41. Knight

41

KNIGHT

I clenched my fists as I watched Zavala rushing toward the chopper with my sister.

My sister.

Breathing deeply, I tried to wrap my brain around that one for the tenth time since I'd arrived and my world was turned upside down. The one thing I wanted more than anything was to talk to Kate, but I couldn't bring her into this, not when so much was at stake. I didn't need her on Zavala's radar.

IKE got to work, hopping from the chopper and I followed, doing my best not to take out this asshole for whatever he did to her. But as he approached and my eyes slid to Isabelle, my anger slid to the back of my mind for a second as I took in the woman collapsed in his arms. I imagined she was beautiful after seeing her mother, but it was impossible to see her face through the bruises.

"Barrett!" Zavala shouted. "Check them."

My eyes connected with Zavala's as his guard came over to pat me down. I wasn't stupid enough to bring weapons with everything at stake, but that didn't mean I wouldn't break this fucker's neck the moment I got the all clear. I held out my arms and allowed Barrett to pat me down. My eyes never left Zavala's, which was probably a mistake on my part. But that anger that had temporarily been pushed to the back of my mind was now flaring like a red-hot poker, and I wanted nothing more than to shove it through his eye and watch him slowly die as the poker pierced his brain.

"They're clean," Barrett said, stepping aside.

I walked forward as IKE took Isabelle from Zavala's arms and got to work loading her on the stretcher. IKE took one look at her and knew the same as me. We needed to get her to the hospital fast. Whatever Rafe did, it could cost her her life.

"Let's move," I commanded, getting her loaded into the helicopter.

I knew the basics of being a medic, but not enough to actually do anything to help her other than tending to her superficial wounds. I was just about to do that when we lifted off and I saw the second helicopter hovering on the other side of the island.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who saw it. "Boss!"

Zavala spun around and cursed under his breath when he saw the helicopter about to land on his island. If he gave the order, our guys would be fucked. Zavala had a fucking army, and as trained as we were, the fight would be short-lived if they attacked.

I eyed IKE, shaking my head slightly. I saw the bloodlust in his eyes. I felt it too, but if we attacked too soon, other lives would be lost—my newly found brother, for one.

"Have someone check on Rafe," Zavala snapped. "I want him secure. And find out how the fuck that helicopter snuck under the radar."

"Yes, boss."

Given the loss of his wife or his island, I wasn't entirely sure he would choose his island. Isabelle was a great bargaining chip, but he stood to lose a lot if we somehow took control.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Zavala snapped. "Pay attention to my wife!"

It took everything in me to not kill him right then, but I somehow got to work and focused on making sure Isabelle got to the hospital in one piece.

"Boss, Rafe is secure, but we got the intel back on his connection to Isabelle. He's got a twin brother who runs a security company."

"Why the fuck didn't you find that out before?"

"Boss, that's not all. That helicopter is owned by Owens Protective Services. His brother is there to rescue him."

My stomach dropped as I saw the rage on Zavala's face. It was now or never. He was about to do something stupid.

"Burn him," Zavala ordered.

My fist shot out, slamming into Zavala's face. He flew back against the door as I was tackled by his guard. In such close quarters, it was difficult to fight as I tried to avoid injuring Isabelle further.

IKE was struggling to protect Isabelle from the fight, but it was next to impossible. Max was in front, relaying the information to the other chopper.

Barrett had his arms wrapped around my throat and his mouth was next to my ear. "Get her to safety," he hissed.

Confused, I didn't react immediately. He was trying to help her, which didn't make any sense. He was Zavala's right-hand man. I threw my elbow back, ramming it into the man's gut. As I spun, I knew I was already too late.

Zavala had his phone in his hand and was already sending orders to his men. "Burn him alive. Make sure that fucker can see."

I grabbed Barrett from behind and put him in a chokehold. "Rescind the order, Zavala."

He grinned at me. "Never."

"I will fucking kill him."

"So will I," he said, right before he pulled a gun and fired, hitting Barrett in the chest. The guard fell back into me, shoving me into the other door. IKE moved quickly, slamming a scalpel into the side of Zavala's neck.

"No!" I shouted, tossing Barrett aside to get to Zavala. I put pressure on his neck, trying to staunch the bleeding. "You fucking idiot! We needed him alive!"

"He was never going to let Rafe go."

"You just fucking ensured his death!"

My hands were coated in blood as I pressed them around his neck, but there was no going back. Blood pooled beneath him as he drew his final breath and his eyes went dim.

"Goddamnit!" I shouted, slamming my fist into his face. It didn't matter that he was dead. He'd just killed my brother, whom I hadn't even met yet. The only consolation was that my sister was safe from the abusive asshole.

I grabbed the headset and flipped it to the channel for the other chopper. "Cash, come in!"

"What the fuck is going on?"

"Zavala's dead. IKE stuck a scalpel through his neck."

"Dammit! We needed him alive!"

"I fucking know that!" I ran my hand through my hair. "Cash, he gave the order to have Rafe killed."

"How?"

"He said to burn him and make it public. He wants you to see."

"He knows?"

"He did before IKE killed him," I muttered. "I can't go back, Cash. Isabelle is in bad shape. I have to get her to the hospital."

"We'll take care of it."

"Be safe," I said, uttering words I never thought I would say. I took off the headset and turned to IKE. "You'd better fucking hope he gets to Rafe in time."