Page 69 of Forever Filthy

“Vox, I’m okay but Vivian is gone.” Panic is evident in Nova’s voice.

“I know, baby. Where are you?” he urges.

“I’m at the safe house. She was with me last night and when I woke up to grab a glass of water I checked in on her but her bed was empty. The two guards are dead and I’m… scared,” she admits, which just causes Vox to grind his teeth and clench his phone in a vice-like hold.

“Where are you, baby? Send me your location, I’m coming to you now,” he says.

“Go to my sister and we’ll go after Vivian,” Ez says. Vox snaps his head up and stares at Ez. A range of emotions are flickering through his eyes but it's clear he is battling with the instinct to protect his twin, but on the other hand every part of him wants to race to the girl he loves and make sure she is safe.

“Vox?” The sound of Nova’s voice seems to shake him out of his battle.

“Yeah?” he answers.

“Go after your sister. I would never make you choose between?—”

Vox cuts her off. “I love you, witch.” Then he looks between me, Ez and Hayze with a hard unyielding stare. “It’s because I love you that I know these idiots will do whatever it takes to save my sister, because they love her like I love you.” The three of us nod our heads, promising him that we won’t let him down and wewillsave our girl. “Hang tight, baby. Send me your location.” Vox ends the call and straightens. I can feel Alex and his four sidekicks staring at us but we ignore them. “So fucking help me, man, don’t make me regret trusting you three to save my sister. Vivian is tough but she isn’t unbreakable. Save her… please.”

Hayze lays a hand on Vox’s shoulder, no trace of his usual humor is to be seen as he stares him down. “On my life, we won’t let anything happen to her. Go save your girl so we can save ours.”

Vox nods then looks to Ez. “Bring her back.”

“You have my word, brother. Keep my little sister safe until I get back,” Ez instructs.

Vox turns to me next and I don’t cower under the scrutiny of his stare. “You make sure you treat her right, asshole. Don’t fuck her over because I will kill you if you break her heart.”

I nod. “If I hurt her, you would have to beat these two to get to me.” My answer seems to appease him. When his phone pings with a message, I know its Nova sending him a pin to her location because his shoulders droop.

“I gave you my word that I would protect your sister, I meant it.” Vox looks at Alex in surprise. “Calvin and Gary are out front, they will ride with you to get your girl and watch your six. We now have an idea of Thomas and your sister’s location, we’ll bring her back,” Alex promises. Vox steps forward and stops a foot away from Alex. The pair stare at each other and I start to wonder if Vox is going to take a swing, but then he stuns us all when he holds his hand out for Alex to shake.

“Thank you. The Filthy Few will now owe you a debt.” I cut a glance to Hayze and Ez to find both of them standing there looking equal parts shocked and in disbelief. The Filthy Few have never offered a debt without being asked a favor.

Alex places his hand in Vox’s and shakes it. “Get out of here and get your girl, we have a bunch of whacked up snobs to kill and a girl to save.”

“Wait.” Everyone turns toward Omen who is pointing at the screen. “We havegirlsto save.”

“What?” I mutter as I lean forward. I have to squint slightly to see properly but the moment I do, I recognize the girl in the backseat. “That’s the bartender from Vivian’s club.”

“Tatum,” Alex says aloud, the hint of hatred that laces his one word answer has questions brewing inside me but I don’t say nothing.

“Either she is a part of this bullshit or she is a victim as well,” Halo adds.

“I’m not jumping to conclusions, we need facts. You all know the drill, we run on facts only and not speculation. Am I clear?” I watch in fascination as the four guys all mumble their yes’s and nod their heads. It isn’t hard to see that Alexander has their loyalty and it's not the type of loyalty you buy, it’s earned. Vatican, Halo, Omen and Pope would die for him. “Get geared up, we roll out in five.” He then turns to Halo and focuses on him. “Find me the exact route they took and give me a location. I want all our forces mobilized and ready to go in on my command.”

They all take off to get ready, leaving the four of us alone. We each wish Vox good luck and promise to update as soon as we have Vivian. When he leaves, the three of us seem to drop our facade and show each other our true emotions.

Fear.

Worry.

Doubt.

We’re worried we won’t get to her in time.

We fear Thomas has had too much time to inflict pain on our girl.

We doubt ourselves because we’re terrified that once this is all over and she no longer needs rescuing, she’ll change her mind on how she feels about us.

“We watch each other’s backs,” Ez says, trying to take control of the situation and redirect our wayward thoughts. “We go in there with one purpose—save Vivian.”

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