Page 24 of Fire

“What the fuck?” The man driving cries. He tries to reach for me, but he’s easy to sidestep because he has to drive, and at least half-way look at the road.

Zero growls, but my hit has him momentarily distracted—which is good.I use the precious seconds of surprise that I have to brace myself on the side of the van, raise my leg, and stomp as hard as I can into my kidnapper’s groin. I’m thankful I’m wearing the pointiest heels I have. They’re not stilettos, but they’re not bad. When he cries out, I feel like I’ve made my mark. I grind in the heel and toe—hoping I manage to completely destroy at least one of his testicles. I’m slung backwards when the van is hit again. My head hits hard and I take a minute to get my bearings. Zero is still writhing on the floor. I slam my foot down on the side of his face again. I don’t know that I need to, but it makes me feel a little better.

Zero cries out and the other guy starts screaming. “Stop that, you crazy bitch!”

He slams on the brakes, and I grab the side of the van to hold on. Before the man can get out of his seat, I fumble to find the doorhandle. I manage to get it open and jump out, but I can feel the man behind me. I want to run, but I come to a standstill when I see the van is surrounded by men in black suits—all holding guns.

I look around, praying that these men belong to Andrew. Somehow, I know they don’t. I’m pretty sure they’re not Ford’s either. I start to move to the side, hoping they’ll let me get away, while praying they’re here for my kidnappers—andnotme.

“It may have been years, but it seems you’re as stupid as ever, Grace. If you try to run, my men will kill you. The choice is yours.”

I hear a voice to my right that I never wanted to hear again. My stomach drops and it takes everything I have to hold myself up, because my legs want to give way. I feel like I can’t breathe as I force myself to look at the Devil himself.

“Benny,” I gasp.

“Hello,wife.Did you miss me?”

“You’re supposed to stay away from me. We have a deal.”

He laughs, the sound as cold as ice. “I own you, Grace. I don’t make deals. You think you and that fucking pig, Garcia, can go behind my back to the Korslovas and get rid of me? You have no idea who you are dealing with. You belong to me and I’m not letting you go. First, I’m going to take care of this little situation and then, you and I will go get our son. I’m feeling magnanimous, but I’m warning you, if you try to cross me again, you won’t like how it ends,” he says, his cold, dark eyes staring right at me—chilling me to the bone.

“Benny—”

He holds up his hand and I immediately snap my mouth shut. I know all too well what happens if you willingly challenge him in front of others.

“Good, pet,” he praises, making me sick.

“What the fuck is going on here?” The guy who was chasing me asks. “Who are you?”

“I think you don’t see the guns pointing at you.I’mthe one who asks the questions here.”

“I don’t want any trouble with you. I’m just here to get this bitch to my boss. That’s it.”

“That’s my wife. So, you can’t have her,” Benny responds, sounding bored.

“I’m going to fucking kill her!” Zero growls, coming out of the van, his face red and I think he’s been crying. He’s got a hand hovering near his groin, too. I hope that means I did a lot of damage.

Before I realize what he’s going to do, he grabs my hair and pulls me around to face him and punches me in the jaw. I can taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth almost instantly. Pain explodes inside me, and my head is jerked back as I fall down onto the road.

I cry out from the jarring fall, my hand cradling my cheek. I let out a scream as a gunshot rings out and my face and clothes are splattered with blood. Zero’s dead corpse drops beside me. I immediately crawl backwards to try to get away from him.

“Listen, I don’t want any problem here?—”

I scream again as Benny shoots the other kidnapper and he drops.

“Load her into the car and let’s head to the safe house. We’ll plan things out from there and get my son back before we put things into motion,” Benny says, then turns around without even sparing me another glance. I watch him walk away and with each step, I feel any hope I had of getting back to my son completely die.

17

FORD

Wretched Rebels.

That’s the club that took my Grace. Apparently, they have some history with Vector and his crew. We couldn’t understand why they would go after Grace and not Sloane. Hell, we’re not even sure why they’re here. There’s a chance it is unrelated to Vector and his club entirely. My gut says it is, though. In some of the surveillance footage, it seemed the idiots were tracking my Grace when she was talking with Vector. I went through all the footage since Grace and I arrived, and that’s the only place the two idiots were visible for an extended period of time. So, the choices are they either are targeting people in Vector’s life or they’re working for the Korslovas.

I suppose that’s good and bad. I’d hate to have to fight the Bratva to get Grace back. I’d do it, but it’d be a lot messier. On the other hand, The Wretched Rebels live up to their name. They’re almost as vile as the Feral Kings that we’ve been dealing with. I need to get to her before they have a chance to hurt her. I’m going to make them pay. I’m going to rain fire down on their damn heads. When I’m done, no one will dare come after Grace.

At least that’s the plan.

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