Ruthless Angel (Gods of Ravencrest University #5)

CHAPTER ONE

CLOVER

“They want Clover.” Daire’s words hung on the atmosphere, making it tight with tension.

Alarm sang through me, filling my veins with adrenaline. “Who’s Brady?”

Cash and Daire exchanged a look. When Daire didn’t answer, Cash said, “Brady Rollins is a piece of shit involved in human trafficking. He and his brother came across our radar a while ago. We set them up for a takedown but Brady got away. We killed his brother. Now he wants revenge.”

I felt like throwing up. Blaze had been right when he’d said they had enemies worse than the Gods. The Gods would never be involved in something so evil and disgusting.

“I guess I don’t need to ask why he wants me.” I groped about for the counter, trying to steady myself before my weak legs gave out.

“Motherfucker thinks he can take our girl and sell her off,” Daire muttered, staring at his phone. “He’s a fucking dead man.”

“Don’t worry, Clover. We won’t let Brady get his hands on you.” Sliding an arm around my shoulders, Cash pressed close, his warm body offering comfort.

I took a deep breath. My head spun a little from the shock of learning that someone wanted to sell me like a product. “What about Blaze? How do we get him back?”

“Good question. Brady has people. More people than we have. We’re outnumbered.” Cash glanced at Daire, like he hoped his friend would have a solid idea.

Daire stood silently for a moment before turning and slamming a fist into the wall beside the stove. His angry shout of frustration made my heart race.

My voice was a breathy whisper when I said, “We could go to the Gods. Raina would want to help.”

“Absolutely not.” Daire whirled on me, his expression a mask of fury. “I will not be indebted to the Gods. Not now, not ever. That is not an option.”

“They wouldn’t want to help us anyway,” Cash agreed. “Not without making us pay for it. There’s bad blood with the Gods, Sunshine. You know that. I know you’re trying to help but that’s not a good idea.”

I frowned, annoyed that they wouldn’t even consider it. The Gods had manpower. A lot of it. They had connections to the mob. Raina would do anything to help if she knew that these guys were threatening me.

“These guys want me,” I pointed out. “Raina would never let anything happen to me. We can go to her. I know she would help.”

“Don’t even think about it.” Daire pointed a finger in my face. “If you go to the Gods behind our backs, I’ll string you up in the basement for a week. I still owe you for selling us out to the Gods. Trust me, Clover, you don’t want to test me right now.”

My fear gave way to irritation. I jerked back, almost falling against the stool in my effort to avoid Daire’s finger. “Get your finger out of my face, Daire. I’ve had enough of your attitude for one night.”

The guy who’d gently rubbed aloe vera gel on my raw ass was gone. Back in his place was the fiery asshole I’d grown accustomed to. Should’ve known the kindness would be short-lived.

Daire grabbed me by the throat, stepping in close so we were eye to eye. “Don’t push me on this. You really don’t want to fuck with me. Unless maybe you enjoy having your ass spanked raw and your body carved up by my knife. How much more do you think you can take, Angel?”

We glared at one another while I decided how I wanted to respond. Encouraging him to do as he’d threatened wasn’t in my best interest. However, I was sick and tired of taking his crap.

“All right, I get it. I won’t ask for help. Now back off and stop taking your anger out on me.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I held Daire’s piercing stare, silently willing him to cut the shit.

“I think we all need to chill,” Cash broke in. His arm tightened around me, as if he’d pull me away from Daire. “We need to do something. Maybe try tracking Blaze’s phone. Check his last location.”

I doubted that Cash would be my savior. He’d been all too happy to participate in everything they’d done to me so far. Although he seemed to know how close to the edge Daire was right now. He seemed tightly wound, ready to snap.

Releasing my throat, Daire stepped back and turned his attention to his phone. It didn’t surprise me that they were able to track one another. Considering their vigilante activity, it made sense that they put such things in place for safety.

Daire studied his phone for a minute before saying, “It’s an address across town. Looks like a business. Let’s go check it out.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Cash shook his head uncertainly. “They’ll be expecting us to make a move.”

“We won’t try anything stupid. I just want to see if Blaze is still there and what kind of security they have.” Daire stuffed his phone in a pocket and headed for the door. “Get dressed, Clover. You’re coming with us.”

“Do I have to?” My heart leapt into my throat. I didn’t trust Daire not to hand me over as a trade for Blaze.

“Of course you do,” Daire tossed back over his shoulder as he strode away. “We can’t take any chances by leaving you alone. They could be watching the house and waiting for an opportunity like that.”

Okay, he had a good point. Dammit. Without further protest, I went down to the basement to gather my clothes. They were still on the floor where they’d been abandoned when the guys had stripped me. Since Blaze had ruined my underwear, I slipped on my tank top and leggings without it. I really needed to get my things from Raina’s house.

Pulling my tight leggings over the tracking device locked around my ankle was difficult but not impossible. I studied the chunky black device. Maybe being trackable wasn’t such a bad thing.

I joined Daire and Cash upstairs, nervously following them out to Cash’s SUV. At Daire’s insistence that it would be safer, I got into the backseat. The windows were heavily tinted, making it almost impossible for anyone on the outside to see me. It didn’t make me feel any safer.

The drive across the city was quiet and tense. I fidgeted with my seatbelt, wondering what they were doing to Blaze. The photo they’d sent had been horrible. Would they torture him the whole time? Did they plan to kill him if Daire and Cash didn’t hand me over? Maybe they would kill him anyway.

This kind of thing was new for me. Unlike Raina, I had no experience with those involved in the crime world. I was terrified that someone would die. Blaze had started to grow on me. He had a soft side that he’d shared with me in bits and pieces. No matter what he’d done, he didn’t deserve the hell he was going through right now.

“Is that it?” Cash pointed to a building on the corner up ahead.

A tall brick structure that stood three stories high, its windows were dark. Aside from a man wandering down the street smoking a cigarette, nobody was around. This part of the city felt like it had been forgotten. The neighboring businesses were boarded up, windows broken. Like everyone had left one day and never looked back.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Daire confirmed, leaning forward to get a good look. “No broken windows. The front door seems secure. They’ve been using this building. I’m willing to bet they’ve got every entrance manned.”

“It looks like nobody is here,” I remarked.

“It’s supposed to look that way. They’ve probably moved Blaze by now, but he was here.” Daire glanced at Cash. “Call Devon. Tell him we’re on our way.”

“Who’s Devon?” I studied the building as we passed, wondering if Blaze was still inside.

“You’ll see.”

Twenty minutes later I stood inside a small warehouse with Cash and Daire while they perused a massive table loaded with weapons. There were more guns than I could count. Machetes, knives, throwing stars, and even grenades. I gaped at the table in shock.

A large tattooed man with a bald head and a gold tooth discussed a particular gun with the guys. I stood off to the side, waiting patiently. Apparently, we’d come here to stockpile weaponry.

Daire picked out a handgun that looked like something I’d seen in the movies. Black and heavy. Something that would make anyone nervous. Cash chose a similar gun as well as a set of brass knuckles and a knife that looked like it could cut through steel.

“Come here, Clover. Let’s find something for you.” Daire surprised me by waving me over. He held out a small handgun. “How does this feel? Is it too heavy?”

Was he for real? I’d never held a gun before. I didn’t want to start now.

Daire pressed the weapon into my hand. I gripped it tight, staring at it with uncertainty. It had some weight to it, but it wasn’t unreasonably heavy.

“Um, it’s okay, I guess.”

“Good. You’re going to learn how to use it.” Daire turned to Devon. “We’ll need ammo too.”

When we were back in the SUV on our way home, I dared to ask, “Is it really necessary for me to carry a gun? That’s not really my jam. I’ve never used one before.”

“That’s why you’re going to learn.” Daire eyed me through the rearview mirror. “This is no time to take chances. Brady and his guys will be packing. You should be too.”

My mouth went dry at the thought of using such a weapon. I was a lover not a fighter. Definitely not a killer.

Going back to the house knowing that Blaze wouldn’t be there didn’t feel right. The bad guys had more people. More weapons. How were we supposed to get Blaze back? I hated that Daire wouldn’t let me go to Raina. It would solve this problem. Why did he have to be so difficult?

As soon as we walked in the front door, Daire’s phone went off with a text alert. I stiffened, my pulse pounding. What now?

“Unknown number this time,” Daire said. “It’s a video.”

He turned the phone so all three of us could watch. The video showed Blaze in a dark room that looked like an unfinished basement. He knelt on a hard concrete floor. His eyes were bruised and swollen, dried blood staining his face. A man’s hand reached over to grab his hair, jerking his hanging head up.

“Don’t do it,” Blaze said, his voice pained, his breaths coming in a wheeze. “Don’t give them Clover.”

The man holding his head punched him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Then he bent down to look into the camera. He had short brown hair that was buzzed close to the scalp. His dark eyes shone with pure evil.

“It’s kind of adorable how your boy here is willing to die for that woman. She must mean a lot to you guys, which is exactly why I want her. Did you think I wouldn’t find out about her? I’ve been watching. Waiting for the right time to make my move. That time is now. Give me what I want or I’ll start sending you pieces of Blaze until there’s nothing left of him. Your call.”

The video ended. Unable to stand, I sat heavily on the floor. My lungs heaved, trying to get enough air. My heart pounded in my ears. The room spun as a panic attack hit hard.

Both Cash and Daire spoke, their voices blurring together, sounding far away. I couldn’t focus on what they were saying. Someone touched my shoulder. I stared at the floor, chest heaving, tears streaming down my face.

There was no out of this. We were backed into a corner. Brady had made himself clear. It was either Blaze or me.