Chapter 56

JUSTIN

“Let’s just say that our little deal isn’t going to happen,” he growled at the pair on the couch.

He lowered his gun and looked at Colin. “You are going to know what it’s like to fuck with my club and my family, shithead.”

He turned and looked at the woman who gave birth to his daughter. “And you are obviously a slow learner. You didn’t actually think that I would let you have my daughter, did you?

“Was me shipping your druggie, skank ass to a psych hospital and locking you there not a big enough clue that you shouldn’t have fucked with me?”

“But Justin—” she started.

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say!” he roared. “Let’s get this finished.”

He motioned to his men behind them and they knocked them out with the handle of their guns.

Satisfied, he instructed, “Tie their asses up and take them to the basement.” The men started right away on their job as Justin turned to survey the rest of the building.

He didn’t see Mikey or Cash and went off in search of them and his wife. He moved to the first two rooms, saw a few bodies bleeding on the floor, and ignored them.

He was moving down a hallway to explore more when Stevo called him back over to review plans of the fire they were going to start.

MIKEY

Mikey was on a mission. The second the main room had been cleared, he brought a few men with him as they swept the hallway and other rooms searching for Avery. He knew he had to find her.

He had really grown to like the woman, and he realized that if Justin felt about Avery the way he was starting to for that little badass, Sally, then Justin would be shattered if they didn’t find her.

The trio made it to the last room in the hallway, and at the signal, Mikey kicked in the door. They went in and saw a man, scared shitless, standing with his hands up in surrender.

Avery was on a couch, still asleep.

Mikey shoved his gun in the waistband of his jeans. “Fuck, Avery.”

His men held the stranger at gunpoint while Mikey rushed over and knelt down. He was relieved that she didn’t look hurt but was upset that she was still drugged. Was this going to hurt the baby?

He was thrilled that Doc had been able to come at the last minute and was waiting in one of the SUVs just in case.

He took out his knife and cut the rope that was around her hands, gently picking her up.

She was like a rag doll in his arms, and he held her close to his chest to protect her. She stirred some and groggily opened her eyes to see that Mikey was there.

“Mikey…,” she whispered.

His heart went out to her. “I got ya, Av, let’s get you to Justin.”

Her eyes closed again, and he looked at the men. “As soon as I’m in the hallway with her, finish it.”

He walked into the hallway and heard the pops and a thud as the body fell to the floor. He rushed back down to see Justin looking at something with Stevo and called out to him.

JUSTIN

Justin turned and saw his sergeant at arms carrying his wife, and his heart stopped. He rushed to meet them, and Mikey gently lowered Avery into Justin’s arms, making her stir again.

“Baby, I got you,” Justin murmured, hoping that his voice didn’t crack with emotion.

Avery seemed to hear his voice forced her eyes open. She reached up and started crying when her fingertips touched his face.

“Oh, baby,” Justin said, feeling the tears burn his eyes. “Get the car here and get Doc!”

He moved to the door, holding her tightly to him, and quickly got in the back when the SUV door was opened. Doc was right next to him and started taking vitals.

Justin wouldn’t let her out of his arms, so Doc did the best he could.

Avery was still crying and becoming more alert, and that was good. Doc was asking questions to get her brain out of the fog and seemed pleased with her answers.

“Justin, who were they? Why did they take me?” she asked through her tears.

“I’ll tell you everything once we get home, baby,” Justin promised. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you?”

“They didn’t touch me. Kept me tied up in a chair, then on a couch. I don’t remember much after the mall.

“They put a rag over my face, I think, and I felt a little needle prick and then not much until I woke up some at that building.

“They gave me some water to drink and I think it had something in it, and I don’t remember much again,” she replied, confirming what they all thought. “Will that hurt the baby?”

Doc shook his head. “No, I don’t think. Sounds like the date rape drug, and from what Justin said, you aren’t very far along and you should be just fine.

“I want to take a urine sample and some blood when we get home to double check. Your vitals are coming back nicely already.”

Justin was feeling relief, but wouldn’t be totally fine until they got back and could do an ultrasound and see the clear bloodwork.

Avery settled back against him after Doc finished a blood pressure check to relax in his arms. They were waiting until all of their men were out so the fire timer could be set.

Once the all clear had been given, Justin told them to set it and for everyone to go home in the groups they discussed.

Stevo was already checking all the street and surveillance cameras around, wiping and cleaning up behind them.

As soon as they were on the way home, Avery bolted up. “Oh god! What about Cole? Is he dead?”

Justin calmed her down. “Whoa, baby, calm down. Cole is recovering from surgery. They got the bullet out and Nina is there to hold his hand. He’s gonna be just fine.”

Avery settled back into her place on Justin’s chest and closed her eyes.