Page 85 of Problems

The unmistakable fear that showed on his face would have made me laugh if I didn't imagine the same look on Jack's face when he was snatched away from Cian. My body was moving before I could think about what was happening. My fist cut through the air and crashed into his face. His teeth cut into my knuckles, but it wasn’t enough to stop me. I pulled back to do it again and again.

"Ronan, enough." Finn stopped me, his hand in the middle of my chest.

His green eyes held me captive. He didn't have to say it. If I kept going, I risked us never seeing our boy again. I pulled a tooth free from my flesh and tossed it to the side.

The man shook his head and blood poured from his mouth. "Please." He repeated the word as if it meant anything.

"Tell us what we want to know," Finn said. He stepped closer. "Next time, I won't stop him."

There wasn't going to be a next time. He was dead if he didn't tell us soon where to find Jack. I was going to make sure he begged for death.

"They went to the private airport, pl-please... Just stop."

"You shouldn't have touched what's ours."

I felt my lips move and my vocal cord vibrated with the words, but everything felt as if I wasn't there. I was a spectator to my body's actions. I turned away and headed to the car. I didn't give a damn what happened to him, my only focus was getting to Jack.

"I'd make you suffer but we don't have the time," Cian said.

I glanced over my shoulder as he dragged his blade shallowly over the man's throat. Blood bubbled to the surface and soaked into his clothing.

"Let's go get our boy," Finn said.

Cian jogged over to the car to join us. My mouth wouldn't move. Maybe that was a good thing. I didn’t trust what might come out. Cian slapped his hand on my back. Our eyes met and I could tell he was barely holding it together. The nut job loved Jack just as much as I did. It seemed the same could be said for Finn. He wasn't chasing after Jack because he was Declan's son no, he was doing it because Jack for all intents and purposes was ours.

"We'll murder every single person who touches him," Cian promised.

I nodded. There was nothing in this world that would keep me from Jack.Never again.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

JACK

My chin restedon my chest as my arms burned. They'd tied me to a hard chair that made my ass sore. I shifted trying to relieve the pressure, but nothing could. My arms were too tight. I carefully ran my fingers over the rope. If I stayed where I was my hands would go numb. Then I really wouldn't stand a chance.

"What are we waiting for?"

"A phone call, Jun," the man snapped. "Once Declan tells us he wants his son back then we'll know he's ready to play ball. This is what the boss wants. Got a problem with it? Tell him."

"No problem," he growled. "I'm just tired of us sitting on our asses."

The next words he spoke were in Chinese. I had no idea what he said, but as long as he kept talking, I could keep trying to work on the knot in the ropes. My bracelet had fallen off when they stripped me at the last location. They'd checked every inch of me for trackers and never realized there was one on the floor. My hope had dwindled when I was redressed in baggy, scratchy jogging pants and t-shirt and shoved into a van. They were being careful, making sure my guards couldn't follow us.

I swallowed thickly. The thought of being left in their hands, never seeing Finn, Cian, or Ronan again made me feel sick to my stomach. My fingers faltered. I had to get back to them. I couldn't trust that they'd hand me over to my father once he changed sides. Everyone in my father's part of the world was a snake. If anything they'd keep me for however long they saw fit, dragging my father along until they couldn't get anything from him anymore.

A shiver worked up my spine. I'd told my father I would lean into architecture, but that was a distant dream. He needed me home and by his side. If I'd been with him, they wouldn't be able to use me like a puppet for their fucked up little scheme. My flesh grew hot as I picked at the rope harder, my fingers raw as I worked.

Footsteps halted my progress. I let my hands drop. A light clicked on overhead. I blinked, trying to adjust quickly.

"Ah!"

I held my tongue as I was jerked up by my hair. The man that peered into my face looked like he wanted to kill me.

I licked my lips. "Can I have some water?"

He scoffed. "Why the fuck should I?"

"Jun, give him water," someone called.

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