“Your father did. I don’t know why. I had to do something, Dace. They said Ettore took my brother, and I know Michael knows Rowen Rodecker.”
“What? Who?”
“They took him because of the notebook I had on Ettore; they thought he had it. I needed to get my brother back and keep him safe. Michael said he could make that happen.” Dace seems in disbelief. “I thought you had lied to me, that you left me for another woman. I needed help, and you weren’t here to do that. So I decided to handle things on my own, and to get my mother’s killer, the man with the steel toed boots,” I say, falling against his chest. “You weren’t here, and I needed you.”
He looks down with an odd expression. “Steel toed boots? I thought you said you didn’t know the person that got away? You never said anything about boots or anything.”
“He wasn’t the one that was there. He was the one that organized the murder. One of the guys who was caught said he was paid to do it, but before he could say by who, he was killed. I found his brother’s girlfriend, and she told me about Rowen, or really about the boots, and then I figured out Rowen. I saw him at Wendy Colletto’s accident scene.” Dace stares at me in disbelief as the wheels seem to be spinning in his head.
He pulls me inside and shuts the door, locking it tight. I stare at his back, watching him breathe in and out until he turns to face me. “The man in charge of my mother’s murder wore steel toed boots with an engraved skull and crossbones on the metal.” My eyes widen as I understand his reaction. “I was told the police had her killed to get back at my father, but now, I’m not so sure that it wasn’t someone within my own family.”
“Do you know Rowan?”
He shakes his head. “Does he work for my brother?”
“I don’t know who he works for, but I have seen him at the oddest of times, like he haunts me.”
Dace lays a hand on my back and lends a kiss to my forehead, but then, he pushes me away. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re my brother’s wife now, and I … we both need to accept that and move on with our lives. No matter why or how it happened, that’s how it is.”
“Do you hate me?” He shakes his head, still pushing me away. “Well… I hate you, and your family.”
“Michael will be very good to you, if you let him, much better than I ever could.”
I step back, shaking my head with anger. “Did you set me up too?” I ask, but I don’t bother to wait for an answer.
“Austin! What do you mean? Austin, why did you ask me that?!” he yells through the closing elevator doors.
Jamee sits next to me with a giant smirk on her face. “What are you smiling about?”
“I am just amazed at how fast you moved from the sexy, bad-boy brother to the debonair politician brother. Then to get him to marry you?! Wow, I guess you could have them both whenever you want. And why exactly are you working still? I mean, you’re rich now, go be rich and enjoy life.”
There is nothing I can say to her that she would ever understand, so I ignore her comments and go back to work. “So Merlin said he heard from Nelson, and apparently, he has more information for me. He wants to meet. I don’t want to scare him, so I want to go alone.”
“Wow, I can’t believe he would actually trust someone he barely knows,” Jamee says with an attitude.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re being a fool. I need to go with you and back you up. What if this is a setup?”
“I don’t think it is. This kid is really scared and really wants to stop running. If I can help him, Jamee, then we have a great witness.”
“At least tell me where you are meeting him so, if you don’t come back, I know where to go to find your dead body.”
I laugh. “I don’t think there is much of a way anyone will hurt us in front of all of those people, but if it makes you feel better, then fine, I am meeting him in the park near the south side entrance.”
“Thank you.”
“See you in a couple of hours, partner,” I say as she waves at me.
The park is busy today, which will hopefully ease Nelson’s mind a little bit and encourage him to come out to meet me. When he does, I need to talk him into coming with me. I already have my speed dial set up to get him protection. I walk near a large tree and see him vibrating with a cigarette in his hand.
“Nelson?” I ease closer to him until he jumps back from me. “It’s okay. I’ll stay right where I am. Merlin said you had something to tell me?”
“Yeah, there are more notes that I didn’t tell you about, a lot of them, and I know where they are.”
“Oh yeah? And how do you know this?”
“I followed him one night. Mrs. Martin, she was scared he was cheating on her, and since she was always so nice to me, I wanted to check it out for her. He wasn’t cheating, he was hiding his notes and a bunch of other stuff. I don’t know what exactly.”
“Can you take me to it?” I ask him, hopeful.
“Yeah, but are you going to get me some protection first? These people are killing my friends to try and find me, and I don’t want anyone else to die because of me.”
“Sure, come with me, and we will take you somewhere safe, and on the way, you can tell me what you know.”
“Okay,” he says looking around himself and slowly walking with me to my car. He gets in and shuts the door, and I take a deep breath of relief.
“Are you hungry? We can get you something to eat on the way.”
“Yeah, but where are you hiding me?” he asks, nervously looking around the area.
“A motel just outside of the city.”
“It’s safe there?
“It’ll do until we can get clearance to take you somewhere better,” I reassure him.
“Alright, then here’s the key to that storage unit.”
“The notes are in a storage unit?”
“Yeah and a lot of other things too. He kept the key hidden nearby, so I was able to take it after he left and get in. I slept there a few times.”
“Is that where you have been?” He nods.
“There is some scary stuff in there though, so I only sleep there when I really have to.”
“What kind of scary stuff?”
“Just pictures of dead bodies and guns and stuff.”
I take the key and slide it into my car’s sun visor with a smile. When we arrive at the motel, I go to get Nelson checked in while he waits for me in the car. By the time I get back, two men are there, trying to drag him off. “Stop!” I try to get a clean shot at them, but I can’t. I race after the car when another car pulls up followed by another. They surround me, and I give up my weapon and let them go with my key witness, but when they come after me, I fight. They clearly want me alive, so I have nothing to lose. I throw an elbow at one man and give another a high kick to the head. They back off, staring at me in shock. “What’s wrong boys? Never met a woman that could fight with men? Although, to be honest, none of you are much of a challenge.” They bravely come at me again only, this time, they stick a needle in my leg and inject me with something. I go weak all over and collapse.
When I awake, I am tied to a chair and blindfolded. “How are you doing there, Blondie?” A man roughly runs his fingers through my hair and laughs when I jerk my head back from him. “Don’t worry. This won’t take long. All you have to do is tell us what you know.”
“He didn’t tell me anything. I wanted to get him somewhere safe first,” I quickly say, letting them know where I stand.
Another man leans down and whispers in my ear. “This isn’t a game. We will kill you, and no one will ever find your body. Not your cop friends or your family. They will live in agony not knowing where you could be or what happened to you.” I laugh, and the man picks me up off the chair, throws me to the ground, and begins kicking me. “Do you want to die, bitch? Tell us everything you know, and we will forget ever seeing you with the kid. Understand?” I nod. “Okay, good. I have to get back to work on my own interests. You take care of
her and let me know when you’re done.” The man leans down to my side and grabs my face. “You really should have stayed away and stuck with arresting your drug dealers. Continue,” the man says to the other.
“Okay, I’m going to ask you one more time, what did the kid tell you?” I’m not telling them anything, and I make sure they know that. I hear the wisp and feel the hit to my arm. The blow goes down deep into the bone forcing me to scream out in pain. “Tell us what he said to you!”
“Nothing!” I yell. “I told you my primary goal was to get him somewhere safe first.
“Yeah, well you did a great job at that, didn’t you?” the asshole reminds me. I hope they don’t harm him. Hopefully someone can get to him before it’s too late. “This is getting ridiculous cop, just tell us what the kid said, and we will let you go.”
I hold my head up in defiance. “Go fuck yourself!”
“Screw this. Let’s go. She doesn’t know anything more than the kid anyway.” They grab me and hold my head still as they place a gun to my temple. The cold metal of the barrel buries into my skin, and the painful pressure of it begins to give away to the realization that I’m going to die. I have nothing to say to them. I’m not going to give when my brother never did. I can do this. “Fine, unless you have something to add, cop, then goodbye …”
“Wait!” I scream with a trembling voice, damning myself for being weak.
“You have two seconds, and then we don’t care what you have to say anymore,” the man says. All I have to give them is the key to the storage unit, but I know Aaron will find it and figure it out eventually. I shake my head, being instantly halted as the man holds my head still and presses the gun deeper into my head. “You have something to say?” I can do this. I take a deep breath as he fingers the trigger...
KWACK
KWACK
I heard the gun go off, but I don’t feel the pain of it.
The silence in the room is strange. Are they dead? How? Then I hear someone breathe deeply. “Who’s there? Please, tell me what’s happening?” I plead, scared of what could be coming for me now.
A warm hand touches my face, scaring me until I realize it’s him. “It’s okay, Trouble. Your brother is on his way,” he says, holding my head with a soft hand and placing his lips on my temple before disappearing.
“Wait! Come back!” I yell for him, not understanding why he would leave me here alone. Within a few minutes, I hear Aaron calling for me. “Aaron! I’m here! Aaron I’m here!”
Chapter 27
Dace
I knew about Austin’s father having gambling issues, then she told me about her brother being kidnapped, and now after watching the news, I find out her brother’s partner is in a coma and they are still searching for suspects. The wheels in my head begin spinning as I consider what Austin said about the man with the boots being seen around Wendy’s accident. She must think he is involved with Michael not Ettore. Can’t be. Michael would never associate with a man like that. I need to relax. I step into the shower and try to calm, but then my alarm goes off. I jump out to check it out, and I spot Jamee coming up to my place. I open my door as she gets off the elevator. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something,” she says, walking past me and into my place. She looks around my home as if she is already sizing it up to own it.
“Oh yeah? And what exactly do you want to talk about?” I ask, crossing my arms as I move in front of her and stop her from moving any further into my home.
“Wow you look even hotter all wet. Do you need someone to help you get your back or anywhere else?” she says, twisting her fingers into my towel. I take a step away from her and impatiently wait for her to tell me what she wants. “I think you and I should have some fun together.”
“No thanks, I think you should go.”
“I can go but if I do then I am going to have to tell my good friend Michael about his wife and his brother still seeing each other. She confessed to me you know, that she still loves you and only you. She is never ever going to have sex with Michael while you’re still around. I think Michael should be aware of that don’t you?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Yes, you see I tried Aaron. I have kind of lost interest in him lately though, but you, you are way more interesting and fun and obviously have more money. I promise I could make you very happy, all you have to do is make me happy and give me what I want and if you do I will keep yours and Austin’s secrets. Like the sex secrets she told me about, the things you used to do to each other. Hell I even copied the pictures Austin took of you two together at some cabin. Great pictures, and so sweet, I am sure Michael would love to see them. I am not sure that you are aware, but Michael has a slight temper.” She says almost assuring me that he had something to do with Billy being in the hospital.
“You are something else.”
“Thanks, so want to get started now or …”
“I think you need to go, and I’ll get back to you on that.” I insist.
“Alright but just so you know, I will be home tonight waiting in a special outfit I bought just for you.” Jamee smiles up at me touching my chest with a purr as she places her address in between my towel and my abdomen.
I march to my door and show her the way out. She walks out like she’s the queen of the world. I can’t believe her, she has got to be out of her damn mind if she thinks I am going to fuck her to keep her quiet. The alternative is to let her tell and prove to Michael that it was me all along and not Billy who is now in the hospital, because of me and my family. I need to get some dirt on her and turn the tables. After I get dressed I head out to break into her place and dig up whatever I can on the bitch.
Aaron comes rushing at me as soon as I step outside of my building. “Where’s my sister you son of a bitch!”
I push the maniac off of me, “I don’t know what you are talking about!”
“I’m talking about my sister who’s missing. She was meeting a witness a few hours ago and hasn’t been heard from since. We found her car sitting in a motel parking lot wide open and empty, no witness and no Austin. Now tell me where she is, I know you are still working for Ettore, and I know he’s the one that took her.”
My heart beats rapidly as I begin to understand why he is so upset. “Go home Aaron, I don’t know where she is, but I am going to damn well find out.” I rush back up to my place and quickly open up my system. Searching for her phone I find the last ping signal near the motel she was taken from, and then I search the phone signals pinging thereafter, narrowing down the numbers to a specific timeframe. I begin looking through each one and follow their paths until one stands out. There, that’s where you are. I head out the door to find Trouble and hoping I can make it in time to save her.
They are holding Austin in an abandoned apartment building in a drug infested part of town, where no one is going to call the police no matter how much screaming is heard. I pull through the building and park my bike inside. Moving into the stairway I move up one floor at a time listening carefully until I hear someone move. I don’t hear anything, but then I get a whiff of her perfume and feel her presence on the third floor. Opening the door slowly I move in.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, what did the kid tell you?”
“Nothing!” Austin yells. “I told you my primary goal was to get him somewhere safe first.
“Yeah well you did a great job at that didn’t you?”
I peak around the corner to see her tied up with a blindfold. I text her brother where she is and plan to stay long enough for them to get here, but nothing ever works out like you plan for it to.
Her captor takes a gun and holds it to her head, “This is getting ridiculous cop, just tell us what the kid said and we will let you go.”
“Go fuck yourself.” I shake my head with a roll of my eyes. She is hit across the face and still she stays silent, they hit her again and again. She stays silent. I’m not sure I can stay in t
he shadows much longer, but I know these men, and they know me. I’m either going to have to kill them or risk them killing her.
When I hear her cry out, I cringe. Where the fuck are the cops when you need them?
“Screw this. Let’s go. She doesn’t know anything more than the kid anyway.”
“You have two seconds, and then we don’t care what you have to say anymore,” the man says. “Fine, unless you have something to add, cop, then goodbye …”
“Wait!” she screams, sounding completely breakable.
I look at Austin shaking and scared and more vulnerable than I have ever seen her, but even with a gun to her head, she stays silent. “You have something to say …” I take aim and...
KWACK, KWACK. I kill them both with one shot each as she remains trembling and gasping for breath. I go to her and look her over for any major wounds but find nothing, but a skull and crossbones imprint all over her swollen skin. Son of a bitch, I swear I’m going to kill him one day and leave an imprint on him for eternity.
“Who’s there, please, tell me what’s happening?”
Reaching out I touch her face and she flinches, “It’s okay.” I kiss her lips and leave before the cops find me here.
Austin was taken to the hospital and to satisfy my own fears I meet Michael there as a concerned brother. “Dace, thank you for coming.”
“You’re welcome, when I heard what happened I wanted to make sure she was okay.” I say as Antony walks up next to me. Michael smiles at me with a quick hug then he takes off into Austin’s room.
“And how did you know she was here Dace?” Antony asks.
“You called me remember?” I say waiting for him to nod in my direction. I make my way into her room and watch as Michael wraps his arms around her and nearly in tears as he does so. “Oh my dear God I am so glad you are alright. Thank you Aaron for finding her and bringing her back to me.”
“No problem.” Aaron says glancing my way. I am sure he has questions for me so I need to get out of here before he asks them.