Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,53

office. I grab my gun and badge from my desk and run out with Eli. Mase comes up behind us outside minutes later, squad keys in hand. I blast the sirens, Mason drops the clutch, and before we know it we’ve cut three cars off heading into the street.

“Cassidy’s there. Call her,” Mason orders while swerving through traffic.

Elias dials Cassidy, and every second it takes to get there, my throat closes up as memories with Ali flash before my eyes. The Brooklyn Bridge, where I made her smile for the first time. The night where we stood in the soaking rain and I realized whether I wanted it or not, she’d branded my soul with her sass and her story. The morning in rehab when she woke up in my arms after a night filled with nightmares she’ll never forget, and when I asked her if she was okay, she nodded and whispered yes. She was far from okay. In that moment, I knew I’d met the strongest person I’d ever known. And the fear of now losing her is creeping in, devouring me. We weren’t informed about the Marino’s getting out and every protocol seems to have been broken which means Ali and Lindsey won’t be expecting them.

We pull up alongside the curb of Lindsey and Ali’s apartment building and jump out, leaving the motor still running. We yank out our guns, clicking the safety off and someone walks out of the building as we jump up the stairs. We slip through the door, guns up, guards up. Prepared. Ready. But still sweating what’s to come.

First floor, clear.

Elevator, clear.

The elevator dings. The doors open up and time slows down. Cassidy’s pain stricken face greets us with a whole new nightmare.

Her breathing is shallow and her chest heaves. Her shoulders droop and her voice tremors. “We’re too late. They’re gone.”

Bumps. One after another.

I slide, as whatever I’m in turns.

We’re moving. We must be moving.

My head throbs. My breathing is labored. My lungs struggle for breath thanks to the material covering my head. Every part of my body aches. Especially my cheek and my arms. My arms are tied up. Around something metal, maybe a pole. I groan as I try to move. Everything is slowly becoming clearer. I can hear faint voices in the light, but I’m still in darkness. I try to open my eyes but my lids are too heavy.

Banging starts. Frantic clanking against something metal and I whimper, the throb in my head thumping at the sound.

“Alison. Is that you?”

My ears perk up. “Lindsey.”

“Alison, oh… thank God. You’re alive.”

Her voice loosens the grip on my heart. She’s alive. I’m alive. We’re not gone yet which means there’s time. Cassidy would have been on her way over. When she finds us gone, she’ll call Roamyn and the others. I just have to pray they can somehow find us. Before we end up dead.

“Barely. My arms are going to fall off. I can’t move.” I groan as I try to sit up, my back protesting as it cracks.

“Ali, listen to me. Can you see anything, feel anything nearby? Are your hands tied up? I can’t move. I—”

A door slides open, the cool wind brushes against my skin. A shiver trembles through me, but it’s not from the weather.

“Well, well, you’re both awake. Just in time for your deaths.” Lucio’s indifferent tone sends me sprawling back into the corner of the vehicle. I hear a pull on chains and Lindsey grunt. Of course, she’s fighting back. She’s strong, confident, nothing can tear her down. I tuck my head low and Lucio laughs at me for retreating or Lindsey for fighting, I’m not sure. Either way, he’s a cold-blooded asshole.

“Oh, little Lindsey, give up now. Fighting will only make it worse.” Lucio mocks her with the nickname he’s always used for her, despite him being the younger of the two.

“I will never stop fighting,” she spits back while I stay silent. I’ve grown so much over the past few months, but being in Lucio’s presence binds me with hopelessness and sends me straight back into the dark hole I tried so hard to crawl out from.

Someone rips the material off of my head. Light blinds me. I squint to adjust to the brightness. The cuffs around my wrists are undone and I breathe relief when my arms are free. My eyes scan for Lindsey, panic ripping through me.

“Are you okay?” she asks, a tremble in her tone. I don’t have time