One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

40. Beatrice

40

BEATRICE

Heat surrounds me as I snuggle deeper into the embrace. My eyes pop open and I gasp in surprise before bursting into tears.

"It's okay, Mermaid Girl, I've got you." Essex pulls me all the way into his arms.

"How?"

Rolling me onto my back, Essex hovers above me. "Jesus found a way out for us." He holds me close, not an inch between us. "I suspect he's been there before," he admits.

"Violet and Ridge?"

"Violet is here. She's sleeping in Ridge's bed. Galen is with her. Ridge didn't get out. Ed and Jesus are going to get him."

"No." I shake my head. "Richard wants the phone, Essex. The fake is ready." Wiggling off the bed, I pull him up with me and press my lips to his.

Essex cups my face and deepens the kiss. I feel his heartbeat against my chest, a steady rhythm that reassures me. With a final squeeze of my hand, he intertwines our fingers and opens the bedroom door, only to find Ed about to knock. Ed's gaze catches mine. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm not afraid of Richard. We get Ridge in exchange for the phone. Once he's free, you do what you have to do to end this." We follow Ed downstairs because I'd fallen asleep in Essex's bed. Well, I guess it's our bed now that I've moved in with him.

I look around the kitchen, which is full of bodies. I frown when I don't see David. He should be here by now. I walk into the study where I find Ed, who says, "Have you eaten?"

I shake my head. "Where's David?"

He sighs. "I'm sorry, Bea, but we don't know."

"What? You said there was a man with him."

"He went out the back of the building. There's a blind spot back there. We don't know if he left alone or if he was forced."

"Damn it." I stomp forward. "Where's the phone? I want this done now. I'm sick of all this. I want everything back to the way it was." I cringe. "For the Redds, I mean. And I want to spend some time with my boyfriend."

Ed gives me a one-armed hug. "Please eat something." He kisses the top of my head. "The darkness is our friend."

"We need a plan."

"Can't turn off, huh?" Pause. "Harding and Anders will provide cover, along with Jesus and his two men, Joker and Pretzel."

I stare at Ed in disbelief. "You made those names up, didn't you?"

He laughs. "I didn't." Chuckling, he continues, "I have no idea why they have those nicknames." He shakes his head. "I don't even want to know what kind of past they have. It's bad enough that the former president of the Den of Filth MC is involved in an FBI operation."

"He's family to the Redds. That's easy to explain."

"I'm not so sure." He leads me back into the kitchen, where Essex shoves a bowl of stew into my hands.

"Eat," he whispers as he plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach at how nervous I am. I pick up the phone and dial Richard. The phone rings as Essex places a hand on my lower back. He centers me and my nerves dissolve.

"Daughter," Richard answers cheerfully.

It throws me off for a moment before I snap, "Don't call me that!" I take a deep breath and ask, "Where do you want to do the exchange?"

"At the house."

Ed winces.

"Is Ridge, okay?"

"As long as you come alone with the phone, he will be."

"Who else will be there?" I ask, hoping he says David.

"An hour!" The phone goes dead.

"That asshole has a lot to answer for," Jesus continues cursing until his sister slaps him on the back of the head. "Woman!"

"Don't swear in my house, Jesus Matthew Drake!"

I smile at the look on Jesus' face after being called by his full name. Essex and his brothers look elsewhere as I watch Jesus go after Maggie.

"Were your grandparents religious?" I ask Essex.

"Grandma was. Jesus got his foul mouth from his father." He grins.

Anders puts a rifle on the table in front of us and my stomach drops. The reality of the situation hits me all at once. As much as I hate Richard for what he did to Mom, I don't know how I want this to end. He raised me with an iron fist. Prison is what I'd prefer. But then again, would he get the death penalty? I rub the pain in my chest.

"I don't like this." Essex pulls me toward him. "I'm going in with her."

"No," I say. "He won't hurt me, but you, I don't trust him. Besides, I have plenty of reinforcements outside.”

Ed says. "If David's inside, don't give him up. For all we know, he could have slipped away to be there for you."

"I hadn't thought of that." I pause. "I'm going to change." On the way up, I say to Essex, "I want to see Violet first."

He nods in the direction of where she is. "I'll wait in our room." He gives me a small smile and a kiss on the tip of my nose.

I knock and open the door. Violet turns away from the window. Her eyes are red and puffy. We hug and sit on the bed. "You're not okay."

"No. It was scary, Bea, but I'd rather be there with Ridge than here without him." Her lip quivers.

"I'm going to meet Richard to get Ridge back. Agents Anders and Harding will be watching everything." I wince. "I also think Jesus and the other two will be up to something. We'll be fine."

"I don't like any of this."

"I know. What about your parents?"

"Mom knows something is going on, but she knows I'm safe. She won't tell Dad for now because he works for Lincolns."

"That's good." I look at my watch. "I have to get changed."

"I'm going tonight, Bea. I'll stay out of the way. But I have to see him."

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her no, but I don't. "Okay." I squeeze her hand. "I'll see you downstairs."

In our bedroom, Essex lies back on the bed. I dig through one of my bags and grab a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of Converse. I throw them on the foot of the bed.

I watch Essex as I pull off my dress and watch as his eyes heat while roaming over me in my lacy bra and panties.

I grin and wiggle my finger at him. "Save that thought for later."

He moans, his eyes staying on me as I shimmer into my clothes. When I sit down to fasten the Converse, Essex kneels at my feet and takes over.

His forehead falls to my knees. "I love you," he says softly.

Tears stream into my eyes as my fingers run through his hair. "I love you too, Essex Drake Redd."

He lifts his face and smiles. "It sounds really hot when you say it like that—all whimsical."

I laugh as we both stand. "Whimsical, huh? I really like that word."

"When this shit is over, I'm going to whisper lots of pretty words to you."

"Oh, something to look forward to." My smile fades as we reach the study.

Ed hands me the phone as I slip my arms into the leather jacket Jesus is holding out for me. I see the surprise on Maggie's face as her eyes fill with tears.

My eyes roam over Jesus' face and I see sadness staring back at me. He clears his throat. "This belonged to my youngest son. Joseph Jeddah Drake. He was killed. I know he'd be honored if you wore it tonight. I would be too."

I step forward and hug the tall man. "Thank you. I'll bring it back to you in one piece. I promise."

Someone clears their throat rather loudly. Joker. "We have to go."

Jesus holds me at arm's length. "You’ve got this." The man winks.

We hurry out of the house, and I take my place on the back of Essex's motorcycle.