29. Chapter Twenty-Three

Xander

I can hear shouting and gunfire, but can't tell from the sounds of the shouts who is winning. I fight against my restraints, trying to get free, needing to get the fuck out of here and make sure Wave is safe and unharmed. I can't fucking lose her, not now when I just got her back in my arms. If she is hurt in any way I'm going to fucking kill Trevante! I hear pounding footsteps above me and the shouts begin to grow louder, but I can't decipher a word they are saying and it's starting to fray my fucking nerves.

When I hear the lock on the door click open, I wipe my face of emotion and keep my head held high, these cunts will not break me. The moment the door opens and I see who is standing in the entryway my jaw unhinges—there is no fucking way he could be here, I'm certain I'm seeing shit now.

"Well, look at you just hanging around while the rest of us work." I snort at the pun and crack a smile.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Taylan?" My best friend scoffs and shakes his head as he makes his way over to me.

"Saving your ass, obviously," he says as he gets to work on undoing the chains around my wrists, but at the sound of footfalls coming toward us, he shoots me a look to remain silent and darts back across the room to close the door quietly and stands flush against the wall so when the door opens he will be concealed. Rather than using his rifle that is strapped to his back he pulls his two sidearms, ready to take out whoever comes through that door. I'll be honest, seeing him again after all this time has my chest aching at the sight of him. I fucked up but when my back was against the wall and needed a way out, they came for me!

The door bursts open to reveal Karl and Reid, the former darts his gaze from the door handle then to me, shit! I keep my face blank but he isn't stupid, he knows he locked that door when he left. He shoves his father out of the way, lifts his gun and then leaps to the side as he yanks the door closed. Taylan and Karl both stand there with their guns aimed at each other.

"Taylan, on your right!" I shout. He lifts his other gun and points it at Reid who already has his gun pointed at Tay. Panic unfurls inside me, it's two against one and I don't like my best friend's odds. He is well fucking trained but I know they are too, they may be old but they didn't rise to where they are by being weak, as much as I hate to admit that shit even to myself.

Karl spits on the ground. "Taylan Carter, Knox Bronson's pet bitch," he sneers. Tay being the cocky fucker that he is grins and nods his head like an idiot. He may appear like the jokester and easy going one out of him, Knox and me but his thirst for blood and his temper rivals mine and Knox's like no other.

"Oh, you've heard of me, good because that would have been really awkward, Karl, if you forgot all about little old me." If I could roll my eyes I would, Taylan can get under anyone's skin without much effort at all.

"Drop your guns kid and I might let you live," Reid cuts in to say, Tay pushes his lips to the side like he is debating his request but I know he isn't.

"I really can't do that because Knox said I have to save Xander and if I fail he will never let me live it down and that is a fucking tragedy for me because that fucker loves to throw my fuck ups in my face and I can't?—"

"Shut the fuck up!" Karl shouts. In a fraction of a second, Taylan's facial features change from playful to downright murderous, Karl just flipped the switch inside him without realizing it.

"Basement, both of the Solomon's, Xander is chained, two on one, all units to my location," Taylan says with pure dominance in his voice. Karl and Reid share a loaded look.

"You dumb fucks, he just put the Re Della Strada into motion and they are coming to kill you!" Karl curses beneath his breath at my outburst and tries to shift toward the exit but Reid shoots him in the knee, then tries to flee. Tay sighs dramatically then fires a shot that hits him in the temple killing him instantly. Karl is groaning in pain and clutching his knee. Tay quickly disarms him and shoves his gun into his waistband, then comes to me.

The second he frees my arms I flop forward unable to hold myself up. He wraps his arms around my waist and holds me against him. "I got you brother, always." I close my eyes and let his words wash over me as I hear the others storm into the room. Karl's painful cries go silent in an instant. I know it isn't because of the RDS guys, it's because he just entered the room. "Face him, own your shit so you can come home, brother," Tay whispers in my ear, then shifts to my side, allowing me to lean into him so he can bear the brunt of my weight. I slowly lift my head and lock eyes with my other best friend, his green eyes remind me so much of his twin's but unlike hers, I see emotion in his eyes.

We stand here staring at each other for a long time. He's aged since the last time I saw him but he still looks like Knox but harder, he has more of an edge to himself now. He looks me up and down and I expect to see hatred in his gaze when he meets my stare but all I see is shame and guilt.

"Okay, so you're not going to kill him obviously so can we get the fuck out of here and deal with this later?" Tay's voice breaks the trance Knox and I were in.

"Cuff and take him upstairs, I want him alive," Knox orders Marco and the others. Tay helps me from the room and it's fucking painful but I bite back the grunts of pain that want to escape me. I can feel Knox's gaze boring into the back of my head as we make our way toward the front door. I see bodies littering the ground and hate that I missed the action, I just hope that Wave is okay.

When we finally make our way outside, Tay slams to a halt at the sight in front of us. Trey is standing there with a broken look on his face. Ice fills my veins as worry begins to churn inside me.

"Where is she?" I shout. He jolts as if I shocked him and focuses his gaze on me.

"She's gone," he mutters.

"What the fuck do you mean?" I snap.

"Where is my sister?" Knox demands as he comes to stand beside me.

"She took Len, Thomas, Nolan, Fin and Ron with the girls and what remains of her men. I tried to stop her but she pulled a gun on me."

"What did she say?" I force out as I try to tamper my anger.

"She said she will see us where her life ended and Knox's began."

"She also tasked me with taking Karl to her." I dart my gaze to the side to see Nano, Brett and William standing there. Knox's guys lift their guns ready to take them out.

"Don't shoot them, if you do you will just piss her off!" I say.

"I am not handing this cocksucker over, if she wants him she can come to me and get him," Knox replies.

"It doesn't work like that, the boss gave an order and we follow it… no exceptions," William speaks for the first time and I have to admit hearing how loyal he is to Wave has my respect for him growing.

"She doesn't command me?—"

Taylan cuts Knox off before he can continue to scream like a bitch. "She has three weeks to meet us back at the bridge or we will come after her." The three men bristle at his threat but say nothing.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Knox demands as he comes to stand in front of Taylan and me, breathing hard. I can see he's pissed the fuck off.

"Giving your sister the bastard that stole her fucking life from her, he is hers to kill not yours! Pull your fucking head out of your ass, Knoxville, and realize that Waverly isn't a child anymore. She is a woman and has an army of her own. She doesn't need us or you." Knox stumbles back a step, shaking his head, trying to deny what Tay says but he can't because deep down inside he knows as well as I do that we all failed her. Taylan motions for Marco to hand Karl over to Nano. Everyone ignores his cries of pain as he is dragged toward their waiting car. Trey tries to follow after them but Brett turns and holds him at gunpoint.

"Our orders were to return with Karl only, you are not accompanying us, Trey."

"Fuck you, Brett, she needs me and she needs Xander even if she won't admit it," he volleys back.

"Why the fuck does Wave need him and you?" Knox growls, Trey spins around to face us but his moment of distraction costs him. Brett jumps into the car and they burn rubber out of here.

"Fuck! We need to go after them!" Trey shouts as he jogs back to me.

I shake my head and flinch in pain. "You and I both know she will be long gone, our only choice is to listen to what she says and wait until she comes to us." Trevante stares at me like I have lost my fucking mind and maybe I have, but I also know pushing her doesn't work. She showed us how she felt without uttering a single word, she came for me and she saved Trey. She cares about us, she just refuses to admit that to herself.

"One of you cunts better start explaining to me what the fuck is going on between you and my sister, now!" Trey and I both look at Knox, who has his fists clenched at his sides, nostrils flaring with each deep breath he takes. He looks like a bull ready to charge.

"We saw the beauty in her darkness and she saw the darkness in ours, we are in love with your sister."

3…2…1

I still know Knox better than he knows himself, three seconds is all it took for Trey's words to sink in, then Knox is flying off the handle and beating the shit out of him. The dumbass should have kept his mouth shut and let me deal with him but no, fucking Romeo thinks his stupid ass poetic lines will make everyone fall for him. That shit may have worked on his sister but Knox is nothing like Waverly. He has a heart and it beats for his wife and sons, Wave has one but it beats for nothing and no one right now.

I'm going to thaw that frozen block of ice around her heart and force her to see me… to choose me and Trey.