11. Knox

11

KNOX

I walk away from Kali and back out to the living room. I ignore the questioning looks and get back to the task at hand. Hopefully by the end of the day, this is going to be over, and Kali and I can have that talk.

I go over the plan in my head over and over, trying to see if we’re missing anything. I know it’s a good plan. It is the safest, fastest, most effective one that will land Nick back in prison and keep Kali safe.

The team is split into smaller teams to go and execute the plan. Every person is important to the operation. I would normally run lead on this type of mission, but Bear is taking over on this one. The guys seem to think I’m too involved, and I can’t really argue with that fact. There’s no doubt if I see Nick that I won’t be able to control myself. He’ll be a dead man just like his brothers.

Kali joins us just as everyone is about to leave. She’s standing beside me, and it’s hard watching my brothers go on a mission that I know I should be a part of. I wrap my hand around hers, and she starts to walk away. She looks back and gives me a sign, telling me to wait a minute. I reluctantly release her and watch as she stops Bear. He turns, no doubt surprised by Kali stopping him.

“I just want to tell you thank you for this. I’m sorry that I got all of you involved in this. Please be safe. Take care of yourself... and your team.”

Before Bear can respond, Kali wraps her arms around his stomach and hugs tight. I freeze for just a minute. Bear barely says a word to anyone, and he’s definitely not one for affection. Except with Samantha but it took a lot for her to break his barriers too. I know he’d never physically hurt Kali, but I’m worried he may unintentionally hurt her with his words. I stride toward them, ready to pull Kali off him when he holds his hand up to stop me. He pats his hand awkwardly on Kali’s back. “We’ll be fine. Thank you.”

Even Bear is affected by this slip of a woman. She has this effect on people. She’s so easy to care for... to love.

His voice is low and deep, and Kali backs away from him. I encircle her in my arms. “Keep me updated, Bear.”

He nods, and with one last look at Kali, he walks out the door. I hold on to the woman in my arms and fall a little more in love with her.

Kali

It’s intense waiting to hear how the mission goes down. It seems like hours are going by, but when I look at the clock on the wall it’s only been one hour. Knox and the other guys that stayed behind are antsy; no doubt they want to be there and in on it. I’ve tried to keep them fed and gone around the house cleaning up, doing my best to stay busy and keep my mind off things.

When my phone goes off, I think it’s Anna wanting another update. My heart sinks all the way to my feet when I see it’s an unknown number.

I open the messaging app, and I know it’s Nick.

The first picture is a group of high school girls and it’s innocent enough.

The second picture is one of the girls crying and she is tied to a chair. The text that comes with it says, If you don’t come, she’s next . And then he sends an address.

I can feel the bile coming up my throat.

I grip the phone and stumble out into the living room.

Dylan sees me first and catches me before I fall. I hear Knox calling my name, and I shove my phone at him.

“Fuck!” he says as he’s looking at the text and images. “Get the others back here.”

Dylan picks up his phone and calls for the other guys to come back.

Everyone is talking, trying to come up with another plan. I’m sitting on the couch with my head in my hands. I can’t get the image of the girl tied up in a chair out of my head. I need this to be over. I can’t let anyone get hurt because of me. I hate to leave, and I worry that I’ll never see Knox again, but I know I won’t have any life at all if an innocent young girl gets hurt because I’m scared.

Knox puts my phone on the coffee table in front of me and sits down beside me. Instantly, his arm goes around my shoulders, and he’s hugging me. “I promise I’m going to protect you, Kali. We’re in this together.”

When I don’t respond, he holds me tighter. “Hey, look at me. You’re strong, Kali. I’m going to stop him. This is going to end today.”

He’s pissed. I can tell by the way his jaw is cracking and the lethal look in his eyes. I know he’s mad, and he’ll do anything to protect me... even let himself get hurt if need be.

My head drops to my hands. What have I done? I brought this here... to him and the other guys. The defenseless girl that’s probably scared to death right now. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. It’s me that he wants.

I take a deep breath and put my hand on Knox’s jaw. I stare at him, searching his eyes, committing his face to memory. Even mad, he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. “I’m going to go wash my face. I’m feeling a little nauseous.”

He nods. “Yeah, why don’t you lie down for a little while?”

I grab my phone off the table and walk from the room. I turn because I can feel his gaze on me. He’s worriedly watching me, and I try to smile even though it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. He nods at me and turns to talk to Riggs.

As soon as I get around the corner, I grab his set of keys off the hook by the door. I keep looking down the counter and opening drawers hoping that there’s something I can use to defend myself. I grab a knife from the drawer and then remember the knife that the garage owner in Oklahoma gave me. I put my hand in my pocket and it’s there. I’ve gotten into a habit of carrying it with me. I use my codes to disarm the alarm and run outside, hoping to put some distance between us before Knox realizes I’m gone.

He might never understand why I had to go, but if I hope to have a chance with him, I have to go and face Nick and try to help the innocent girl.