It won’t hold them for long, but it’ll be long enough for us to get to the warehouse.
We ditch our SUV at the corner of the woods, fleeing on foot around the perimeter of the forest. Sierra races beside me, with determination on her face, while Leo and Alessandro protect us from behind. Thank fuck, she had ballet flats in her bag because running in her heels or her bare feet would have held us up.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the old warehouse comes into view, around the bend. I haven’t been back here in years, and I couldn’t be sure it was still standing.
“In here,” I shout, racing for the side door. The warehouse is freshly painted, and the roof looks new, so it appears it is still serving the same purpose. Reaching up, I run my hand along the corrugated ledge, silently rejoicing when my fingers curl around the key.
“What is this place?” Sierra asks while Leo and Alessandro keep watch for any sign of people following us.
“You remember I told you about Terry?”
“The guy who was like a father figure to you?”
The door opens, and I bundle her inside, closing it firmly as soon as Leo and Alessandro are inside. “Yeah, Terry was a member of a local MC. This is their safe house. When I was a kid, he showed me this place. Told me if I was ever in trouble to come here and hide. It’s wired with triggers, so someone already knows we are here. We just need to wait it out until someone shows up.”
“What if the Russians show up?” Sierra says, looking around the large space with trepidation. Apart from a few tables and chairs, and a heap of boxes and crates stacked along various parts of the wall, the place is empty, and I can see how it looks like we will be sitting ducks.
“They won’t find us.” I grin, striding toward the middle of the space, tugging her along with me. “Stay here.” Dropping to my knees, I push a chair aside and crawl under the long table. I spread my fingers along the floor, feeling for the latch. They all watch me like I’m crazy, but they’re not doubting me when I push down on the floor in the right spot and a door pops up. “Come on.”
“What the hell is this place?” Sierra whispers, crawling toward me.
“It’s a secret room in the floor. No one will find us here unless they know to look for it. Alessandro, pull that chair back into place after you, and pull this door shut firmly, making sure the edges are seamless,” I instruct, extracting my cell and switching the flashlight on.
“I got it, boss. Get Sierra to safety.” I walk in front of Sierra down the steps, feeling her close to my back as we descend lower into the hidden space below. When my feet hit the bottom, I feel around for the light switch and turn it on, illuminating the space. They have had work done since I was last here. The space is cleaned out, and there is a couch, a table and chairs, and a small refrigerator and pantry. A side door leads to a toilet.
“There’s no cell service,” Leo says, claiming a seat at the table while he frowns at his phone.
“I didn’t expect there to be,” I say, flopping down on the couch as Alessandro appears.
“This is pretty fucking cool.” Alessandro looks around with appreciation in his eyes.
“So, what now?” Sierra asks, taking some waters from the refrigerator.
“Now, we wait for help to show up.”
46
BEN
“How do you know they will help us?” Sierra asks, handing me a water.
“Terry was family, and I used to hang out with them here some nights. I expect at least some of the members will still remember me.”
“Okay,” she quietly says, before adding, “I’m going to use the bathroom.”
We are silent until she closes the door.
“Will they know of your reputation now?” Leo asks in a low tone, raising one brow, and I get what he’s asking.
“I assume so. But they’re friendlies. They have no reason to fear us or us them.”
“Let’s hope they get to us before the Russians,” Alessandro says.
“The Russians won’t find us down here. It’s a sweet setup,” Leo says.
“They won’t find us,” I agree. “This is a well-guarded secret. The MC have hidden from the authorities and rival gangs several times over the years, and no one found out about it. Unless they saw us come in here, we’re safe.”
“What is going on, Ben?” Alessandro asks, taking a seat at the table. “This whole situation reeks.”
“I agree. Something is not adding up, and I won’t rest until I find out what.”
“I’m scared,” Sierra whispers a little while later as we sit patiently on the couch waiting for someone to rescue us. We had all held our breaths as footsteps explored the warehouse a short while ago, the creaking floorboards betraying enemy presence. But it’s been silent for the past fifteen minutes, and I’m pretty sure the Russians are gone. Like I said, they wouldn’t find us unless they knew to look down here. Sierra’s head is on my shoulder, and I have my arm wrapped around her, running my fingers up and down her arm. She’s like a brick in my embrace, tense and scared, even if she’s not outwardly showing it.
“Don’t be. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“What about Rowan? What if something has happened to him?”
“Firefly.” I tilt her face up. “Rowan is safe at home. Our property is well-protected, and my soldiers know to take him to the safe room if there is any threat. Natalia will make sure nothing happens to him.” I press a kiss into her hair. “Why don’t you try sleeping. We could be waiting a while.”
“I can’t sleep. I’m too wound up.”
“Try.” I say, pressing her head into my lap.
She falls asleep five minutes later, and I stare at her, watching small puffs of air seep from her slightly parted lips as she sleeps. She is so beautiful it hurts to look at her sometimes. In sleep, she looks even younger, and I have a burning need to protect her from all the evils of this world. I know she has chosen a life with me. That she agreed to marry me of her own volition when she said yes to my proposal, but I still carry guilt for bringing her and my son into this life. I don’t want this for her, yet I’m far too selfish to ever let her go.
“You look like a creeper,” Leo says, not lifting his head from the crossword puzzle he’s doing. He found a bunch of old newspapers, and he and Alessandro are keeping themselves occupied doing crossword puzzles.
“You have that scary intense look on your face again,” Alessandro adds.
“What scary intense look?” I whisper, not wanting to wake my Sleeping Beauty.
“The one you wear when anyone looks funny at Sierra or says anything nasty to her.”
“It’s your ‘I’m gonna rip out your insides and hang you by your entrails’ expression,” Leo adds, briefly lifting his head to smirk at me.
“Assholes,” I murmur, flipping my finger up, as the floorboards creak overhead again. A flash of brief light filters down the stairs, alerting us to imminent company.
Leo and Alessandro are instantly alert, whipping out their guns and moving to the bottom of the stairs.