Page 32 of Unfulfilled Promises
We drove for hours, and I became too unfocused to try and figure out where they were taking me. Whatever their plans for me, I just hoped my family could go on without me, because something deep down inside of me said that I didn’t have many days left before they finally decided I wasn’t worth the trouble and they’d kill me.
At least that way, my family would never know I was the one who discovered and traded Hannah and a few other innocent women for my own safety.
Slipping in and out of sleep, I tried to keep as much distance between Giovanni and myself as possible. I knew what he was capable of, and the longer I kept him away from me, the better off I would be. But I wouldn’t be able to stop him forever. I wished I’d had my gun with me, but I feared in this situation it wouldn’t have done me much good.
A large bump jostled me, and I lifted my head, trying to see where we were, but nothing looked familiar. It was a small town we were in, but it was so late, everything was closed and mostly dark. Passing through the downtown area, I looked around for something familiar, but the longer I searched, the more despondent I grew.
A loud noise sounded to the right, and carefully, I looked to see what it was. Something caught my eye, and I pushed my face closer to the window, hoping to understand what I was seeing. A man riding a motorcycle was at the red light to my left, and when the light turned green and he pulled away from us, I saw the name on the back of the leather vest and prayed what I saw was accurate.
The man was wearing a Death Hounds MC, Portstill Chapter patch on his cut, and if that was where we were, there was help close by. Trying not to draw attention to myself as John andGiovanni spoke of what their lives were going to be like after they got all the money, I watched on as John continued to drive. We passed what I thought was the Death Hounds compound and into an area I hadn’t been inside of since my caseworker removed me from that horrible house when I was eight.
When the houses started growing worse in condition, I knew where we were but not where we were going. Why were we here? What did this have to do with Sergey or the missing money? And who were the two they kept referring to?
Was there more trouble on the horizon, or were they searching for additional members to recruit?
Whatever their plans, at that moment, I decided I wanted to live and I wasn’t going to be so willing this time. If they wanted information from me, they were going to have to fight me for it.
I just hoped my training was enough to get me out of this before one of them killed me.
Chapter 16
Seth
Lucian and I sat in the vehicle across the road from the restaurant, and the longer we sat here, the worse I was feeling. Something wasn’t right, but when I went to make a move, Lucian pushed me back into my seat.
“We have to let her leave on her own, so calm the fuck down. Caldwell and Booker may give her a couple bruises if she fights the way I think she will, but she won’t be hurt.”
“How long do you think she’ll wait? It’s been almost twenty minutes already.” Lucian shrugged from behind the steering wheel and picked up his phone to send a message. Glancing at him, I asked, “Who are you texting?”
“I’m telling Booker to give it a few more minutes. I don’t need him rushing inside to investigate and blow this whole thing.”
Resting my head against the seat, I waited, getting more anxious as the minutes ticked by. I’d been second guessing this since the very beginning, and the closer we got to the actual event, the more I was thinking this was a huge fucking mistake. Sitting up straight, I looked at my watch and plainly stated, “I’m giving her another fifteen minutes, then I’m going to call her.”
“And say what? I’ve set you up for a fake kidnapping and your date works for Devlin. Why haven’t you left yet? Be for real and give the lady a chance to discover she’s been stood up. If I know Regan, she’s going to be pissed, a little embarrassed, and I give her five minutes tops before she comes outside.” He pointed across the street. “Look. People are leaving, and she’s not going to want to sit alone for too long.”
“I don’t know,” I remarked. “Something feels . . . off.”
“That’s a broken heart, lover-boy. Shake it off, and once tonight is over, you’ll be able to make things right with Regan.” I shook my head, not agreeing, and he reached over and placed his hand onto my shoulder as he said, “Trust me.”
Exhaling deeply, I kept watching and waiting as people left. It was a nicer restaurant, so when a black Town Car pulled out from the side of the building and turned into traffic, I casually remarked, “Maybe this was too nice of a restaurant to attempt this.”
“She deserved a nice place, and Devlin’s new associate thought this was a nicer option than one of the chain places.”
“Where did Devlin find this guy, anyway?” I inquired, wondering about the man who was able to woo Regan.
“John started working for Devlin doing freelance work shortly before he and Elise got together, so I’d say four years or so. I’m not sure where he came from, but he’s been a valuable asset and occasionally does this kind of thing.”
“Huh,” I muttered.
We sat silently for the next fifteen minutes, and I could see Lucian growing antsy next to me. I looked at him, and his forehead was wrinkled as he said, “It’s been forty-five minutes. I think we need someone to go inside and see if she’s eating or what’s going on.”
“I’ll go,” I offered, and he scoffed before picking up his phone.
“I need you to send someone in to check on Regan. She may surprise us all and stay to eat by herself. Copy.”
Lucian hung up the phone and remarked, “James. He had one of the guards’ younger brothers planted nearby, just in case we needed new eyes. He’s going inside now.”
We watched from across the street as a young man, maybe a few years younger than Regan, walk up to the door and speakwith the man outside before being escorted inside. My knee started jumping as we watched and waited for him to report. At this point, a text or even a thumbs up as he exited would make the gnawing feeling go away.
