20. Twenty

Isaiah

We arrive in Florida a few hours after Mateo and Gabriel make a few calls for some extra help. I didn"t expect to be greeted at the plane by Mateo"s ex, Santiago with Gabriel"s brother, Angel at his side, stroking a black metal collar around Santiago"s neck. There are a few other men with them. I don"t bother catching any of their names as we head toward the cars waiting to take us to the hotel where the auction is being held.

We don't waste time talking things over much on the drive there. We all have the same goal in mind which is to get Joey and Carlos out alive. Everything is empty and quiet when we pull up in front of the hotel. There are plenty of vehicles, but no guards or guests anywhere in sight.

The first floors are quiet and clear of guests. There are no hosts or clerks at the desk, and no one is working valet. At first, I assume they are all busy with the auction, but that"s only until I notice the bloodstained carpet heading toward the elevator. I take a step back with the doors open, revealing a man who"s been shot several times. Whoever had killed that man, it was personal.

We all split up, making sure there are no hidden threats and I continue making my way down the elevator to the hidden floor using the key from the dead man"s pocket. I think my heart is going to stop when those doors first open and Joey is standing there panting, covered in blood with a few dead bodies surrounding him and two guns in his hands. There"s a younger boy beating a man to death with a heavy small statue. People are running and screaming. White smoke lifts from different corners of the room, telling me Gabriel has found a back way inside. Joey continues to stare at me with his mouth agape. "Isaiah. Is that really you?"

I nod, smiling, unable to speak at first. "It"s me, baby. I"m here where I should have been all along, with you."

He"s never jumped in my arms so fast with his lips crashing harshly against mine. "We have to save Carlos," Joey whispers.

"That will be a first," I say, raising a brow. "This day just keeps getting more and more interesting."

Mateo and Gabriel clear the rest of the floor with Angel and Santiago close behind them. They all continue to cover the floor with dead bodies and blood, while Joey and I make our way to the back. Seeing Carlos again sets my body on edge. He stands there dressed in one of my black suits wearing it way better than I ever could with his dark hair slicked back. His eyes are wide when they land on me. With the way his mouth opens and closes, I"m almost certain I"ve taken his breath away. I have the sudden urge to find ways to do it again.

Joey appears from behind him after a few words are exchanged and more guns go off around us. "I think it"s time we finally get the fuck out of here," Carlos says, taking a gun from my hand.

"There"s a few people I"d like to say goodbye to first," Joey says behind me, glancing around with determined, focused eyes. "Anyone up for a round of hide and seek?"

We all three laugh and Gabriel shows up behind us. "There won"t be too much seeking going on. It would appear we have one guy surrounded. He was the one giving orders and it doesn"t look like he has anyone left to give orders to."

"Where is he?" Joey asks, standing straighter.

"Hiding in a supply closet with his tail between his legs like the coward he is."

"Perfect," Joey says, pocketing his gun and pulling out his knife. "I always did like saving the best for last."

"No way am I letting you go in there alone," I say in rushed words.

Carlos steps beside me, setting a hand on my shoulder. "I think you need to let him have this one. We will be right here if he needs us."

"Don"t worry, Izzy. This will be one of those times I won"t be calling for backup," Joey says, stepping in front of me to give me a quick chaste kiss. "I"ll see you when I see you." He pulls away and hurries toward the front.

I turn toward Gabriel. "What about the hotel guests?"

"Locked in their rooms with the phone lines down and machines turned on in the rooms to prevent them from using their cell phones. Apparently the desk clerks have a few buttons they can push for emergencies like this one. The doors won"t open up for hours so we have time before those guests signal the police."

"Good, I have a feeling Joey is going to want to take his time with this one," Carlos says grinning wide.

"How are you holding up, C? How is it that a man like you can be roughed up without a single hair out of place?"

"After all these years, you"re still asking that question?"

"A question I hope to be asking for a long time to come."

Carlos reaches for my face, tucking back a loose strand of hair. "How is it you just got here and are already needing to be put back together?"

"Maybe you can answer that for me. It always seems to happen so quickly when you"re around." I lick my lips and Carlos follows each movement with his dark, hungry eyes.

"I think it"s time we go find your husband before it happens again." His nose rubs against mine and the heat of his breath tickles my lips causing them to tremble.

Before I can say anything, he disappears into the smoke and I"m left standing there with my brain also caught in a fog.