Page 82 of (Un)Rivaled

“I don’t know,” I whispered as I released her. As she took a step back, I opened the back door to my truck and grabbed my bat. I hadn't swung the bat since Devyn returned to my life, but I was ready to show those guys why I'd gotten drafted. My hands tightened, feeling the wood in my grip. Shocking that it didn’t splinter under the intensity.

Calla’s eyes widened as she took in my bat. “Gray, what is going on? Where is Devyn?”

I wanted to answer her, wanted to soothe away her worries, especially with her being so late into her pregnancy. However, anything I could have said to ease her fears would have been a lie, so I gave her the only truth I could. “I am going to get her back. No matter what it takes.”

Calla stared at me, her lower lip wobbling at my words. The poor girl had already been through a lot, and I hated adding to her stress level. But before I could say anything else, her resolve steeled and her eyes narrowed. “I’m coming with you.”

“No fucking way,” I barked, moving in front of her. “I’m not letting you in there. And pretty sure if you step foot inside that building, Theo’s head would explode.” I placed my free hand on her arm. “So if you don’t want to stay here, do it for him. Do it for your daughter.”

She huffed. “Low blow, Anders.”

“Do what I can, Winters.”

She squeezed my hand once then backed away toward my truck. “Bring her home, Gray.”

“That’s the only fucking option.”

FORTY-SIX

When I reached the floor of the Winters’ apartment, Laurel greeted me by the kitchen entrance. The door was pretty hidden from the interior of the home, designed to look like another row of cabinetry if you didn’t know of its existence. Laurel’s brow arched when she spotted the bat in my hand. “That was what you had to get?”

I shrugged. “Back-up plan if you can’t convince him to give up Devyn.”

Laurel rolled her eyes as she pushed her key into the lock. “Do you really think that’s the best course of action? Barge in and start breaking shit?”

“Works for me,” I shrugged. “Where’s Tomas?”

“He’s checking in with security and local PD. He wanted me to wait for him, but I declined.”

“Why am I not surprised?” I murmured as I stepped through the door.

“Wait,” Laurel said, stepping in front of me. “I want him to pay as much as you do, but the most important thing is getting my mom out of there and finding where he hasDevyn.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “That means no spilled blood until we have control over the situation.”

“Fine,” I scoffed as I stepped into the kitchen, checking for any signs of life. Shattered dishes and overturned stools littered the kitchen, but otherwise, everything was in order. Laurel shifted behind me as we walked toward the dining room, listening for David and Diane.

As we moved further into the apartment, Laurel gasped and dashed ahead of me. “Mom!” She dropped to her knees as Diane came into view. She was lying on the ground, her arms sprawled out as if someone had struck her. When Laurel pushed her hair out of her face, a small amount of blood covered her forehead, enough to make her daughter shake with worry. While Laurel took care of her mom, I stalked the room, looking for any sign of David. Raised voices echoed from the office, muttering something I couldn’t quite make out.

Laurel stayed at her mom’s side, shaking her lightly until her eyes fluttered open. As soon as they did, Diane let out a stuttered breath. “Laurel, you shouldn’t be here.” She sat up, keeping her daughter’s forearms trapped in her steel grip. “David… He’s lost his mind.”

“No shit,” I hissed, keeping my eye trained on the hall to the office. “Are you okay?”

Diane nodded, and more blood trickled from her forehead. Laurel tried to lift her mother’s bangs away, but she shooed her off. “I’m fine. It barely hurts. David shoved me when I tried to stop him from going after Calla.”

“You should have run too,” Laurel insisted.

Diane shook her head, looking her in the eye. “No, he threatened my girls. Said he would hurt you if I didn’t help him find what heneeds.”

“He already did,” I snarled as I stepped closer. “He has Devyn.”

She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. He never mentioned Devyn when he stormed in here. Whoever has my daughter must be the same people threatening David. Somehow, they got documents about illegal actions at David’s company and threatened to go public if he didn’t pay them.”

“What does that have to do with Devyn?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered as she turned toward Laurel. “Oh God. I didn’t know, Laurel. I swear, I didn’t know he was like this.”

“We don’t have time to get into this right now,” she bit back, her eyes darting around the rest of the apartment. “Where is he now?”

“The office,” Diane whispered. “Calla’s okay?”

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