Ruthless Angel (Gods of Ravencrest University #5)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DAIRE

It killed me that I couldn’t go inside with Desmond. We had no choice but to trust him to bring Clover back. I only hoped that she was here tonight. Finding Brady had been impossible since he took her. We’d come to the hotel where the auction was being held hoping we would find him there.

After watching the building for a while, we determined that the people being brought in for the auction were being taken in through the back entry in the staff parking lot. We sat in Cash’s SUV, watching those going in and out. The Gods were staked out in the main parking lot, just in case.

This was our fight though. I ached to get my hands on Brady Rollins. He had to slip up some time.

“Let’s grab someone going in and see if they know Brady. Maybe they’ll know where to find him.” Blaze’s hand was on the door, ready to take action.

He’d been more irritable that usual. Although we’d all been battling some inner demons since Clover was taken. Raina’s demons had been on full display. She’d warned me that if we didn’t find Clover, she would personally castrate all three of us. Then she’d punched me in the face, for good measure.

I figured that I’d be taking a lot of punches from Raina in the future. We would be getting our girl back. That meant Raina and I were in each other’s lives whether we liked it or not. I didn’t argue that I deserved it. We both knew I did.

We waited until we saw a black sedan pull up in front of the back entry. Two men and a young girl got out. The girl couldn’t have been of legal age. Jesus Christ, these people were monsters.

Slipping from Cash’s vehicle, we moved between cars, staying unseen until we reached the men as they were about to enter the building. I grabbed one from behind, shoving my gun against the side of his head as I pressed him against the door.

Cash secured the other guy in a headlock, easily choking him out. The girl stared at us with wide eyes. She had no idea if we were her saviors or a new threat.

“Go,” Blaze said to her, giving her a gentle push. “Get out of here while you can.”

She didn’t need to be told again. She took off running, her shoes slapping on the asphalt as she ran. Not once did she look back.

“Where the fuck can I find Brady Rollins?” I snarled into my guy’s face. “Give me something or I put a bullet in your brain.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” he said, eyes wide in surprise. He made a move to grab a weapon from his pocket which Blaze intercepted, breaking his wrist.

I muffled his pained cry by shoving the barrel of my gun in his mouth. “Tell me where to find him. Is there a place where you sick fucks hang out after one of these events? Give me something to work with if you want to live.”

“I don’t know the guy,” he insisted when I moved my gun so he could speak. “There’s a lounge upstairs. Sometimes we hang out up there. That’s all I can tell you. I don’t know anything. Fuck, you just lost me a huge payday, dick.”

Eyes narrowed, I studied the piece of shit before me. He wasn’t nearly scared enough. Too bad. Whipping my knife from my pocket, I jammed it deep into the side of his neck. A bit messy but quieter than a gunshot.

I stepped back to avoid the inevitable blood splash. He grabbed at the gaping wound that bucketed blood all over his shirt and splattered his shoes. I watched without emotion as he fell to his knees and pitched over onto his face. Pathetic.

“Kill that one too.” I pointed to the man Cash had choked out.

Once they were both dead, we dragged them away from the door, in between two vehicles. Shoving my gun in the back of my pants, I used my t-shirt to hide it. I wiped the knife on the dead man’s clothes and shoved it back into the sheath in my pocket.

Since the back entry was likely being monitored for those coming to the auction, we rounded the building and entered through the front lobby. It didn’t take long to find the lounge upstairs. It did seem particularly busy for a hotel lounge. Most of the men were dressed well, wearing suits and designer attire. They mingled while drinking expensive cocktails, laughing while patting each other on the back. Literally.

We definitely did not fit in with this crowd. Taking a seat at the bar, we ordered drinks. I fought against the impatience that made me want to gun down every person in the lounge. Paying attention to our surroundings and the conversations going on around us would get us further than losing my mind and ending up in prison. That’s what I told myself as I sipped a mojito and listened to two men to my left.

They discussed a recent sale, making it sound like a business transaction. They were careful with their words so their real meaning wouldn’t be obvious. I clutched my glass so tight I expected it to break. I was mere seconds away from smashing my glass in one man’s face and using the shards to slash his carotid wide open.

“Dude.” Cash nudged me, his voice low. “Brady just walked in. What’s the plan?”

I glanced over to find Brady and two men standing inside the entryway. My blood sang with a sense of victory. We had him now.

Before I could respond, Brady’s gaze fell upon us. He stiffened. Without a word to his companions, he turned and ran like hell.

I was off my stool and out the door behind him in a heartbeat. That motherfucker was not getting away. I owed him brutality.

Brady ran for the stairs that led back to the main lobby. I was right behind him. Propelling myself forward, I reached for the back of his shirt. Instead of grabbing him, I inadvertently shoved him.

He missed the top step and tumbled down, rolling ass over teakettle to the floor below. Too bad the bastard didn’t break his damn neck. Cash and Blaze were right behind me as I raced down the stairs.

Brady scrambled to his feet and took off, tearing through the lobby as he shoved people out of his way. Ignoring the shout of the valet at the door, he rushed out into the night.

I shoved past the valet as well, almost knocking him down in my haste. Nothing mattered but stopping Brady before he escaped. I poured on the speed, letting adrenaline drive me. Quickly, I shortened the distance between us.

He raced through the main parking lot, trying to lose me by weaving between cars. The idiot made the mistake of looking back at me and tripped over a concrete parking block. Brady went down on his face with a grunt.

I leapt on his back, grabbing his hair. Slamming his face on the hard ground, I rolled him over, needing to look him in the eyes.

“Did you bring Clover here tonight?” I snarled, punching him in the nose.

Brady got an arm up, using it to fend off another blow. “She’s long gone, asshole. I didn’t think she’d sell for so much. Your bitch made me a fuck ton of dough.”

“Then I’ll have to blow your goddamn brains out.” I reached for my gun, interrupted by a warning shot going off.

“Let him go. Now. Put your hands up where I can see them.”

I turned to find one of the men who’d entered the lounge with Brady holding a gun to Blaze’s head. His friend held a gun on Cash who pointed one right back at him. Fuck. Me.

Raising both hands, I slowly stood up and stepped away from Brady. There was a strained moment of tension as we all decided what move we wanted to make. I didn’t want to take any chances and risk Blaze. He’d faced enough already.

Brady got up and took off running. His friend gave Blaze a shove before following, keeping his gun trained on us as he went. The last guy slipped away too, walking backwards as he and Cash kept their weapons trained on each other.

I watched them go, a voice screaming in my head to go after them. As bad as I wanted to kill them all, it wasn’t worth risking myself when we were so close to getting Clover back. She’d been here tonight. Desmond had to have come through for us.

“Son of a bitch,” Blaze muttered, studying a scrape on his palm. “I can’t believe he got away again.”

“Hey, fuckers,” Havoc called as he strolled up with Knight and Gage in tow. “I just got a call from Raina. Clover is at the house with her.”

The utter relief and joy that washed through me was a brand new sensation. Had I ever felt this fucking happy before? Not that I remembered.

My throat closed up, choking off my words. I nodded my thanks to Havoc before breaking into a run for the car. I had to get to her. Now.

The drive to Desmond Monroe’s house seemed to take forever. Every red light killed me. The energy that buzzed among the three of us felt wild and frantic. We were crawling out of our skin with the need to see our girl.

Finally, we rolled up in the driveway. A sense of surrealism hit me as we went to the front door. Raina opened it, a smile on her face.

“She’s in the kitchen. I’m trying to get her to eat something. Pretty sure she’s itching to see you guys.”

I still couldn’t speak. Saying nothing, I went to the kitchen with Cash and Blaze on my heels. Clover sat at the dining room table with a glass of water and a sandwich on a plate.

When she glanced up at us, her blue eyes shone with unshed tears. She sprang off her chair, throwing herself into Blaze’s arms first. I hung back, waiting my turn. All I wanted was to hold her. To smell her. To feel her.

I didn’t expect to be her first choice. I’d assumed Blaze was her favorite. That was fine with me. Wasn’t it? Watching him hug her tight and stroke her hair made me crazy. Not because I didn’t want to share her. Because I’d thought I might never see her again. Nothing made me happier than this moment.

“God, you feel so good, Rainbow. I’m so thankful you’re okay.” Blaze kissed her before pressing his forehead to hers. “We were so fucking worried about you.”

She went to Cash next, letting him fold her into his thick arms. “It feels so good to touch you, Sunshine. We’re never letting you go again.”

Clover let out a shaky sigh as he kissed the top of her head. When she finally turned to me, I thought I might pass out. I opened my arms to her, holding my breath as she pressed herself against me.

She wasn’t wearing her usual attire. Instead she wore a plain blue dress and barely there makeup. Nothing like the Clover I knew. I didn’t care about any of that when I felt her body against mine.

I held her so tight, I feared that I might break her. She pressed her face to my chest and let out a little sob. Stroking her hair, I rested my cheek on the top of her head.

“You’re okay now, Angel. I’ll die before I let anything happen to you again.” I meant every word. I’d have rather had Brady kill me than take her. Part of me was dying to know what he’d done to her. She wasn’t ready to talk about that yet. I felt it.

“I’m sorry,” Clover sobbed against my chest. “I shouldn’t have taken off that night. This is all my fault.”

“No, it isn’t,” I said, my tone hardening. “Do not blame yourself. This is Brady’s fault. We won’t stop until he’d dead. I promise.”

I was vaguely aware of Raina nodding in agreement. Having the mob help look for Brady would guarantee his death. He wouldn’t be able to avoid us for much longer.

Clover shook in my arms. She fisted my t-shirt in her smaller hands, holding on for dear life.

I’d never felt needed before. Never felt so wanted. Never felt so fucking head over heels in love.