Page 48

Tenzin

“F ucking shit, the plane just left,” Jonas swore as he looked at his phone.

We were crowded in a car, on the way to a private airport in Motor City, after taking the ultra-bullet here, since we didn’t have a plane and it was much faster than driving from New York.

“Didn’t it just land?” Clark looked up from his phone and frowned.

“Charlie’s trying to figure out where it’s going. But it might take some time.” Jonas frantically texted someone.

We’d taken a gamble based on what Gwen’s security person had told us, when we’d shown up at his van and demanded answers. Jonas’ hacker friend had confirmed it.

“How do we know she’s still on the plane and they didn’t take her off, then go somewhere else to deflect it,” I added, the need to find her growing with every second.

Now I understood why some alphas put trackers on those they loved. It wasn’t them being controlling. No, it was for instances like this where they didn’t have their phones, so that they could be found.

It tore me up that she needed us and we couldn’t find her.

Also, I could understand why someone in her family might hire secret surveillance. If only they’d share the info with us–or at least would let us know that they were going to get Gwen.

Though we’d go after Gwen, regardless.

“We’re in Motor City. Let’s go to Austin’s house and beat it out of him. He’s home, well, at his girlfriend’s.” Carlos looked up from his phone.

“How do you know that?” Clark frowned.

Carlos grinned. “I know a guy. Okay, I texted Ty, who texted Austin, under the guise of letting him know he was signed by the Boaters today and found out where he is.”

“Yes, let’s do that,” I replied. I really wanted to hit someone. How dare they take her? Her ex knew she’d been kidnapped, knew she had unresolved trauma.

Jonas gave the driver the new address.

“If we’re lucky, her ex knows. If we’re really lucky, she’ll be there. But, if not, we’ll still get to hit someone since he’s a fucker,” Tegan added.

I didn’t know Tegan. But she cared about Gwen, and her expertise was helpful.

“Such a fucker. It’s nice that she has Bucket and Clark now.” Dimitri didn’t look up from his phone.

Jonas’ phone lit up, and he swore. “Mercy knows Gwen’s missing and is fucking pissed we didn’t bring her.”

“Mercy has decided Gwen is her sister, does that surprise you?” Carlos laughed.

Clark leaned into me, his scent ripe with concern. I squeezed his hand.

“Lenny and Matty still haven’t replied.” Clark sighed. “I… I would have thought this time they would want to go after her. I mean, why have security if they don’t want to find her?”

“That’s why we’re here,” I assured. “Maybe it’s not them who hired security and they’re waiting for confirmation?”

Though I was disappointed in them for not getting back to us, even if it was just that they were checking. Gwen had trusted and cared for them, and had let them back in.

“If we find out what’s going on, I’d like to call the police at some point, to take care of whoever took her. Though I don’t know how her ex could just call the police, make some flyers and videos, and be done with it, when she went missing a few years ago.” Clark fiddled with his phone. “Even without knowing who he was and what resources he potentially had access to.”

“True. It makes me wonder if he really even loved her.” I’d absolutely call up a family member I hated and ask for help if it meant getting Gwen or Clark back.

We pulled up to a very nice, though smallish, home, with lights on and an alpha-model sports car, the same one that Clark was looking at.

“Well, I guess I’m not getting that car,” Clark muttered, as we got out.

“Do we ask the driver to wait?” Jonas asked.

“Sure?” I had no idea what I was doing here.

We went up to the door, and Carlos started pounding on it. “Let us in, assface.”

An unamused omega scowled at us. “Can I help you? It’s rather late.”

She wasn’t as small as many omegas, but she wasn’t tall either. She was blonde with features many would consider pretty, and in some lounge pants with an oversized Gears shirt.

“We’re here to see Bronson.” My voice grew annoyed.

“Oh, that assface. Got it.” She turned. “Brony, your friends are here. You didn’t tell me they were coming over. Come in. You’re his hockey friends from New York?” she asked curiously, letting us in. “Obviously, you’re hockey players, though you’re not Gears.”

It was a pretty foyer, with a place to hang your coats, a still life painting, and some fresh flowers. Was this her family’s house? Perhaps the home given to them to start their life?

“Go home, fucknuggets, I’m trying to get some,” Austin grumbled as he came into the foyer in only some sweatpants. His eyes got wide, and he looked like he was about to run. “Shit. It’s you. Look, I’ve been found guilty. I’m on leave from the team and making amends, Bro. I also tried to stop my asshat brother from running you over.”

“Where is she, you abusive asshole?” Clark slammed him against the wall, barely missing the painting.

“Leave or I’m calling the police.” The omega tried to dart away.

Tegan blocked her with her body. “We’ll leave as soon as he tells us where they’re taking Gwen and why, Princess. We’re not here to make trouble, just get back our friend.”

“Take who?” Austin looked up at Clark, blue eyes wide.

“Gwen. Your fucking family kidnapped Gwen, since they couldn’t ruin her, scare her, or pay her off. Now where is she?” I growled, getting into his face.

Okay, we hadn’t confirmed it was his family. The plane was owned by a shell company. But considering it went to Motor City, it was pretty clear who it was.

“Oh.” Her voice went small. “Brony, please tell me your family didn’t kidnap someone. When your grandfather said he’d take care of your ex before she ruins your career out of jealousy, I thought he was giving her money and making her sign the non-disclosure. You know, the one you said you had, but didn’t. Isn’t it bad enough that you have a record now, thanks to her?”

I gave her a look. “Jealousy? He put her in the hospital. All she wants is to be left alone. She doesn’t even want the money he owes her. He’s the one ruining his own career.”

She made a face. “All that was fake, and he’s innocent. We’re going to appeal.”

“I was fucking there after he hurt her, it wasn’t fake,” Clark growled, slamming Austin against the wall. “Where. Is. She? Because the plane landed here, took a passenger, then took off again.”

“I… I know nothing about kidnapping. Last thing I knew, my grandpa was talking to Chummy about signing her to the Boaters. I’m not going to appeal.” His look became stubborn.

“Like fuck you’re not,” his girlfriend swore.

Clark shook him. “The Boater’s contract was fake? Fuck.”

“Shit, it was to lure her out of the dinner, so someone could drug her,” I breathed. Just the thought made anger simmer inside me. How did they even know where she was?

But Gwen being a MASO wasn’t a secret and someone may have posted about their party.

“I thought he was just going to tuck the payoff and non-disclosure into the contract. It surprised me when Ty called and told me they signed him. But if Gwen keeps playing like she has, she’ll be better than Ty and it makes sense they’d want her.” Austin wasn’t struggling under Clark’s grasp. But he didn’t look contrite enough.

“Wow, that’s shitty,” Tegan muttered.

Jonas growled. “All you UNYC players have your heads up your asses. I’m going to make sure she’s not tied up here.”

Jonas and Carlos pushed through, while Tegan and Dimitri kept the omega cornered, who protested that no one was there.

“I didn’t take her. I’d never fucking kidnap her after everything she’s been through. She should have just kept her head down. I told her they’d come for her if she didn’t.” Austin gave a cocky, spoiled look.

My fist met his smug face, anger unfurling. “You’re the one who didn’t keep his head down. Wearing those skates when you played us. Cornering her at the bar. Having your brothers run her over, after you let them try to assault her. Your omega calling her a whore on social media. Letting your family drag her name. Having your lawyers harass her. Releasing statements like your hit-and-run was a miscommunication .

“None of this was her. This was all you. Even your little video about donating money and taking anger management is performative bullshit. You should have gone to jail, and you only got what you did, because of your last name. If you wouldn’t have done anything, none of this would have happened.”

The omega frowned. “She’s lying and after his money now that she knows who he is.”

“No, she’s not.” Clark growled so fiercely she flinched. “She’s one of the best people I know. She doesn’t want his money.” He got in Austin’s face. “You let her overwork herself to pay for your university, then screwed her over. You tore up the only picture of her mother that she had. You threw the skate she worked overtime to buy you at her head. I’ll never forget her lying unconscious on the ice, bleeding.”

Austin flinched. “I told her, my brothers wrecked her shit. It was their idea to grab the car and go after her, but they just wanted to scare her. I didn’t think he’d try to run her over.”

I punched him in the face again.

“That was all real? I thought it was a misunderstanding, like the video, and the recording, and stuff.” She frowned. “Still, he’s well off, of course she would want money.”

“Shut up before I make you,” Tegan snapped. “Gwen’s better than you’ll ever be.”

“Hey, leave her alone,” Austin yelled.

“Why? You cheated on Gwen with her,” Clark snarled.

“It’s not cheating, she’s my promised omega,” he retorted, unflinching.

Jonas made a face. “That is not a thing.”

“Your omega, that your girlfriend, who you were with for five years and said you’d mate, didn’t know about. Now, where’s your father or grandfather?” I growled, punching him in the gut, so he groaned. “What are they doing with her?”

The omega whimpered at all the alpha anger. But she didn’t move.

“I don’t know. I don’t know or care where they are. I hate them. That’s why I live with Ris. You know they set me up to fail with the Aces?” Austin asked, pain on his face. “I never had a chance to get a contract on my own.”

“You selfish prick.” Clark clocked him in the jaw. Hard. “You set Gwen up to fail. Kept her from the draft, from getting an agent. You strung her along for five years. Used her. Lied to her. Made her think you were on your way to a happy life. Then you put her in the hospital when you no longer needed her. You left owing her money, and you sabotaged her. You fucking failed her as an alpha.”

Austin turned, blood running from his face. “She lied to me, too. But I know who she is now and I sort of understand. I probably would, too, with a family like hers. Like I told her, I wanted to be with her, but we failed, so I couldn’t. I’m happy to be with Ris, she’s great. No, she and Gwen wouldn’t get along, because inevitably Gwen would have a snake in the shower or be watching TV with a baby tiger, or any number of Gwen-things. Ris also hates cheese.”

Again, he didn’t seem contrite enough. Ris looked completely baffled. Jonas and Carlos came back.

That? That was why he couldn’t just form a pack with Gwen and the omega?

“We didn’t find anything,” Jonas said. “We’re also having the security footage deleted. Hey, so Charlie traced the airplane's shell company to the Deloittes. But we don’t know where it’s fucking going.”

“Where’s the plane going, Austin?” Clark’s face flushed with anger. “I love her and I’m not going to be like you and leave her to rot. Ris, do you know Gwen was kidnapped before and he didn’t go after her? It was weeks before she was found.”

“I… I went to the police. I made fliers. What was I supposed to do? Go find her myself?” The color drained out of his face.

“Yes.” I punched him again. “Or call your family and get help?”

His look said it all.

I punched him again. “If you didn’t care enough to rescue her, why did you even stay with her?”

“ This is the fucknugget Buttons was with for all those years? He’s not even that cute.” A guy I didn’t know, but had Gwen’s cheekbones and hair, stood there in a black suit with an enormous gun. He was almost as pretty as her.

“Yeah, total coward. Didn’t even call Daddy to find her when she was missing last time. But thanks for the flyers, asshat. That’s how I knew she’d been taken.” Lenny stood there, in all black, with a handgun. “Not good enough to play hockey on his own, either.”

“Hey. He’s good at hockey.” Ris took a step forward. “And pretty, though he’s prettier without the beard.”

“I like my beard.” Austin struggled under Clark’s grasp. “Look, I don’t know where they took her–and it wasn’t my idea. Though my team is going to hurt with the PHL making them suspend all three of us.”

“Why should you get off without being punished? Lenny, you’re here!” Clark brightened, grip still strong.

“Yep. Now, if you’re done, we have places to be,” Lenny told us. “Luca, lay down the law.”

Well, at least someone got the message.

Luca got out his giant gun and pressed it to Austin’s temple. “We were never here. Call the police and you’ll regret it. Anything happens to Buttons and we’re coming for you. Hard. It will be far worse than your stock tanking and your wedding dress being canceled, or you being suspended. You should die for hurting her, but she asked us not to. Still, you do one thing out of line and I won’t hesitate to end you. There are plenty of ways to make it look like an accident.”

Ris made a strangled noise.

Austin winced. “What are you talking about? You’re petty thugs. I have nothing to fear from you. Also, you’re supposed to be in jail? I'm guessing you’re her brother and her dad?”

Lenny punched Austin in the stomach. “I’m not her fucking dad and you should be glad they’re not here. Petty thugs? You clearly have no idea who you’ve fucked with.”

“You’re about to find out.” Luca took up some rope, and he and Lenny tied them up. Tegan had disappeared.

“I disabled their cellphones,” Tegan replied as she and Dimitri returned. “Jonas already has the footage taken care of.”

“I disabled the alarm,” Dimitri said from the door.

“Let’s go.” Lenny started toward the door. “It’s loose, you’ll be able to untie yourself, eventually. Oh, and we already disabled your car transmissions.”

We all followed. Clark stopped and turned. “Ris, run. He will always choose his family over you, and he won’t protect you from them.”

Ris scowled. “He loves me.”

“He said that to Gwen, too. Loving someone and protecting them are two different things. Also, he hurt her. What’s to say one time he won’t get drunk and mad and hurt you, too. Get out while you can.” Brows furrowed, Clark turned and put his arm around me. “Come on, Tens. Let’s get our girl.”

We left the house; the car was gone, but there was another bigger one.

“We sent your car away. Pile in. We might not have enough guns,” Lenny said, getting in the driver’s seat. “Wasn’t expecting a party.”

“I don’t know how to use a gun.” Carlos got in the back, next to Tegan. “Hey not-Papi and whoever this guy is.”

“I know how to use a gun, so do Dimitri and Tegan.” Jonas got in next to Carlos. “Bucket, can you use a gun?”

“Not well. Cooter tried to teach me how to hunt, but I like fishing better.” I got in the back.

“I can use a hunting rifle.” Clark got in next to me.

“I have mine with me,” Tegan said. “But I’ll take something bigger if you have it. LeeAnn didn’t let me bring my usual. She was like, oh, it’s a Christmas Party, Tegan, nothing’s going to happen . Um hmm, sure, LeeAnn.”

Dimitri got in. “I like big guns. I just have a small one on me. Hello, Leonard.”

“Hello, Belikov, Buttons’ hockey players, Buttons’ fearless friends.” Lenny took off, driving very fast.

“You have a gun?” Carlos blinked.

He nodded. “I have a permit.”

“They’re going to beat us, so we’re taking a helicopter right to the drop site. I have no fucking idea what’s going on, other than Deloitte is handing her off to someone,” Lenny told us as we sped away.

“Fuck no.” Anger made me go rigid.

“He’s not giving her to Franny, right? Lucius’ sister?” Clark’s look became pained.

“I don’t know.” Lenny frowned. “She’s as unhinged as him, just hides it better.”

“At least you came. Thank you. I… I got worried when no one answered. Why have someone on her, if you’re not finding her?” Clark added.

“We’ll find her. It’s nice that she has so many interesting friends,” Lenny replied.

“Was Buttons telling people we were in jail?” Luca replied. “Also, which ones are hers?”

“No. Just that you’re assholes. The big one and the one next to him–Clark and Bucket,” Lenny replied. “Also, if anyone is new here, I’m Lenny, your tour guide for this journey, my assistant here is Luca, one of Buttons’ brothers.”

“Tenzin, my name is Tenzin,” I replied. “Gwen’s family calls her Buttons. Which brother are you? I don’t remember her mentioning a Luca.”

Luca shrugged. “I have little in common with Buttons. Doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

“Oh, you gave her your favorite hockey card, it’s on our wall,” Clark replied.

“Who are you people?” Tegan’s eyebrows rose. “Ladybug has a family? I thought she was just dropped off by a flamingo at a hockey rink.”

Lenny guffawed. “Pretty much.”

“I’m a lawyer, he’s an art authenticator,” Luca said. “Mateo and the dads are meeting us there. We’re closer, which is why we’re getting your asses.”

“Which I appreciate,” I told him. “Though we would have figured it out.”

Mateo. That would be Matty?

“Why are you not tracking her? Don’t you have a tracker in that awful bone necklace she wears.” Lenny was speeding.

I shook my head. “Sadly, Cooter didn’t think that far ahead.” I’d asked him.

“How are you tracking her?” Clark frowned. “Oh, the necklace Matty gave her? But she doesn’t wear it much.”

“Not telling. No, we didn’t inject her with a tracker,” Lenny replied.

That seemed like a good idea.

Tegan frowned. “I have no idea if she was wearing the bracelet or not. But it doesn’t track, it just sends a location each time it’s pressed.”

My head tilted. “Bracelet?”

“Something we got at the favorite thing party. I gave mine away. Gwen liked it, because you can record people being assholes.” Tegan shrugged.

“Which is absolutely a Gwen thing,” Carlos replied.

Clark nodded. “She used it at the ballet to record her sister being a bitch.”

“Don’t let this fuck with your head, Bucket,” Lenny added. “You’re going to want to keep her in a box after this. Don’t. If you do, you’ll lose her like her dads did. You’ll have to let her keep her independence, even if it makes you crazy. That’s a you problem. So figure out your shit and how to keep her safe, while letting her live her life, especially if she ends up getting signed. If she feels like she can’t say yes to a contract, because you’re a possessive dumbfuck, I’ll end your ass after she’s done chewing it up.”

I growled a little. He expected me to just let her go off after this? No way. What if someone hurt her again? If I could see her, no one could get her.

“He’s right, Tens.” Clark’s voice brought me back to reality. “We’ll lose her if we suffocate her. We’ll figure it out. Maybe we will put a tracker in her necklace, with her consent. She’s reasonable. We just have to communicate.”

“I know.” I sighed. “This is why you have someone watching her? It’s you, right? You or Matty?” I pushed back all the thoughts that wanted to keep her by my side. They were right. I might not like it, but it was my problem to solve. Gwen being kept away from her life by overprotective alphas would not go well.

Lenny shook his head. “It’s the dads. Though I found them ages ago and confirmed it was them and not Lucius’ family or some other dumbfuck. Gwen doesn’t realize that she’s a tasty little target.”

“How does it even work? Like, did someone get a report that she was living in a fucking closet and just didn’t care?” Clark frowned again.

That raised a good question.

“My sister chose poverty,” Luca replied. “I read the very eloquent note she left.”

“She didn’t feel like she had a choice. She wanted to live her life without strings and expectations,” I retorted.

“Gwen also values self-sufficiency and isn’t afraid of hard work,” Clark added. “She’d rather figure things out herself, earn her own way.”

Luca nodded. “Which I can respect. She’s always been that way. There’s nothing wrong with hard work, though sometimes she makes things overly hard on herself.”

“True.” Like not wanting to take help when she needed it.

Carlos nodded. “Mariquita left a fuck off I don’t need your money note . Got it. Very her. She’s the hardest working person I know.”

“It says a lot that she’d rather live in a closet than ask you for help.” Jonas’ look was pointed.

Dimitri nodded. “She is stubborn. Proud.”

Lenny sighed again. “It’s complicated. I tried to help as much as she’d let me, while not being intrusive.”

“Well, I’m just glad she has her Mario D’Angelo card back,” Luca grumbled. “I can’t believe she sold it. It’s important. I only just found out today about the security detail. It’s a significant overstep, considering she wanted to be left alone.”

“Which was why she wasn’t told.” Lenny gave him a look as he drove.

“It’s still disrespectful of her wishes,” he retorted. “You always disrespect her wishes, then wonder why she tells everyone to fuck off.”

“Do we know who the Deloittes are giving her to and why? The uncle in jail? The family of Officer Jones, who blames her for his death? Someone we’re not considering?” I pressed.

“They don’t think it’s Uncle. But they’re checking. Someone’s watching Franny, too. Officer Jones’ family was well taken care of, so I don’t see why they’d do anything. I’m guessing the Deloittes want her out of the way.” Luca checked his phone.

I could see a sibling or bestie, or whoever he’d been dating, blaming Gwen and eventually coming after her. Though I’d read a lot of true crime books.

The car came to a screeching halt in front of a field with a fucking helicopter on it.

Lenny was already out the door, opening the back, where there was a duffle of guns, which he hoisted over his shoulder.

“Let’s get Gwen back,” I told everyone. We’d get her back and then I’d show her how much we loved her, repeatedly.