Roll For Initiative

55. Lucian

I feel like my body has been hit by a truck. I don’t want to move or even open my eyes. There is an annoying beeping noise ringing through my head. It sounds strangely like a heart monitor. What the hell happened? As I open my eyes and glance around the room, I see that I am not alone. Jayce and Marco are by the door, and Jayme is pacing at the foot of my bed, deep in his phone.

"Shit, you're awake. Nurse, please come in here." Jayme shouts.

"What happened," I ask. "I remember running toward the limo. But that's it. Where’s Cassie? What happened to her!" No, he took her.

"Chill, Lucian, you need to breathe. Theo shot you. I fucking told you to stay behind the corner till I gave the signal. We have got to work on your listening skills." He laughs at his own joke.

"Jayme. Where is she!" I demand. He won’t look me in the eye now.

"He has her, Lucian. They are back at the Manor. The drone followed him through town. They were acting like they were going to leave the state; I’m assuming in case they were being tailed, but then they changed direction and went right back to Blackmore Manor. She’s still there. No one has left other than the cleaning staff and a couple of business associates."

"How long have I been out?"

"Half a day. You woke up quicker than most."

"Jayme, what are we going to do? He is going to kill her."

"No, he won’t. He is either insanely obsessed with her and couldn’t let her go, or he will use her as a bargaining chip."

"Bargaining chip for what?" I ask.

"Territory? Money? Guns? Who knows with him." Not helpful at all.

I try to sit up, but I can’t move without feeling like I am going to throw up. I need to go after her. He might not kill her, but I know he is going to hurt her. I failed her. Again. I should have never left her side.

"Rest for the night, dude. I have guys posted here and more near his house. If he makes a move, we will know about it. If he tries to relocate her, we will take her back." That helps ease my mind a little bit.

"Shit, did anyone tell her parents yet?"

"Yeah, they came by earlier. They are freaking out. I told them someone had kidnapped her, but we weren’t sure who they were or why or how. Elias scrubbed the footage from the garage, so no one is aware of what happened other than the doctor who helped you. We paid them off, so they won’t be an issue." Fuck, how deep does dirty money run through this city?

"Cassie’s mom came looking for you too, but I told her you were out looking for Cassie, and your phone was dead. That should buy us some time. She can’t know you were shot. That’ll raise more questions that we can’t answer."

"I can’t lose her man." I bury my face in my hands. I can’t help tearing up. "She means everything to me."

"Hey," he says, grabbing my hands. “You aren’t going to lose her."

"Lose who?" Odette comes walking in. "Where the fuck is Cassie?" She’s glancing around as if Cassie is going to jump out of a hiding spot. "Jayme, where is she? Please don’t tell me he has her!"

"Ok, I won’t tell you he has her," Jayme says bluntly.

"What fucking good are your bodyguards if they can’t protect one girl!" She screams at Jayme. Then she notices I’m in the bed, bandaged up. "Lucian, what the fuck happened to you?" She rushes over and starts mothering me.

"I ran after Blackmore as he was putting Cassie into his limo, and he shot me. That about sums it up."

"He needs to be taken down. Jayme, what do you need? Men? Guns? Just name it, and we will get it. This shit has gone on too long. I’m sick of being worried for the women of my club because of sick fucks like him." Thankfully, she is on our side because she can get scary when she’s mad. "Ok, you rest, and Jayme, you can call me when you figure out what is needed. I’ll be in touch, boys." I hear a soft buzzing noise.

It's Jayme’s phone. An unknown number is calling. Jayme answers it and puts it on speaker.

“Hello?” He says.

* Ah, Morelli. How is everything on your end today? Missing something?* He says snidely .

"What do I owe the pleasure, Blackmore? Ready to return, Cassie?"

I hear laughing from the other end of the line.

*You won’t be seeing her any time soon, Morelli. Did you honestly think you could use her as your rat, and I wouldn't find out?*

"You're an idiot, Blackmore. I just met Cassie for the first time last week. She isn’t connected to me at all. I thought she was connected to you, though, hence my interest in her, and I can see I was right. She is important to you, isn’t she?"

The line is silent for a moment.

*Yes, she is important to me; that’s why you won’t be getting her back this time. She’s mine. By the way, did your little friend survive? That was a lot of blood spilling out of him.* I can hear Cassie scream in the background. *Yes, dear. I shot your precious Lucian. And judging from Morelli’s lack of response, I don’t think he made it.*

I go to speak, but Jayme holds up his hand. What angle is he trying to play here? If she thinks I’m dead, she might give up hope that someone will rescue her.

*Anyways. I just called to let you know you can tell your men to stand down and leave my property. Or else I will call the cops. And around here, I’m the one in charge.*

"Just give me back Cassie, and I’ll tell them to stand down. I’ve taken a liking to her as well. Especially after the other night. That pussy is delicious, and I want more. So be a good boy and bring her back to the hospital. Or better yet, I’ll send a car for her. You might survive the week if you let her go without a scratch. If not, well, you know how easily accidents can happen."

*Nah, I don’t think so. This pussy is mine. If you want, I can send over the other one. Unfortunately, she broke too easily. Such a weak little thing she was. Oh well, Cassie is much more fun to play with. I like the fire in her. Whenever I think I may have broken her, she gets back up and keeps going.* The line goes dead.

I’m fuming with rage. I need to get the fuck out of this hospital bed. I need to get to her. She must be so scared. I go to stand up, and my head spins. My ears are pounding and ringing, and my body feels hot. I fall back onto the bed as the machine beeps wildly. Darkness takes over my vision as I fall back unconscious.