52

Yes. Tony tapped at a set of coded numbers. Why did you let her go ? He turned to face me, his tone accusing.
I didn’t exactly have a choice. I thought back to Mother’s words.
You always have a choice Boss, even if that sometimes mean you have to pick the lesser of two evils.
I sat back in the chair and thought about Tony’s words before turning to the issues that I hoped would distract my mind from Mother taking Lea out of the house.
Have you gotten anywhere on who accessed the system or who put Axle’s name onto Seth’s roster ?
Not yet Boss. Like I said before, whoever is behind it, is good, really, really good.
But you’re better.
Tony shook his head, doubt settling over his features, I honestly don’t know this time Boss.
When is the last time you’ve had any sleep ? I knew that Tony could stay up for days on end and be just as efficient as if he had just woken up from a full nights rest. It was just the way he was wired.
He looked at the calendar and tapped his pencil against the dates, Four days ago.
I shook my head and turned to face the monitors, Go. I’ll keep watch.
I’m good for another two days Boss.
That’s not a request Tony. Hell if you don’t want to sleep, go get drunk, or go get laid, and then sleep. I don’t really care what you do, just go do it.
Tony chuckled and pushed away from the wall of monitors, Fine. I spotted a red haired siren at Insomniac that I think I want to get to know a little better. He gave me a wink, You know what I mean ?
Yea, I know what you mean. I let out a soft laugh and settled back in my chair as Tony walked out grinning.
I had been watching the surveillance footage for a little over an hour before my phone alerted me to a text. I pulled it out and slammed my fist onto the desk as I read the message from Lynx.
Any idea why in hell we are meeting Marcus at the airfield ?
I quickly typed back, No, keep me updated.
Will try, Boss, but Miller and I are being watched closely by Mrs. Stephens guard dogs.
I typed in one word, knowing Lynx would know what I meant, Lea ?
Fine. But something’s up Boss, I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.
I didn’t respond to the last message, instead I keyed in my security codes and typed in the information required to pull up the flight plan that Marcus would have had to file with our tower.
I felt my heart drop for the hundredth time in less than twenty four hours as I absorbed the information. I knew Mother was going to test Lea, but I didn’t know that she would actually risk Lea’s freedom and everything and everyone within the organization to do it.
I sent a desperate message to Lynx, Get her out of there, now.
I looked down at my Rolex and turned to my room. I had just under a hour to get ready to take Lea out. I had already made arrangements with Miller and Lynx, and with Paul and Samuel. With everything happening, I knew that Lea would feel better if two of her own guards were with us tonight.
I showered and quickly dressed. This was a less formal affair than the opera, so I dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a white tee, and a black suit jacket along with my riding boots. I made my way to the main entry and met with the four guards as Lea walked in.
I had chosen a black, long sleeved knee length cocktail dress and simple black heels. Her golden hair was in soft waves and she had kept her makeup as natural as possible. I let a soft smile light my face and held my hand out to her.
You look stunning Lea.
Lea looked around before letting a mischevious smirk cross her gorgeous lush lips, I look like a two bit hooker, seriously, who wears shit like this.
As I felt my face fall, Lea let out a roar of laughter. The four men flanking us snickered but straightened up as I shot them a deadly glare.
Oh my God, your face was priceless. She placed her hand in my mine and leaned next to my ear, Thank you. You don’t look half bad yourself.
She placed a quick kiss on my cheek and pulled back, raising a brow at my confused face.
What ? Is there something on my face ? Oh God, there is, isn’t there ?
No Lea, there isn’t.
She went to wipe at her face, but I stopped her as I placed a soft kiss on her lips.
But, now there is, I whispered against her mouth before pulling away and leading her out the door to the waiting car.
Lea’s P. O. V.
I sat quietly as we drove away from the house, the tension rolling through the limo-styled Navigator was like a suffocating blanket wrapping around me.
Carter’s mother and her two watchdogs had taken the seats directly across from Lynx, Miller, and myself. I refused to meet her eyes and had chosen to look out the window as we took a seemingly familiar route. As the midsummer sun warmed my skin, I looked for anything to tell me where we were going, but just as before, there was nothing but trees and an occasional patch of wildflowers.
Like that’s going to do you any good my mind scolded. You’ve been with them for how long now ? You don’t even know where the hell you are to begin with, so what good would would it do you to try and figure out where you’re going ?
I sighed as I realized my mind was right. It had never occurred to me to ask where I was being kept.
Like they’d actually tell you that.
I rubbed my temple as I again realized my mind was probably right.
We pulled onto an airfield about a hour later and stopped beside the plane. I recognized it as the one that I had gotten off of when Carter brought me here, where ever the hell here actually was. I felt Lynx and Miller stiffen beside me as they looked toward the plane and noticed the pilot standing by the stairway.
I reached up and clasped the pendant between my fingers, careful not to activate whatever tracker it held.
Um, where are we going ? I asked as the driver exited the heavily tinted S. U. V. and opened the back door.
Carter’s mother and guards stepped out, ignoring my question. As I started to exit the vehicle, I saw Lynx slip out his phone, typing quickly, his face furrowed in apprehension. I slowed my exit when Miller noticed what Lynx was doing as well. The two of us exchanged knowing smiles and positioned ourselves to block the view of the three douche bags that were waiting on us to exit the vehicle.
You three, out. Now, watchdog number one growled when he turned and noticed that we were all still in the S. U. V.
I twisted my mouth in agitation as he glared and then reached in the car and tried to drag me out by my upper arm.
Hey you piss ant, that hurts. I clawed at the man’s hand and tried to scramble farther back into the S. U. V. as he tightened his fingers around my arm.
Miller reached over and covered the man’s hand with his, twisting and pulling the man’s thumb back toward the back of his hand and down toward his wrist.
The man let out a grunt as a dull crack sounded. He pulled back and cradled his injured hand as Miller hissed, Touch her again and I’ll do more than break a finger, I’ll kill you with my bare hands, got it ?
The guard stepped back and nodded tersely. I let a small smile slide over my lips as I stepped out and the man moved to the side. Carter’s mother looked from her guard to Miller as he began to exit the vehicle. Her face was blank as she reached in and pulled a gun from her clutch, aiming it at the man I had begun to consider a friend.