“You want a name—Iris. She’s here now.”
My own blood was the one who held the dagger and used her pussy to get Declan on side. Now all those meetings with Gage make sense. She wasn’t upset he wouldn’t give her attention; it was to keep me off the scent. He was still messing with me from beyond the grave. Today it ends.
“New demand: I’ll send you the address if you hand over the business. I want the building, the guard and the girls,” Denzel continues.
I grind my teeth together as Marcus holds his thumb up. Turning the computer around, a red mark appears. I read the address.
Bake street. There is an industrial estate at the end of it, not even ten miles from the compound.
We start moving. “Denzel, I will pretend you've had a minor slip up and not just said what you did. Send me the address and you live. If I don’t get it within the next thirty seconds, you won't walk away from this alive.” There are grunts down the phone. “You don’t seem to be in a place to argue.”
Marcus jumps in the driver's seat as I jump in the passenger side. He pulls into the road, sending me back with the speed. “Never underestimate me, Denzel, that will be a mistake you will pay gravely for.” Within a second, my phone beeps again. I take my phone from my ear, reading it. It’s the same address we are following.
“Watch her. I am holding you responsible.”
We drive through London, weaving through traffic at a speed that is reckless. I type out messages to my guys, telling them to meet us there. Not the ones from the compound but ones from the house that Marcus and I had put together, all of them highly trained with military backgrounds.
We arrive at the industrial estate to find over thirty warehouses.
I go to grab the handle when Marcus stops me.
“No, we wait for the guys. Push it all down, keep it locked up until we reach her.” I shake my head.
“No way!” He grabs my arm again.
“We don’t know what's in there, how many are guarding her. We don't want her hurt in the crossfire.”
I curse, knowing he’s right. I can’t risk her, not this close. Ten minutes pass, which seem like hours, when three big black vans pull up beside us.
We all start out running.
“This is going to take forever.” I grind out after the third empty warehouse.
“Boss.” Aaron walks up to me. “There’s a warehouse at the end, guard outside. I would say that's our place.”
We all take off running. The warehouse comes into view, bigger than the rest. Five guards stand outside.
Aaron nods, lifting three fingers, then two, one.
Cracks fills the air as we watch the five guards crumple to the ground, too quick for any of them to react.
We race toward the metal door. Pulling it open, four guards’ eyes widen when they see us.
“Sir, we didn’t know you were coming today.”
“You know me?” I walk toward him, picking him up by the throat. His face turns bright red.
“Yes. Yes, sir,” he gasps. I frown, looking around at everyone, seeing the same confusion written on the man's face. Then it hits me like a gun butt to the head.
“Who owns this building?” The man gasps, his eyes starting to roll, but I don’t need his answer.
“This building is owned by my father. They fucking hid her in one of our buildings.” Anger rages through me, making the others take a step back. This will be the first one to burn.
“Is Declan here?” The other guard nods. “Thomas, Jacob and Keith, follow him, make sure my cousin is held. If he puts up a fight, make him hurt.” The all nod, following the two guards.
“Where is my sister?” My voice is low cold. I watch as they all look at each other, sweat travelling down their temples as they all visible swallow. I hold the gun up and shoot the closest one. He slides down the wall, choking, leaving a bloody trail as he slumps to the floor.
“This-this way,” the tallest one chokes. We walk down a corridor, hearing screams and moans. I look over my shoulder to see Marcus’ eyes wild, his fists clenched tight as his jaw. I know this will be hard on him.
Then we hear it—the sound that fills my blood with ice.
A gunshot.
35
Lilliana
Something comes through the radio that has Iris dropping it. It bounces on the ground, smashing to the floor. She starts pacing, her eyes turning on me as she walks over, picking something up from her desk on the way. I see the silver tape in her hands as she rips off a piece with her teeth before shoving it over my mouth.
“Keep it shut or I will kill her.” I nod, understanding.
Tara grabs my hand, squeezing tight as Denzel studies us from across the room. He had walked out to contact the seller and told Iris he would be here soon, and he wanted me.
Iris shoots one more look at us before pulling the door open, slamming it shut behind her.
“I can see why he wants you back. If he didn’t have me over a barrel, I would have kept you myself.” My body convulses at his words, bringing my knees closer to appear smaller, trying to disappear.
Iris walks back in with Lance. They talk in low whispers, her eyes flicking to mine.
“Grab her!” she growls.
He picks me up, throwing me over his shoulders.
“Where are you taking her? My buyer is on the way—” A loud ring echoes around the small room. As we leave, I see Denzel’s body slam against the chair, eyes open, lifeless.
My body jerks with Lance’s big steps, causing me to hiss as his shoulders connect with my bruises.
“Upstairs.” Iris speaks fast as she takes over, her fingernails biting into Tara’s arms, causing blood to appear.
She pushes us into a room, which smells of sex and tears.
“Now! Make it believable.”
Lifting his fist, he sends it into her face, breaking the skin under her eye.
“Again.” Iris smiles as Lance takes another swing. She hisses, licking her lips, tasting the blood. Walking over to Lance, she grabs his hair, smashing her mouth against his, rubbing her body against him.
Another deafening ring echoes, and Lance staggers back, his hand clenched to his stomach as blood pours out. He looks down before back at Iris. He staggers back, his large frame falling to the floor beside us, face looking straight at us. Tara whimpers, moving closer to me and away from Lance’s body.
Iris looks at me before shooting into the room, I fall to my side as pain shoot through my arm. Dizziness washes over me as I hear the door slam.
“Lilliana.”
I groan trying to move seeing the blood coating my arm.
I break the ties just like Malachi and Hayden taught me.
“What are you doing?” Tara gasps as I crawl over to Lance, tapping down his body before grabbing the gun from his jacket.
“Come on, we’re getting out of here.” Her eyes widen, and she hesitates a fraction before she gets up, holding on to my hand.
I swing open the door, and all eyes turn to me. The guard’s eyes widen, but before they can act, I’m moving down the stairs, quicker than my body is able, stumbling on a few treads.
Iris turns, shock registering on her face when she sees the gun I’m holding, pointed at her.