Page 199 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Well, that’s what we thought too, but her Australian friend just called; she was going to be sold as a sex slave.”
Murder flashes across Baxter’s face.
The one thing we actually have in common is our hatred for Harold and his outdated views. I guess now we have two things in common: that, and a connection to Amelie.
“We can’t kill him. With no proof, we would be hung the second we tried. We need to be smart. Amelie is on her way here, but we need weapons, in case this turns ugly.”
“On it,” is all Baxter says, pulling out his phone and typing away. He looks up when he’s done. “Service entrance in ten minutes.”
We’re all heading towards the door when Kalen’s phone rings. We stop to listen.
“Amelie is twenty minutes away, she said you might need to call an ambulance.”
My gut sinks. She’s hurt and it’s all our fault.
“Smalls says he doesn’t have any other information, she hung up to save battery power. I’ll call an ambulance now then.”
We move towards the service entrance, where a van pulls up and Baxter greets the driver. Baxter is given a black duffle bag and I know that after this, he owes a favour. He doesn’t give those out very often, it’s too dangerous for him because he is so damn good at what he does. That power in the wrong hands would not be a good thing. Yet we don’t ask any questions; we would all do the same for him. Blood in, blood out. The bond of The Order is strong, even when we hate someone. And I don’t hate Baxter, not really.
We all get guns. It isn’t the first time we’ve used them. I know I was introduced to weapons from the age of two. Probably not the wisest idea considering my parents weren’t the most stable of people, but I turned out okay. Mostly.
“This doesn’t mean you’re in our harem now!” Kalen snaps, and Baxter smirks at him. Kalen should know better than to put ideas like that into his head.
“I don’t mind the sound of being a brother husband,” Baxter taunts. “And Amelie seemed to really like kissing me. Every time.”
Kalen’s eyes go wide. Onyx’s knuckles crack. I bite back a grimace. I’m pretty sure he’s teasing. Pretty sure, but not certain. Christ, that’s a mess we’re going to have to talk about too at some point.
“This is no time for bullshit! Be ready,” Onyx demands. “I’ve texted Jasper and Frost to meet us here.”
“Can we trust them?” I ask. I know they are part of The Order and that means they don’t work for us.
“Yes,” Baxter says. “Both Frost and Jasper owed me, so they are not doing this as part of The Order. This is owed to me directly.”
They both must have owed him big time; they have been with Amelie for weeks now. I can’t even imagine trading in favours outside of The Order. Baxter must really command respect from those two to make it personal.
We don’t bother going back inside. All the members will be drinking their expensive whiskey, preparing to celebrate the new members. Nothing will have been announced yet.
The celebrationwewere looking forward to was telling Amelie the asshole who tried to break her fingers didn’t make it. Onyx set a task so hard that I doubt he himself would even have passed it.
As minutes pass, we all wait in silence. Five minutes...then ten. We all start to get anxious, even Baxter – which is unlike him. He’s never taken a liking to anyone in the time I have known him, unless he has an agenda, but his unquestionable loyalty to Amelie is almost unnerving.
Finally, a set of headlights comes into view and the limo we were waiting on screeches into the driveway, barely missing other cars. It comes to a stop right before us, and Onyx has to jump out the way to avoid being hit.
We all have our weapons ready, not knowing what is about to happen.
Amelie hops out of the car just as Frost and Jasper race to our side.
I take in her appearance, quickly but thoroughly. Her lip is swollen and dried blood crusts around the corner. Her hair is dishevelled and the strap of her dress’ right arm has been broken. There are various scrapes and bruises forming, and the hideous pink dress that I know Amelie would never wear by choice is torn and stained. A large chunk of the hem of the dress is missing – ripped clean off so it’s almost indecently short.
Kalen is the first to move and she jumps into his arms. I won’t lie and say jealousy didn’t rear its ugly head. It does. Fiercely. But I tamp it down. Now’s not the time.
She points to the car, and Onyx and Slate both move to the doors, but don’t find whatever it is that she was pointing to. Jasper leans into the front of the vehicle and pops the boot. We all move to the back of the limo while Kalen keeps Amelie close.
A man I recognise is tied up and bleeding, with a cracking lump on his forehead.
“What is he tied up with?” Slate asks and Frost leans in closer.
“Dental floss, I think.” I smirk at that.
