Page 81 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

It didn’t take me long to hack into the automatic number plate recognition system. I’d done it before and their security quite frankly sucked. I ran the number plate and waited. It would take a while for it to get a hit.

Getting up, I went into the kitchen and made myself a shake. It wouldn’t do me any good to skip it. Not when I needed to keep my strength up and stay alert. If I had to fight my way into wherever they had Avery, then I’d need the fuel.

I downed it as the bell for the door went.Thank fuck.I discarded the glass in the sink and buzzed John in the front door. I paced the hallway, growing ever more agitated by the second. My body was coiled tight. I felt it in every muscle, the tension and anxiety within me.

How could I have left her alone and defenceless? I’d turned my back for a few minutes. A few fucking minutes is all it took. My heart felt as though it was in a vice, fracturing and cracking with each squeeze. I choked down air, trying to stem the tidal wave of crippling fear from drowning me completely.

They won’t kill her. They’re not going to kill her like they did my mother. I have to remember that. I have to.

As soon as the knock came on the door, I ripped it open and almost fucking slumped on the floor in front of John. I didn’t care what I looked like right then. He shut the door behind him and put a hand on my shoulder, leading me away towards the living room. He made me sit down on the sofa without saying a word. John had been here before so he knew his way around.

“You need to breathe, Aiden,” he said, his voice soft.

I drew in ragged breaths, putting my head in my hands and digging my palms into my eyes. This situation completely caught me off guard. I’d been too fucking complacent. I should’ve locked her in the damn car or taken her to the fucking machine with me.

“That’s it. Just breathe. It’s okay. She’s going to be okay.”

“They took her. Someone fucking took her,” I said, hating the pitiful note to my voice.

“I’m going to check the ANPR and then we’ll talk about what happened.”

I nodded, not looking up at him. I hated anyone seeing me in such a fucking state. John wouldn’t hold it against me. After yesterday, I was well aware he cared about Avery and her safety. It’s why I called him and not anyone else. I didn’t completely trust the man, but what choice did I have? I needed allies in this fucking war and if I could find one in John, all the fucking better.

He came back into the room a few minutes later. I looked up. His green eyes were dark and he shook his head. Nothing yet. He sat down next to me.

“Start at the beginning.”

“Which beginning?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Start with the phone call you got yesterday. I meant what I said, I don’t want to know about how you and Avery got together. That’s between you. I don’t want to be lying to Chuck any more than I already am.”

I couldn’t fault him for that. Plausible deniability and all. So I explained the events leading up to when she got taken. The more I talked about it, the less the whole thing made sense. As if it made any sense to begin with. Was I missing something? A vital piece of information which would let me know who I was dealing with.

“Did her friend say how many men there were?” John asked.

“No, I don’t think he was paying close enough attention.”

“You need to ask him.”

I sighed, pulling out my phone and dialling James’ number. Not that I wanted him involved, but at this rate, anything to help us would be better than nothing.

“Hey, Aiden. You two get back okay?”

“How many men got out of the car last night?”

“Um… two I think, one of them was bald. Why? What’s going on?”

If I lied and told him everything was okay, I doubt Avery would forgive me but how could I tell him I let her get taken? I mean I hadn’t exactly allowed it to happen, but it was on my fucking watch.

“Do you remember any other details?”

“They were both wearing black suits and ties and they had earpieces. Aiden… what happened?”

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. Earpieces meant they weren’t some low life scum. They were organised. This complicated things further.

“I don’t want you to freak out, but they got to her.”

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