Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11) (44 page)

Brody headed downstairs, a knot twisting up his gut. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to go down. Joey wouldn’t have bailed on him.

There was no way.

They were partners.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Garrick Tran was waiting for him.

“What happened to the party?” he asked, trying to remain calm.

“Oh, Arman moved it. He didn't like how people were sneaking around in our rooms.”

His heart pounded.

Oh, shit!

Johanna must have been seen.

“Where’s it at?”

“Are you sure you want to go?” he asked. “They’re going to be having some fun with a girl. You don’t seem to be interested in anyone specific.”

Brody moved closer, wanting to hurt the man.

“Where are they?”

“With Johanna Madden. It seems that while you couldn’t seal the deal, she came looking for some action. By now, they’re starting on her.”

It was all he had to say. Those words would be forever etched into his heart and soul. They had the woman he loved, and she was in danger.

“Take me.”

“Are you sure?” he tormented, playing along with Arman’s plan. He wanted to make the man suffer, and from the look on his face, that was happening.

Brody grabbed him by the front of the jacket and lifted him off the floor until he was on his tip toes.

“So, she is your girl.”

“Take me!”

He grinned.

“Right this way.”

With that, Brody followed him out the kitchen door and into the trees. All the while, his stomach was in one hell of a knot. This wasn’t going to be good.

He could feel it.

Joey was in trouble, and he had to get to her.

If they hurt her, there would be hell to pay. Fed or not, he’d tear them to pieces.

She would always come first.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

He used her in his car. Reality kicked in, and he couldn’t take her back to his place, so there wasn’t much choice. His mind kept going back to the earlier phone call to his partner in this, and if they found out he was bringing women to his place, they’d lose it.

So instead, he was doing the next best thing. When he slipped into her body, finding that perfect nirvana, he allowed himself to forget about the shit going on in his life.

In that moment, she gave him peace.

While she didn't move, he could see the slow rise and fall of her chest.

Tonight, he would take what he needed from her, and move on.

He was done.

Being familiar with psychology, he was aware that this was a dangerous slope, and he was sliding haphazardly down it.

Enough was enough.

He couldn’t continue on. He’d done what he set out to, and now he needed to retreat.

He had to have some shred of decency.

It took what felt like forever to get off. He was too busy thinking about how screwed he was. Finally, when he’d finished with her body, he yanked her from his car. With little effort, he pulled her into the trees surrounding the parking lot and got to work.

With tools in hand, he took what was needed.

When she opened her eyes in shock, the pain beating back the drug haze, he couldn't bear it.

“I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.”

Her slurred words as she begged for her life were the last thing he heard. Then she was gone.

With that last breath, he stared down as blood coated his hands.

The panic filled him.

With no way to clean himself off, he instead rushed to his car.

Everything was unraveling.

It was all coming apart.

He was destined to lose it all.

There was no doubt.

He was going to be crucified, even when he had pure motives.

Now, he needed to get home.

He just wanted to get away.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Joey didn't know what was going on.

All she remembered was the air being stolen from her lungs as the large figure tried to kill her.

Now, she was waking.

Only, she didn't feel well at all.

Her brain was fuzzy.

Her pulse was rapid.

And everything was spinning out of control.

“Oh look,” said Arman. “She wakes. It looks like our little sneak is coming to,” he said, crouching before her.

Joey tried to focus, but all she could see was trees. She was propped against the trunk, and her limbs felt incredibly heavy. She wasn’t only knocked out, she’d been drugged.

“We caught you, sneak. Now, you’re going to tell us everything.”

In her ear, she could hear Jason’s voice reassuring her that everything was going to be all right. He wanted her to get them to talk.

She tried to move her lips, but they didn't want to cooperate.

That’s when he struck her.

Stars filled her field of vision.

Joey could feel the tears fill her eyes. While the pain sucked, it released adrenaline, making her able to form a sentence.

“Why are you doing this?”

Arman laughed. He crossed the small clearing and dropped his arms around Nels’s shoulder. “Are you talking about the women or you? You’re the simple answer. We caught you in our rooms, and we don’t buy for a single second that you’re a college girl. In fact, we know you and our Broderick know each other. We just can’t figure out how.”

She didn't speak.

“The other girls were for fun. Who doesn’t like a little easy pussy now and again?” he asked, moving toward Sutton. When he tried to mimic the same embrace that he did with the other man, he was met by an angry glare.

“This is wrong, Arman. You’re fucking with two people’s lives. It’s one thing for some sex with a willing girl, but this isn’t cool. She isn't up for the game.”

He glared at the man. “I didn't see you complaining when we drugged those girls and you dipped your stick in the pool, Sutton. In fact, you got off just like we did.”

He didn't care.

“She’s not a drunk girl who wants it. I don’t want to do this!”

Arman walked over to stand in front of Johanna. When he crouched again, he lifted her chin. “Oh, you want it, don’t you?” he said, ripping his hand down the front of her shirt, tearing it open. “In fact, we’ll give her some more drugs and take her like the others.”

Sutton refused. “I’m not doing it.”

“You are, because you screwed all those girls, and if you think we won’t tell the cops it was your idea, you’re an idiot.”

Nels pulled out a needle with a clear liquid.

“You’re going to kill her. She was already dosed. You’ll stop her heart. That’s murder. I’m not taking part in this.”

That wasn’t good enough for him. With a nod to Nels, the man swung out, leveling the man.

He hit the ground like a ton of bricks.

“Hang in there, Johanna,” stated Jason in her ear. “We have their confession. I’m calling the Blackhawks. We’ll get you.”

She couldn’t speak again.

Then she heard him.

“Let her go!”

She struggled to lift her head. When she did, she saw him. Brody was there, and he was in danger. She tried desperately to warn him, but her mouth wouldn’t form the words.

Arman laughed. “If you tell us what the hell is going on, then we’ll let her go.”

Brody tried to move toward her, but Hervey blocked his way. “She’s not part of this.”

Arman pulled the picture from his pocket. “It certainly looks like she is,” he stated. “You know her, and you’re going to tell me how.”

Brody wasn’t sure what to do. If he told them, their cover was blown. If he didn’t…

Arman moved toward her, dropping down to his knees beside her. “Look at her soft silky skin. Have you hit this yet, Brody?” he said, letting his fingers slide across her flesh.

Brody went to move toward her, only to be stopped by Nels and Hervey. “Don’t touch her!”

Arman knew how to break him. He pulled Johanna’s mouth to his and kissed her.

Brody went wild, trying to get past Nels.

“Is she your girlfriend?” he asked, when he pulled away. “If she is, you’re a lucky man.” Then he held up the picture. “You left this in your room,” he stated. “You two are lovebirds, aren’t you?”

“No. She’s my partner.”

He had no choice. While he had to blow their cover, he wouldn’t let the man know he loved Johanna. If he did, they’d hurt her. They were sick enough to enjoy making her suffer because of him.

“Are you a campus cop?”

Brody struggled to get past them. When he saw the hypodermic needle in Arman’s hand, he was panicked. “Don’t do it!”

“Answer me.”

“We’re FBI.”

The men stopped moving. After a few seconds, Arman stood and gave the orders, “Destroy him.”

The three men pounced, beating on Brody, who was no match for them.

Johanna was forced to watch as the man she loved was being pummeled. She watched him try to fight back, but Nels was too much for him.

As he went down, she could hear the muffled grunts of each blow he took to his face, chest, and body.

“Brody,” she whispered, just as something sharp pricked her arm.

“You’ll feel better in a few minutes, Johanna. When they’re done, you’re next. I see rape in someone’s future.”

She fell over, her eyes locked on Brody as he was being unmercifully beaten.

It all wavered.

She couldn’t keep her eyes open.

Johanna only prayed that if she woke, the man she loved would still be alive.

      
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Elizabeth Blackhawk got the call, and she nearly shit a brick. When Jason Blaise gave her the coordinates, and the details, the three raced from the apartment and to the Escalade.

All the way there, she held on as Ethan drove like a maniac. In her heart, she was scared for her agents.

And she was pissed.

What the hell were they thinking?

“I’m going to kill them. When they survive this, Ethan, I’m going to make sure they can’t sit for about a month.”

Both men felt the same, but they knew Elizabeth loved her agents. While she was tough, she played Cupid for one reason.

They were her family.

From the tone in Jason’s voice, they knew it was bad. He sounded frantic.

As they pulled into the parking lot outside the frat house, and was met with their other two agents, they raced for the trees. It was the longest few minutes of each of their lives.

As they approached the coordinates, which Johanna’s watch had given off, they pulled their guns. Once they broke the clearing, they couldn’t believe what they saw.

Agent Brody Seaton was bloody and lying on the ground not moving. There was blood coming from his ears and nose, and he looked like he’d been run over by a freight train.

“Freeze! FBI!” Ethan said, pointing his gun at the largest man in the trees.

That’s when they saw her.

The four men were standing over a partially naked Johanna. It looked like they’d gotten there in the nick of time.

A few minutes later, and they would have found her being violated.

At the sound of their voice, Brody struggled to open his eyes.

“Joey,” he whispered as tried to drag himself across the clearing to her side.

Elizabeth wanted to kick the shit out of some college boys. “You’re officially screwed. You’ve just attempted to kill two of my agents,” she stated.

Callen pulled his cuffs and made sure that Garrick Tran was secure. As he went to lock down Nels Lucas, the man swung out. He missed, but Callen didn't. He took the man down with a face shot.

“Jason, call nine-one-one,” she stated, not for the fallen frat boy, but for her agents. As her men continued locking up the suspects, Elizabeth dropped to her knees by Johanna. “Her pulse is really thready.”