CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Payton

THE WEDNESDAY OF my second week back at work, I packed up my desk and headed out of school, my mind on Alex. We’d gotten the paperwork signed for our loan application and been approved, found a preschool for Lily, at least temporarily, and everything appeared to be going our way. I couldn’t wait to start our new journey together. And on top of the house stuff, the wedding plans would start this weekend. Life was still perfect.

Alex and I were heading to the builder’s office tonight to pick options and appliances, then it was off to the carpet place tomorrow to pick tile, carpet and such. As I walked out the front doors, I was met by a new agent, Kyle Cobb, and he smiled in greeting.

“Hey, Kyle.”

“Payton. How was your day?”

“Not bad. Yours?”

“Good,” he said. “We have a few leads, so that’s a positive.”

“Awesome,” I said. “Does that mean you guys are close to shutting this thing down?”

Kyle didn’t get a chance to answer because he was suddenly on the ground, blood pooling from somewhere. I screamed and knelt beside him, only to find my body lifted and jerked away, then black.

* * *

Hawk

“Daddy?”

“Hey, baby girl. Is everything okay?” I asked, pouring a cup of coffee in the compound kitchen.

“Hawk, I have your girls,” the deep Russian voice came over the phone.

My body locked. “Who the fuck is this?”

“I will send demands in two hours. You contact the police or FBI, I will kill both of them.”

The phone went dead.

“Fuck!” I bellowed. “Flea!”

Flea came running. “What’s up, boss?”

“I want Booker and Mack here now. Some fuckhead has Payton and Lily. Get me a burner.”

“On it,” Flea said, and left the common room.

I headed toward Crow’s office, pushing open the door and finding my president slamming the phone against the wall.

“Crow?”

“The Russians have Ash.”

“Shit,” I said. “They’ve got Payton and Lily.”

“I’ve called an emergency lock down. Families are staying here for a few nights.”

A knock at the door brought Flea with a burner. “Mack’s here, Booker’s five minutes out.”

I nodded and dialed Brock.

“We know, Hawk,” Brock said. “Team’s movin’.”

“We’re movin’ too, Brock.”

“Don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t give a fuck.”

“Try to keep it legal, Hawk,” Brock warned.

“I’m doin’ whatever it takes to get my girls.”

Brock sighed. “I hear ya.”

I hung up and headed to the common room.

* * *

Payton

I came to with a splitting headache and a dry mouth. I registered the sound of sniffling and opened my eyes, turning my head to find who was crying.

“Lily?” I rasped.

She sat up from her place on the dirty mattress. “Mama! I fought you wew dead.”

“Come here, baby,” I said, and held my arms out. They were secured with a zip tie, as were my ankles, but at least my hands were tied in front of me so I could hold her. I was grateful for small favors.

Lily, unbound, crawled into my lap and hugged me gently. “Awa you okay, Payton?”

“I’m fine, honey.”

“Daddy’s comin’.”

“I know, baby girl.”

I scanned the almost barren room. On the floor were two single mattresses and in the corner a bucket… I looked up… only one window too high to reach, then to my right, concrete stairs, which indicated we must be in a basement of sorts.

“Lily, can you touch my back and tell me if you feel anything?”

She patted me down and shook her head.

“Okay, baby. Thanks.”

They found the gun. Not surprising, but I would have really liked a miracle right about now. I heard scuffling and pulled Lily closer as light appeared above us and a body was hurled down the stairs. If I didn’t have Lily, I’m pretty sure I would have allowed my panic to overtake me. Lily whimpered and I gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ve got you, honey, but let me check on this person, okay? Can you just sit on the mattress for a minute?”

She nodded and climbed off my lap and I shuffled to the woman, gently pulling the pillowcase off her head. She looked a little familiar to me, but I couldn’t place her right away. She had a nasty bump on her head, but I was surprised she didn’t have worse damage from the trip down the stairs.

“Fucking bastard,” she hissed as she opened her eyes and let out a groan. “What the fuck?”

Her hands were tied behind her back, but her legs were free.

“Asswee,” Lily said, and rushed to the woman’s side.

“Hey, Lily,” she said, and rolled in an attempt to sit up.

“Try not to move,” I said. “I can’t tell how bad you’re hurt.”

She frowned. “You’re Hawk’s woman. Payton, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Ashley. Crow’s daughter.”

“Oh, right. I thought I recognized you.” I frowned and helped her sit up. “How did you get messed up in this?”

“I suck at choosing men.”

I bit my lip. “Oh.”

“Hawk’s gonna fuckin’ rain down death.”

“If he can find us,” I whispered, low enough so Lily couldn’t hear me.

“He’ll find us.”

I swallowed my fear and nodded.

“He will,” Ashley said. “Trust me. Dad’ll get him and Booker on it. No one can hide from them.”

“My brother will help too.”

“Oh, right. Isn’t he FBI?”

I nodded. I was quickly figuring out the club knew a lot more about me than I knew about them.