Page 71 of His Obsession

My heart was beating erratically in my chest with anticipation as I strapped on my bulletproof vest. Iwasgoingto get her back tonight. I just didn’t know if she would be in one piece or not, physically or mentally. Just the thought of that caused the fury to course through my blood, and I punched my safe door. Blood trickled from my split knuckles.

A knock at the door signaled someone wanting my attention, and I hollered for them to come in. I put the strap of the rifle over my shoulder, pointing the business end down.

I followed the footsteps towards the closet with my mind’s eye, and Jake stepped around the corner. He dressed in dark tactical gear, nothing too bulky. It was how he did things. He said he needed the freedom to move when the time came.

"We are waiting on two guys to get their gear, and then, we are ready."

My chest was doing flips and stopping without rhythm, and I had a nervous sweat that wouldn’t go away. There was this terrifying feeling in my gut that I would be too late. That Jimmy had already killed her to get back at me.

"I'll be down there in a minute," I told him. I needed that moment to prepare myself for when I found her.

Jake turned on his heel and shut the bedroom door behind him.

I grabbed a few more items I might need and closed the safe door. Spinning the wheel, I locked it in place and stood, trying to calm my nerves. I couldn’t help my mind from conjuring to the video Jimmy sent. Her agonizing screams penetrated my brain like claws locked in for the kill. The memory wouldn’t let up.

My eyes stung as I thought about what she must be going through. I slapped myself, attempting to clear the thoughts, and ran my hands vigorously across my face. I needed to be on my A-game. I took a couple of deep breaths, found the dark place resting in my brain, and settled in. I met the men downstairs, whistling like I was going on a field trip.

Eleven of my men were standing around the table, all in tactical gear. Jake and Tonk were off to the side, having their own private discussion. On the table, I laid a blown-up image of my old childhood home.

I couldn't stand to look at the place.

"Okay," Tonk said, breaking my daze. "We are going in pairs. Each pair will stick together; you will not separate. Understood?"

The men responded in unison.

"He has her in the basement," I informed them. "There are two access points." I point to the back of the house, where cement steps led to a door. "This is the door I'm taking with Tonk. The next one is inside. Be careful here. The back of the steps is open, and it's a big vantage point for him. He can mow down anyone coming down those stairs."

I had personal experience with this scenario. One night, I crept out of the house, and when I returned, he locked the door, forcing me to sneak back to my room from the front door. When I tiptoed down the stairs—he was waiting for me beneath them. I fractured my collar bone that night from the fall.

If this wasn't a rescue mission, I'd burn this fucking place down. Nothing but sinister memories live there. I should have done it a long time ago, but I couldn't force myself to. It was the last place I saw my mother alive.

“I want him alive if possible,” I added.

Tonk took over the positioning of men as I moved to the fridge for a drink.

Jake stood in front of me with his "Beast Mode" Kevlar vest on. I chuckled on the inside. "If I don't make it out of this, I want you to set her up. She can have the house." The conversation wasn't anything I had thought of before, but I needed to say it. I wanted her to be happy, even if I wasn't there to give her everything.

“Don’t be morbid, we will come out of this fine. At leastshebetter. Lucy has been asking non-stop.”

"Yeah," I pacified. Lucy was a pain in my ass. It amazed me how a woman who had no filter could refrain from speaking about a subject. She hadn't said a word to anyone, not even my bouncers, her friends, just as she promised.

I picked my phone from my pocket and dialed Night Legion's new Chapter President.

He answered on the third ring. "Jace, I have three in connection. Do you want them?"

I gave up Jerry Craig, Kris Snider, and Ralph Barlow to the MC to show good faith. It was also more prosperous for me; I didn't have four bodies to dispose of now, just Tim, and he was in his own barrel disintegrating already.

"You know, I do. Let me know a pick-up time. We'll take care of them."

I gave him a date and instructions, letting one of my men handle the exchange. Hanging up, I placed my phone back in my pocket. I was ready to go. I was antsy; I wanted Liz in my arms.

I tossed my Escalade keys in the air while whistling, and opened the garage door. All the men around the table hustled in behind me, getting into their own cars. We weren’t going to take the same vehicle even if we could. You know the "all eggs in one basket" saying?

We barreled down the road—to think; he held her only thirty minutes from me this whole time.

Our convoy followed close behind, pausing at the stop sign next to the house. Motorcycles sat outside, covering the yard and driveway.

Fuck.