Page 52 of Ruthless Deliverance

“It’s true. We were going to meet up there because the fight was canceled.” Dennis recoils.

“You’re coming with us.” I haul him off the chair, and he wobbles, unable to support himself on his wounded leg. Unceremoniously, we all but throw him into Philip’s car, shoving him into the back seat.

“Creed,” Philip says my name, and when I look to him, he holds his hand out. Handing him the pistol, I walk past him. “You can’t just shoot people. You realize that, right?”

“No, you can’t just shoot people. I can. And I will if that’s what it takes to get to her.”

“There’s no way he’d harm her. There’s no way,” Philip mutters, but I’m not sure he believes the words leaving his mouth because his movements are erratic.

“We’ve both worked with him long enough to know he’ll do anything to save his own ass. That’s how we all ended up here in the first place.” Philip knows exactly what I’m talking about because the urgency in his movements increase as he drops into the driver’s seat of his car.

Dad gets into the passenger seat with Philip, and I hurry to mine, hauling ass towards the Den. Fear. I’d wished for it. Wished to have something that would scare the shit out of me so I’d have a limit, an off switch, a way to be stopped. But that’s not what my fear is doing to me. It’s doing the opposite. It’s emboldening me; there’s nothing I won’t do if anyone gets in my way.

47

DANI

My head feels heavy, my mind fuzzy as I attempt to open my eyes. Voices. I hear voices in the distance. No. They’re not far away. They’re close. Male voices. Beau. That’s when everything floods back, fighting through the fog as I will my eyes open.

The cement my face rests against is dirty and grimy as I peek around a bit before looking to where Beau stands talking to Felix.

“Where is Dennis?” Cabot asks nervously as he walks over to the two jackasses. None of the attendees in the room surprise me. But Cabot asking about my dad, my real dad, referring to him by name … that tells me there’s more going on than I’d ever imagined. If Cabot is asking for Dad, it must be true. He’s on the wrong side.

Philip was really telling the truth? I’m not ready to believe that, but more importantly than any of that is getting the hell out of here. Attempting to move my bound wrists is unsuccessful as the binding digs into my skin.

“He’ll be here. We had to go to plan B when the dumb bitch tried to sneak off.” Beau points, looking to me as I close my eyes and remain still. The longer he thinks I’m defenseless, the longer his guard will be down. And I need it that way until I can get loose.

Once they resume their chat, I squint and see they aren’t paying me any attention. Feeling around, there’s nothing behind me or on the ground. My legs are bound at the ankle. Shit.

“Did Dennis really want you to do this to her? I didn’t even know he had a daughter,” Cabot says catching my attention as I still, and listen to Beau’s response. “I didn’t either until I told him about the narcs. Her and old-ass Garbo. But we’ll deal with him later.”

“That’ll raise more questions than I can vouch for,” Cabot replies like it’s a bother.

“I have it covered. It’ll look accidental, or at least as much of an accident as Ethan’s.”

What? Ethan. What does that mean?

“Where’s Luna?” Beau asks, and that makes every hair on my body stand. Luna, not her too.

“She’s hiding in her room, still sulking.” Felix laughs.

“She’ll get over it,” Beau retorts to which Felix laughs even louder.

“I hope not. She’s so easy to control with this over her head, thinking she’s protecting me from some dire consequence. Even Creed used it to help keep tabs on that one.”

Me. I don’t even need to see the nod of his head in my direction to know. The parties, the things Creed knew, he’d used Luna. That’s why she was at the parties, at the field when she was miserable. She was locked into playing a role too.

“Dennis is going through me now. He’s fucked his little private security gig with Kincaid, so he’s ready to push things out faster. Creed and Ethan never had the balls to get this shit moving, even on a smaller level.” Beau waves Cabot to follow before he looks to Felix. “Don’t let that crazy slut out of your sight.”

Felix glances my way and if I’m not mistaken, I see a bit of remorse maybe. I can use that. Letting out a soft whimper, I attempt to move, blinking slowly as my eyes open. Sure enough, Felix is watching. And it doesn’t take much effort to let the tears fall. I’m not a crier but being held hostage in an abandoned warehouse has a way of bringing some emotions out.

I suck in a sob, looking to Felix. “What’s going on? Where am I?” I ask between muffled sobs as Felix takes a few steps closer. Playing it up, I flinch as he does so. “Please don’t hurt me.”

He holds his hands up, showing like he’s good and I’m not in danger. Nice. “It’s gonna be okay. Beau got a little carried away. But your dad will be here soon.”

“My dad,” I cry. “No, don’t do this to me.” I scoot back as Felix crouches down, attempting to settle me, or maybe quiet me, I don’t know. But as soon as he’s hovering over me, I ram my head forward, and the top of my skull connects with his face. Off balance and confused. That’s his state. Mine is fight and flight. Because I need to get loose and get the hell out of here.

Swinging my legs around, I kick my bound feet at him, the ball of my foot connecting with his chest.