Page 56 of Resurrection
He smiles at my response. “That’s my girl.” Pressing on my lower back, he ushers me down the steps. “I’ll see you in a few minutes. If you hurry, we can watch the sunrise together when you’re done.”
“You got it, big guy.” With one last smile, I turn and start to walk towards the building on my left. While there are bathrooms on the property, none of them are in the palace, or any of the surrounding houses in the interior perimeter. It’s not any trouble, however, to take the short walk through the stables, out the western door, and over to where the bathrooms are located in the old Craft & Garden shop.
When we first got here, I would have never walked across the property alone, not when anything could still be out there. But after Jax swept the entire property, and is now guarding the front gate—the only weak point that he observed—for any trouble, I feel safe enough to do so.
I open the Craft & Garden shop’s door and step forward, heading straight for the bathrooms. Not wanting to make Jax worry, I keep the potty trip quick, thankful that Tryon Palace has the convenience of a local water tower and running water at our disposal.
Within minutes, I exit the bathroom, head out the shop’s main doors and start walking back to the mansion via the stable house. The sun’s beautiful rays are even more magnificent now, the pink and orange hues dancing in the early morning. It’s beautiful. Absolutely—
“On me, she went over here.”The whispering voice carries through the stables, immediately drawing my attention.
“Are you sure? We can’t fuck this up. David said she’s important. That we needed to find her and bring her in unharmed. Said she would be perfect for Regeneration.”
I instantly take cover at the unfamiliar voices, using the building to conceal myself. Questions flood my mind as I try to formulate a plan. Who the fuck was that and how the hell did they get in here? Especially within the interior of the second fence?! And, wait just a fucking second, did he say David? The creepy guy? That must mean these guys are from that weird ass town we passed through the other day. What the hell do they want with me? And what in the fuck is Regeneration?
“Oh, I’m sure. I remember what she looks like. I saw her and her crew as they walked through town. Beautiful, long, blonde hair, body with curves for days. Couldn’t take my eyes off her. No, this is her. I’m sure of it. Drone saw her leave the mansion and head this way. She’s a petite little thing. Shouldn’t put up much of a fight, especially against the three of us.”
Fuck... Shit. Shit. Shit. Fuck.
I press my body flush against the cold bricks, attempting to hide in the dark recesses of the stables building. The voices are getting louder, closer. I don’t have enough clearance to run back into the garden center—they’ll probably see me through the open door—so I turn left and run for the gardens themselves. The trees and bushes and overgrown shrubberies will hide me. I make it to the Latham Garden just as they exit the stables and walk towards where I just was, my eyes remaining glued to them just in case they change direction.
“What about the guys she was with? You know they’re gonna put up a fight if they find out we’re trying to take her.”
Fuck yeah, they’re going to. Jax alone would wear your balls as a necklace as you watched from the ground bleeding out like a stuck pig. But where the hell is he? If he was still on the steps, he would have definitely spotted these guys and taken them out. Or, at the very least, would have been interrogating them.
Just then, one of the interlopers lifts his hand and waves a gun in front of him, making my heart sink to my feet and confirm my suspicion as my breathing stops completely.
“Not a problem. Tall bastard went down like a sack-a-potatoes just before you got here. Sonofabitch never stood a chance.”
They shot him?! They fucking shot Jax?! How? I heard nothing!
My eyes close of their own accord as I try to regulate my breathing, trying to stay quiet and not give away my position even though my world is ending all over again. I can’t let myself lose it here. I can’t. If they really managed to take out Jax, I need to do everything in my power to make sure he didn’t fall in vain.
In and out, I breathe. My lower lip trembles uncontrollably. My knuckles, blaring white as my fists tighten beyond the point of self-control.
Focus....
I can do this....
I continue to measure my breaths, willing my body to surrender to me as I try to reign in my shock and terror at the revelation—A feeble attempt at forcing myself to keep it together as white hot rage fills my soul.
They shot Jax.
They’re still looking for me.
The Phoenix Rising encampment wants me.
I need to stay focused on what I can control, and right now, I need to control myself before these guys find me and try to take control of me for themselves. I need to remember that Cole and Hawk are still there. I have backup.
Hawk and Cole...
I need to get back to Hawk and Cole.Shit.They’re still in the Governor’s Mansion. They were sound asleep. Sadie was there too, only outside wandering the grounds. I can’t help the thoughts careening through my mind: Are they ok? Or did these douche canoes take them out as well?
“As for the others, Drone said they never left the house. Rake and Silver are on it. And that means, thislittle beauty’s a lone flower in a field, ready to be plucked.”
Fuck my life right in the ass. Why, the hell, is everyone always trying to kidnap me? I’m not even all that appealing, for crying out loud! I swear, I have no idea what goes through these people’s minds.
There’s one thing I do know for sure, though, and it’s that I’m not going down without a fight. And this time? I’m better trained and better equipped. These guys can go fuck themselves if they think I’m going to be an easy target even if Cole and Hawk have no idea what’s going on out here.
