Page 17

Talon

“I think she will love it,” Jude says with a smile.

“You think so? Is it not too flashy? She’s not the flashy type,” I question as I look at the ring that I have picked out for Delaney. We have been married for four months now, and I think it’s time we made this real. So much has happened, and I have yet to take the time to slow down and show her just how much she means to me. To all of us. The ring that we all have collectively picked out has five stones in it, one for each of us. Our rings will be simple bands, but we all want to make real vows to her. She is much more than just my wife. She is a wife to all of us and even though they share a different dynamic with her than I do, she deserves all the love we have to offer. I can’t deny that it’s hard at times sharing her, but the guys are incredibly patient with me.

“She will love it,” Chris says reassuringly. “She might kick our asses for lying and saying you were going to work, though.”

“Yeah, she won’t like that,” Tony chuckles. “But… I think leaving her at home to relax so we could plan all of this will be worth it.”

“She’s probably worn a ditch in the floor from pacing,” I say. “We’ll take this.”

“I’ll get it boxed up for you,” the salesman says with a smile. I follow him over to the register and quickly pay, eager to get home to Delaney. Once we are done, we start walking back toward the truck.

“I have a voicemail from Laney,” Jude says as we get in. “It never even rang through.”

“Well, play it,” I say as I disconnect my phone from the Bluetooth so his can connect. She is probably scolding him for keeping me out of the house. We told her we’d be home at two, and it’s two right now. I procrastinated for so long with choosing the right ring that it made us late.

“Cheryl called. I am on my way,” Delaney says on the voicemail with absolute panic in her voice. “I know you’re with Talon right now, but I don’t’ know what’s going on or how bad it is. Cheryl said to meet her in the parking garage by the ICU, so… I’m coming…. Okay? Fuck, I wish you had answered. He has to be okay. She said you guys hit a tree? I don’t know. Just don’t let Talon die. Please. I can’t lose him. I am holding on by a thread and I just knew something bad was going to happen today. I love you guys so fucking much. Please tell Talon I love him, even if you think he can’t hear you. He has to know I love him… I’ll see you soon, baby… Bye.”

“Goddamn it,” I scream as I hit the steering wheel. No one says anything as I stomp on the gas and speed toward the hospital. I can see Jude on his phone checking the cameras at the house so if she is there, he will know soon. I glance over at him and he just sighs, at a loss for words.

When we get to the hospital, I follow the signs for the parking garage by the ICU, and I spot a cop I recognize outside of Delaney’s car. Beside her car is Cheryl’s with her body on the ground beside her. “Uh oh,” Adam says. I say nothing as I stop and get out.

“Ned,” I say. Ned Hammond looks up and sighs, telling me what I already knew. “She’s gone. Isn’t she?”

“What do you know?” he asks. I could be a dick, but it won’t help anything. I need to find my wife and if he is questioning me, he is trying to do that. How is it that I am rational when I feel like falling apart? Delaney would have an answer for me. She always has a way of explaining things in a way that makes me feel normal. Is this what my life will become? Consumed by the memory of her?”

“She called Jude and left a message. Apparently, she thought I was dying in the hospital. Cheryl called her and told her to meet here. I assume that’s Cheryl?”

“Yeah. Blunt force trauma,” Ned says. “Where have you been today?”

“Planning a wedding,” I say. “We wanted to give her a real wedding. When did this happen?”

“When did you get the voicemail?” Ned asks Jude.

“About two hours ago. My phone never even rang. I didn’t know she called,” Jude explains. “We have receipts to back up everywhere we’ve been, by the way.”

“I’m telling you this because I know you’ll just get someone to break in and get the information anyway,” Ned says to me. “Security cameras caught it. She got here and got out. Black van pulls up and Delaney snapped and bashed Cheryl’s face in until someone pulled her into the van. She fought hard but there was a bunch of them. Then the van got on the interstate. We have a BOLO out for them, but these guys know what they’re doing. They get away unnoticed all the time.”

“So what? My wife is just gone?” I snap.

“Yes,” Ned says. “Grim’s guys grabbed her so…”

“She’ll get auctioned off,” I say when he won’t.

“With all due respect, how are you calm?” he asks.

“I’m not,” I say. “I’m hurt and angry, but I need to find my wife. I can’t find her if I melt down.”

“Fair enough. I’ll keep you in the loop and come by as much as I can. Let me know if you find anything and we can work together, okay?”

“I am going to kill every single motherfucking person who puts their hands on my wife, starting with Sam and Grim.”

“Keep it clean or fully disposed and I can help,” he says. “Want any updates on Cheryl?”

“No,” I say. “Is Laney going to get into trouble for this?”

“No. Not worth it. She clearly set her up,” Ned remarks.

“Well… okay,” I sigh. “I don’t really know what to do with myself right now.”

“Just go home and get ahold of anyone who can connect you to Grim’s auctions,” Ned says.

“She has a tracker in her arm,” I say, snapping my head to Jude.

“I’ve been looking at it,” Jude says. “She must be somewhere that the signal is blocked. It is tracking the flashes, but… I’m only narrowed down to the west side of the city, which is wildly unhelpful.”

“Either way, you are not fully healed,” Chris says. “Let’s go home and work the internet. That’s where most of this is going to be.”

“Right,” I say. “Ned, I’m telling you right now…. I will find my wife and I don’t care who is involved. I’ll make sure she is safe and then I’m killing all of them.”

“I know you will, buddy,” he says. “I wish I had more answers for you.”

“Come on,” Jude says gently. I nod and look down at Cheryl for a moment. Satisfied when I confirm she isn’t breathing, I turn and go back to the truck. Jude automatically switches places when I go to the passenger door.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Adam admits with a quiet sniffle. “We shouldn’t have left her alone.”

“I don’t even want to think about what’s happening to her right now,” Tony adds.

“She knew,” I say. “She knew something was wrong, and we left anyway.”

“Guys, torturing ourselves is not helpful. We need to focus on finding out where the auctions are. If she gets sold, we find out who bought her. When we find that out, we make a plan. She won’t be killed because of her connection with you. She’s worth too much. The woman we get back will be severely traumatized and I think this is going to be a long road, but we will get her back,” Jude says. “Just one step at a time. We focus on finding the auction.”

“One step at a time,” I repeat, staring out of the window. I’m trying so hard not to focus on the negativity, but I have this overwhelming feeling that tells me I will never see my wife again. There’s one thing I know for sure, I will never love anyone other than her. Delaney is my forever, and I won’t ever give up on her.