Ruthless Angel (Gods of Ravencrest University #5)

CHAPTER TWELVE

DAIRE

Although we had a list of addresses that were potential hot spots for where they were keeping Blaze, my gut said we needed to check out the closed down restaurant first. I’d learned long ago to always trust my instincts in these situations.

The Gods had joined us. They brought along a ten man crew to back us up. I’d once seen Clover as a way to get info on the Gods. A means of interfering in their business and fucking them over. I’d never dreamed that she would be the reason we had them to back us up tonight.

We’d probably never be friends. After what we’d done to Raina, what I’d done, they would never let me get that close. Which was for the best. Our ladies connected us though. I was glad that we could at least be allies when it was called for.

“Just so you know,” Havoc said when we’d gathered down the street from the restaurant. “When it’s time to return this favor, we fully expect you to drop everything and be there.”

“Of course,” Cash answered first, like he didn’t trust me to be nice. “We won’t forget this.”

“If you guys get me killed, I’ll spent eternity haunting the fuck out of you.” Gage slid a fresh magazine into the semi-automatic he held.

“Fair enough,” I muttered. I gripped my own gun tight as we marched down the street to the restaurant.

The men Havoc brought surrounded the building. They’d wait outside, watching every exit. The five of us were going inside.

As much as I’d have loved to blast my way in, we needed to be quiet. Announcing our presence too soon would tip Brady off and give him the chance to escape or to kill Blaze. Luckily, Gage was pretty handy with picking locks. He had the back door open in no time.

Cash and I entered first. I half expected the Gods to hightail it out of there and leave us behind. When they didn’t, I grudgingly formed a level of respect for them. I couldn’t say I wouldn’t have taken off and left them behind.

We entered into a small hallway. An office to our left and a staff break room to our right. Nobody was around. I heard them though. Voices rose up from below, just as I’d suspected.

Taking care to step quietly, we moved down the hall to a doorway that led to what must be a cellar area previously used for storage of food, wine, and whatever else a restaurant might store in a cool, dark space.

The first step creaked beneath my foot. I paused, listening hard. The voices below continued. They talked too loudly to hear us. Good.

If Blaze was dead already, I’d take my time killing Brady. He needed to know the true meaning of suffering. He deserved to know pain in a real and brutal way. I wouldn’t let him get off easy. I wished we’d killed him back when we took out his brother. None of this would have happened.

My pulse pounded with anticipation as I reached the bottom step. Once I took the last step, I would be in view of those in the basement. Then everything would happen fast. Steeling myself for the violence that would ensue, I took that last step down.

Brady and five other men sat around a card table in the far corner engaged in a game of poker. Liquor bottles and a bag of pills indicated that they were far from sober. Perfect.

Blaze was tied to a chair in the middle of the unfinished gray room. He’d managed to tip himself over and laid on his side. Blood stained his face and clothing. His eyes were closed, his head at an awkward angle. One look at him and a murderous rage overtook me.

The man seated at the table facing us leapt from his chair, almost overturning the table. Brady and the others turned to see what had grabbed his attention. I didn’t give them the chance to grab a weapon. I started firing.

I hit the man who’d stood, dropping him back into his seat. He clutched his chest as blood pooled between his fingers. A moment later he slumped forward, his face hitting the pile of cards he’d dropped.

“How the fuck did you find this place?” Brady jumped up, snatching a gun from the table’s surface.

While Cash moved to protect Blaze, the Gods and I advanced on the table. We opened fire, one shot after another. No mercy.

Brady dove for the floor, rolling a few times before getting back to his feet. One of his friends tried to run for the door, deciding that he wasn’t willing to die for Brady. Bad choice. Brady grabbed onto him, using him as a human shield as we fired. Total coward.

The man used as a shield was riddled with bullets as I did my best to hit Brady. Soon he struggled to hold the man’s dead weight in front of him. Havoc and the others took out Brady’s remaining friends.

A pained shout momentarily distracted me. Knight shook his hand, flinging blood drops onto the floor. He seemed to have been grazed by a stray bullet. Lucky. Raina would fucking kill me if I didn’t come back with all three of her guys.

Brady took advantage of my moment of distraction. Tossing his human shield at me, he ran for the stairs. I went down under the dead man’s weight. Goddammit, dead people seemed to weigh so much more.

“Cash,” I shouted. “Grab Brady before he gets away.”

Brady had already hauled ass up the stairs, leaving his men behind to die in his place. The sound of Cash’s heavy footfalls pounding up the stairs after Brady followed. I rolled the dead guy off me and quickly surveyed the room. Brady’s men were dead. Silence fell.

I rushed over to Blaze, shoving my gun into my pants. Cash had righted his chair and started to work on the ropes holding him before going after Brady. Pulling my knife from my pocket, I cut through his binds.

Blaze’s head hung, his eyes closed. I lightly patted his face. “Blaze? Buddy, are you okay? Talk to me, man.”

His breathing was shallow. Not a good sign. I preferred to avoid hospitals as much as possible. It wasn’t possible this time.

“He needs a hospital,” I announced. Grabbing Blaze’s arm, I slung it over my shoulder, trying to get him on his feet.

Gage came to help me, grabbing Blaze from the other side. Together we pretty much dragged him up the stairs. He mumbled something incoherent but otherwise remained unconscious.

At the top of the stairs we found Cash randomly smashing dishware left in the kitchen. I let Havoc take my spot with Blaze. He and Gage took him outside to one of the waiting cars.

“What the hell are you doing?” I shouted to be heard over the sound of breaking glass. “We have to get Blaze to a hospital. He’s in really bad shape.”

“Fucking Brady got away. I followed him upstairs and he was gone. The guys outside never saw him come out. I searched the whole damn building. Nothing.” Cash dropkicked a wine glass, sending it crashing into the wall.

“There must be rooftop access somewhere then,” I mused. “We don’t have time for that. Blaze is barely breathing. We’ll have to come back for Brady.”

I hated saying it. Hated that it was true. Every cell in my body screamed for Brady’s death. First, I needed to make sure my best friend didn’t die. I needed to keep Blaze alive. For him. For me. For Clover.

Cash smashed a wine bottle against the dust covered counter before following me from the kitchen. His frustration was understandable. The one man we’d wanted most had escaped us. I was upset too. My worry for Blaze overshadowed that anger. One emotion at a time.

Once we were outside, it was confirmed that Brady hadn’t exited the building at ground level. Motherfucker must have made it to the roof. He was likely already long gone. He’d probably had this escape route planned in advance.

Gage and Havoc had put Blaze in the back of my car. I thanked them and pulled open the driver’s door.

“Can I ask you guys one more favor?” I dared to ask. “Can you bring Clover to the hospital?”

Despite the utter loathing for me that still shone in Havoc’s eyes, he nodded. “Yeah, we’ll bring her. You better get moving.”

Cash and I slid into the front seats of my car. I started the engine and slammed my foot on the gas. The car lunged forward. Staring straight ahead, I raced through the city streets to the closest hospital.

Every few seconds, I glanced at Blaze in the rearview mirror. We’d never had anyone get the jump on us like this before. We’d always come out on top.

Brady could run, and he could hide, but I would find him.