Page 93 of Wretched Heart
“Without a doubt,” says Ash. “Message Jake and tell him to divert to the airfield instead, and to take every spare man. We need to be ready for anything.” To Mace he asks, “How sure are you that Barrett’s on the jet?”
“I’m not. It’s only a presumption until he appears elsewhere. I’ll keep monitoring.” Mace says reaching out to take his phone back.
It’s a wrench to hand it over because, even though the listening device at Maddie’s house is streaming nothing but eerie silence, it’s the last link I have to her. It was a relief to hear her give Ray an earful of abuse, but it’s the comment she made about me that replays in my mind. She belongs to me, and no one else should be laying a hand on her. She’s mine. And damn it, I’m hers.
I roll up my shirt sleeves as I pace up and down the plane, clenching and unclenching my fists.
“Hunter, sit down,” Ash orders.
Cords line my forearms as I shoot him a glare. “I’m done listening to you,” I hiss. Until I can get my hands on Ray, my brother is the next best target for my anger. “And I’m done sacrificing my soul for the greater good. What’s it all for?” I slice my hands through empty air. “Who do we come home to when we’re sick of dealing with the scum who are our enemies, and the scum who we claim as friends? Who do we do it for, Ash?”
My brother’s jaw ticks where he’s grinding his teeth. “We do it for people like Dad – the decent, hard-working people who are exploited by the likes of the Emersons.”
“And do you think Dad would be proud of who we’ve become? And I’m not talking about our achievements. Would he admire us for who we are?” I ask. “Or would he think we’ve turned into the unfeeling, heartless monsters we claim to oppose?”
“Have you forgotten whatlovedid to him?”
“Not at all,” I answer. “The love of the wrong woman ruined him. But the love of the right woman saved him.”
“Even the good ones come with a price that has to be paid eventually,” he says, flicking his gaze towards Reid, who has the same generous heart as our stepmom.
I shake my head. “At least Dad was brave enough to hold on to Lisa for as long as he could. He didn’t throw her away.”
It’s only when Ash flinches, that I realize the comment applies as much to him as it does to me. My brother thought he’d found the right woman once, and like me, he fooled himself into thinking the only way to protect her was to reject her love.
“If you two have stopped bickering, I have news,” Mace interrupts. “Barrett’s just arrived at some gala event in New York. It looks like he’s sent an empty jet to collect Maddie.”
“He’s creating the perfect alibi so he can deny all knowledge of the abduction if it doesn’t go to plan,” Ash mutters.
“It won’t fucking go to plan,” I insist. No one is taking Maddie from me. No one is putting my little bird back in a cage. Not ever again.
I sink into a seat, relieved that she isn’t within Barrett’s grasp just yet, but also a little disappointed that there isn’t going to be a confrontation where I can justify putting a bullet in his head.
Alice would not be pleased if that happened. And how would Maddie react to seeing me take a life? It’s one thing to know I’d engineered her brother’s accidental overdose, but would she still want me if she saw the blood lust running through my veins right now?
“What’s Ray’s ETA?” I ask Mace. “Will we land before he reaches the airfield?”
“It’s going to be close,” Mace warns.
Chapter 34
Maddie
I’m shivering in the back of Ray’s truck with my feet bound and my hands tied behind my back. The seatbelt holds me in place, but my t-shirt has ridden up almost to my waist. Not that Ray hasn’t already had an eyeful of my panties, and my ass.
“You can’t do this!” I yell, although it’s more of a croak because I’ve been screaming every time I see another car on the road.
“Don’t think I’m not regretting it,” Ray grumbles.
I’m sitting diagonally behind him and can see his knuckles turning white as he grips the wheel. How dare he act like he’s the one who should be angry.
“It was still your fucking choice, asshole,” I say, raising my legs to slam against the side of his seat. They only just reach, but it’s enough of a thud to get a reaction.
“For fuck’s sake! If you don’t quit making a fuss, there’s a cage in the back I can put you in. I’m a reasonable man, Maddison, but you’re testing my patience!”
“Then why didn’t you just put me in it from the start?” I ask.
Ray cracks his neck, but says nothing.
