A Captive Situation (Kings of New York)

I couldn’t believe what I was watching.

By the time I got to my cabin, I checked the tracker on my truck. It was parked outside of the library a few towns away, but I didn’t know how long Sawyer would stay put. Hurrying through the place, I grabbed any essentials we might need, which were mostly weapons for me. When I got to the town where Sawyer had left the truck, it was easy to find her waiting in the local café.

I considered going in there, throwing her over my shoulder and taking off again, except it was obvious she was waiting for someone. That meant she’d already violated my rule of no contact. My guess was she’d reached out to her cousin, so at this point, he had already been exposed. Even if he returned to his place without Sawyer, someone could still be waiting for him.

The best bet now was to sit back, wait, and follow them. Then, infiltrate and wait for the bad guys to come calling.

I parked in an alley on the other side of the café, able to see where Sawyer was sitting.

She was nervous. The hands wringing together was nonstop, along with gnawing her bottom lip off.

I groaned, seeing all of that happen.

I longed to walk in and stop her from biting that lip. It was mine to bite. Mine to kiss. Mine to suck. Mine to taste. Images of us before I’d left flashed in my head. Feeling my fingers slide inside her pussy, how wet and warm she’d been for me. Her cunt was eager for me, sucking me in, and I rewarded it with pumping her. Long and smooth strokes.

I could remember that needy look in her eyes. Like she was surprised herself at how her body was reacting to me, but fuck. I wanted to reach for my pants, relieve some of the pressure.

It took everything in me to walk away from her, but we couldn’t go any further. Emotions had been heightened. She wasn’t thinking clearly. We both needed time away.

I was regretting my decision.

When I saw the entire door had been taken off its hinges, I could only gape at it. She took that entire thing off, by herself. It’d been pushed to the side. I’d been impressed and proud, and then I spotted the blood on the door and hinges, and I saw red all over again.

I’d seen the blood on the security cameras, but seeing it in person was a different matter. It was live and in person and there was no grainy filter blurring it.

Jesus. That was on me.

I put her there. I put her in the position where she hurt herself in order to escape.

I’d messed up. I’d messed up badly, but I would fix it. Somehow.noveldrama

Until then, I needed to protect her and do what damage control I could.

An hour later, an attractive male walked inside. Asian. Similar age to Sawyer. He looked around six foot, maybe 210 in weight. Fit. He was dressed in jeans and a snug white sweater. I was guessing this was the cousin, as she perked up, her teeth sinking all the way down into her lip. Jesus Christ. I couldn’t handle seeing her do that anymore. It was mine to taste, but fuck.

Fuck!

I had to turn away for a moment, get myself under control.

When I looked back, I’d missed watching the first exchange between her and her cousin. They didn’t stay long, which I could tell was because of Sawyer’s urgings. She looked panicked. Her cousin was more relaxed, except he was giving her some serious questioning looks when she was looking away.

I almost laughed, wondering how that conversation went where she got him to come get her. He thought she was a nutcase. I could read it on his face. I had half a wonder if he was going to take her back to the city, and then take her to a hospital the next day. My guess was that he had reinforcements flying in. Her mom. His mom. Maybe the aunts? One or all of them?

Yeah. He’d wait. Take her back to the city. Wait for whoever else was flying in to arrive, and then they’d have a meeting. It made sense with him coming up so easily to get her.

They went to a nearby flashy car, not a vehicle for someone wanting to blend in. Sawyer’s shoulders slumped at seeing the car, but they got in.

She was anxious to be on the road, looking around behind them.

I didn’t move. I knew she couldn’t see me. She’d need to know to look through the café’s windows to the other side of the building. Her eyes skipped right over me.

She breathed out, looking like she could relax a little, as they pulled out into the road.

I eased my vehicle after them.

They paused at a stop sign a block away.

After maneuvering so I was two cars behind, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Sawyer. She kept looking around. Her hand was tapping on the door beside her, up by the window. I could see it all. The guy’s car was built to draw attention.

They went another block before slowing once more.

Sawyer’s head whipped over to her cousin, but he flicked on the turn signal and pulled into the gas station.

I grinned, knowing that I could’ve read Sawyer’s mind in that moment. She thought she’d gotten away. Got her getaway driver and finally they could hit the road, put some mileage from here, only to need to get gas.

As they pulled into a slot to fill up, I went past that gas station before pulling over.

My vehicle was full and ready to go. Now it was about tailing them all the way back, but I had a good feeling they were going to her cousin’s place. Sawyer was forgetting I already knew where he lived.

When they pulled into a space behind his brownstone, I parked a street over.

I waited in the alley behind their place, keeping hidden until I noticed a good opening to slip inside. I got it when a car arrived, and two older women spilled out of their car.

I was guessing that these were the aunts.

They weren’t New Yorkers.

She’d said her mom was a Stepford wife look-alike. These two women were not that. One looked like a giant pit bull with almost white hair and a meanness emanating from her. She was decked out looking like she was going on a safari in Africa, complete with a hat and net over her face and a red fanny pack around her waist. The other was dressed in a pink leopard-print sweat suit. A gold chain hung from her neck, and she had a neon-yellow visor, also with a matching neon-yellow fanny pack. She was taller and bigger, like a lineman. Dark and graying hair. They both looked tough, but the darker-haired one seemed like she’d given birth to an entire brood of guys who ate rocks for their meals. She had a look to her that she could handle anyone, and my mom had that same look on her face growing up. And she’d handled plenty.

I grinned, remembering that about her.

The hit was on my head, not Sawyer’s. She was only listed as a point of contact. Some of the killers would lie in wait, grab Sawyer, and use her as bait to draw me out. Those were the nice ones. There were others that wouldn’t give a fuck. They would wade into that brownstone and kill everyone before grabbing Sawyer and, again, use her as bait for me. Either way, her family would only be safe if I got Sawyer and took her away, which brought me back to my current movements.

I hadn’t planned ahead if Sawyer would be able to reach out to anyone. I should’ve.

I would’ve asked Ashton to get cameras and listening devices inside their house, but I just hadn’t. I’d been on the defensive this entire time except for this moment.

Right now was the shift.

When the aunts arrived, that’s when I got my opening into the brownstone.

The husband took a couple trips to bring all their luggage inside, and the door opened once more when the safari-aunt returned to the car for an item. It looked like a pink furry flamingo clutch. The thing was giant. It drew attention.

Everything about these aunts drew attention, but I slipped to the home when she went back inside.

They didn’t turn the security system back on. Not right away.

I was able to open a side door on the lower level.

Navigating through the house took time. It’d been easier than it should’ve been with five people and two dogs, one bigger and one smaller, and I hadn’t glimpsed the dogs. I only heard their barks. Everyone stayed on the main level.

They were drinking. Talking loud. Laughing. I heard crying.

The little dog growled, running after me when he caught my scent, but I stepped into a closet just as one of the guys grabbed their dog. “We’ve already been over this. You’re not getting whatever treats are in there. Come on. We need to make sure your auntie Sawyer is okay. Can you help me with that? Give her extra kisses and cuddles? Hmmm?” He whispered to the dog, “Let’s make sure everyone is of sound mind, too, while we’re at it. Can you help me with that?” He walked away, but that dog would be back, so I hurried out and slipped through the house until I was on the third level.

It was easy to figure out which room was Sawyer’s. Both of the aunts had tossed their visor and net-hat on the bed in the second-floor bedroom. Sawyer had left her purse on the dresser in the other room. Her phone was plugged in, charging next to it. The purse was half on top of it, as if she were hiding it.

Her door was open, but I closed it and grabbed her purse, setting it down in front of the door to try and cover some of my scent.

The dog ran up, sniffing outside.

I moved to her closet, and after a few minutes, after he was called back downstairs, he left.

I snuck out, returning her purse to the dresser. After using the attached bathroom, I opened her bedroom door an inch and moved to her closet, leaving that door open an inch as well. I was able to hear their voices, and heard the different trotting from the two dogs. One was slow, barely moving around. I was guessing that it was a bigger dog. Maybe an older dog, which was a slight blessing for me, but neither of these dogs were guard dogs. When the smaller dog didn’t return, I settled back and waited.

My phone buzzed silently against my hip. I pulled it out, reading the text.

Ashton: Info on Lane’s girl. You’re welcome. You owe me.

I rolled my eyes but clicked on the attached file.

An image of a young girl, early twenties, looked back at me. Brown skin. Dark almond eyes. Long black hair. Thin. Tall. It looked like a picture someone told her to stand by the wall for because they needed it for a file. She was holding on to a ragged backpack, the straps nearly torn off. The front pocket had long been pulled off. Some of the strings were still there.

She wasn’t smiling. Her eyes were dead. She looked a little malnourished, but she was stunning.

I could see why Lane was obsessed with her, but she was young. I didn’t like that part.

I kept scrolling, reading through the rest.

Her name was Blake Green.

She went into the foster system when she was six. She bounced around a bunch of houses until entering one when she was eight. She stayed until she was sixteen, then again bouncing until she aged out of the system.

There was no information where she crossed Lane’s path. The rest of the information gave the list of schools she attended. She kept her grades up, so she was smart.

No arrests.

No alcohol or drug history.

There were other pictures of her, but I skimmed over them to the end of the file.

Her latest location was listed in the city, this city. She was attending school at one of the city colleges. The file listed her dorm, and a job at—I cursed before texting Ashton.

Me: Are you kidding me with her employment? I just told you about this problem today.

He didn’t take long to reply. I could feel his mocking tone.

Ashton: It was a happy coincidence to find a neighbor of hers was already employed at my club.

Me: And you didn’t drop her a line to get the girl to apply at your place?

Ashton: There might’ve been an incentive given, but we can thank you for bringing Creighton Lane to our awareness earlier than we might’ve otherwise known. Having eyes on his one weakness is smart business. She starts in two days. Would you like her schedule? All this was finalized an hour ago.

I gritted my teeth, hating this. Hating everything about this life, but I replied to him. He moved fast.

Me: Yes, but if I can take her before then, I will.

Ashton: You’ll need help setting up the meet with Lane when he reaches out.

I knew he was right. I probably would, but I really wanted to tell him to stick it. There was a smugness Ashton shoved down your throat when he was “helping out.” In this situation, the truth was that I was doing him a favor. Lane would more likely kill me for taking his woman, but I had no other options. He was too insulated for any other meet.

Me: Yeah. I’ll be in contact.

Ashton: One last thing, your cousin’s been showing up in our club lately. She’s usually high.

There was only one cousin he could be referring to. Vivianna.

This was also how she and I were both entangled with the West and Walden families.

She knew Ashton from when they were younger. Both were on the modeling circuit for a short time. I wasn’t sure when she started hanging out with Trace West’s sister, but at some point their paths crossed.

Ashton: Trace kicked her out the last time she came back with his sister. She’s becoming a problem. We can handle Remmi, but how do you want your cousin handled?

Me: Already handled. She’s in rehab.

Ashton: She’s out then, because she was in Katya last night.

I froze, staring at my phone, because there was no fucking way I was reading that right. She was out—but of course she was out. She would’ve walked in. Waited maybe six hours before signing herself right back out. She did it to avoid a drug charge.

I was going to murder her myself.

Actually. No. I had a better idea. Cousin Viv was officially no longer my problem.

Me: You do whatever you want with her, short of killing her.

Ashton: Are you sure you want to do that?

I knew the twisted delight he was going to take from this gift I was giving him. Just because they might have known each other at some point in their lives, that would not give Vivianna any safety if Ashton deemed someone a problem that needed to be handled.

I almost didn’t want to know what he’d do, but I had no doubt my cousin would not be a problem at any point in the future.

Me: Yes. I’m done with her.

Ashton: Now I’m the one thanking you. How did you know my birthday was coming up?

It was probably nowhere close to his birthday, but I didn’t reply. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again. This time it wasn’t Ashton.

Uncle Toby: We need to talk in person. It’s urgent.

Yeah, right.

Me: The next time I see you, I’ll be putting a bullet in your forehead.

Uncle Toby: It’s family business. I told you what you wanted to know.

Me: Do not give a fuck.

Uncle Toby: You’re considered our Head. Only you can make the decisions we need before moving forward. The longer we wait, the more it’ll hurt business.

Me: I’ll send a representative. They’ll be in contact and they’ll pick the time and place for the meet.

Uncle Toby: It has to be someone in the family.

Me: I’ll send someone I choose. If you have a problem with who I send, I have no problem coming up early. Who knows. Maybe I’ll bring our new cousin with me. We’ll clean house together. The family business can be taken over by the women.

He didn’t reply so I settled back, listening to Sawyer and her family’s voices below again.

It was a long time later when my phone buzzed again.

Uncle Toby: Fine. Who will you be sending?

A very cruel and victorious smirk came over my face because I was going to enjoy this, so very much.

Me: You’ll know when they reach out. Do not forget my promise.

Uncle Toby: Fine. What did you do with my sons?

Another faint smile tugged at my face. That meant he hadn’t been notified yet. He would.

I wished I could be there when he found out.

Me: No.

I waited, but no more texts came from him and after twenty minutes, I sent another text to Ashton.

Me: My family needs my decisions about some items. I can’t go myself. I would like it if you went to represent me.

I fully knew what I was doing with this move. Ashton was the head of a rival Mafia family, and one where my family slaughtered members of his. This was not a favor I was asking of him. This was a gift I was giving him. He was helping me with Lane, and this was my thank-you.

I was out. Officially and completely.

Before the contract was put on my head, I had considered going to Maine to sort out what was going on with my family. I wanted to get to the bottom of why they chose me as their new head. That was all done.

The family could burn for all I cared. I just needed to decide how I wanted to make that happen.

Ashton: Happy fucking birthday to me, hmmm.

Me: Don’t say you never get a gift from me.

Ashton: When and how?

Me: I have two cousins in Presbyterian. Crispin and Penn. I believe you’re familiar with them. Go through them to contact my uncle. You pick the time and place. Uncle Toby knows a representative will be reaching out on my behalf.

Ashton: Your cousins are patients there?

Me: Yes. They were assaulted. Someone decided to beat the shit out of them instead of killing both.

Ashton: Someone?

Me: Just go there, use Crispin’s phone. Neither of them have reached out to their father. I don’t know the reason for that, but you can get a hold of Uncle Toby for the meet that way.

Ashton: Got it.

Ashton blackmailed me when we first met. It was how I began giving him information.

We’d come a long way since then, but I wasn’t kidding myself. There was a very real possibility Ashton and I would stare at each other on the opposite ends of a gun one day.

That day just hadn’t come yet.

Another text came through from him, one that I responded to with no hesitation.

Ashton: Are you sure about this?

Me: One hundred.

Easiest text I’d sent in a long while.