Page 21 of Up in a Blaze (Polished P & P #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY

BLAZE

MOMENTS BEFORE

T he men from the van walked off the ship and headed to their car. My body fucking hummed with adrenaline. I was ready to see their lives drain from their eyes.

They’d taken Henri.

They’d harmed him.

They would pay.

“Country,” I clipped.

He nodded. “Now,” he snarled. We rushed forward but didn’t start shooting until one saw us and yelled to the others.

Drones flew over our heads that Tech manned. They soared toward the ship, and I heard them fire off their own shots from the gun we’d connected.

I beelined for the van. The men were trying to rush to get in it. Torch threw a blade, and it landed in the leg of one of them. The guy’s gun skidded away when he dropped it to hold his leg.

Fuckin’ fool.

Aiming, I shot one of them in the arm, who’d been about to take out Death. Then I placed all my attention on the man I’d originally been headed for since he was the motherfucker who’d kicked at Henri.

He fumbled for his gun, but it was too late. Once I was close, I picked him up and threw him against the side of the van. I pressed my forearm to his throat and gun to his forehead.

“Was it you who marked Henri?”

He gargled, turning red.

“Brother, he can’t answer if you crush his throat,” Loyal said with an impatient edge to his voice.

“Go help the others,” I bit out.

“Torch has that handled. He’s gone loco. So, I’m good here. But you might wanna let him breathe if you want answers. And make it fast so we can get to Henri and Sawyer.”

Fuckin’ hell.

“Henri and Sawyer are waitin’,” Loyal added.

I let the cunt breathe, crowding him with just the gun to his forehead.

“Did you punch Henri?”

He coughed. “Who’s that?”

“The French man,” Loyal supplied.

The guy’s upper lip rose. “That faggot deserved?—”

BANG.

I blew the cunt’s brains out and let him drop to the ground.

Loyal grinned. “Let’s fuckin’ go.” He turned and shot a guy in the back of the head as he tried to crawl away.

Moving on, Loyal and I dealt with the traffickers who were trying to escape as we climbed aboard to where the brothers were.

No one would be left alive to tell the Murphy brothers anything.

Close by, Torch let out a hoot when he saw a flamethrower.

“No. Shit will blow up,” I warned.

The guy pouted and then grinned when another crew member got too close, eager to deal with him. But all that ran through my mind was Henri’s whereabouts.

I need to get to him.

Quake caught my attention when he yelled in the face of his opponent and wrapped his hands around the guy’s neck. He took him to the ground, choking the hell out of him. But his back was free, and another guy was creeping up on him.

I stalked forward, bringing my gun up.

But stopped.

My eyes shot wide when a little slip of a thing flung herself at this guy and took him to the ground. She hit him in the side of the head with her gun, knocking him unconscious.

When she bounced up, I wasn’t the only one staring at her.

The ship had gone quiet. There was no one else rushing forward or trying to escape.

The woman waved. “Hey, hi, hello, hot biker guys. I’m Romania.

But call me Rommy. You might be here to save me?

I have the others who were kidnapped in the back.

” She shot finger guns at Quake. “Dude, you need to remember to watch your back.” Then she pointed at me as I slipped my gun into the waistband of my jeans.

“You’ve got to be Henri’s beau. Come on.

I can tell you need to see him.” She tipped her head back.

“This way. Wait, does my dad know I’m okay? ”

Tech stepped forward. “I’ve just messaged them. They know we’ve got the ship under control.”

“Thanks heaps.” She waved me over. “Come on. You’re barely hanging on. Your Henri is this way.”

Quietly, I followed her, hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. I didn’t hear anything she said after that. There was nothing but a ringing in my ears.

I had to get my eyes on him. I had to make sure he was okay.

Him and the kid.

When I stepped into the area, I drank him in.

Head, shoulders, chest, waist, hips, legs, feet, and then back up. I paused on his cheek, where that cunt had hit him. I wanted to take that guy’s life over again but slowly.

“Here. Now,” I ordered.

He smiled and raced toward me. As soon as I had him in my arms, I drew him in.

This was where he was supposed to be. He was mine and mine alone to touch.

Christ, his scent was like a drug, and I needed to fill my lungs full of him.

His words seeped in and warmed me in the only way his could.

The cold evaporated.

I had him in my arms.

He was here.

He was safe.

When he pulled my head back using my hair, I allowed it, needing to drink in the sight of his face but only to have the anger surface when I saw the bruise forming.

He wanted us home and Sawyer back with his brother. I’d do anything for him. When I looked to the kid, he was frozen on the spot even while his body shook.

Holding out my hand, I grunted. “Kid.” My chest warmed even more when he rushed over to take my hand.

I’d get them home.

The woman rambled on and on about something as we followed her. And after we hung about while she said goodbye to the friends she’d made in that container, she ended up climbing into the same car as me, Henri, Sawyer. Up front was her and Country, who handed her a phone.

Some brothers stayed back to make sure things got clean and sorted. Officer Jones was taking care of the other victims, but Country had promised Dodge that we’d look after Romania until they landed in America. They were set to fly out in the morning.

Henri curled into me, and I kissed the top of his head. Sawyer sat on my other side with his hand still clasped in mine. It was my silent offer of support, which I could tell he needed.

A car drove toward us and skidded to a stop. Gun and Adrick stared at us through the windshield.

“Do we need to worry about these people?” Rommy asked, tensing.

A curly head of hair jumped out of the back.

“What the fuck?” we heard roared, and then Wreck was stomping his way toward his husband.

“Oh, they came.” Henri kissed my jaw. “Mon amour, I will be back in a second.” He was out of the car before I could say or do anything. I was going to have to strap my firecracker to me from now on.

He went over and hugged Lucas before Wreck got there. Then he hugged West and Gun and patted Adrick on the arm.

“Henri,” I barked out the window.

“Everyone reminds me of home. There’s so much love and caring going on it makes me teary. Shit, I better call Dad.”

Henri waved goodbye and ran back to the car. When he climbed in, I let go of Sawyer’s hand to reach around Henri to do his belt up.

“Stay here,” I clipped, staring down at him.

He cupped my cheek and kissed me. “Sorry, I will. I’m right here, mon amour.”

Grunting, I sat back and took Sawyer’s hand again. I could feel the kid’s gaze on me, but I didn’t look at him. Though, Henri leaned forward to see Sawyer and smiled.

“I told you we would have you home today, chéri. It just may be a little later than we thought. Will Arlo be okay?”

Sawyer nodded. “Yeah, um. If I don’t show at his school, he knows to walk home and go to our neighbor’s.”

“Very good.” He reached over and patted Sawyer’s leg. “We will get things sorted.”

Sawyer nodded, and just as Rommy put the phone to her ear, the kid slowly rested his head against my shoulder.

I had a feeling Henri had gotten through to him somehow.

“Dad!” Rommy yelled as Country started driving.

“I’m okay. I promise. … They didn’t hurt me.

I swear. … All right, I could use something to drink, some food, and a shower.

I’m gonna stink everyone out in the car.

… No, I’m telling the complete truth. I’m fine, Dad.

They had to keep us well for the buyers.

… Relax, it’s not happening now is it. …

I know. I love you too. … Yes, I’ll make sure they take care of me.

They seem really nice, Dad. … Of course I kicked ass.

I wasn’t gonna sit back and let everyone else have fun.

… Okay, I won’t call kicking ass fun. … Yeah, I know you worry.

… Hey, Mum. How’s Dad really been? … I know you can hear me, old man, but Mum won’t sugarcoat it.

… Yes, Mum. I promise I’m okay. … I’ll make sure they feed me right away.

… Love you too, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

” She hung up and sat back, suddenly looking tired.

“You good, kid?” Country asked.

“Yeah. Can we please grab some tucker on the way?”

“Tucker?”

She rolled her head his way and grinned. “Sorry, I mean food. Hey, I like all your tattoos. There’s so many. Are they all over?”

“Pretty much, and yeah, we’ll hit a drive-through. Dusty, my old lady, will have more food at the compound too.”

She moaned. “Sounds good.”

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Country asked. He pulled to the other lane when he spotted a burger joint.

“That was only a little of what I know. Dad made sure I was trained in all types of martial arts. With weapons and hand-to-hand. Good thing really.” She straightened. “My mouth is already watering. I’ll eat anything, so you just order for me.”

I glanced down to Henri, who was leaning into me with his head back, mouth slightly open and breathing heavily. Sound asleep. At my other side, Sawyer was the same—both tired and drained from what they’d been through. I was just glad even Sawyer was relaxed enough to sleep around us.

When Country asked me if I wanted anything, I shook my head. I wouldn’t risk waking them, and if they wanted something later, I’d make sure they got it.