Page 3 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
My heart aches for him. I’m not a monster, I don’t want to see anyone in that state, even if part of me believes he probably deserves it.
What he let happen to Celia still makes my stomach twist and my skin prickle, it still makes my breath shorten and my palms sweat with horror. Nobody, not a single person in this world, should ever have to endure what Celia Yates went through at the hands of these men.
My eyes go back to the monster standing in the doorway.
Was he one of them?
Does he know who was part of it?
The exact men who played a part?
“Tanner won’t find us,” Tatum rasps. “He won’t fall into your little trap.”
The man laughs. I wonder what his name is? I try to picture a name that would suit such an evil face. I can’t think of one right now.
“Won’t he?” He grins. “I have left just enough to make sure he does find you, and when he does, he’ll walk right into my hands, and I’ll make sure he never walks out again.”
“He’s not stupid,” Tatum hisses. “He knows you’re planning something like this.”
“Does he now? Far as he knows, I’m locked away. After all, he doesn’t know I figured out your little plan and got out of there, does he?”
Tatum’s jaw tics.
The man grins, and he looks to his friend. “Let’s go, they’ve had enough light for one day.” His eyes meet Tatum’s again. “We’ll be back for you soon when your friend arrives to save the day. Don’t worry, I’ll make it a good show. I have to outdo your attempts at taking me down, after all. Good plan, just poorly executed, but what would we expect from a bunch of amateurs?”
He laughs and turns, walking out of the basement and slamming the door closed, plunging us back into darkness again. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, falling back into the depths of silence.
“I’ve got a plan,” Tatum says into the darkness. “We’re getting out of here.”
Oh, god.
The last plan nearly got us killed.
I hope this one is a little better.
2
CALLIE
“Sit down, Callie,” Tanner orders, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his eyes hard, his jaw tight.
He’s had enough of my behavior, and I can’t say I blame him. I have wanted out of this hospital since the moment I found out that Jo and Tatum are missing. I’ve been able to think of nothing else. The doctor wants me to stay a few extra days, so Tanner has been out trying to figure out what the hell happened to them.
I’ve been making his life difficult, storming around—well, hobbling—trying to work it out, asking a million questions, and calling him when he’s not here to find out if he’s found anything. It’s driving him crazy, I know, but that’s my best friend, that’s my Jo, and someone has her. Someone has her because of me. Because of my desperate attempt to end certain chapters in my life.
She’s been with me every step of the way, risking it all.
I’m not going to leave her when she needs me most.
“I’ll sit down when you tell me what you’ve found out!” I snap back, exhaling and clenching my teeth together until they make a grinding sound.
“Won’t be telling you fuck-all if you don’t sit the fuck down, right fuckin’ now.”
Oh, boy.
His voice is like a whip, so I do as he asks.
I sit the fuck down.
Not without crossing my arms first, though.
“Went back to the place they got arrested. Ethan and I broke in and went through some shit, checked things out. Couldn’t find much, except a couple of phone numbers scribbled on paper. Called a few numbers, asked a few questions, spoke to a few people, found out the leader of this fuckin’ group didn’t go down. He didn’t get arrested.”
I blink, shaking my head in confusion. “What?” I whisper.
“He didn’t get locked up. Must have clued in and got out of there, then he must have gotten hold of Jo, Tatum, and Chase.”
My mind is reeling. He didn’t get arrested, so everything we just did was for nothing? If he didn’t go down, the rest of them are irrelevant; he’ll just find new people and keep his little operation going strong. Not to mention he has my best friend and we have no idea where he might be.
“Do you know where he is?” I ask.
“Not yet,” Tanner says. “I’ve got Ethan onto it. He’s askin’ questions, talkin’ to the right people. We’ll find out where they are and get them back.”
“What if …”
“Don’t,” Tanner growls, stepping forward and squatting down in front of me, his eyes locking onto mine. “Don’t think the worst, Callie. It’ll make you crazy.”
“He’s crazy,” I whisper. “And he has my best friend.”
“We’ll get them back.”
