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“Besides that, I already notated in my will that I’d never willingly give either of you a penny of our inheritance. That if by any chance you show up with documentation stating I’d do such a thing, you’ve either kidnapped me and forced my hand, or have killed me and have stashed my body in order to keep the authorities from finding me. So even if you show up with this paper and my signature on it, you still won’t receive a dime.”
And that’s when the nightmare I’ve had for years comes to fruition. They gang up on me and beat me until life drains from my mind and I become incoherent. The world around me ceases to spin as I take a hitched breath and fall into the abyss of darkness.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
ARIS
“Your woman was one smart cookie,”Kayson states as he loads clips into his pockets and pops another into his Glock. “Not many people take the time and use their foresight to prepare for disaster the way she has.”
“Not many people grew up with Marcus and Lucinda as parents either. She had to shelter herself and Berk a lot during their childhood,” I add, contributing my viewpoint. I’m not surprised like he is that she went to these measures.
Happy? Yes.
Shocked? No.
If anyone is aware of the deviousness of the McKinnys it's me.
Hanging my head, I groan, “She knows better than anyone does how crooked and cruel they can be.”
“We’ve all had a lesson or two from those assholes,” Kayson grates out. “My family was only one of the few whose lives have been impacted because of their get rich quick schemes.”
I have nothing to say to his rightful ire, so I nod my head in acquiesce.
There’s probably more individuals out there that have crossed paths with the couple than we’ve been informed of. Hell, they may no longer be alive to tell us about their meeting. At this point, I wouldn’t put anything past them.
They’ve far exceeded my expectations of them. They have no patterns to follow and track which has made catching them in the act and reporting it next to impossible.
After receiving the message, we turned around and headed back to my place so we could organize and plan our attack. My mind is a mess of endless activity. I'm torn between comforting my best friend and helping the others scan the blueprint so that we know the best entrance and exit points of the warehouse.
Berk and Tracker have paced the entire lower level of the house until I’m worried one or the other is going to pass out. Scanning the room, my eyesight lands on my dad. Once our eyes meet, he nods his head at me letting me know he has them and I can put all of my concentration on the rescue and retrieval preparations. When that weight has been lifted from my chest, I give my unwavering attention to the leaders of the teams.
“I'm coming inside with you,” I say explicitly to Kayson, breaking up their discussion.
They’re in talks and going over the pros and cons of who’s going in and who’s going to stay behind and protect the outside borders—this second group is tasked with making sure nobodyother than us escapes while keeping unknowns out and out of the line of danger.
This particular warehouse we’re infiltrating used to be where the homeless community would gather in order to protect themselves from the weather’s elements and have a roof over their heads in the meantime.
The first group is the retrieval team, they’re the ones who will be taking on the more dangerous roles. They’ll not only be facing off with the McKinnys but also whoever else they have hoarded in there with them. With it being an unidentifiable number, and since we don’t have time to case the joint and try to figure out what the quantities of people that we’re up against is, we’ve decided that taking a risk and going in blind is the only course we have.
“You’re not coming with us, Aris. You aren’t equipped or trained. You aren’t only putting yourself and Berlynn at risk of being injured, or worse, killed, but us too. We’re bonded for these operations, you’re not,” Kayson argues.
“I either go with you and follow your lead, or I go on my own. Either way, I’m not staying here while my woman is in peril,” I insist.
I’m not messing around nor am I backing down on this.
“If you won’t take me with you, even if I’m agreeing to your terms, then I’ll go get her on my own. I don’t care if you’re in agreement with me on this or not. I’m going to be the one who holds her in his arms and helps her through the emotional trauma of this entire ordeal as soon as we get her out of that place. End of discussion.”
“Stop being an asshole, Aris,” Garrick instructs. “You’re too emotionally involved and aren’t listening nor are you of sound mind. What you’re demanding and persistent about isn’t only reckless, it’s deadly!”
“I know that!” I yell. “But it’s my choice and that’s my woman!”
“You’ve pointed that out,” Kayson interrupts. “The only way I’ll even think about such incompetence is if you agree to stay your ass inside of the car.”
“What? No fucking way, Kayson,” I hiss. “I want to carry her out of there while y’all take care of the trash.”
“What about a compromise?” my dad interjects.
