Ella’s chest and smirks at me.  “I never said I would allow her to leave with you. We’ve become really close.  I’ve decided I want her as my pet.”

“You’ll be leaving here with her over my dead body,” I promise, allowing the loathing to filter through my voice.

He shrugs and says, “I can arrange for her to watch your demise.  Her training has begun with her friend over there.  What’s a little more to ensure her obedience?” 

I notice Ella, and the look on her face calms me.  She’s furious.  If she gets the chance, she’s going to try something dangerous.  Beauty’s gun is no longer aimed at Ella.  He’s slacked his hold during his ranting.  Ella shifts and tries to offer a small resistance, causing him to tighten his hold around her waist, which takes his attention off me. It’s the distraction needed to get her out of his clutches.

I shift to the right as he lifts the gun and aims it at my chest.  His fingers curl around the hammer, and moments before the release, Styx rolls in front of the doorway, landing on his belly, takes aim, and shoots the gun from Beauty’s hand.  I leap toward him as the gun releases from his grasp.  It falls to the floor, firing when it lands, hitting Ella, and she’s thrown from Beauty’s body, screaming from the impact of the bullet.  She’s joined Savannah on the cold ground, slumped over and unmoving. My mind shuts off the terror of losing her to focus on eliminating the person who put her in this position to begin with: Beauty. 

He holds his hand close to his body, using his left hand to grab the weapon holstered in his boot.  Lifting, he aims and fires, missing his intended mark.  A loud yelp fills the air when Styx powers off another shot, hitting Beauty in the knee.  He collapses to the ground, and I strike.  Moving swiftly, I secure the weapon from him and wrangle his arms behind his back.  Animal walks up and fastens the handcuffs tightly on his bleeding hands. 

“You can’t stop us.  We’re everywhere.  You can’t even be sure that I’m the only sleeper amongst you, can you?” he rasps as pain begins to register in his psychotic brain.

He’s trying to divide and conquer with his ranting, but his words are falling on deaf ears.  My brothers-in-arms gather around as we bind and lock Beauty to the chair, ensuring he will not leave this place until we’re ready.  I turn to my girl.  Jacobs is there and is staunching the blood flow.  Her eyes are on me as I make my way. 

“Hey, Bluebird.”

“Hey, Grayson, I’ve been waiting for you. Kinda took your time finding me,” she jokingly sasses.

“Like hell I did.”

She smiles at me, “I never doubted...love you.”

I bend down and hold her small hand. Lightly kissing her, I vow, “Love you always, Bluebird.”

Duty calls when our moment is interrupted by Johnny.  He’s returned from helping Styx get Savannah into the waiting van.  Jacobs is ready to move Ella now. He’s taking them to TMC for care.  I’ll be with her soon.  We’ve got some unfinished business to attend to here.

“See ya soon, Captain,” Ella says as Jacobs carries her from the room.

“You can bet on it, Bluebird.”

Momentarily, Styx is back, and the three of us turn to the traitor, needing answers.  He’s in the same position he forced Ella to be in for two long days.  We each share the same expression: fury.  Beauty smirks and doesn’t quiver under the stare.  He’s relishing the fact we’ve caught him and know of his transgressions.  He’s proud of his accomplishments and doesn’t regret what’s he’s done.

Johnny’s the first to approach Beauty.  When he’s only a few feet away, he slams his fist square into his nose. We all hear the horrible crack reverberate against the walls.  Styx is there next, punching him in the gut, taking his breath.  He continues until the sound of bones fracturing permeates the air.  His fists are bloody when he stops and spouts, “You deserve more, you low-life son of bitch.” 

Beauty’s head hangs from the punishment when I approach him.

“Now who’s winning, motherfucker?”  I lunge forward, planting the toe of my boot in his crotch.  His chair falls sideways to the ground.  One more loose end needs to be tied up before we’re leaving this hellhole.

I lean forward, snatching his hair and yanking his face closer. “Where’s Mustafa’s headquarters?”