Alexis.
There was absolutely nothing I could do. No reason to be found. No thought of consequences or repercussions when my entire being shot into action.
There was only one outcome I could see.
Alexis safe.
Alexis home.
I yanked at the main door.
Locked.
Frantic, I moved, searching, sucking in a deep breath when I reared back, lifted my leg, and shoved the sole of my boot against a splintered pane of glass.
It dented, the fractures multiplying into a million tiny squares. Drawing my leg back, I rammed my boot back into the same spot with all the force I could find.
With my desperation.
With this love.
Fuck.
I shook my head, trying to purge the thoughts that were coming at me just as furious as the fear. The window gave, finally breaking.
Pieces shattered from their hold and pinged across the floor.
Raging, I stepped through, eyes wild as they narrowed, pinpoints as I peered into the depths of the rundown store.
Garbage littered the floor, more graffiti inside, light fixtures destroyed and dangling from the ceiling where they’d been ripped from their holdings.
But it was the needles discarded on the floor like tokens of their victims that kicked me in the gut. The abhorrent reality of it stung my spirit.
Memories of Mark flashed through my mind.
His smile.
His talent.
The loss. The loss. The loss.
I reeled with the impact of it, this place nothing but a shrine to the casualties of the souls that had been swallowed by addiction. I blinked against the tragedy of it, turning my ear deeper to the foul dungeon’s depths.
Quiet echoed back, dense and malicious.
The sound of evil.
Doubted it made much difference at all that I kept my footsteps quieted and contained.
Asshole already knew I was coming.
Still, I stole forward cautiously, slowing even further when I edged around the display case near the back.
I pressed my back up against the wall and inched closer to the archway that led to another room in the back. My chest heaved with the strain of my breaths, muscles tight with adrenaline.
I gulped down a stealing breath and rounded the corner.
Then I froze.
Fury licked at my insides. Flaming. Scorching. Inciting a war.
That foul piece of shit was leaning casually against a pillar in the middle of the room. Like he was the king and this vile, rundown building was his kingdom.
Maybe I should’ve expected it. But I couldn’t stop the horrified shock when I found Veronica hidden deep in the shadows, this deep, gutting pain that she was actually there and involved this way.
She was a raging silhouette of agitation. Arms crossed over her chest, hugging herself as she stalked one direction and then spun to head the other.
An illicit storm. Out of her mind.
Gone.
There was no other explanation.
It was Mark who’d told me it was the needle that made you do wicked things.
Yet, none of it compared to the terror that ravaged my senses when my frantic gaze caught movement to the side of the pillar.
Alexis and Avril.
Both were huddled on the ground, bound at the wrists and ankles. Alexis’s head was twisted as far as it could be, like even then, she was struggling to find me in the darkness.
Lighting the way.
The space between us leapt, fierce and hot. Desperate and mad. Those blue eyes a storm of terror.
Craig tossed a lighter into the air and caught it in his hand, like he was just standing there passing time. A sneer curved one side of his mouth. “I don’t see the kid.”
Protectiveness rushed through me, this crashing wave that stole my breath. “You’re obviously more of a fool than I thought you were if you’re actually stupid enough to think I’d bring him down here.”
Maybe I should’ve acted like I was caving. But I was putting an end to Liam being used as a tool for greed.
Veronica increased her pacing, fidgeting when she suddenly took a step in our direction. “Zee, just give him the money and bring Liam back. Where he belongs.”
I glared at her. “Where he belongs? In this mess? I can’t fucking believe you’d subject him to this, Veronica. All these years, I wanted to think better of you, thinking there might be a spec of good in your black soul. But I’m done doing your bidding with the hopes it might give Liam a better life. What Liam needs is to be with me. Where I can take care of him. Protect him.”
My attention moved to Alexis and Avril on the ground. “And this…you’re an accessory to this?”
She might have been a bitch. I’d never thought her a monster.
Craig kept tossing that lighter. So damned casual. But there was nothin’ casual about his words. “You see…now that’s where there’s gonna be a problem. I’ve grown partial to that nice, fat check you like to drop in Veronica’s account every month to take care of that rotten kid.”
Rotten kid?
Aggression curled my fists, body rocking with the need to take the bastard out.
I forced myself to stay rooted.
Buying that time.
Praying the cops had taken my call as seriously as it was.
Craig tsked, and I wanted to fucking vomit when his corrupt gaze glided to Alexis. “And then we had sweet, unsuspecting Alexis running this way every time her sister made even a peep.” He glanced between me and her, wearing that sneer like pride. “Seems the two of you have made quite the contribution.”
“Pretty sure you already know that game’s up.”
He cocked his head. “You sure about that?”
“Not giving either of you another dime. Now, I suggest you give me Alexis and Avril and we’ll be on our way. Give you a little headway to clear out before the cops show.”
I was playing with fire. I knew it.
Making demands. Tossing in the word about the cops was a low, dark threat I was only praying he’d heed.
The fact he even had Alexis there showed how desperate he was. If he were smart, he’d give it up, let both of them go.
But that was the thing about those living on the outside of the law. They were always running a step ahead of it, dodging it at every turn, thinking they were above it.
Craig suddenly reached down and grabbed Alexis by the hair. She screamed out in pain when he jerked her up, and my insides curled into rage, the asshole forcing her to stand when her ankles were bound.
The only thing I wanted was to lunge at him. Destroy him. But I was frozen, a chill slicking down my spine like ice, petrifying everything when he reached behind him.
A flash of metal struck through the gloom.
Anger jerked my muscles, twisting them in taut, rigid bows that ached to be released as I stood there.
“Craig,” Veronica whispered on a plea. “This wasn’t part of the plan. What do you think you’re doing? You told me we were here to get Liam back. That’s it. The girls for my son. That was what you promised. You promised.”
Her words turned frantic at the end.