Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,73
entire time. With the amount of rage racing through me, I didn’t think I’d be able to contain myself, but one look at him and I calmed slightly.
It was as if he’d absorbed a fraction of my fury for himself.
He snatched the device from my hands, staring at the photo, mumbling, and cursing under his breath, collapsing into the nearest chair, and slamming his fist into the table over and over.
“All good?” Griller’s tone was calm, relaying that of a man having an ordinary conversation about simple topics, acting like holding our women ransom hadn’t just sealed his future death.
“And when do we get them back?” Prez asked, his chest inflating with a deep and slow inhale. His blue eyes darkened, and if I thought for one second he wasn’t invested in the safe return of Braylen and Zoe, his fierce scowl proved otherwise.
“After he loses, I’ll contact you.”
“That’s not good enough. We need to know the plan right fuckin’ now. Not after.”
“You don’t get a say in how this turns out. Do what you’re told.”
“What guarantee do I have you won’t hurt them if we follow the plan?” Marek lowered his head and exhaled, his shoulders tensing and rising toward his ears.
“You don’t have one. But you know what’ll happen if you don’t.” An eerie pregnant pause followed. “One wrong move on your end and I’ll be sending a different kind of picture. I’ll text the address, as it’s not gonna be announced until a half hour beforehand to ensure you guys can’t case the joint.” Then the line went dead and all of us stared at each other, no one knowing quite what to say.
“I can go back to them.” A soft and unsure voice from the doorway sliced through the stifling silence. Someone had apparently forgot to shut the damn door. Maddie stood there with wide eyes, her posture timid and defeated. When I looked over her head, I didn’t see anyone behind her, so it was reasonable to assume she’d been the only one to hear the conversation with Griller. “It’s all because of me that this is happening,” she cried, her trembling chin indicative she was gonna break down further any moment. She looked to Linc, then to Marek. “You can send me back.”
Linc rushed to her, pulling her into his side. “You’re not goin’ anywhere.” He quickly turned to Marek. “Right?” Panic twisted his words while he waited for the fated answer.
“Right.” Prez walked toward them, but his sights were set on someone else. “Sully!” he shouted, making Maddie flinch. When his wife appeared, he jerked his chin at Linc’s woman. “Get her out of here.” His tone was harsh, but Linc didn’t dare comment, releasing Maddie to Sully before retaking his seat.
“Now what?” Jagger edged closer to Marek. “We can’t leave them there until the fight. And who’s to say he’s even gonna let them go once Linc loses?”
Marek’s attention landed on our newest guests. “When can you meet your guy?”
“Anytime you need,” Ford answered.
“Set it up.” Prez pointed at Hawke, then Cutter. “I want you two to go with them. Take the van.”
Afterward he looked around the room, assessing the mood of everyone, which seemed to be linked.
Uncertainty.
Fear.
Anger.
And a splash of hope for delusion.
“As of this moment, we’re on lockdown. No one leaves except us. We’ll figure out who’s gonna stay behind to watch over the families after we discuss a few more things.” Marek raked his fingers through his dark hair, expelling a puff of air, looking more tired than the second before.
“I thought this place wasn’t big enough for everyone,” Ace said. “How am I gonna convince Chels she can’t go anywhere for who knows how long?” His question was more to himself than to any of us.
“We don’t have any other choice,” Stone replied. “We’re not letting them out of our sights. We were hoping not to get to this point, but here we are.”
As we set about planning our next move, I couldn’t get rid of the shadow of doubt looming over me. I prayed for Zoe and Braylen’s safe return with every fiber of my being, but every minute that passed, the hope that twisted inside me slowly dwindled.
Why would Griller give them back to us? He didn’t strike me as a man of his word, even though not once did he mention he’d return them once he got what he wanted, which was money. We just assumed the exchange was implied.