I approach Blayze cautiously, “Xander, what’s wrong?” His body relaxes a little when I approach him and he wraps his muscular arms around my shoulders, drawing me into him. He holds on tight, not letting go. “Xander, talk to me, please.”
“We found her. We found Danyella.” I should be relieved but I know better. Being in this life you learn how to take the good with the bad.
“But…” I trail off waiting for him to finish.
“But she’s being held by Bloody Scorpions in a construction area in downtown L.A. We can’t get to her.” His voice chokes on the last part. “I’ve failed her like I’ve failed you.” Blayze buries his face in my hair and breaths deep.
“Xander, you didn’t fail me. What happened to me has nothing to do with you.” I comfort him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You didn’t do that to me. Steam and Chains did.”
“But if it wasn’t for me sending you there, you would’ve never been in their crosshairs.” Blayze counters.
“If I stayed here, Chains would’ve killed me to prove a point to Capone. What happened to me isn’t your fault.” I cup his face, making him look at me. “You saved me. You sacrificed your patch to keep me alive and I’m still here. I’m not six feet under. I have air in my lungs and you by my side. That’s all I need and all I want.” Blayze buries his face in my hair again, pulling me closer to him.
Daisy approaches us. I forgot she was in the room, “I know how to get in. If you take me there, I can help.” The meek little girl I found crumpled on the floor of my studio wants to help.
Blayze lifts his face from my hair and pins Daisy with a glare. She shrinks back a little. “No. Absolutely not. You’re not going back there.” His arms tighten around my shoulders.
“It was just an idea,” Daisy fidgets with the hem of her t-shirt. She casts her gaze to the carpet.
“I won’t have you in any more danger. You’re safe here inside our clubhouse.” Blayze looks at me. “I have to leave. I want you to promise me that you’ll stay inside and won’t leave.”
I don’t answer right away. “God fucking damn it, Monica. Stay here so I don’t have to worry about you while I’m trying to get my sister back.” Blayze’s voice is deadly.
“Fine. But if you’re not back, I’m coming for you. If you die trying to rescue Danyella, I will bring you back to life just to kill you all over again.” I’m serious too.
“I’ll be safe. I promise. But you know it’s a chance every time I step out that door.”
“I know, Xander. I know.”
Blayze leans down until our lips are a hairsbreadth apart. His green eyes are boring right into me. Into my soul. Our lips crash together. He runs his tongue along the seam and I open. His tongue plunges inside my mouth, stealing my breath and the rest of my heart along with it. Blayze pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.
“I love you, Xander,” I breathe into him, clutching his leather cut with both hands.
“I love you too, Monica. Until my last breath.”
I inhale a sharp breath and tears form in my eyes. Blayze gently wipes them away with the pad of his thumbs. He gathers me into his arms again and kisses the side of my neck, sending heat to my core.
“Blayze, time to roll, now.” Capone stands in the middle of my door, taking up the whole space. His body is vibrating with revenge. There’s a slight tick in his jaw. The only telltale sign he’s pissed. His black eyes land on me and he gives me a small nod. We might be half-siblings, but we’re in sync with each other. He knows I’ll worry about them all until they come back safe.
“Bring our family home.” I plead with Capone.
“Always.” He turns on his heels and leaves, taking the tension with him.
“I’ll see you soon, Bug. And when I do, you better be ready for me.” Blayze kisses me one last time before he walks out of my room, taking my heart with him.
I don’t know how long I stand in the doorway my heart hurting for my family right now. All I can do is wait, but that’s not one of my strong points. I have to do something. I turn to Daisy, “Come on, I need a drink.”
We walk to the bar. It’s too quiet out here. No music pumping from the speakers. No club whores milling around, looking for a dick to fall on. All the club members but a few prospects and lower-ranking patch members are on the rescue mission.
I stroll behind the bar and point to a stool on the other side. Daisy sits down and watches me work. I hand her a bottled water and fix myself a drink. She uncaps the water and drinks like she hasn’t had anything this refreshing in a long time. I sip my drink slowly, looking around the common room. No one is paying us any attention, which will work with what’s going on in my head. My eyes land on Daisy when she finishes her water.
“What?” She asks.
“You know how to get in the building?”
“Yes…” Daisy trails off. She’s scared and I don’t blame her. What I’m going to ask her to do next will put us both in danger but fuck it. I’m not waiting any longer.
“I have a plan but I need your help executing it.” She nods her head, waiting for me to continue. “We’re going on a field trip of sorts.”
“But Blayze told you to stay here.”
“Yeah, I know.” I wave my hand dismissively. “But Daisy, I can’t just stay here and let my family go head first into danger. There’s one thing you should know about me. I don’t follow directions or orders very well.”
“I’m figuring that out. What can I do?” She crushes her water bottle and I throw it away.
“I’m going to head into that room.” I point to the communications room. “You’re going to be my lookout. If someone comes, you give me a warning. There shouldn’t be a problem since most of the guys are gone. Then, when I find what I need, we’re out of here.”
“OK.”
“That’s my girl. Stick with me kid, I’ll show you how to get shit done.” I rap my knuckles on the bar top. Looking around, I see my chance to get in and out. None of the guys are paying attention to us. I hurry towards the communications room and pick the lock. I look behind me and Daisy is swiveled on her stool so she’s watching the whole room. She nods her head at me and I slip inside.
I look around the room. The computers are still on and a screen displays a countdown. Two hours and thirty minutes left until the auction. Above the countdown is a picture of Danyella. Only it doesn’t really look like her. Her vibrant green eyes are haunted. Her once shiny straight blonde hair is dirty and scraggly. She has fresh bruises on her face and neck.
“What have they done to you, Danyella?” I touch the screen with my fingertips, tracing her face. A lone tear trails down my cheek and I wipe it away. The red lights ticking down remind me I’m on a time limit. There will be time later to grieve for what she’s lost. What we’ve all lost.
I flick the mouse to the other computer and it fires up, revealing what I’m looking for. There’s an older building deep in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. There are photos of the specs of the building. I study them and commit them to memory. An address is written down on a sticky note. I commit that to memory also.