Page 61 of Tone Deaf
He is wearing dark gray camo, unlike the two guys I saw moments before.
I step back, ready to run when he pulls out a gun and smiles at me. “Don’t move, Callum, or I’ll put a bullet in the back of your head.”
I freeze in place, believing what this guy promises. “Who are you?” I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
“Don’t you know?” His evil smile widens, which has me inwardly quaking, but I try to keep my outward composure as I shake my head no.
“I’m Rick Morrison. Dom’s ex-partner from our U.S. Marshal days. What? You haven’t heard about me?”
“No, he didn’t ever mention you.”
Rick walks over to me and I have the completely useless thought that his grin mimics the Joker onBatman. Cold and emotionless eyes are fixed on me. As I stand there, unable to move or breathe as he walks toward me, another useless thought flies through my brain.I really need Pen to give me that self-defense training.He presses the end of the gun’s barrel to my forehead. “Okay. Maybe you remember this. Tell your father to stay out of my business.”
I gasp. “You.”
“Yes, me.” He chuckles.
“Why?” I attempt to hold back my tears, but my vision blurs and Rick’s face distorts before me. “Brian has nothing to do with this, with me.”
“Well, that’s not quite true. But I’m doing you a favor—you know, like a two for one.” He shrugs like we’re talking about a fucking grocery list.
“Then why me?” I realize it’s a stupid question when the puzzle pieces finally begin to slot into place. Dom.
“I’ll fill you in when we get on the road.” He jabs the gun harder to my skull. “Now move.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, as I turn around and face the kitchen area. My brain is scrambling to find a way to escape this crazy bastard. My eyes land on the plates and cast iron frying pan I left on the island, and I realize they are within my reach As I lunge for the frying pan, Rick slams the butt of the gun to my temple and pain rips through my skull. Then everything goes black.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pen
“Where the fuck is he?” I shout, looking past the gate and down the road.
“He was just here. Jordan was standing right there on the other side of the gate. He must have gotten a call, because I saw him bring his phone to his ear, but he only talked for a few seconds. Then he got into his car and took off,” Fig explains.
“This doesn’t make… Fuck.”It’s a ruse.“Callum,” I cry out, before jumping into the SUV, along with Fig, and haul ass back to the house. The second I see the men I left to protect Callum lay motionless on the ground, my chest feels like it’s been ripped open and I know Callum’s in trouble.
I stride inside the house, praying that my gut is wrong, and that he’s safe. But the moment my eyes land on the broken plates, the frying pan laying on the floor of the kitchen and the back slider doors are wide open, someone took Callum.
“Pen,” Fig calls me over and points to a piece of notebook paper on the island. “The bastard left us a message.”
Without touching it, I read the words out loud. “Want him alive? Tell Dominic Rossetti to come alone to where all this began.”
“Jordan was out by the gate—I saw him. So he has to be working with someone.” Fig turns from scanning the room to look directly at me. “Do you know what this motherfucker’s talking about?” Fig asks, his face a mask of fury as he points to the note.
“I don’t, but Dom will.”
“Then call Dom, and I’ll conference in Tobias and Dean and let them know about Callum.” Fig storms outside while I pull out my phone and dial Dom’s number, calling him on FaceTime. As much as I’m angry at the asshole, I need to see his face.
“Hey, I’m heading to San Francisco. What’s your ETA?” he asks cautiously. His eyes are tired and old Pen would try to soothe him, but I don’t have the time or the inclination for niceties.
“Someone took Callum,” I reply bluntly.
“What? Who?”
“I don’t fucking know. They left a note.Want him alive? Tell Dominic Rossetti to come alone to where all this began.”
“Son of a bitch,” Dom hisses.