Chapter 14

Tillie

My heart hasn't stopped racing since Nicky went tearing out of the club, a man possessed to protect his sister. I honestly don't remember the ride over to the dojo. I just remember telling Dom to drive faster and practically yelling at Tey to tell me where Nicky could be heading. He didn't even stop for one second to talk to us; he ran so fast, like hellhounds were on his heels. Luckily, Evan was insightful on where exactly Nicola is being held captive.

Poor Evan. God. He looked like absolute shit. But the club brothers will get him patched up and cared for. I promised him just before hopping in the car that I'd keep him updated once Nicola was back with us. He seemed so lost and in deep pain inside and out. I'll make sure that he'll have his girlfriend safely back in his arms.

I gripped Dom's shoulder from the backseat the whole drive to Chinatown, the longest ride of twenty minutes. I can't lose Nicola. She's like a sister to me, one I never knew I was missing in my life. Ride or die, bitch. My whole body is trembling as we squeal on spinning tires into an empty parking lot in front of a massive, three-story building. My hand is already on the door handle, but Dom stops me before I can jump out of the car.

"We stick together, and we don't do anything fucking stupid." Dom twists in his seat so he can stare at all of us before his gaze lands on me and lingers. "If shit hits the fan, I'm not taking any risks when it comes to you, mama."

I gulp as his intense dark eyes pierce my own, not letting me go until I nod in agreement, even though I'm lying. I'll just do just about anything to make sure my men are not in harm's way and bestie Nicola.

"Say it," Logan growls in the passenger seat, glaring at me like he knows what I'm thinking.

"I'll be careful," I reply, staring him down until he finally looks away with a clenched jaw.

Tey shifts in his seat next to me, practically vibrating with energy, and I know he's worried. I wonder if he's also picking up on this doomed feeling as I am. As if time is limited and it's all going to come crashing down.

"Let's fucking do this. Guns loaded," Dalton thunders in a deep voice, bouncing off the clothed car ceiling and vibrating in my ears.

All the doors open as we climb out, and I feel my throat go dry as the guys check their guns before putting the weapons away in their waistbands.

Why is that look of determination on their faces sexy? Fuck me, I'm a mess. Now is not the time. I twist away and catch Tey's gaze as he flips his knife between his fingers, winking at me while blowing an air kiss. I roll my eyes as I roughly pull the front entrance door open and try to focus as the guys form a protective circle around me while heading toward the stairway off to the left.

Our feet pound up the stairs, where we hear voices—Logan and Dom leading the way. They enter in a rush and stop in the doorway, so I have to shove my way between their broad shoulders to see what's happening. I quickly take in my surroundings, meeting Nicola's gaze across the room with relief that she's here and alive. She looks fucking pissed, though, wiggling between the two goons on her sides holding her in place. My eyes snap right to the middle of the room, and I find Jin looking at me with disgust and a hint of glee.

His words start to register as he taunts Nicky. I begin to walk over to Nicky, but I'm immediately stopped by the triad that encircles around us. One goon lays a bruising grip on my arm, and the guys go nuts by shoving the idiot who dared to touch me. I'm shoved back behind Dom and can hear Jin screaming in a haunting voice that gives me chills as the guys try to fight their way toward Nicky. Jin's trying to get a rise out of his son, wanting him to lose control, but he won't get anywhere. Nicky always wears a cool, calm mask. Always. Standing on my toes, I peer over Dom's shoulder to see Jin pull a gun out and aim the barrel between Nicky's eyes.

I hear screaming, sounding terrified, and realize it's me as I beg Jin not to do this. I'll stoop to any level if I have to; I'd rather do that than see one of the men I love shot to death. Nicky doesn't even flinch at the weapon aimed at him. He stands straight and has a stoic expression. Challenging. Fucking daring.

He's beautiful.

I stop struggling and hold my breath as Jin puts the gun away. One second, they are staring each other down, and the next, they are fighting with their whole bodies in a blur. I've never seen karate; the movements are fascinating—a deadly beauty you can't look away from.

You literally put your whole body behind every movement.

I cringe as skin smacks harshly against flesh, praying that Nicky will be okay. He'll be bruised, but I know he'll make it out on the other side. He's determined, and he has people who love him and are waiting for him.

Almost in slow motion, everything ceases to exist as Nicky gets distracted when one of the triads backhands Nicola across the face. She moans in pain and shakes her head while spitting blood up on the floor at his feet with a sneer. I blink, and suddenly, Nicky isn't standing where he was a second ago. He's halfway across the mats on his side, lying down, clenching his ribs as Jin lowers his right leg back to the ground. A loud shout from Jin, an aggressive sound that means harm, and he's running right to his only son, death in his eyes.

Get up, Nicky. Get up!

The guys start fighting the triad members. Punches are thrown, and I don't even wince when I see Logan snap a goon's arm without breaking a sweat. I'm shoved back behind Dom, taking a protective stance so no one can get to me, and his tall frame is trying to block my sight from Nicky.

"Don't look, mama," he warns for my ears only. His tone is hard and full of pain.

He wants to protect me, but it's Nicky. I can't not look. He's my everything; I'd do the same for each of my men. Dom is suddenly occupied, hissing under his breath as a triad goon swipes a knife at him. He tries to push me up against the wall behind me next to the doorway, but my eyes burn with a vengeance as I see blood bloom from a rip on Dom's t-shirt. I grip the gun tucked into Dom's belt from behind, ready to start a bloodbath by open firing, but Tey saves the day before I can even pull the trigger. I shake my head, tucking the gun in my boots, and wince. I feel it slide down my knee to my ankle.

I'm probably going to end up shooting myself in the leg, but the knee-high boots are tight enough that the gun settles. I get distracted for a hot second as Tey repeatedly stabs the guard who attacked Dom, his face almost savage and lethal as he drives the knife deep with blood coating his hand. With the guys busy and fighting for our fucking lives, I slip out behind Dom to the side, unaware, and watch Nicky still in the center of the circle, now on his feet again.

I breathe a sigh of relief, collapsing my shaking body against the doorframe. Nicky looks fucking pissed off, and the anger fuels him as he blocks two punches from Jin with his forearms. He retaliates with a swift kick to Jin's upper chest near his armpit, no doubt breaking a rib. Jin stumbles, choking on his breath, and tries to avoid the knee, aiming toward his kidneys, but he's too slow. Nicky raises his knee four times, hitting the same spot as he wraps his arms around Jin's back to hold him in place.

"End this, Nicky!" I shout, hardly noticing as the triad stops fighting and warily watches the fight between father and son.

It's obvious now that Jin isn't as powerful as he thinks he is.

"This is for my mother," Nicky shouts, bringing his arms up and fisting them together before quickly bringing them back down hard on Jin's back.

The sound of Jin's face planting the mats echoes, and his triad backs up slowly until every last one of them stands in front of the walls in silence with bowed heads.

How the tables have turned. Jin just lost his triad in a matter of minutes, which shows no one respects him as a leader.

Dom quickly turns his head to look at me behind him, his shoulders sagging in relief as he sees I'm okay, still in one piece. He wipes blood off the corner of his mouth from an uppercut fist he received before fully straightening to his height and turning back around to watch the end of the fight.

Tey is across the room, silently walking to Nicola, but he watches Nicky like a hawk. He really does love fiercely, and I think Tey would sacrifice himself to save the ones he loves. Dalton follows after him, glaring at the men who held Nicola captive. They actually wince and bow their heads deeper in shame.

"It looks like Nicky has an army at his disposal," Logan comments, crossing his arms and stepping near Nicky in a sign of support for whatever decision he makes.

"This is for Nicola," Nicky growls, kicking his foot out and rolling Jin on his back, so he has no choice but to stare up at his son in defeat.

Nicky grabs the collar of Jin's shirt and punches him in the face until blood spurts from his broken nose. He doesn't stop even as Jin groans in pain, his eyes already developing dark bruises.

"You are down at my feet, old man. Admit defeat. Say it," Nicky says calmly. But it's an act; his chest is heaving as he struggles to maintain his composure.

I just want to wrap my arms around him and never let go. I just might.

"You win," Jin chokes out, spitting up blood and glaring with so much hate that I shiver as I lean heavier against the doorframe.

Nicky drops him back to the mat with a rough shove and turns away to address the triad as they all, one by one, take a knee while keeping their heads bowed.

"Pledge yourself right now. Or join Jin in the shipping container across the seas," Nicky threatens, watching with sharp eyes as each triad member makes loud sounds of agreement, like the beat of a drum that echoes off the walls until I feel it vibrating in my chest.

I grin as Nicola runs at Nicky and throws herself in his arms with a sob. Except everyone isn't watching Jin now since he's propped up on his knees with his head also bowed, like the rest of the triad. I'm watching, though, and my brows are pinched in confusion as I see Jin's shoulder shaking.

Is he crying?

No!

"Fucking die," Jin cackles like a madman, desperate.

His head slowly comes up at the same time as his hand, pointing his gun at Nicky and Nicola with a manic snicker. My eyes focus hard on the finger on the trigger, feeling like everything is moving in slow motion, but I know it's happening in seconds. A loud bang fills my eardrums, making me cover my ears with a scream, but I can't look away.

It's just like in the movies when the body goes flying back from impact, and their actual smoke clouds my vision. I stand in shock as Jin's upper body flies backwards with a bullet hole right between his eyes, and blood immediately pools around his body as Nicky clings his sister to his body in a death grip.

I see something moving out of my peripheral vision, and I slowly turn my head in shock to see Franco leaning against the opposite side of the doorframe while grasping his stomach.

Blood soaks through his fingers, and he drops the gun as he staggers forward toward a shocked Logan.

Franco pauses at my side and glances at me out of the corner of his eye, grimacing in pain like every moment is agony. It probably is, though I can't seem to feel bad.

"I'm sorry. For everything," he says to me in a sincere voice, and I realize Franco isn't one to atone for his sins, so I can only nod and look at Logan.

"Franco? Why?" Logan rasps, his eyes hardening at the exchange, and watches with a raised brow as his father limps weakly over to him.

"I'm sorry, son. I know it's too lat-late, but it's all I can give," Franco chokes out, his legs shaking, before he collapses on his knees next to Logan and Dom.

Nicky and Nicola have their foreheads together as they whisper in hushed tones, watching as Tey toes Jin's body to make sure he's dead. Dalton rolls his eyes and gazes around until he connects his stare with the two guards who took Nicola hostage. He crooks his index and middle fingers at them and says something while pointing at Jin. They wince with quick bows at the waist and nod before bending down to grab each side of Jin's dead body under his limp arms. Jin's blood leaves a trail as they take his body away and out a different door across the room.

"I can't or won't forgive you, but I'll make sure you look like a hero. The people don't need to know that you were corrupted; they need hope. This is a mercy kill, father." Logan sighs in defeat, shaking his head, and I know he wishes things were different.

I watch with tears in my eyes, feeling sad for my heartbroken Lo. I'm fixing it any way I can, no matter what. He won't know heartache while with me. I hold that pumping vessel in the palm of my hands and plan to always guard it.

Logan looks away as a tear trails down Franco's cheek before he nods once in acceptance. Dom clasps Logan's shoulder, and they share a silent conversation as honey eyes meet deep brown. An agreement, one that shows you aren't alone. Enemies to friends. Logan doesn't say anything as he walks away, going to stand next to Nicky and Nicola with his back turned away from Franco.

Tey and Dalton clasp his shoulders in support, leaning their foreheads against his so he doesn't have to suffer alone.

I silently cry, loving and hating this moment. Brothers for life, always have one another's back. You aren't alone. Lean on me.

Dom gazes down at Franco with a look that almost resembles pity for a man who was once strong but ended up pathetic with the path he ran toward at full speed without thinking of the consequences.

"Goodbye, Franco," Dom whispers and withdraws his gun from his holster, leveling the barrel at Franco's head as he gazes up at him with a plea to end his suffering.

"Helena. I'm coming home," Franco whispers one last time, and I have to look away. Only I don't hear the bang of the gun.

A white fabric comes into my vision. It covers both my mouth and nose, the smell of chlorine filling my nostrils as a voice speaks softly in my ear.

"You're mine, little bird."

My limbs instantly go heavy, my heart slowing down as I'm dragged through the doorway behind me unnoticed, and my world is tipped upside down just before everything starts to grow fuzzy and blurry.

Help.

I can see the back of Cruz's dirty jeans and his just as dirty, muddy biker boots as he quietly takes the stairs without anyone stopping him.

I open and close my mouth, wondering why I can't scream and shout to the rooftops that I'm being taken by a sociopath.

Everyone was busy, so much happening at once that no one noticed I was being taken away.

What the hell did he give me? My limbs feel so heavy, and my throat is like cotton as everything around me feels like it's moving too fast. The next thing I know, I hear a pop and I'm being lowered into a dark hole. The fabric of the carpet under me is sensitive to my skin and causes a slight hiss to escape between my teeth. I want to recoil as Cruz sweeps my hair away from my hair and pets my cheek. Vomit climbs up my throat as I become dizzy at the feel of his hands on me.

"There, there, Tillie. I'm here and will never leave your side again. No one can take you away from me," Cruz says in a voice that's sickeningly obsessed and not in love like he thinks he is. "Take a nap. We'll be leaving all of this behind soon enough," he says as he steps back with a crooked yet not quite a genuine smile as he reaches over head.

He put me in a fucking trunk. Why am I always being kidnapped and shoved in a trunk?

I whimper as I'm entirely plunged into darkness as the trunk lid snaps shut and I can't do anything at the moment since my body isn't cooperating with me.

Tears run down my face as the engine roars to life, the vibrations shaking me and echoing in my ringing ears as I silently cry.

Please help me. Somebody. Anyone but Cruz.