Page 36 of Lane (East Dremest Mafia #5)

LANE

I’d never been this afraid. Not when my mom was sick. Not when I watched her slowly die. Not when I had to go up against Jordan in the house in North Carolina. Sure, I was scared, worried, but this, what I felt right now, was pure fear. If anything happened to Alton, I didn’t know what I’d do.

“Hey,” Raiden said, gripping the back of my neck where we sat in the SUV. “We’re going to get him back.” I hoped he was right.

The plans we’d made, how we’d wanted everything to go, it was all blown to hell because Ulrich kept changing shit. We shouldn’t have been surprised, but we also were heading into the unknown.

Jordan sent people out ahead of us. We figured Ulrich would have his people spread out in the park.

It was up to those who were already there to strategically take them out, and not too early, or that would alert Ulrich and he could run.

Every move we made had to be calculated at the last minute.

At least Jordan’s people were skilled for this type of thing because I sure as fuck wasn’t.

If it were only me heading in, I could have handled it better.

I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else.

This was what my life was going to be like moving forward.

Not rescuing a loved one, at least I sure as fuck hoped not.

But having to help Jordan run his organization.

It was what I wanted, after all. The job as his second was within my grasp.

Maybe I’d be better at it when it wasn’t Alton’s life on the line.

Oleander turned in the front passenger seat to look at me, where I sat in the back.

“I won’t tell you to stop worrying. I’d be a hypocrite if I did, considering I’m barely holding it together with Sheldon in the OR, but we need to keep our heads clear.

You know what to do and how to do it. I’ve heard and seen you in action.

This isn’t new, Lane. The only difference is that it’s Alton.

He trusts you. You have to go in there and do what needs to be done to get him back. You’ve got this.”

I nodded. His talk gave me a boost, as little as it was. He had more confidence in me than I did in myself.

Vincent’s phone rang through the SUV’s speakers, Reghan’s name on the screen. “Yeah?”

“Eleanor got to the hospital. Felix pulled her out of the car, leaving it on the street, and literally carried her out of the traffic until he could get a cab to take them the rest of the way.”

“That was fucking risky,” Raiden said.

“They knew they were sitting ducks regardless, and she was screaming in pain. He had to do something. One of ours was in the shadows and tailed them to the cab, then got his own to follow them to the hospital. He let us know they were in the ER and taken back. No one can get to them now.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief. If Eleanor or the baby were hurt, Alton would never forgive himself. Hell, I wouldn’t forgive myself either. I was the one with the fucked-up fake family.

“Thanks,” Vincent said and hung up.

Minutes later, we parked along the curb, a block from the park.

Albert would stay with the two vehicles.

Unfortunately, with guards spread out at the hospital for Sheldon and others with Eleanor, the guards in the building protecting Jordan’s family, and the others already fanned out around the park, there weren’t many to spare.

It wasn’t like we could call in backup from JJ, Dexen, and the rest. Jordan wanted them safe, protecting their own.

Sure, there were more guards in Jordan’s building, but none he trusted with the bigger jobs yet.

He was hiring more. They had to work their way up.

Barry was with them, overseeing what they did.

We exited the vehicles, none of us speaking.

It was bad enough we were drawing a crowd.

Jordan on his own would. Add in all the muscle, and yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cops showed up at some point, thanks to a call from a concerned citizen.

Hopefully, we could get in and get out before they arrived.

Jordan was allowed to go anywhere he wanted.

However, killing a man and his entourage in broad daylight would be more than frowned upon.

The trail around the park took us two abreast until we entered a more shaded area, thanks to the pines. We had guards on the other side of them and waiting SUVs to stuff Ulrich into, so we could end his life in the style he deserved—slowly and painfully.

He came into view with Alton by his side, Ulrich slightly behind him, a gun pressed to Alton’s flank. Our lover didn’t flinch, didn’t appear weak or worried in the face of his situation. I was so fucking proud of him.

“You have us here where we can finish our deal,” Jordan stated when he came to a stop. “Let Alton go, or you won’t see a dime.”

“Hello to you too. Isn’t the weather beautiful?”

“Fuck you,” Jordan growled. “I don’t give a shit about the goddamn weather. Release Alton and you’ll have your money.”

What Ulrich didn’t know was Lawson was on standby to pull the money out of the account about sixty seconds after it went in.

It would be enough time to release Alton and save Jordan from losing millions.

I didn’t know how much money the man had, but I was certain that would only be a dent in his finances.

Ulrich took his phone out and typed with one hand. Jordan’s chimed a second later.

“That’s where I want the money sent to,” Ulrich said. “All of it or Alton comes with me.” He ran his nose up Alton’s cheek. “We’ll get to have so much fun. I almost wish you don’t send it, then I can find out how Alton tastes.”

I wasn’t sure who would lunge first, Raiden or me. By some miracle, we both stayed where we were. It was so damn tempting to blow Ulrich’s head off. I couldn’t risk Alton’s life or anyone seeing us.

Jordan peered down at his phone, typing. He lifted his head. “Done.”

Ulrich’s phone alerted him, but he didn’t release Alton. Instead, he started tapping on his. A man came out of the tree line, took the phone, while Ulrich eyed us down, a sinful smile lifting his lips. We had to leave at least a couple of his men alive, or Ulrich would know we were in there too.

“All good, sir,” the man said and handed the phone back.

“Now the money is out of my account and moved to another,” Ulrich stated.

None of us said anything. He didn’t know Lawson was watching and waiting. We thought he’d do this. Lawson was ready to follow the trail and put his skills to use. He also had Greer’s number so Lawson could ask for help if need be.

“You may go now,” Ulrich said, releasing Alton but lifting his gun, pointing it at Alton’s back.

Alton took even steps, not rushing toward us. The moment he was within arm’s reach, Raiden grabbed him and put him behind us.

“I knew you’d do that,” Ulrich said, then fired at the same time I moved to block the part of Alton that wasn’t behind Raiden.

But the shot didn’t hit me like I thought it would. Instead, it hit Jordan in the shoulder. Blood sprayed, but Reghan caught him. None of us were able to protect Jordan when he dove to protect everyone else.

Ulrich ran. I took off after him, firing at two of his men before they could get me.

Raiden was at my back, the sound of his boots pounding over the trail.

Lucky for us, the path was clear. When Ulrich dove into the woods, we took off after him.

He didn’t get far though. Not when there was a body of one of his guards there that he tripped over, landing hard on the ground.

One of our men got to him first and jumped on his back.

Running, I didn’t stop until I hit the ground, my knees digging into the dirt. Bringing my hand down, I shot Ulrich in the flank then the hip. This motherfucker wasn’t going anywhere except to a building to be tortured. The shots weren’t loud, thanks to the silencer on my weapon.

More of Jordan’s guards rushed from the woods, quick to grab Ulrich and haul him to a waiting SUV. Raiden and I followed. This was part of the plan. One we wished we wouldn’t have to act on.

Whoever chased and captured Ulrich was to go with him to Warehouse Thirteen, one of Jordan’s warehouses used for this purpose, with who would fit in the SUV.

Whoever was hurt, which I had a gut feeling someone would be, would be helped into the other SUV.

We were going on luck that Alton would be okay and could immediately start working on the wound.

As we were getting into one SUV, I saw Alton and Jordan emerge with Reghan and Barrett.

“He has to go to the hospital,” Alton said. “I can’t repair his shoulder.”

Blood seeped through Jordan’s suit; through the shirt Barrett had pressed to it. “Go,” Jordan growled. “Finish this.”

I nodded and climbed into the SUV with Raiden.

Oleander jumped in at the last minute. “He could have killed Sheldon. I’m inflicting damage.”

We sped away from the scene.

Barrett had always planned on going with whoever to the hospital.

Where Jordan and Barrett went, so did Reghan.

Barrett might work for a mafia boss, but he was still a hero to many for helping others and ridding the city of a corrupt chief of police.

They’d say Jordan was shot from a robbery gone wrong.

Someone thought they could get the best of him and fled.

It was a terrible lie, but we couldn’t come up with much on short notice in case one of us ended up in the emergency room.

At least Corbin would be there, so we had someone on the inside.

Thirteen was on the other side of the city where there were fewer homes and more abandoned properties.

Ulrich was brought in and kept to where the floor was concrete while cursing his head off.

The room would need to be cleaned, and the body disposed of.

Given the men already taken out in the woods, whose bodies would be dragged out and placed in a third SUV, there would be a staging of another incident more than an hour from here.

It would have to do with a shootout between Ulrich and one of the people he was doing business with. One asshole taking the other out.

Raiden brought him in, over his shoulder, with Ulrich’s hands tied behind his back. Raiden didn’t carefully place him on the floor. He fucking threw him. Ulrich landed with a thud and cried out in pain.

Aww, he landed on his shot hip. What a fucking pity. It would really suck if I walked over there and shot him in the other one.

My feet carried me across the floor as I did just that.

There was no information to extract from this asshole.

Lawson worked with Greer and found out every person Ulrich was dealing with who had connections to Jordan.

The ones who hadn’t been dealt with yet would be very soon.

There was nothing left we needed Ulrich for.

“How many times do you think I can shoot you before you stop crying?” I asked. “Why don’t we find out?”

I shot him in his abdomen, then in his shoulder. Ulrich screamed in pain as his body jerked on the floor with every bullet I gave him.

“Just fucking kill me already!” he yelled.

“Where would the fun be in that?”

Oleander stepped up alongside me. “May I?”

“Of course. This is free for whoever wants to fuck this asshole up.”

He crouched on the floor near Ulrich’s chest and lifted his gun.

Oleander placed the barrel along the side of Ulrich’s face, near his ear, and fired, blowing his ear off, leaving nothing but a bloody mess as Ulrich screamed in pain.

Then he pressed the gun to the shoulder I hadn’t shot and pulled the trigger again.

Standing, Oleander said, “That wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be.” Blood splattered his hand, body, and face.

“It’s because he’s still breathing,” Raiden seethed. “Can I?”

I nodded. Raiden needed to have his revenge for what Ulrich had taken from him.

He aimed and fired right into Ulrich’s crotch. Even I flinched. Raiden’s next bullet landed between Ulrich’s eyes, the kill shot.

In my mind, I wanted to do it. This fucker was here because of me. But Raiden lost his dad. He deserved to kill Ulrich.

Oleander’s phone started ringing. He put his gun in his other hand and reached into his pocket, getting more blood on himself to gather his phone. “Rory?”

He didn’t put it on speaker, so we couldn’t hear.

Oleander’s eyes welled with tears; my heart started faltering in my chest. No, Sheldon couldn’t… Oleander let out a choked sob and hung up, the phone falling from his hand as he bent at the waist, sucking in gasps of breath as he cried.

“Ollie?” Raiden whispered brokenly.

“He’s alive,” he cried. “Shel’s alive. He’s not out of the woods but he pulled through the surgery.”

“Thank fuck,” I breathed.

This day was fucking terrible. Absolutely fucking awful.

We had to hope Sheldon made it through the night and Jordan’s shoulder could be repaired.

We weren’t all safe and healthy yet, but none of us had died today.

I couldn’t say the same for Ulrich and the pack of assholes who chose the wrong side in this battle.