Jake’s Angel (King’s Of Fury MC #2)

Chapter 46

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

JAKE

I wake to someone banging on the door.

“Angel? Wake up, baby. Sounds like we have company.” Reaching over and finding the other side of the bed empty and cold has me up and rushing for the door. I’m pulling my jeans on when I get to the door and get it open. On the other side is a frantic Sadie.

“What happened?”

Sadie is sobbing so much she can’t speak. I grab her by the arm and pull her into my room. I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Gabe. He answers on the first ring.

“You’ll want to get down here. Now!” I hang up the phone and walk her to the couch when I finally get a good look at her disheveled state.

Sadie is a sobbing mess, wearing Hawk’s T-shirt and a pair of butt-cut boy shorts. She crashes into my body, holding on for dear life as she continues to cry.

“What the hell happened?” I stalk to the mini fridge with her clinging to me like a fucking spider monkey and grab her a water bottle. That’s when I see it. The note in Avery’s handwriting laying on the table.

Jake,

I’m sorry. I’m not running from you or what we have, but please understand, I have to know the truth about my mother.

Yours Always,

Avery

Mine always.

I snatch the note from the counter, pushing Sadie off me.

“I don’t understand. She said she wouldn’t run from me again. What the hell changed?” I wave the note in Sadie’s face. “What does this mean, Sadie?” Sadie’s sobs get worse, and another banging knock comes at the door.

I answer it to find Hawk, Declan, and a very pissed off Gabe, who all come stalking into the room.

“Show me.” Hawk shoves his laptop in her lap, then takes a seat beside her on the couch. His head is in his hands, and it’s then I notice he’s still wearing his clothes from yesterday minus his shirt, which Sadie now has on, and a pair of half-opened handcuffs are dangling from his wrist. Any other time I would be all over their asses about this, but I can’t see past the rage and betrayal I’m feeling right now.

Sadie slides forward, looking sheepishly up at him. She takes the laptop and begins typing. Seconds later, she hands it back to him. There’s a red blinking light moving on a map. “I gave her a charm bracelet,” she says, lifting her eyes to look at Hawk, who hasn’t stopped glaring at her yet. “I wanted to have a way to find her in case she needed me to come get her. She doesn’t know it’s a tracker.”

“My men will help you with whatever you need,” Vincenzo says, walking through the door, not flinching at the three guns now trained on him. Matteo comes striding in right behind him, his own gun aimed at Gabe.

“How did you know?” Gabe asks. My rage is vibrating my body, and I am trying like hell not to let it loose on Sadie because I know she did this.

“My security team has been trying to figure out who the hooded person was they saw lurking in the stairwells. When the cleaning staff notified them someone had exited through the kitchen, they ran the keycard and found it was Nora’s. We put two and two together.” He raises one eyebrow at Sadie, who has finally stopped sobbing. She drops her eyes to the floor.

“You really should talk to your guys about upgrading. I know someone who can help you,” she states flatly. All eyes turn to her and glare. Vincenzo smirks and nods.

“Noted.”

Gabe is eerily restrained. I watch as he paces the floor, deeply taking in each breath, slow and steady. His shoulders are tense, and his jaw clenched, as he opens and closes each fist, but he doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t explode. It’s the calm before the storm.

Declan is on the phone with Pop asking if Wyatt can get into the street cameras. Caleb and Ethan have come down and joined us, with Jameson right behind.

Apparently, he’s reached his limit of calm, because Gabe turns and lets loose on Sadie. “What the fuck were you thinking sending her to Thomas? That lowlife son of a bitch killed my wife. And you sent my daughter to be slaughtered.”

Sadie starts sobbing. Caleb shoves Gabe’s shoulder, pushing him out of the way, and sits beside Sadie, pulling her to him.

“Reign your shit in Gabriel, now.” There is a fine line between club brother and father, and Caleb is walking it. “Sadie Jay, what happened? Where’s Avery?”

“We heard you talking. She heard you say Eleanor had something to do with Maggie’s death and how Gabe was going to keep it club business and not tell Avery everything. She needed to find out for herself if it was true. If her grandparents had her mother killed.”

“Jesus,” Gabe whispers under his breath. “How did she hear all of that?” She looks down at her feet, not daring to meet his eyes.

“I hacked into the cameras in Vincenzo’s house when Hawk and Jake were talking. We didn’t hear everything. She was getting upset and right when we heard about Eleanor having Maggie killed, I cut the feed.”

“Fuck!” I roar. “Why can’t you two let us handle this shit? Why do you have to keep putting yourselves in danger? Dammit, Sadie Jay. They still want her dead.” My words hit her hard as she falls apart on the couch into a sobbing mess.

Jesus!

“This shit is on you .” I point at Gabe. “You sent her to live with those rich assholes instead of at home with us, where she fucking belongs. Thomas wouldn’t have come at her again if we were protecting her like we should have been.”

Gabe’s fist connects with my jaw and rocks my head backward. “You better fucking remember who you’re talking to if you want to keep that cut you’re wearing.”

“Gabriel. Jesus, son,” Caleb admonishes. “Fighting each other isn’t going to find Avery or bring her back.”

“Your father is right, Gabriel,” Vincenzo intervenes. “Though I would have shot my man for such a disrespectful comment, his point is still valid. As is your father’s. We need to find Avery. You two can beat each other’s brains in later. When you’re not standing on my gray carpet.”

“Pres. I’ve got something,” Hawk calls. We all crowd around the small desk. The sight before me almost brings me to my knees. I hear Sadie gasp just before she runs to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Vincenzo motions for Matteo to follow her.

“Motherfucker!” Gabe roars through the room. “Where is this? Where is she? I want answers now, Hawk!” I hear the commotion, but nothing is registering as I stare at the sight before me on the screen.

Avery’s curled up, bound in a dog kennel in the center of a concrete floor in what looks to be a cold storage room, judging by the large fans and stacks of boxes surrounding her. She looks to be covered in bruises. I can’t see the details of her face, but the way her head is laying against the bars so still makes me believe she’s not conscious.

“How the hell are we going to get everyone and get there before something happens to her, Pres?” Declan asks. “How do you want to play this?”

“We’ll take my jet. I can have you there in under forty-five minutes. Matteo. Ready the plane.” Matteo gets on the phone making calls. Parisi is on his own phone when I hear him tell whoever is on the other end of the line, “Ready the men. I want Giovanni and Lorenzo to meet us at the airport with a convoy. Call the physician and tell him to be at the penthouse at The Rose Garden. Have a chopper on standby. Four vehicles and enough ammunition and weapons to level a warehouse. We’re going fishing.”

Sadie moves to speak, but is cut off by a gruff, “You will stay here and monitor everything over the cameras for us. I’m going to need Hawk with me at the site, which means no fucking around. No escape attempts. No drugging drinks so you can go do whatever the fuck you want. I need your help, Sadie. Avery needs you to do as you're told and help. You got me?” Gabe leaves no room for argument. He’s on edge, as are we all, but he seems to be holding himself together with pure rage and determination.

Hawk sets up the laptop on the table, showing Sadie what he needs her to do and how to use the comms device.

We take the elevators to the underground garage, get into the SUVs, and drive to the private airstrip. Matteo is rattling off something in Italian to the pilot. Four men in suits—Vincenzo’s soldiers—are loading large, black plastic boxes into the main cab of the plane.

Hawk grabs his laptop and backpack and walks up the stairs in front of me. The plane looks like a luxury hotel with wings. With black leather furnishings and black and gold marble tabletops. It has a spacious cabin with plush carpet and a large flatscreen tv mounted at the front.

Once inside, Hawk grabs the window seat at the table and begins checking for outlets and charging bases. Gabe sits next to him, opens his phone, and starts typing. I sit across from them, taking the other window seat with Declan beside me. Pop, Caleb, Ethan, and Ghost sit at a table across the aisle. Jameson stayed back with Sadie, in case shit goes sideways and to make sure she doesn’t try to magically crash the hunting party.

Crazy bitch.

Vincenzo unbuttons his suit jacket, takes a seat toward the back of the plane, and reclines crossing one leg over the other with his ankle on his knee. Matteo sits behind him, reclining his seat until he’s lounging comfortably with his eyes closed like he’s done this a thousand times.

“So, what’s the plan?” I ask. “Do we have a blueprint for the building?”

The plane starts to taxi down the runway, preparing to take off. The captain comes over the speaker, letting us know to fasten our seatbelts.

Hawk opens his laptop and begins typing. “Where’s the connection to the flatscreen? It’ll be easier if I can put this up where everyone can see it.”

Without being told, Matteo gets up and grabs a digital visual interface from a drawer under the table and hands it to Hawk. He sets it up and now we’re all staring at the blueprints on one side of the screen and live video feed on the other.

“How are we seeing this?” Caleb asks.

“Sadie is sharing her screen with me. She’s monitoring the building through their security cameras. Unfortunately, since she’s sharing screens with me, she’s not able to see multiple views at one time. Meaning we don’t know how many men are on site, because she can only view one camera at a time.”

“So, how will we get an accurate count?” Ethan asks.

“We’re going to put Dad and Ghost on sniper point. Parisi’s men will be on perimeter duty and gain us entry. Together, they should be able to get us a perimeter count, and Dad can take them out from a distance. Sadie will be on comms giving us play-by-play from each camera as we enter the warehouse.” Vincenzo raises a brow but doesn’t dispute Gabe’s plan.

We go over everyone’s orders and map out our escape route, ready to get this shit over with.

The plane lands in Baron’s Edge forty-five minutes later and we’re on the move. When we arrive at the penthouse at the top of The Rose Garden Hotel, we’re met by Russell West and two of Parisi’s soldiers.

Russell greets everyone and expresses his gratitude for our help with everything. I don’t give two shits about his gratitude. As far as I’m concerned, if it wasn’t for him, Gabe, and Russell’s bitch of a wife, Avery wouldn’t be in this fucking mess.

“It is time,” Vincenzo announces. “My men have vehicles waiting for you in the underground garage. I am sending a car with some of my best men to help as well. Giovani will be in charge of my men.”

“You’re not joining us?” I ask.

Vincenzo smiles. “No one sees the Boogeyman until he wants to be seen. But they all know he exists.”

Pop spots me from across the room and makes his way to my side. “How are you holding up, son?”

“Let’s bring her back and then I’ll let you know.” He nods and slaps my shoulder. “We will, son. Oh, and Jake?”

“Yeah.”

“I call dibs on the old bitch. You get the asshole in the cage back home.” Pop demands.

“Who gets Thomas?” Hawk asks, inserting his nosy ass self into our conversation.

“Gabe gets the honors of killing that motherfucker.”

With our orders in place and our gear in the trunks, we all climb into the waiting SUVs and make like a bat out of hell for our destination.

When we pull into the pier, the first vehicle stops letting Caleb and Ghost out. They make their way to higher ground to get set up with their rifles. Then it splits off and parks behind a stack of containers on the pier.

Declan and Pop take off toward the building and stay hidden behind some shipping containers waiting for Ghost’s signal. Their vehicle splits off and parks near the first. Our SUV pulls us up on the opposite side of the building, letting me, Ethan, and Gabe out behind another set of containers, keeping us out of range of the cameras until Sadie can work her magic.

Hawk stays in the passenger seat with his laptop open, talking and sharing information with Sadie. If things go down, or Sadie loses the signal, Hawk will be able to walk us through from here.

Vincenzo’s men exit their vehicle and disburse. Two of them go to the building, the other two head toward a loading crane in the yard opposite the warehouse. They disappear behind the crane and return within minutes.

“Comms check. Got me?” Gabe’s voice comes over the earpiece.

“Got you.” We all call one by one.

“I’m about to announce our arrival. You better be ready, motherfuckers. I’m gonna light some shit up.” Hawk laughs.

Once we’ve got everyone locked in, there’s a loud screech and the smell of burning tires and brakes, followed by a loud explosion. The fucking crane goes up in flames, and men come pouring out of the warehouse shouting.

“I’ve got three on the south side.” Ghost’s voice comes over the comms. Seconds later, three men go down. “Two to the east.” The same thing happens.

“Move!” Gabe shouts. We all take off running toward the building. We hear three shots from behind us, and two more men fall to the ground on our left.

“Clear on the left.” I hear Pop’s voice call through the mic. I look over and see Pop smiling. A few more shots ring out. “Clear on the right,” Ghost answers.

“Move in.” Gabe gives the order. Ethan and I follow Gabe into the building. Pop and Declan head for the rear entrance.

“Gabe, down the first hall, second door on the left is their security office. Two guards,” Sadie says.

We follow her directions. I take the left, Gabe takes the right, and Ethan kicks the door open. Two men turn and we all fire our shot.

“Clear,” Gabe says. We walk into the office and look at the screens on the wall. Avery is in the corner of a room, with two guards and an older man pacing in front of her. “How do I get to her, Sadie?” I head out the door and wait for her instructions.

“Left. Take the hallway. Two men incoming.” We clock them, the same time she says it. Gabe and I both fire off shots. “Door coming up on the right. It’s a sorting area. You’ll have to get around the conveyor machines. Far corner. Hallway.”

There are several conveyor machines with boxes and ice filling stations in the center of the room. Keeping low, we find our way through them to a hallway and a series of what looks like offices and a large control room.

“Perimeter clear.” Ghost comes over the comms.

“Police car pulling up. More in route with the fire department.” Giovani’s voice comes over the line. “My men have cleared the south entrance. Cusenza has left the building. My men are in pursuit.”

Everyone is doing their part, but I still haven’t found my girl and I’m getting worried.

“Next door on the left is a storage room. She’s not alone. Two armed guards and another man slumped down near Avery.” I hear Avery scream and push my way through the door, turning and firing off two rounds. Ethan fires two of his own, rendering both men to my left dead. Both fall, leaving me a direct view of the third man who looks to be knocked out.

I rush to her side and roll his heavy ass off her. “Shhh, Angel. It’s ok, baby, I’ve got you.”

“Jake?” she sobs. Gabe checks the other body. Ethan stands guard.

“We’ve found her. Getting ready to make our exit,” Ethan announces to the group.

“Yeah baby, it’s me. Move your hands. Let me see you.” She does as I ask. I inhale heavily through my nose, forcing myself to stay calm for her sake as I take in the sight of her swollen and bruised face. I reach up and lightly place my hand on her cheek.

She must see the turmoil on my face because she quickly grabs my wrist and whispers, “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

Reaching into my pocket, I take out my knife and cut the zip ties that are holding her wrists bound. There’s a deep moan next to us, and I realize Gabe is helping Thomas stand. The other prick starts to make a noise and moves about the floor slowly, grabbing the back of his head. The room fills with men—both my brothers and Parisi’s crew.

Giovani tells one of his men, “Take this one to the car and see to it he’s not very comfortable. I’d like to ask him a few questions.”

Gabe and Pop work together to cut Thomas loose and bring him to a stand with his arm wrapped around Gabe’s shoulder. I turn to get Ethan’s help to lift Avery. Then everything happens in a blur.

Avery screams, “No!” as she lunges at me, then two loud pops sound off and my ears ring. Two more shots are heard. I drop to the ground with Ethan, turning to reach for Avery when my eyes take in the scene before me in slow motion.

Avery is on the ground. Blood pooling in her shirt, and Gabe’s leaning over her, her head in his hands as he’s shouting, “Get a cage now! Hold on baby girl! Just hold on!” His voice sounds like he’s in a bubble.

“Avery!” I roar. “What the fuck happened?” I look at Gabe, who has tears coming down his face. Her hand comes up to touch his cheek, wiping away the tears.

“Shhh, Daddy. I’ll be okay.” She says in a soft, shaky voice. She coughs as she tries to take in a couple of breaths.

“Just hold on, Baby Girl. Don’t you leave me. You understand?” She nods. Her eyes are getting heavy. I reach for her, scooping her up off the ground. I’m not waiting for them to get to us. We are getting the fuck out of here right now. Passing Vincenzo on the way out, he tells his men to get us to the helicopter and have his doctor meet us there.

Two more shots go off behind us, but I don’t stop to see what’s happening. I have to get Avery out of here.

“Get the fucking cage!” I’m shouting at Declan just as Hawk pulls up. Gabe comes running out of the building, passing me up, half out of breath, rushing to open the door. I crawl in with Avery in my lap.

“Get us to the hotel. The doctor will meet us there.” Gabe slams the door behind us.

The next few minutes go by at a snail’s pace. Knots in my stomach turn to rocks as my terrified gaze sweeps over her body. The stain of blood on my hoodie is getting bigger and bigger. “Hold on, Angel. You hear me? You hold on for me.”

I throw my head back, trying to keep it together. She doesn’t need me to lose my shit right now; she needs me to be strong for her. Her small, icy hand touches my cheek, bringing my tear-filled eyes to hers. “I love you, Jake. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let her hurt you.” Her eyes close.