Page 48 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

“Let’s go get your girl,” said Chase.

The team followed him into the hidden room off Chase’s office. Weapons of all kinds were arranged on the wall, along with bulletproof vests, radios, and tactical gear. After suiting up, they piled into the trucks.

Finn’s heart thundered. Was she still in the warehouse, or had they moved her already? Would they get there in time? Maybe she was never there and someplace else? He couldn’t go there. Couldn’t think about what might be happening to her.

They already lost an hour tracking down camera feeds and chasing leads from Tex on the syndicate.

They had to move fast. Before it was too late. His son was counting on him.

“Richard.”

Lainey’s gut twisted. The man who screwed her over in Atlanta and threatened her mother and son—her onetime ex- boyfriend—stood before her, smug as ever. She shifted in the chair, the ropes digging into her skin.

He was still obsessed with appearances—always a sharp dresser.

Image was important, you know. Today, strolling closer to the chair she was now tied to, he had his shirt sleeves rolled up and wore linen slacks and polished wing tips, looking totally relaxed like he was in a board meeting instead of in a filthy building holding her hostage.

“Lainey, Lainey, Lainey,” he said with a dramatic sigh. “I gave you so many chances to walk away from that project. But you were always too stubborn to read the room.”

“I worked my ass off for that project. It’s mine,” she snapped. “You already screwed me once. Why can’t you leave me the hell alone?”

Richard cocked his head and raised his brows. “I had no idea you were the project manager. That little twist came later. You can imagine my surprise when I found out. But I’m all about solutions.”

“What do you want?” she hissed, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.

He stepped closer. “You know what I want. I want you to sign the project over. Or resign. You walk away, and you and your family stay untouched.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

He gave her a slick smile and shrugged. “Probably. But I’m also in control.”

His phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, glanced at the screen, and frowned. “Stay here. I have to make nice with my investors.”

She didn’t bother replying. Her mind raced. One thing was certain, she wasn’t handing over that project. Not to him. Not to anyone. Because the minute she did, she was dead whether she turned it over or not. The bastard would just have to work harder for it.

He paused at the door and turned. “Oh, if you’re thinking about holding out on me, Travis here knows what to do to soften you up.” He glanced at Travis. “Not too much now, just enough to make her see reason.”

“That wasn’t part of the deal,” Travis said. “You said scare her off, not hurt her.”

“That’s what you signed up for. Do your job.” Then Richard turned and left.

Lainey’s blood turned to ice. She didn’t move.

Couldn’t move even if she wanted to. Her breath caught.

Oh, sweet Jesus. She pictured Luke’s crooked smile.

She thought about Finn and how fortunate it was he came into their lives.

How he would keep Luke safe. Finn would come for her, she was sure of that. But would he be in time?

The truck was silent as Finn raced through the outskirts of Haywood Lake. The warehouse was in a loading facility that had long been abandoned.

Finn gripped the wheel tighter, scanning every building, every alley. Dex had narrowed it down to a three-block radius, but this part of Haywood Lake was a maze of abandoned buildings and forgotten signs. Every second they lost was a second Lainey could be slipping further out of their reach.

“Should be close,” Dex said, flipping through notes on his laptop.

Finn gave a tight nod.

Every second felt like an hour. Fear crawled deeper under his skin.

He pulled to a stop half a block away from several warehouses with boarded windows. Chase, Caleb, and Titus rolled up behind him.

“It’s one of these buildings,” Dex said quietly.

Finn stepped out of the truck, met the other men, who were already checking weapons. “Let’s move.”

Lainey was close. He had to believe that. Because anything else wasn’t an option.

Chase stepped up beside him. “We sweep together. We get her and get out fast.”

They all nodded.

Then, as a group, they moved silently toward the first building.

Lainey twisted her body to look at Travis. He stood ten feet away, pacing. Avoiding her. Silent.

But then he stopped and stared at her like he was at a crossroads and knew all roads led to hell.

She held his gaze. Didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. She kept her voice low and steady. “Travis, do the right thing. You don’t have to go down with him.”

He stood there, silent and still.

She tilted her head. “This isn’t what you signed up for, is it?”

His jaw clenched. “Keep your mouth shut.”

“Can’t,” she replied. “You don’t want to hurt me. I can see it.”

He turned away, scrubbing a hand over his face. “You don’t know shit. I’m already in too deep.”

“No, you’re not,” she said. “But if something happens to me, you’ll never get out. You think Richard’s gonna protect you? He’s using you. You’re disposable.”

Travis swallowed hard.

“He doesn’t care about you,” Lainey said. “But I will remember. If you untie me and let me go, I’ll tell them you weren’t the one.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can. Because I have a son that I need to get back to. Please help me do that. You’ll get a chance to walk away.”

“You don’t get it,” Travis snapped. “Once you’re in with people like this, you don’t get to walk away. Just ask my friend Dean.” He gave a broken laugh. “If you can find him.”

Lainey’s heart dropped.

Then he moved. He crossed the space between them, dropped to one knee. His hands were shaking as he fumbled with the knot behind her back.

She held her breath. Didn’t dare to move, to speak. Didn’t dare to hope.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “I should’ve run when…”

A crack splintered the air.

Travis jerked once, slamming into the back of her chair before collapsing behind her.

Lainey screamed.

Richard lowered the small pistol. “God, good help is so hard to find. I told him not to get sentimental.”

He tucked the pistol behind his back and stepped closer. Then slapped her hard across the face.

“I really hoped this wouldn’t get messy.” He put his hands up like she was the problem. “But there you go.”

He stepped back, eyes gleaming. “I have a couple of friends coming over to talk to you. Hopefully, you’ll be more compliant.” He grinned. “They’re not as nice as I am.”

Lainey worked the ties around her wrists. Travis has loosened them enough. Not enough to escape easily but maybe enough to give her a chance. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure Richard would hear it.

“You’re a bas—” Her voice caught. “You’re a…”

Richard stepped closer.

But the ties gave way.

Come on, you bastard. One step closer.

She didn’t know what she would do, only that she had to do something.

Footsteps echoed outside. Faint. Fast.

Richard didn’t notice.

He crouched in front of her. His eyes were cold and dead. Like Atlanta all over again, only worse. “You’re not walking out of this. Sign the papers while you still have fingers.”

Her fingers slipped the last of the knot loose.

She spat in his face.

Richard reeled back. He raised a hand to strike her.

And outside someone shouted, “Breach!”

Finn and the guys had just finished casing one building when the sound of a gunshot ripped through the air.

They froze for a second, then sprinted toward the source, two buildings down.

“Breach!” Chase shouted.

They hit the door hard.

Richard scrambled to his feet, a gun in his hand.

“Put it down, Cummings,” Finn barked. “Or you’ll have so many holes in your body someone will mistake you for a damn colander.”

Richard blinked, startled. His gaze flicked to the team moving behind Finn. He slowly dropped the gun and raised his hands.

“I surrender.”

Finn didn’t hesitate. He crossed the room in seconds and dropped to his knees beside Lainey. She was half out of the chair, rope still tangled around one wrist, her skin raw and bleeding.

God. Her face. One eye swollen. A bruise on her cheek.

“You’re safe,” he said softly. “I’ve got you.”

Lainey looked up at him, eyes full of pain and relief, and then she collapsed into his arms.

He caught her, held her tight to his chest, and rose to his feet. He didn’t look back at Richard. Didn’t have to. The sharp oof told him everything. His team had it covered.

Police sirens wailed in the distance. Chase had given Liam a heads-up before they left. The sheriff’s office could take care of the bastard.

Finn promised his son that he’d bring his mother back.

And Finn Ryder always kept his promises.