Page 4 of Blurred Lines

I knew Hawk wouldn’t actually hurt her, so as he stormed down the hall after Emilia, I darted over to the kitchen and stuck the tiny, fingertip-sized device to the underside of the island counter.

I’ve been listening to them plan their attack for several days now, and today is the day. They don’t know it yet, but there is absolutely no fucking way they are going in to get Hadley without me, which is why I’m dressed all in black with a savage as fuck knife strapped to my holster and another, smaller one tucked in my boot, Hadley style. Sunshine was doing her damned best to teach me a few sweet-ass knife-wielding moves the day she was taken, and I’ve stored her knowledge away precisely for this occasion. I’m sure the guys are more than capable, especially with this Cain dude helping them, but I know for a fact I can be an asset.

I see the way people look at me when I give them one of my signature, unhinged grins. The uncertainty in their eyes, the way they take a small step back, away from me. I’ve deliberately constructed such defense mechanisms to keep people at arm’s length; to stop them from getting close to me. It’s as much for their own safety as it is mine. But that doesn’t mean the vibes I throw off are just for show. Nope, I truly do not give a shit. The years have made me apathetic and distant to those around me, and the crazy gleam in my eyes is a warning of the chaotic energy that thrums just beneath my skin, ready to be called into action at any moment, and cause absolute fucking mayhem. The great thing about giving absolutely zero fucking shits about anything is that there is no line I won’t cross. No boundary I won’t force my way through. Most people see the world in black and white, or varying shades of gray, but to me it’s painted in technicolor. We all have a reason for our actions. We do things because we want to, we need to, or we just fucking love to do it. Who gives a shit about whether the action is right or wrong? At least we’re fucking living.

Certainly, the only timeIgive a shit, is when it affects someone I care about. Perhaps it’s not all that surprising to hear that there are incredibly few people who fall into that category. In fact, it’s basically just Sunshine.Maybeher merry band of Romeos and my cranky bro-in-law, and I guess it extends to Emilia as well…when the fuck did I turn into a fucking sap that started giving a shit about people? I’m going to have to correct that as soon as we have Sunshine back, safe and sound.

It's been a long time since I’ve given a shit about anyone. I’m not even sure what it is about Sunshine that’s gotten under my skin, but I could tell from the second she sat down opposite me at that dinner table, that she was different. She was going through the motions of playing the game of the rich and famous, but she was following her own rulebook.

It was so much more than that though. It wasn’t the fact she hadn’t bought into her parents’ bullshit, or the defiance in her eyes at every turn. It was somethingmore.Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it resonated with some baser part of me. Of course, now that I know what she’s had to endure all these years, it kind of makes sense. Damaged people recognize other damaged people after all. It’s like we have flashing, neon beacons that only people who have suffered the same bullshit can see. My trauma might not be the same as hers, but it’s present all the same. Ever sincethat night, I haven’t let myself feel. I haven’t dared let myself care about another living soul. Therapist after therapist told me I was repressing my feelings and one day I’d go off like an atomic bomb, but personally, I think I’m doing pretty fucking fine...so long as I don’t think about it.

I shake my head, clearing it of the always present memories threatening to break out of the tightly sealed vault I’ve shoved them into, and toss a final look in the mirror at my personalized combat gear that I had to special order. I am particularly proud of the logo on the front that reads #darkknighttotherescue, and I firmly believe Sunshine will appreciate it too. Ready for action, I hightail it up to the guys’ floor and knock on the door.

“What the—” Cam begins, trailing off as I shove my way past him into the dorm.

My pain in the ass brother-in-law scowls as soon as he sees me.Ah, what a loving relationship we have.“What are you doing here?” Even though the question comes out in an angry snark, I can tell his words are filled with rainbows and kisses.

It’s not long until Beck arrives, and after a weak protest from the guys about my tagging along, he hands us all pretty black goodies in the form of handguns. Along with my knives, I’m more than ready to let my psycho flag fly. We don’t waste any more time as we march out the door.Don’t worry Sunshine, your steadfast Princes and dark knight are coming to the rescue.

***

It appears that the guys have everything worked out, and we even engage in a couple of exhilarating scuffles where I get the chance to test out my pretty new blade—in case you were wondering, it leaves a beautiful jagged wound when you yank it out of someone's skin.

However, everything takes a turn when Hadley isn’t in the room she was in when the guys last came to the compound nearly two weeks ago. It’s something they’d been relying on, and concern and frustration flash across their faces as we all mull over our next move.

“We need to split up,” Hawk snarls. The anger and need for destruction are pouring off him in waves, ratcheting up my own desire to inflict pain on the scum that run this place.

They take their sweet fucking time deciding what to do, but because he secretly loves me, Hawk picks me to pair up with, and we go to check out some section of the compound where they think punishments are doled out. It would be kinda kinky, if we weren’t talking about innocent children. Even I’m not on board with that shit.

In agreement, we all rush off to check out our prospective sectors, and Hawk and I follow the map toward the far corner of the building. We don’t say much, wanting to stay alert to any sounds of guards approaching as we work our way down dimly lit hallways and through corridors.

“I think this is it,” Hawk says in a low voice, checking the map when we reach a thick steel door. He types in the override code and I meet his steely gaze as I pull open the door. He’s always been a serious guy, but I’ve never seen him look more severe than he does tonight. The same can probably be said for all of us. Not only are we in a high-risk situation, but we’re all intent on getting Hadley back.

The door swings open, and we peer into a brightly lit hallway with steel doors lining both sides. Each door has a small hatch at eye level, and a larger one at the bottom, where I’m guessing food trays are delivered. The whole thing is reminiscent of something you’d see in a prison and has the hairs prickling along the back of my neck.

“You take the right, I’ll take the left,” Hawk states before moving to the first door on the left. He lifts the hatch, dropping it a second later before moving on to the next door.

I move to follow his lead, copying his actions on my own side of the corridor. Peering inside, the cell is brightly lit, and it’s immediately obvious that it’s empty. The space beyond the door is cramped, barely enough space for a small single bed with a threadbare mattress. The only other item is a bucket in the corner of the room, and I can feel my gag reflex working as I picture the nightmare that living in that room would be. Fuck, Hadley will be in a horrific state if she’s been kept here for the last few weeks.

I quickly move on to the next door, and as I lift the hatch, I hear screamo music coming from within the cell. Inside, the small space is dimly lit and I have to squint before I can make out a small, curled up form, lying on the bed. It’s too small to be Hadley, but that doesn’t stop me from reaching for the handle and trying to open the door.

“Don’t,” Hawk whispers in a harsh order, catching me by surprise.

I turn to gape at him. “We can’t just leave them!”

“We need to check the rest of the area and make sure no guards are around before we let any of them out.”

Realizing what he’s saying, I give a tight nod and move on to the next door. On and on it goes until we reach the turn in the corridor. I find several occupied cells, but none that contain Hadley. Based on Hawk’s tight expression, he hasn’t had any luck either.

I duck my head around the corner, noting that the corridor opens up into a moderately sized room. I can make out more steel doors lining the perimeter, and in the center is a glass room. Two guards are sitting inside it watching the monitors, and apparently oblivious to what’s going on in the rest of the compound. That’s gotta be a good sign, means West’s signal jammer is working.

“What’s the game plan?” I whisper to Hawk, who is also watching the guard’s station with a sharp eye as he assesses our options.

“There’s no way we’re going to be able to sneak up on them,” he murmurs thoughtfully. “If one of us distracts them, then the other can catch them off guard.”

“I’m excellent at providing distractions,” I brag.

Hawk gives me a questioning look, but before he can rain on my parade, I walk around the corner, ignoring his whispered curses—he’s only angry because he cares—as I creep down the corridor.

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