“Don’t even begin to think that I am not coming with you. That is my girlfriend he has, and I will die fighting if you try and stop me.”
“You are a persistent prick aren’t you?” Douglas’ voice was just as intimidating as his stature.
Minutes passed as we entered a vortex of glares, neither of us willing to budge. Douglas knew the extent of my reasons to be there. He had been the one who had worked on the case four years ago. He had been the one who I would harass for information on Jeremy, and he was the one who I gave my statement to that helped in Jeremy’s conviction.
“Suit him up,” Douglas growled. “I want him in a vest. God only fucking knows what kind of ammo this fuckwit has in that room. We go in ready guys. Take no chances. Our aim is simple; get Eden safely out of that room.”
••••
Twenty minutes later two sleek black SUVs pulled up to the curb out front of Hotel De Luca. I remained silent through the entire trip as Douglas rattled off instructions to his team and informed them of the procedure that would come into effect. It was simple. Safety. Distraction. Surprise. But I only had one thing on my mind—getting Eden safely into my arms and away from Jeremy.
I jumped out of the car as adrenaline coursed through my veins. Douglas’ hand came down on top of my shoulder halting my movements. “We are going to get her out of here son. I am just as invested in this as you. The image of her in that hospital bed has stayed with me for years, and I want to put this motherfucker away.”
The look in his eyes told me he had unfinished business with Jeremy Davis, a fact that made me smirk in fucking delight. Everything happened quickly around me. We moved into the foyer, the armed officers had their guns cocked and ready. The bystanders gasped at the sight before them. I ignored everything until my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Eden’s name flashed on the screen. I halted and snapped my fingers toward Douglas to get his attention. His hand rose in the air, stopping the other officers from proceeding. He didn’t speak; he simply nodded the instruction to answer the call.
“What?” I roared down the phone.
Jeremy chuckled. “Is that really any way to speak to your oldest and dearest friend?”
“You are a fucking asshole Jeremy.”
“Do you really think you should be talking to me like that, especially when I have Eden in the palm of my hands? Say hi Eden.”
My body froze as Eden’s scream filtered down the phone. Every single rational thought left my body, and I rushed down the hall toward the room I knew they were in. I felt hands on me trying to stop me, but I shrugged them off.
My hand gripped onto the door handle, and I twisted. It popped open without force. Unlocked and enabling my entrance. The fucker really was an idiot.
All hell broke loose the moment I ran into the room. I wasn’t thinking. I was irrational, and I had only one thing on my mind.
Eden’s safety.
My breathing faltered as my desperate eyes found exactly who I had come for. Laying on her back, Eden’s panties were shredded and barely holding against her body. My stomach churned within me. Her hair was a matted mess swimming around her anguish ridden face as she glared back at Jeremy who hovered over her like a stalking animal. My eyes took in every inch of her face; her cheek bruised black and her eyebrow cut and fresh blood was running from the new wound.
Jeremy’s body twisted above Eden and turned toward me and the evilest of smirks graced his face.
“About time you joined the party.” My first and only instinct was to rush toward Eden but the moment I moved, an arm crossed my chest and another around my neck crushing my windpipe. “You remember my cousin don’t you?”
I gasped for air as Chris pushed harder on my source of air. I was momentarily paralyzed and my vision clouded and speckles of blackness appeared as unconsciousness came close.
“Don’t make him pass out! I want him to watch this,” Jeremy spat.
Chris shifted my body so I was facing the bed. Jeremy lifted his hand, and with all of his weight behind him, he began his attack on Eden. He was like a man possessed. He slapped her repeatedly across the face before ripping the red leather lace of her bra until her breasts were exposed to the room. Blood ran down her chin and her deep sobs filled the air. I didn’t even know if she knew I was here and my ability to speak was crushed. My anger roared to unhuman status when the rip of lace and satin hit the air as he tore her panties from her body and fumbled with his fly.
Commotion sounded behind me and then the room became a war zone. Douglas and his crew burst in with their guns drawn. Through the chaos and shouting, Chris loosened his grip as shock hit him, and I shrugged out of his grasp and bolted toward the bed. I ripped Jeremy from her limp body by the back of his shirt. My attack startled him. Like he was weightless, I threw him across the room toward the doors of the closet. His back smashed brutally against the mirror and glass shattered to the floor below. Jeremy sprung to life, his eyes glaring at me with intent to kill. He stalked toward me and lunged.
Every single nightmare, pain, regret, remorse, and year lost caused by Jeremy flooded my veins. My fist collided with his face as I pummeled him with every ounce of my anger. My knuckles ached. They smeared with blood, and I didn’t know whether it was mine or his.
“I will kill you Crawford,” Jeremy roared from the floor as my foot kicked in his ribs.
“Ky, fucking go and get your girl.” Douglas jerked me away, his hands falling to my arms and shaking me roughly to yank me from my trance. My eyes focused on him as my emotions were still fueled by anger. “Go and get your girl.” His voice finally registered. His expression was desperate.
“Don’t fucking move. Jeremy Davis you are under arrest for the kidnapping and assault of Eden Rivers.” Douglas’ threat faded behind me as I rushed toward Eden who looked on with wide eyes.
“She is mine, and you are not taking her from me,” Jeremy cried.
I scrambled onto the bed, ripping the shirt off my back and covering Eden’s naked and trembling body. With desperate hands, I softly untied her bloodied and bruised wrists that were still bound behind her back. The moment the blood rushed through, she groaned in pain and her eyes flooded with tears.
“Baby, look at me,” I soothed, desperate to draw her attention away from the scene unfolding before her, but she seemed to be locked in a spell. “Eden, baby. Please, I need you to look at me,” I begged as tears flooded my cheeks. Finally after what seemed like eternity her blue eyes found mine. Having me sitting before her finally registered and relief flooded her battered yet still beautiful face. I cupped her cheek and with a soft movement my thumb swiped away her tears as we stared, drinking each other in and sitting in silence. I had no clue what was happening behind us. I didn’t care what was happening. I had Eden back. She was here, and she was alive.
Two ear splitting shots rang out behind me, momentarily stealing my ability to hear. Eden’s blood curdling scream shook me back into action. My arms curled under her body and I pulled her against my chest, sheltering her from the atrocity that was happening in the room. The smell of blood tainted the air and a painful groan and a gurgling sounded from the floor beside the bed where I was sitting with Eden.
“I said don’t fucking move,” Douglas roared behind us. I shifted my gaze. Jeremy lay in a pool of deep red colored blood seeping from his chest and Chris hunched over him with a wound to his head. Neither of them moving. A gun was in Jeremy’s hand and a knife in Chris’.
“Ky,” Eden’s said softly from her hiding place against my chest. Her voice sounded so distant, so foreign, so empty. “Ky, I…I can’t hang on any longer.”
••••
I hated hospitals.
I didn’t know whether it was the overwhelming smell, the promise of pain that hung in the air, or the uncertain balance between life and death.
But right now I wouldn’t be anywhere else.