Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

LANDON

I almost reject the call when my cell phone rings and I don't recognize the number. I don't give out my number easily, so when I get a call like this, that's usually the best policy. But considering the circumstances, I quickly answer. What if it's them? What if the security team is calling from a different number? What if it's Lily?

I answer the call. When I hear the terrified female voice, I sit up, tension flooding me. Sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, Grace even turns around and looks at me like she can sense it.

I smile at her in the kindest, most calm way possible, then stand up and go into the bathroom.

"Say that again," I say.

"My name is Maddie Scott. I'm Lily's best friend. We met in the fifth grade when she helped get a mud pie out of my hair. Damon O'Connell has kidnapped me and … and …" She sniffles. In the background, a man's voice, low and steely, "Get on with it …"

"Lily's here too," she says, coughing out a choked sob. "I didn't want to do it, but they made me call her. They made me bring her here."

"Where's here ?" I growl.

"Another one of their bars. They've told me to text you the address."

"How do I know any of this is true?"

Maddie says something to the men, and then I hear Damon laugh. I'm sure it's him. His tone is ugly and specific like the rat bastard knows he's about to do something horrific. He's happy about it. Maybe that's what this has all been about for him—getting to torment people.

"He wants proof ?" Damon growls. "Give that here." Suddenly, his voice is louder in my ear. "Are your security buddies listening, big man? It would be a mistake if they were. I hold all the cards now. Every fucking one ."

"Nobody's listening," I snap.

"You should be. Go on. Tell him to save you."

Lily's voice tears through me like an accusation. It forces me to realize everything I've done wrong—number one being not getting her out of the city and just to Ethan's apartment. Fuck . "Stay away from here, Landon. Don't give him?—"

"The satisfaction, presumably," Damon says, taking the phone back. "What about that, Landon? Do you find that logic persuasive? Just know, if you did what she said and purposefully withheld my satisfaction from hurting you , where do you think I would have to aim my aggression? A man gets bored, after all …"

"Text me that fucking address," I growl.

"Do you think you'll make it out of this alive?"

I grin like a madman, catching sight of myself in the cracked bathroom mirror. I look deranged and ready for whatever comes. "Are you telling me there's another option, Damon?" I say bitterly. "You're right. You've won. My only job now is to mitigate the damage."

"You know if you trick me and try to bring those security assholes along, it's going to go very, very bad for these women. You understand that. I hope you do, at least."

"I get it," I snap. "What do you want … money?"

"Money," he laughs grimly. "We're far past that. You tried to make a fool out of me last night."

Tried? He looked like a jackass, but I'm not going to tell him that. I'm not going to rub it in. Knowing he has Lily has lit a fire in me like nothing else ever could. As twisted as it is, the fire is even fiercer than when I fought for the kids and their families. It's more vicious than the apple tree case.

"Nothing to say, Landon? No apology?"

"I just want to get this over with," I snarl. Truthfully, I want to put him in the dirt, make him pay, make him bleed, and make him scream. The protective impulse is so damn clear that I know I'll never be able to fight my feelings for Lily again. For the rest of my life, however short it will be, I know she's mine .

"Then you better hurry, lad," he says. "If I see even a single security motherfucker, I'm going to make use of these two little sluts and then dump them in the sea. A cement-boots type of deal, understand?"

"That couldn't be clearer," I say.

"Good. See you soon."

I hang up. A moment later, a text arrives. The address is on the other side of the city, conveniently situated next to the water, so he can make good on his threat. Outside the bathroom door, I hear Lex speaking with Grace's mother. He must ask where I am because Grace says, "In the bathroom, Mister …"

Gritting my teeth, I move toward the window, pushing it open and awkwardly climbing out, scraping my arms on the frame. I hug to the side of the building and then move toward my car. One of the security spots me and begins walking toward me, but they're here to keep people away , not stop me from leaving.

"Sir?" he calls.

I slam the car door and start the engine. As I quickly drive away, my cell phone starts to ring. I toss it on the passenger seat. This must be Lex, but I can't think about anything other than keeping my woman safe.

My woman . I don't give a fuck anymore. I'm tired of running and pretending. I'm tired of thinking I ever stood a chance against this desire, this certainty.

When I saw her outside The Row, I knew without a doubt. Maybe I didn't acknowledge it then. Hell, perhaps I couldn't , but she was mine the moment I saw her.

Speeding across the city, I promise to save my Lily no matter what I have to do or allow to be done to me. She doesn't deserve any of this. She's a woman who's only ever wanted to do the right thing. She's got the best heart of any person I've ever met.

I love her.

As I think the words, I let out a shaky breath. It's the truth. I love her. I don't care if it's the diagnosis that has spurred me to realize this so fast. It doesn't change the facts. I love Lily so much that it hurts thinking about a future without her. My life will have meaning if I can ensure she gets a future.

This bar sits across from the dockyard, an old chipped painting of a pirate-style tankard above the door. Two burly men swagger across the street toward me the second I pull up. I recognize them from the bar, but all these bastards begin to look alike after a while.

"Are you armed?" one of them asks as I step from the car. He's got a flat face and a nose that's been broken a few times. The other is big and tough-looking, too, but minus the deformed nose.

"No," I tell him.

The other one snorts. "That was a mistake."

"Hey, it's his funeral. Are you going to come with us peacefully?" The one with the broken nose snaps. "Or are you going to make it difficult for us, eh?"

"At least he came alone," the other one says.

Broken nose nods, looking at me seriously. "The boss would've had some fun if you'd tried any bullshit. He's not happy. Lennie, is it good when the boss ain't happy?"

"Not one fucking bit."

"Come on." The man steps forward and grabs my arm. When I instinctively move away, he squeezes on harder. "If you want to play this game, all I've got to do is send one text to the boss, and your girl will be in for one hell of a time. Did you seriously think we wouldn't be watching your apartment, tough guy? We saw you go in together. Personally, she's not my type. Go on. Lie. Tell us she's nothing to you. We'll take you seriously."

I stare into his eyes, letting him know wordlessly I'd happily tear him to tiny, bloody pieces. "She's everything to me," I snarl.

"Good." A shit-eating grin smears across his face. "That means you won't try anything stupid, then."

With no other choice, I go with the men. No weapons. No backup. I keep telling myself whatever it takes. I'll do whatever I have to do to get my Lily, even if it means losing my life earlier than I thought I was going to anyway.