Page 43 of Bulletproof Love

JASPER

In the timeit takes me to pull out my gun, Falin’s already slammed the guy over the head with hers, knocked him out, and grabbed his phone. She’s panting hard, her eyes glazed over as she passes it to me. “Here, you answer.”

“What in the fuck just happened?”

“Take the call. It must be Fairfax or one of the others.” She kicks the prick for good measure before peeling off his mask.

Shaking my head, I answer the call, putting on a false voice. “Yeah.”

“Where the fuck are you? Number two ran off and fifteen is missing. We gotta find them and get the hell out of here before the fire department shows up.”

Footsteps pound overhead as my mind whirls, but this is a perfect opportunity to get what I can from this guy. “And the boss? He made it out?”

“You fucking stupid? You were with me when we got him out. Lay off the powder, man.”

Falin fishes through the slumped guy’s pockets, recoiling when she pulls out a pair of panties. I bet I know where they came from. While Fairfax and his group of freaks were busy chanting and watching us, his hired guys were busy themselves.

Anger bubbles up from my chest. We need to find them all and end them.

“Where are you?” I drop the fake voice, each syllable coming out through gritted teeth.

“Waiting out back. Do another sweep for fifteen and meet me up here. Both our asses are on the line if she’s lost.” The line goes dead before I can ask another question.

I stuff the phone in my pocket. Maybe Leon can get some info from it later. Falin pushes up to stand, tossing the guy’s wallet on the floor next to him and gives him a hard kick in the side. I can’t help the smile that lifts the corner of my lips.

“Having fun over there?” I ask, watching her face go from curiously inquisitive to playfully annoyed.

“Since you asked, yes. He’s lucky I only knocked him out.”

That’s my girl.

“There’s still time to finish him,” I say, folding my arms across my chest while she considers. “But make it quick. They’re missing two of the victims. They think one of them is still down here.”

While she takes a moment to consider my suggestion, I patch Leon and Damon in. “There’s a runner. Only info I got is that they call them number two—gender unknown. Get one of Ray’s guys on it. Oh, and D, there’s a van waiting up there.”

Falin starts moving down the corridor before the guys respond. She must have heard what I said about the missing victims. I hurry after her.

“On it,” Leon answers.

Damon’s voice comes in less clear. “Got it. Meet you out back. Be quick, there’s a shit ton of people leaving all at once.”

“Slow down, Trouble. We don’t know who’s down here.” I hold my gun at the ready while she flies through the dark hallway. I’m honestly impressed by how fast she can go in those heels. I’d fall on my ass in two seconds flat.

She pokes her head through an open doorway, only briefly stopping before stepping inside. “For fuck’s sake. Let me check the space first,” I pant, freezing as I see what she sees.

Mattresses on the floor. Discarded used needles. Restraints.

My blood turns cold.

I take a few steps toward Falin and pull her against my chest. “We’re going to help them.”

I force hope into my voice, trying to mask the rage burning beneath.

She leans into me. “There’s still one missing. We need to find her.”

“Let’s keep looking.” We don’t have long. Who knows when our knocked out friend will come to or when the cops will show up?

“I saw her face.” Falin’s voice trails off. “Fifteen. She was terrified. So young too.”

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