Page 31 of Stone Cold Bad (Stone Brothers #1)

TWENTY-SIX

JADE

A my and I sat feeling utterly helpless and distraught.

I knew Ray was ruthless, but I wasn’t sure if he was capable of cold blooded murder.

That last night on the dock, when he’d grabbed my throat, it seemed that he would have killed me if I hadn’t kicked him.

But that had been provoked by passion and rage.

This was different. He didn’t even know Colt.

Amy’s phone buzzed. She read the text. “Slade and Hunter have a lead on the boat. Someone recognized it as a boat that is always moored off a private dock on Lander’s Beach.”

“That’s Ray’s beach house. It must have been his ski boat. I know the address of the beach house if that will help.”

Amy texted them back and sent them the address. She got up from the table. “I’ve got to take a pee. Remember, don’t open for anyone. Even if Charlie friggin’ Hunnam shows up on his Harley with his hot little white sneakers, don’t open the damn door.”

I smiled. “That’s asking a lot, but I’ll ignore him.” She was just about out of the kitchen. “Amy, thanks for staying here with me.”

“Of course.” She headed toward the bathroom.

I still wasn’t used to the sound of my phone, and it startled me at first. I picked it up.

My heart nearly leapt into my throat. It was a text from Colt.

“Lover boy is going to be awhile because my guys are beating the shit out of him.” My hands shook as I stared in disbelief at the screen.

It beeped again. It took me a few seconds to work up the courage to look at the picture.

A sob bubbled from my mouth, and I stifled the next one with my hand.

A man with massive arms was throwing his fist into Colt’s face.

Colt’s shirt and face were covered in blood, and his hands were tied up above his head.

My fingers shook so badly, it was nearly impossible to touch the keypad.

I dialed Colt’s phone. It only took one ring.

The sound of Ray’s voice made a bitter taste rise in my throat.

“Hello, sweetheart, I figured you’d be calling soon.

Your sparkling new lover ain’t looking so hot anymore.

Boys, throw that water at him. I want him conscious. ”

“You monster, I’ll see that you go to jail for life,” I cried.

Amy came into the kitchen with a questioning look on her face.

I nodded. Tears clouded my vision, and I took a long steadying breath.

I heard water splashing and a groan of pain that I knew came from Colt.

I bit my lip to keep from breaking into sobs. “What do you want? I’ll do anything.”

“See, now that’s cooperation. All I want is you to come back to me, and I’ll let Stone go. I’ll text you the location. I’ve got men all around the lot, so if you show up with anyone else or if there’s anyone following you, then he dies. Simple as that.”

“Send me the address. I’m coming right now.” I took a deep breath. “And don’t touch him anymore, you bastard!”

Amy sat down. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “What’s happening? Is Colt all right?”

I handed her the phone. She stared at the picture and despair turned to anger. “I’m sending this to Hunter. He’s going to tear that man to pieces.”

I took the phone from her. “No, you can’t. I have to show up alone or he’ll kill Colt.” I pressed my hand against my stomach to keep from throwing up. Just thinking about the picture and the idea that Colt might die because of me made me sick with anguish. “I need to borrow your car, Amy.”

“Yes, sure, but I’m coming with you.”

“You can’t. Slade and Hunter can’t show up either, or they’ll kill him. I have no doubt Ray will make good on his threat. I brought this on. I’m just going to head back to Ray. I’ll figure a way to get free of him eventually, but for now, all I care about is freeing Colt.”

“I don’t know, Jade. Maybe I could hide in the backseat.”

“Then you’d be at risk too. Please, Amy, just lend me the car.”

She pulled out her keys and handed them to me. “Colt is going to kill me for letting you go alone.”

“I’ll be fine. But I need to get there fast. Colt looks really bad.” Another cry shook me.

Amy gave me a quick hug. “Be careful.”

I raced outside. Amy watched from the porch as I started her car and took off down the unpaved road.

Ray had texted the address right after I hung up with him.

I knew the building. He’d purchased it six months earlier as an investment, but it had been a real estate deal gone bad.

And he’d been plenty pissed about it too.

Now, it seemed, he’d found a sinister use for the empty warehouse.

A twenty minute drive felt like an hour. My hands were trembling, and I still felt close to puking. I had to pull myself together. I needed to be the negotiator and actress. I had to convince Ray that I was willing to be back with him as long as I saw Colt released.

The parking lot had decayed even more. Tall weeds stuck out between the large fissures in the broken mosaic of asphalt.

I turned into the deserted lot and drove to the back toward the empty warehouse.

Ray’s Mercedes and a white van were parked outside the building.

Two of his men, guys I didn’t recognize, were standing like sentries outside.

They both kept a hand on the guns in their shoulder holsters as I stepped out of the car.

I held up my hands. “I’m alone.”

One of them opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

A small cry chirped from my lips as I caught sight of Colt standing in the center of the vast, empty room.

His face was a mixture of pale white, black bruises and red blood.

He had a hard time focusing as he lifted his head. I couldn’t stop myself.

I ran past Ray and the sadistic assholes who had been beating him and threw my arms around him. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.” They’d soaked him with cold water, and his strong body was shivering in my embrace.

“Damnit, baby, why’d you come? You should have stayed away.”

I peered up. He was looking down at me through swollen lids. His lip was split open and a red stream of blood trickled from the gash and ran down his chin to his neck and shirt.

“This is very fucking touching,” Ray sneered from behind me. I hadn’t looked at his face yet, and I had to brace myself to do it. I turned to him.

His dark eyes flickered with the same hatred I was feeling. “Not sure how I feel about the new hair color, but I guess we can change that back now that you’re out of hiding.”

“Release him right now, and we can go home. I’ll do anything you ask, but let him go.”

I turned back to Colt. “I have Amy’s car. Can you drive?”

“Not leaving without you.”

“Yes, you have to.” I hugged him again. “I’ll get away from him again,” I whispered.

I looked up at his bloodied and bruised face.

“I need someone to run to once I get free.” My throat tightened as I said the words.

The truth was I didn’t think I’d ever be free of Ray.

He would kill me first. I was certain of it.

“Let’s be on our way then, Jade,” Ray said.

“I want to see him freed first.”

“Cut him down.”

One of the men reached up with a sharp blade and cut through the rope. Colt collapsed. I caught him but my legs buckled under his weight. Two of the men grabbed his arms to prop him upright.

“Don’t do this, Jade.” Colt’s voice was low and gritty.

I pressed my hand gently against his face. Blood covered my palm as I kissed the side of his mouth that wasn’t cut. I stuck the car keys in his pocket. “I will find a way back to you,” I said quietly.

“No need,” Colt grunted. “I’m coming for you, so you wait. Do you understand, baby? You fucking wait for me.”

Ray walked over and wrenched my arm painfully.

Colt’s face reddened with anger. “I’m going to kill you, motherfucker. You’re a fucking dead man.”

Ray laughed. It was a sound that had always made me cringe. He dragged me toward the door. I stumbled reluctantly behind him. “What about him? I want to see him get in the car.”

Ray’s sharp whistle made me jump. “Bring the piece of garbage out to the parking lot.”

I glanced back. They held Colt up and made their way to the door. Ray’s fingers cut off the circulation in my arm like a tourniquet as he yanked me along to his car. I craned my neck to see what was happening with Colt.

They walked toward Amy’s car. Ray opened the door on the Mercedes and shoved me into the front seat.

I kept my face glued to the window. Colt’s green gaze caught mine, and we stared at each other long and hard.

The men were still holding him next to Amy’s car when Ray climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the engine.

“Why aren’t they letting him get in the car?” I asked frantically.

Ray didn’t answer. He circled the Mercedes around. The men pulled Colt back toward the white van.

“No!” I screamed. I grabbed the door handle, and it flew open as the car circled around. Ray grabbed my arm so hard, sharp pain shot up to my shoulder. He pulled me roughly into the seat and turned the wheel sharply so that the door slammed shut again.

“You were supposed to let him go!” I screamed.

Ray laughed. “Gullible little bitch.”

I threw a fist at his head. The car swerved into a trash bin, putting a gash in the side of his precious Mercedes. He returned the favor. His big, heavy hand came across and backhanded me so hard, I blacked out.