Roll For Initiative

61. Lucian

O ur tires squeal as Jayme takes another tight turn. He is driving like a madman trying to catch up to the doctor who was at Theo’s. We need answers. I need a scrap of hope that she is still OK. We round another corner per Elias’s instructions through our earpieces. The doctor is now being held at gunpoint by Mr. Snider and his team.

When we pull up to the car, I don’t even wait for Jayme to put it in park before I jump out and rush toward the doctor. He looks relatively calm for a man being held at gunpoint. I grab him by his collar and yank him out of the open door. Now, he seems a bit frightened. Good.

“Tell me about the girl at Blackmore’s! Why were you there?” I’m spitting as I yell, but I’m too worked up to care.

“What girl?” Mother fucker is lying, so I punch him across his cheek. Holding him steady so he doesn’t go far.

“Stop fucking lying! Tell me why he called you there!” I slam his head back against the car. I grab the gun from my waistband and put it under his chin. “Think you can remember her now, asshole?”

“Wait, OK. Please, don’t shoot me. I just... He will kill me if he finds out it was me.” He is trembling now.

“Trust me, once we are done with that fucker, he won’t be going after anyone,” Jayme says, which seems to calm the man.

“OK, I’ll tell you what I know, but I want protection for my wife. I don’t want to risk retaliation.” Jayme looks at Mr. Snider, who nods back at us.

“Done. Now tell us what happened.” Jayme confirms.

“I have been under the control of the Blackmores for almost 30 years as their on-call doctor. He has me come whenever he or his crew needs to be patched up. He called this morning saying he needed a gynecological checkup on his fiancé. I was confused because it was the first I have ever heard of a fiancé, let alone a serious woman in his life. When I got there, though, the poor girl looked so terrified. That’s when I realized it was the Miller girl everyone is looking for. I’m almost certain she is being held against her will.” He looks down at the ground, so I shake him.

“What did he have you do? Is she OK?” I’m pleading.

“She... No, she is pretty banged up. Alive, yes, but she is hurt. When did she get into the car accident?” He asks. I stare at him for a moment.

“She wasn’t in a car accident, you idiot. He did all that damage to her. Fuck! He kidnapped her from the fucking hospital he put her in.”

“I was afraid of that,” he says quietly.

“What else has he done? Tell me everything that is wrong with her.” I’m starting to panic. If she looks like she was in a car accident, he must be torturing her.

“She has a lot of bruises and cuts everywhere on her body. It looked like it was from glass or metal shards, so I believed the car accident story. There is a large, swollen knot on the back of her head, her lip is busted and swollen, and she has bruises on her face. Her fingers are healing well for the most part. She has some numbness, but without the proper equipment, I can’t tell whether it is from swelling or nerve damage. She also has a lot of cuts on her legs. It seems like her legs and back have the worst amount of damage done.” He looks back down at the ground like he is too ashamed to look at us. Good. He should feel ashamed. “There is something else, though.”

“What!” I snap.

“He had me remove her IUD. He said they were getting married soon and wanted to start trying for a baby as soon as possible. She is in very rough shape, mentally and physically. The look she gave me, it was like she was begging me to either rescue her or... She needs to get out of there. He said he is going to be taking her to Europe. Soon.”

“FUCK!” I roar, punching the car and narrowly avoiding the doctor's head.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t have a choice. He will kill me and my family if I don’t do what he says. I’m risking so much right now, even being seen talking to you. Please.” I can’t stand listening to him.

I’m pacing back and forth by Jayme’s car. I can’t think straight. Theo is a monster. I need to get her out of there. Now. Before he does anything else to her, or... Damnit, I can’t even think of what he is doing without almost throwing up.

“Lucian, breathe. We will get her back tonight, but I need you to calm down. You need to be in the right headspace.”

I don’t even hear him finish what he is saying. I see the keys are still dangling in the car ignition. Fuck it, I’m done waiting. I hop in the driver’s seat, and Jayme realizes what I am doing. He dives head-first through the open passenger window as I start the car and speed off toward Blackmore Manor.

“Damnit, Lucian. Slow down. We need to wait until everyone is in place. We can’t just rush in with no support.”

“Fuck that. I’m done waiting. I’ve been waiting for four fucking days.” I pause to try to calm myself. “He is killing her, Jayme. You heard what the doctor said. I’m going with or without you, so fucking choose. I will drop you off on the side of the road right now.” He chuckles at me as he slips his seatbelt on.

“Damn, dude. Guess you are more ready for this life than I thought you were.” He pulled out his phone to notify Mr. Snider and the crew about what we were doing.

“Just give me a gun or two. That’s all I need. I’m going to kill him with my bare fucking hands, though. He. Is. Mine.” I growl through clenched teeth. I don’t know how we haven’t careened off the road yet with how I am driving.

“You haven’t even trained yet, so be careful. And don’t hesitate this time.” He chuckles as he pulls a 22 and a 9mm from his glove compartment.

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

It’s going to take about a half hour to get to Theo’s house. Just hang on, Cassie. I’m coming.

“Elias, keep a visual on the house. We are coming in hot. Hostage extraction is happening now.” He says into the earpiece.

* On it, Boss.*

Jayme dials another number and puts it through the car speaker.

“Snider, we are heading toward the house. How fast can your boys be there?”

* Fuck kid. They are still about 9 minutes behind you. We had to get shit sorted with the doctor before we left. Might be a bit farther behind you from how your boy sped out of here. How fast is he pushing my car? * Tim laughs.

“He is doing about 98. I’ll try to make sure he doesn’t scrape her up too bad. Otherwise, I will owe you a new car.”

* Ok kid. We will get there as fast as possible. And Jayme, don’t do anything stupid. You know what happens when you rush in.* Snider warns.

“I know. I know. I’ll try my best. Thanks again, Mr. Snider.” Jayme says.

* Damnit, kid, I told you to call me Tim .* Mr. Snider says as he hangs up.

Jayme sets down the phone and stares at me in silence for a moment. Trying to figure out everything going through my mind.

“I know you are freaking out, Lucian. But we have to wait for support. We can’t risk getting killed before we get Cassie out of there.” I hear him, but I ignore him.

“Is this car bulletproof?” We are about 10 minutes from Theo’s, with how fast I’m driving.

“What?” He looks shocked at my question.

“Is. It. Bullet. Proof.” I annunciate sarcastically. A devilish look spreads over Jayme’s face.

“Of course.”