Blackness Within (18 page)

Kieran Delaney is the head of an organized crime family. That’s right; I’m a cop’s kid and criminal’s cousin. Kieran runs illegal fights and offers protection in Chicago. The fights I grew up having were always under the watchful eye of my older cousin.

“Tell me,” he orders gruffly and I do.

“Roman Vojtech,” Kieran snarls as I finish. “That motherfucker’s moved his reach almost all the way up to Chicago. Let me make some calls. I’ll be on a plane in an hour or less. Good job keepin’ the cops outta this shit. Vojtech’s pockets are full, cousin.”

“Thanks, Kieran,” I mutter as Finn pulls into our driveway.

“Chin up, Brian. I’ll be there soon.”

With that, he hangs up.

I plod into the house to be enveloped in Kid’s arms. She squeezes me so hard I can’t breathe.

“We’ll find her, Sully,” she assures, releasing me. “Keep your head on straight. We can do this.”

I try to take solace in her confidence, but I find it difficult. I’m consumed with guilt and rage. I need an outlet. I can’t sit here and do nothing but wait for our connected friends and family to show up.

I can’t call my father or my brothers. They’re all well outside their jurisdiction here. My brothers would be on a plane with Kieran in an instant, but it could jeopardize their careers. I won’t do that to them. I’ve fucked up enough lives for one week.

Finn drags me by the arm all the way into the office and throws me in a chair.

“Snap out of it!” he demands.

“I don’t know what to do,” I grumble back.

“We’ll start lookin’ at everything I can get my hands on. We’ll find her.”

I nod and start going through everything Finn pulls up on the computer: arrest records, complaints, known associations, meth houses, every single thing.

I’ll find her and then I’ll beat Roman Vojtech to death with my fists. If he hurts her…I don’t know what I’ll do. But I know I won’t be an attorney anymore when I’m done and I don’t give a shit. The blackness within me will fuel me. I can do this. I will do this.

Four hours later the doorbell rings and I stalk to the door, a mask of determination firmly in place.

Kid meets me there with a gun shoved in the back of her jeans. I feel sorry for anyone that fucks with her right now. She’s a surgeon with that thing.

I pull the door open to find Kieran standing there in all his cocky swagger-filled glory holding Blake by the neck.

“Look what I found loitering by the gate,” Kieran spouts, shoving Blake across the threshold.

Kid instantly shoves the barrel of her gun in his forehead, catching him completely off guard.

“This is Blake, Kid,” I explain calmly.

Kieran comes in the house and shuts the door as Kid lowers her gun, scowling at Blake. He looks like utter shit, though better than the last time I saw him.

“You fuckin’ promised me,” he snarls at me, earning him another barrel to the face.

“Watch it,” Kid warns and Kieran chuckles.

“Dude, I don’t know who you are, but if you wanna live longer than the next few seconds you better not piss her off,” Kieran informs Blake before making his way over to me.

His haggard scarred fighter face creases with a small sad smile as he pulls me in for a tight hug. We slap each other’s backs a few times before separating.

“Blake, when you get back on your feet I’ll let you beat my ass to a pulp. I fucked up. I’m tryin’ to set that shit straight. I’ve been tryin’. Do you know where Natasha is?”

He glares at me as Kid lowers her gun slowly.

“I’ve got an idea,” he grinds out.

“Where?” I growl.

“Warehouse in the West Bottoms. Vojtech holds fights there. You wanna get in you have to fight, unless you’re on the list of betters.”

“Sounds like my kinda place,” Kieran responds through a mischievous grin. “Let’s go talk.”

We move into the office, which is like Grand Central. We’ve all been in here doing as much research as we can. Aidan, Finn, Kav and Cal all jump to their feet as we enter.

“I’m gonna go get Kel,” Kid informs us, passing her gun to Kieran.

Kieran hugs her briefly before shoving the gun in the back of his jeans and shrugging his jacket off.

Blake’s wobbly on his feet so I indicate he should take a seat in a chair just behind him. He collapses in it and hangs his head in his hands.

“Guys,” Kieran greets the group and they all respond in chin lifts, staring down Blake as they do.

“So you’re the junkie brother that set this whole clusterfuck in motion,” Kieran says pointedly to Blake.

Blake snorts and nods his head, not looking up.

“You can feel like shit later. Tell us about this warehouse and how the fights work.”

Everyone in the room focuses all of their attention on Blake even as Kid and Kellerman enter.

“I’ve never been before, but that’s where she’ll be. I’ve heard enough talk to know that’s where he takes people. It’s isolated, he’s got all the cops there in his pocket and it’s easy to guard. There’s no way to get to her,” he mutters dejectedly.

“I’ll call Vojtech. Tell him I’m in town on business. Got a fighter I wanna try out before I take him back to Chicago. Take the guys with us,” Kieran says, planning quickly and convincing me even faster.

“Make the call,” I order in a low rumble.

“Who’s gonna be the fighter? You’re all a little too pretty to be believable,” Blake says to the room, finally looking around at all of us.

“That’s what makes Brian such a good fighter. No one suspects someone that pretty can fuck up anyone that gets near him,” Kieran spouts confidently.

“I’m comin’,” Kid announces.

“No,” the room shouts, Blake included.

“They won’t let you in with your piece,” Blake explains further.

“I don’t need a gun to take a motherfucker out,” she enlightens him.

“I believe you,” he responds with big eyes.

Kieran barks out a laugh before climbing to his feet.

“You’re not comin’, Shannon. I’d never have a woman with me for somethin’ like this. You’ll blow us. You can be the getaway driver if you want.”

“Fine,” she growls.

Kellerman dips his head to Kid’s ear and says something that pisses her off. She starts to protest and I see the typically laid-back man put his foot down. When he straightens himself, Kid grumbles, “I’ll stay here with the boys.”

“Good,” the room agrees.

“Fuck you,” she retorts.

“I’m gonna make this call now,” Kieran says as he leaves the room for some privacy.

“Is that Kieran Delaney?” Blake asks me.

“Yeah. He’s my cousin. I called him a few hours ago to come help us out.”

He shakes his head, disbelieving, but doesn’t say anything.

We all fall silent waiting for Kieran to come back. Kid’s still scowling at her husband and he doesn’t give a shit. He’s not willing to put her in harm’s way ever again. None of us are.

Kav and the guys are whispering amongst themselves, planning and plotting. A room full of attorneys and a surgeon. I guarantee you these men are scarier than any criminals we’ll encounter tonight. I’m at the top of that heap.

I’m already preparing myself. I’m ready for a fight. I’m looking forward to beating on someone. I’ll pound every face that comes at me as long as Natasha’s safe in the end. I won’t fail her this time.

Kid’s phone buzzes and she types, fingers flying.

“Coopers just landed. There was an issue with the team Nicky called in to help. They won’t be here until tomorrow,” she informs the room, stuffing her phone in her pocket forcefully.

“Kat can keep you company,” Finn says from the other side of the room.

“Great,” Kid snarks back. “Two highly trained women can stay here while a bunch of untrained men go do the heavy lifting.”

Kat Cooper is a retired DCA operative. Kid has been trained like a super assassin since she was eight years old by her Uncle Mick. So, Kid’s got a point, but I won’t agree with her on this one. I’ve got enough to worry about with Natasha I can’t add two more women I care about to the equation.

“Kid,” Kav urges her to understand where we’re coming from.

“Don’t, Kavy.” She pushes away from Kellerman’s grasp and stomps out of the room.

“She’s scary,” Blake proclaims.

“No shit,” we all agree.

Kieran strides in not long after Kid leaves.

“Shannon’s fuckin’ pissed off,” he informs us, plopping down on the couch next to me. “Fight’s set in two hours. You think they grabbed her this afternoon?”

“Text came at two,” Finn answers.

“He’ll still have her with him. Said the fights started two hours ago. That’s not enough time for him to put her somewhere and set up extra security. We got any idea why he took her?”

“To get to me. I got a note sayin’ they were comin’ for her. I have something they want so they were takin’ somethin’ I want,” Blake seethes.

“What do you have?” I snarl.

“Nothin’. I don’t fuckin’ know what they’re talkin’ about. Somethin’ fucked up happened that night the baby showed up. I still can’t remember, but I didn’t have anything in the house. I went there first when I checked outta detox. They ransacked my place. They didn’t find what they want.”

“With nothin’ to trade, other than you, we’re in a fuckin’ corner,” Kieran points out.

“Trade me,” Blake insists.

“Won’t work. They’ll kill her just to fuck with you.”

“I can’t fuckin’ believe this. I’m nobody. I’m not even a dealer. I sell rarely. I don’t get it,” Blake huffs.

“If they just wanted the baby back, they wouldn’t have taken Natasha and threatened you with it. They’re after somethin’ big,” I talk it out.

“What?” Blake pleads with me to figure this out.

“I’ll try to press Vojtech once we’re face to face. You guys’ll have to find Natasha on your own. I know you don’t want Kat and Shannon in on this, but they’re better trained for this than you are. We makin’ a mistake keepin’ ’em outta this?” Kieran asks the room.

“We’ve got this. If fists are the only weapons we’re allowed, it’s best it’s us doin’ it,” Kav states plainly.

“Okay,” Kieran responds easily. “You go warm up and get your head right. We’ll get a plan together. Finn, you try to get us blueprints of the building while we work.”

We all nod in agreement as I stand and amble out of the room, craving blood and pale grey eyes more with each step I take.

Natasha

I woke up a while ago. It’s completely devoid of light in this room so I have no idea how much time has passed. I didn’t sleep so much as pass out off and on. My most recent slumber seemed longer than the others. My adrenaline has worn off, leading to hunger and the need to relieve myself. I’ve been here a long time, alone and scared.

I can hear something in the distance, thrumming deep bass. I feel like it may be music, but as soon as I think I recognize a rhythm it’s gone or changes. I don’t hear voices or babies crying. I don’t hear the men that took me. I only hear the muffled thunder beyond my reach.

My hands are handcuffed to the wall at the same height as my head. I’m crouched in a ball against the cold cement wall. The floor is cracked, peeling tile. I can’t stand or lie down. I’m trapped in the same position I’ve been in since I was dragged here like an animal being led to slaughter.

I’ve tried to think this through. Why I’m here. How I can escape. Where they took the baby. Who took me? But I keep coming back to one thought. I’m going to die.

It’s not the first time in my life that I’ve had this thought. It is the first time I think it’s more likely to happen than not. If I’m going to die, I won’t go quietly. I’ll fight with everything I’ve got. It’s not much, but I refuse to be a victim. I’ll die knowing I did my best to work for my life. I owe myself that. I deserve that.

As I begin to nod off again, a sliver of light appears in the distance. Then a door is pushed completely open to be instantly filled by a looming figure. The halo of light surrounding him is painful to look into so I shield my face in my arm, squinting tightly.

“Miss Reynolds,” the same man that took me says coldly.

I don’t look up at him, though after a few moments I can feel his presence only inches away from me.

“Your brother hasn’t fulfilled his obligations. While that’s regretful, I feel you can be of some assistance.”

He pauses for a long while. So long, I wonder what the hell he’s waiting for. I peer up from beneath my hiding spot to find out.

He’s looking down at me like prey. The glint in his lifeless eyes tells me everything I need to know. I’m disposable. Nothing of significance.

He’s close enough to me that I could kick him, but it wouldn’t gain me any advantage. So I decide to wait along with him. He must enjoy my decision because a small smirk ghosts across his face.

“I need to send a message. You’ll be that message. You’ll be by my side and at my will until I decide you’re no longer required. If you can behave, I’ll allow you to live. If you do anything other than what I instruct, I’ll spend my nights with you. A few hours with me will make you wish you were never born. Do you understand?” he asks, lowering himself to eye level with me.

My imagination is running wild and the look on his face tells me I can’t begin to formulate what’s going to happen to me. I’m going to die. His eyes assure me of that, without question. Do I want to be tortured…raped…brutalized before death claims me? No. But I want a chance to fight.