Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) (48 page)

Fear and anger raged through his system as he thought of Alex alone among a house of monsters. “Fuck that. I’m going in.”

“Wait, Jackson. Wait. She’s fine. Christina’s going to find her. She’s still talking to us. Her breathing’s shallow. She’s babbling. She’s afraid. She knows her phrase. If she needs to use it, she will. As long as we have audio, we’re good.”

Jackson glanced at his watch. “Twenty minutes.”

“Alexa knows there’ll be hell to pay. She’s already guessed we’re all pissed. She’s almost to the room...”

Jackson clenched his jaw as Tucker sighed. “What?”

“A bouncer just came from the door. She’s convinced Blondie knows where Abby is. She wants to go outside and get a look through the window.”

“She’s coming out?”

“Yeah, she’s turning around. She should pass Christina. I think she bumped into someone. Yup, she excused herself.”

Jackson struggled to uncoil the tension in his shoulders. Christina would catch up with her any second now and drag Alex’s ass outside. “What’s going on?”

“She’s not talking, but we can hear the party. There’s some sort of commotion, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting Alexa. Christina’s still heading her way—rip-roaring, by the way, muttering stuff. I don’t think we’ll have to rip Alexa a new one; Christina’s going to take care of it.”

“I’ll take a turn anyway. Of all the stupid-ass things to do.” Jackson zoomed in, growing impatient, waiting for Alex to appear or for confirmation that Christina had her again.

“Christina doesn’t see her yet, but we’re good, man.”

Jackson glanced at his watch as eighteen minutes turned into nineteen, and still he didn’t hear anything from Tucker. “Something’s wrong.”

“It just got quiet. A man’s talking to Christina. I think it’s Eric. He wants to know where Jenny is.”

“Christina’s telling him she’s not sure. She’s looking for her too. He says they can look together. He’s grabbing her arm. He’s pulling her into a room.”

“That’s it. I’m going over.” Jackson scrambled to his knees.

“Whoa, whoa, hold up.”

Jackson cringed at the alarm in Tucker’s voice. “What—”

“Call it! Call it!” Tucker shouted. “They have a needle on her! Christina’s in trouble. Call it!”

“Not yet,” Cannon hollered back.

“They just stuck her, you prick. They’re taking her. Call it, Goddamnit or I’ll do it and have your fucking badge.”

“All agents go! Go!”

Jackson yanked at the rope and paused when a bloodcurdling scream for help echoed over the chaos in his left ear. He scanned the dark lawn frantically, searching for the source. “Someone’s screaming. It sounds like it came from the east side of the estate.” His earpiece stayed silent as the commotion of the raid began. Moments later, a horn honked and tires screeched as a car accelerated in his direction. Jackson made a split second decision and hustled down the wall, street side, burning his hands on the thick nylon.

“Someone got away,” Jackson shouted as he sprinted toward his car. “He’s coming my way.” The laser blue Porsche screeched to a stop, then peeled around the corner and took off like a shot down the street. Jackson caught sight of a woman’s hand pounding against the glass as the vehicle passed a streetlight and disappeared around the corner. “Renzo made a right on the parkway. He has a woman with him. Do you copy?”

“I copy. We can’t find Christina. All agents have arrived and are searching for her and Alexa.”

“I’m following Renzo. I think he’s going to the stash house.”

Alexa’s palm was numb from her ceaseless pounding on the glass. She kept up her unstoppable rhythm, hoping someone would notice she had been taken against her will, but it was late, and the streets of the wealthy neighborhood were quiet.

Abby sat next to her, still trembling but silent now as she clutched her hands together and stared at the floor. All traces of the vibrant woman she recognized had vanished. Renzo’s presence had stolen her sister away and replaced her with the terrified, emotionally fragile stranger that reminded her too much of their mother.

Renzo dialed his cell again as he careened down another street. With each turn he took, the homes lost their charm and square footage. He’d backtracked and taken so many side roads, she no longer knew where they were.

“It’s Renzo. Send word to clear all the houses, now. There was a raid at Hartwell’s. Lenny got a call off before they took him down. Destroy the paperwork; take care of the computers. The local house is empty. I’m going to deal with any remaining evidence.” He jerked the wheel and skidded around another turn. “I’ll meet you in Paris tomorrow. I’m bringing some additional product.” He glanced at Alexa and smiled.

She turned away, barely suppressing a shudder as she pounded the glass harder with the side of her fist, trying to keep calm over her rising terror. Renzo was taking them overseas. He would book a private charter, and there would be no record of an Abigail or Alexa Harris ever boarding a flight. Jack wouldn’t be able to track them down. They would be lost forever, and Livy…

Alexa took a deep shuddering breath and swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought of her little girl. Her poor Livy would wake in a few hours expecting her to be there. Jack had been right. He’d been spot on all along, and she hadn’t listened.

Renzo braked hard and turned into a short drive densely lined with trees. He stopped in front of a charming older house in need of numerous repairs. Branches on several of the maples needed to be trimmed back. The home begged for fresh paint, pretty flowers, and updated windows. It had the potential to be beautiful, but no amount of improvements would wash away the horror that went on behind the walls.

Renzo opened his door. “Get out.”

“We—”

He grabbed Abby’s hair and yanked, cutting Alexa off when her sister yelped.

“Don’t talk. Just do what I say.” He dragged Abby out his side and pressed a button by his seat. Something clicked, releasing the lock on the passenger door.

Alexa pulled the handle, and her door opened. She scooted to the edge of the soft leather bucket seat and jolted from the shock of pain to her ankle. Closing her eyes against the flood of tears, she lifted her injured foot from the car and used the frame of the vehicle to boost herself up, refusing to acknowledge the need to sink to the cracked pavement and sob in utter defeat. How would she make it to the house a good twenty yards away? Better yet, how was she going to escape? Her foot simply wasn’t going to hold her, and she couldn’t crawl; her knees and palms were completely shredded.

“Jesus H. Christ. Would you hurry the fuck up? Get in the house.”

“I—I can’t walk.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Sister Alexa. I don’t have time for your shit.”

She braced her weight on the hood and hobbled around, each jostling movement a misery. “If you help me, I’ll be able to move faster.” She could only hope he would assist her with more compassion than he had back at the mansion.

“Fawn, you’re sister’s a pain in my ass. Go wait inside.”

Abby held Alexa’s gaze for a moment, then started toward the house. Where was Abby’s
fight
? Where was the feisty woman that didn’t take crap from anyone? She wanted to rage at her sister to snap out of it, but her frustrations wouldn’t help them.

Renzo huffed out a breath as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Move it.” He yanked her forward, bumping her foot as he dragged her, and she gritted her teeth against the waves of dizziness his quick steps caused. Alexa whimpered, despite her best attempts to stay quiet.

“You think this hurts? Wait ‘til you see what I have in store for you when we get to Europe. I know some guys that like it rough—whips, chains, domination. They’ll love you.”

She wanted to be afraid. The terror was in her somewhere, but she couldn’t think over each torturous jolt and her need to get back to her daughter.

They made it to the crumbling stairs, and Alexa grabbed for the railing. “I can do it now.”

Renzo didn’t listen. Instead, he reached his hand under her dress and cupped the thigh of her uninjured leg, raising it up, causing her to be unsteadier with each step he took. Alexa had no choice but to cling to his waist as she struggled to keep her ankle from connecting with the concrete, but her efforts proved useless. Her tender foot hit once, twice, three times. Tears coursed down her face, and she cried out as he stopped at the threshold.

Renzo chuckled. “Very theatrical. We’ll have to get you on tape—maybe a little sister-on-sister. You can moan and groan then, too.”

Alexa sucked in several ragged breaths, fighting the need to weep, but the unbearable pain was too much.

Abby rushed out the door and pushed at Renzo. “I’ll do it. I’ll help my sister.”

He shoved Abby back in the house, sending her crashing to the solid wood floor. “Don’t ruin my fun.”

Abby righted herself as quickly as she’d fallen. Her pale, mascara-drenched cheeks grew rosy with temper. “Leave her
alone
.”

Alexa cringed as something dangerous flashed in Renzo’s eyes. He would hurt Abby if she continued to try to defend her. “I’m okay, Abby. I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.” She nudged herself between them. “Please, Renzo. Let me help.”

“I should punish you. I
will
punish both of you, but it’ll have to wait.” He rammed Alexa with his shoulder as she balanced against Abby, sending the two sisters careening into the wall. “Bring her upstairs. I’m going to the office. If you two even think about trying anything funny, you’re dead.” Then he looked to Alexa. “Your daughter is too.” He ran up the steps without a second glance.

Alexa looked over her shoulder at the open door and the freedom beyond. She untangled herself from Abby as Renzo hit the last stair and disappeared down the hall. “I want you to go. I want you to run and get help. There’s a house across the street. I saw it when we pulled in. Their lights are still on.”

“No,” Abby hissed. “No, I can’t. He’ll kill us and Livy.” She hooked an arm around Alexa’s waist and started toward the stairs.

“He’s not going to hurt Livy—he has no idea where she is. But he will hurt
us
if we don’t try to get away.” Something heavy crashed to the floor above them, and they both jumped. “I’ll start up the steps. He’ll never know you aren’t with me.”

“No, Lex.” She shook her head vehemently.

“Damn it, Abby,” her voice broke in her despair. “I’m never going to see Livy again if we don’t get some help. I’d run right now if I could. What about my little girl?”

“What if he
does
see that I left and hurts you? He’s a monster.” Her fingers bit into Alexa’s waist. “He beats the girls all the time.”

“I’m willing to risk it. I’d rather die trying to do
something
than live without seeing my baby again.” She dashed at her cheeks.

“Okay. I’ll go. I’ll go.” She made it down two steps, but then Renzo walked from the office and chucked a computer over the balcony. The computer’s tower broke in several pieces as it crashed to the floor.

“What’s taking you two so damn long?”

“Uh, Lex needs a drink of water. Her injuries are making her sick to her stomach.”

“Too bad. Get up here now.” He stormed away.

They’d missed their opportunity. Alexa sunk to the step and held her face in her hands as tears fell. “My poor Livy.”

“Please don’t cry, Lex.” Abby sat next to her and rubbed her back. “We’ll think of something. Get up and come with me. We’ll think of something,” she repeated.

But what? They were a sorry pair, with her useless foot and Abby’s unwillingness to stand up to Renzo. She tried to pull herself together as hope withered. Crying wasn’t going to get her anywhere. “You’re so afraid of him. I’m trying so hard to understand. Why won’t you fight to save your own life?”

“He’s brutal. Renzo and Blondie are worse than everyone else combined.” She clenched and unclenched her fists. “He—he raped me.”

Alexa clutched her sister’s wrist as her heart broke. “Oh, honey.”

Abby shook her head. “He’s a monster. I had no idea I was going out on dates with pure evil all those weeks ago.”

“Of course you didn’t. This isn’t your fault. You aren’t to blame for any of this.”

“I know.” Abby glanced over her shoulder. “We need to get upstairs before he gets mad.”

Alexa studied her sister as they stood and started up the steps again. She wasn’t so sure Abby truly believed she wasn’t to blame. “This isn’t your fault, Abigail,” she repeated.

Her sister’s lip trembled as her eyes filled. “Then why do I feel like it is?” She wiped at her damp cheek. “I can’t stop thinking about the girls—young teenage girls, Lex. They had it so much worse than me. Renzo raped me once, but they were abused over and over again by so many different men.”

“Even one time is too much.”

“I didn’t do enough to protect them.”

“You did the best you could.” Alexa lifted her foot up another stair and used the rail to support her bodyweight.

“I wasn’t used the way the others were. I danced and stripped occasionally, but I did the books, made clothes, did the girls’ makeup when they were going to be used for a party. I helped Renzo and Blondie prostitute innocent teens. How do I live with that?”