Fighting for Flight (41 page)

I play out my strategy. No more polite conversation
and deal-making. I know Dominick won’t give up Raven easily. Not
after what he went through to get her. He had this planned all
along, including hiring Candy to do his dirty work. I should have
known.

Inwardly, I berate myself for buying into his
bullshit. How could I have been so stupid? Well, that shit ain’t
happening again. There are only two ways this confrontation will
go. Dominick beaten into a bloody pulp, left begging for his
pathetic life, or Dominick dead. And I’ll have to accomplish this
while keeping Raven safe, or more importantly, alive.
Fuck.

“Turn left here.” Blake’s direction calls me from my
thoughts.

A quick turn and we’re on an unpaved road. I hit the
four-wheel drive and lay heavy on the gas. Dirt and rocks spit from
my back tires as we weave through the narrow mountain roads. My
eyes focus on the path ahead.

“Fork in the road.” Blake points ahead.

I don’t have to look at the map to know which way to
turn. Milena’s handwritten instructions are branded in my mind.

“Pull off. Park in the trees.” He drops the
directions on the dash and grabs the handle for a quick exit.

“Pop the box and grab my Eagle.” I toss him the key
to my glove box.

Within seconds the cold metal of my fifty-caliber
Desert Eagle warms my hand.

I check the clip. Fully loaded. We hop from the
truck and hustle back to the dirt road. I shove the gun into my
waistband at my back.

We jog down the tree line, making sure to keep to
the shadows. The cool mountain air invigorates me. It’s close to
two in the morning. The title fight was only a few hours ago. It
feels like ages. I should be exhausted, but I’ve never felt more
alert.

We cross to the other side of the road where a small
light shines like a beacon through the trees.

“That’s got to be it.” I don’t wait for Blake’s
response, and take off toward the light.

The rickety A-frame cabin stands alone in the mass
of pine trees, a one-lane dirt driveway leading to it. It’s small,
probably two bedrooms at most. This shit shack looks like it’s made
of scrap wood and spit. If I weren’t convinced Raven was inside,
I’d drive my truck full speed through the front fucking door.

We step closer, cautiously keeping to the dark in
the trees. She has to be here. Some deep part of me whispers she
may not be, but I choose to ignore it. This is my only chance of
getting her back.

Something catches my eye from the side of the shack.
I creep closer.
Bingo.

“They’re definitely here.” I motion to the
hundred-thousand-dollar Benz parked in the trees next to a black
Lexus sedan.

“What do you want to do? Just knock on the door and
start busting caps in his pompous ass?” Blake’s idea would usually
make me smile, but there isn’t a hint of humor in his voice. He’s
dead fucking serious.

“Let’s check out the windows first, try to get an
idea of what we’re dealing with. If I can’t get a handle on what’s
going on in there, I’ll kick the motherfucking door down.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Blake moves toward the
cabin.

I grab his shoulder, needing to say something before
we do this. “Whatever happens in there, you get her out.
Understand?”

His eyebrows drop low. “If shit gets ugly, I’m not
leaving you—”

“Don’t worry about me. Just get her out and far
away.”

Blake puts his hands on his hips and drops his head,
a string of curses flowing in a whisper.

“Promise me.”

He meets my eyes, his jaw tight. He shakes his
head.

“Blake, please.”

His gaze swings to the treetops for a second then
back to me. “All right. I’ll get her out.”

“Good.” I nod. “Now let’s take this fucker out.”

We run low to the ground to the cabin. I motion for
Blake to take one side of the shack, whispering for him to check
the windows. We’ll split up and meet in the back.

I edge up under the first window and peek inside. An
empty living room. No furniture except for a wooden-framed couch.
The embers from an old fire smolder in the fireplace. My eyes scour
the area. No sign of Raven.

With my back to the wall, I slide to the next
window. It’s frosted glass, probably a bathroom. I press my ear to
it. Nothing.

In a few more steps, I’m at the back of the cabin.
Blake is just rounding the opposite corner. We meet at a single
window, our backs against the wall on either side. The low
vibration of angry voices rumbles against the glass, but the words
are indecipherable. With a nod, we glance inside.

“Holy shit,” Blake whispers through clenched
teeth.

It’s dark in the room, but light from the open door
is enough to illuminate the scene. Vince and Dominick surround a
small bed. They’re hunched over, like vultures picking away at
their prey. I don’t have to see who they’re holding down to know
who it is.

Adrenaline shoots through my body, injected by a
rocket launcher. The roar of my pulse pounds between my ears. An
instinct to kill rushes down my spine, juicing up my muscles. My
skin vibrates with lethal energy.

Get the fuck off her!

I need to draw them away, redirect their attention.
I grab my gun, point it at the assholes.
No.
I can’t risk
hitting Raven.

With a flip of my hand, I use the gun’s butt, and
smash the window. Glass shatters, cutting through the silence and
causing Dominick and Vince to spin around.

“Well, fuck. I guess it’s on now.” Blake’s words
ring from behind me as I race to the front door.

I kick it open. The walls rattle.

Pop.

Light flashes. I stumble back. Pain explodes in my
shoulder and down my arm. I blink, pushing against the nausea and
agony that threatens to take me down. The fucker shot me.

“Shit. You okay?” Blake’s question is nothing more
than static to my main concern.

Where is she?

I scan dimly lit room, blinking away the floaters
from the flash of gunfire. Standing at the mouth of the hallway is
Dominick and Vince. Both with guns raised. Vince’s is smoking.

“No, Jonah!” Raven’s voice comes from the hallway.
Thank God, she’s alive.

The confirmation sends renewed strength to my mind
and muscles.

I straighten from my tortured huddle, sucking air
through my teeth.
Fuck, this hurts.
Then point my gun with
my good arm. “Let her go, Dominick.” My voice sounds stronger than
I feel.

“You broke into my home, Mr. Slade. I could kill you
right here, in cold blood, and get away with it.” Dominick’s voice
cracks with anger or frustration. I’m not sure.

“Dominick, please don’t.” Raven’s appeal ends on a
whimper.

Is she hurt?
I search in her direction, but
can’t make her out in the dim light. She’s blocked in the hallway
behind the bulk of the dicklicks who brought her here.

“Not true, asshole. In order to get away with it,
you’d have to stay alive. And I can promise you, if I go down, so
will you.” My aim is steady, head clear. I breathe deep and heavy,
working past the pain.

“Well, we can put that to the test, although, I’d
rather not have to deal with hiding dead bodies tonight.”
Dominick’s tone sounds genuinely put off.

“Cut the bullshit.” I step closer, making sure to
speak slowly so he understands. “I will not leave this place
without her.”

His lips curl back over his teeth. “Oh, but you
will. We made a bet. You lost.”

Waves of failure wash over me. “You had no intention
of letting her go, did you? If I’d lost the fight, you’d just walk
away?”

A chuckle rumbles from deep in his chest. “Brains
and brawn. Impressive. And here I thought you were just a dumb
jock.”

I fucking knew it.
This guy plays by his own
rules. I can’t believe I fell for it.

My injured arm moves on its own accord to steady my
aim. “You’re de—”
Dammit.
Pain blazes at my shoulder.

Vince snorts with laughter. “Not so strong now, are
ya? You may have taken me down in a surprise attack at the club,
but I dare you to come at me now.”

Blake pulls a large hunting knife from the back of
his pants. He spins it in his hand before he takes a fighting
stance. He gives me a quick chin lift and focuses on the men across
the room.

“Let me go.” Raven pushes at her captors, trying to
get past.

My blood screams to get to her, to throw her over my
shoulder and kill anyone who stands in my way. It’s my only option.
I move. Dominick yanks her to his front, his gun at her head. I
stop mid-stride.

“Not one more step, Slade.” His gun is pressing
against her temple, her head turned away from the weapon, eyes
screwed shut. Her chest heaves with heavy breaths or possible
hysteria.

I push the urge to kill down deep. Right now, I need
to make sure she’s unharmed.

“Baby?” I need to see her eyes, read in her
expression that they didn’t hurt her.
They better not have hurt
her.
“Baby, look at me.”

My gun is on Dominick. His on her. Vince’s moves
back and forth between Blake and me.

“Jonah . . .” Desperation laces through my name as
her words trail off. She blinks open her eyes and turns toward
me.

Her stare is wild, the aquamarine almost glowing
against their red rims. A large, bleeding gash cuts through her
eyebrow. White-hot fury explodes deep in my chest. Visions of what
could cause that kind of wound flash before my eyes. None of them
good. I mentally shake away the possibilities of what would’ve
happened if we hadn’t gotten here when we did. Going rat-shit crazy
won’t help anyone and may jeopardize her safety. I need to focus on
keeping her safe.

I lock eyes with her, hoping to God she sees
something there that makes her listen. This shit is about to get
ugly, and I need her as far away from it as possible.

“Baby, are you hurt? Anywhere besides your
head?”

She shakes no. “I want to go home. Jonah . . .”
Hysterical cries burst from her lips.

My stomach twists. “I know, baby. I’m here to take
you home.” I pin Dominick with a glare. “Let her go.”

“Not a chance.” Dominick pushes the gun harder into
Raven’s head, making her wince.

My finger twitches against the trigger.

“You don’t know what they did . . .W-What they were
going to . . .” The sound of her soul-shaking sobs rip through the
small room.

“I’m finished talking, Slade. Walk away. Now. Or she
dies.”

I ignore Dominick. “Raven, everything’s going to be
okay.” The look of terror in her eyes has me inching closer to
comfort her.

The movement sends Dominick’s gun in my direction.
Good.

Vince closes in. Blake follows suit. Tension boils
in the air like acid. It’s a four-way standoff. Whoever shoots
first, wins.

Blood drains from my shoulder in a steady drip. My
vision blurs at the edges. I need to end this before I pass out.
“Raven, baby.” I stagger a step.
Shit.

“He tried to rape me.” Her words are spit at
Vince.

Dominick drops his head with a muttered curse.

My eyes are drawn to her shorts, opened and
unzipped.
Oh, fuck no.
Fire flares in my gut. My vision
returns with crystal accuracy, but all I can see is blood. I should
have ended him that night in the parking lot. He may think he knows
what pain is, but I’m about to give him a lesson in agony.

I swing my aim to Vince, step close, point blank
range.

“I’m going to fuck you up, you no-good piece of
shit.” My words shake with the force of my anger.

“You better start apologizing, asswipe. My friend
here’s about to put a bullet in your brain.” The rage in Blake’s
voice tells me he’s walking a thin line of control.

Vince and I face off. My gun to his face, his to my
chest. I’m vaguely aware of the other people in the room, but right
now I’ve got sniper vision and Vince is in my crosshairs. Kill
first, explain later.

“Just fucking end this, Dominick.” Vince’s gun
shakes in his hand. I notice he’s not using his other arm to brace
the weight of his weapon, but instead has it cradled to his body.
“Give me the go ahead to take this guy out. It’s the least I could
do after what that whore did to my arm—”

I lower my gun to his groin.

Pop.

“Aargh!” His scream of agony has him dropping to the
floor along with his gun. He curls into the fetal position
whimpering.

I kick his weapon away. “I warned you.”

Blake scoops it up and aims it at the miserable
mound of flesh on the floor. “Won’t be using that tool ever again,
eh Vinnie?”

Vince writhes once and then goes still. Probably
passed out.

“Big mistake, Slade.” Dominick shouts and the sound
of Raven’s cries fill the room.

I swing my gun toward him. His arm visibly flexes
around her waist, making her gasp for air. I take aim, but feel my
confidence draining along with the blood that flows down my
arm.

“You don’t get it. She’s mine. You want to shoot me?
Go ahead. But if I die, I take her with me.” He moves toward the
door, dragging Raven with him.

I move to block him. It’s a risk, but after
everything, I don’t believe he would kill her now. He thrusts the
gun hard, forcing her neck to an awkward angle.
Fuck.

Losing her once was a pain worse than death. I will
not lose her again. I take another step.

“He’s gonna kill her, man.” Blake’s words speak to
the raging beast in my head.

My shirt and jeans are soaked in my blood. I fight
for consciousness. Blinking hard, I force myself to think clearly.
Plans, ideas tumble in my head, heavy as it lists on my shoulders.
I’m running out of time. There’s only one option left.

“Fine.” I lower my gun to the ground, then stand,
palms forward in surrender. “You win.”