Consumed (Blood Ties Book 9)

I scowled, glanced again at the address on the GPS, then lifted my gaze. Gigantic refrigeration trucks flew past us as we slowed at a commercial compound outside of the city, making the Explorer rock with the blasts of air. Hunter slowed to let a tandem tractor-trailer take the exit wide before slipping around him. The transport company straight ahead was spread out, loading docks and warehouses made the place busier than I’d expected. But then, what did I expect from someone like Rossi?

We pulled in through wide open gates and headed along the parking lot, taking up a space next to London’s Audi. I winced as I scanned the sleek gray sedan. My own car was goddamn trashed, bullet holes peppered all the way along the side. Last night it hadn’t looked that bad, but in the early morning light, I saw the extent of the attack. My brother could’ve been killed…that pissed me off more than anything.

We pulled up hard. I stabbed my seatbelt release and climbed out, listening to the roar of the trucks’ engines and the piercing beep…beep…beeps as they reversed.

“Riven,” Hunter called my name, drawing my gaze as he nodded toward one of Rossis’ men standing outside a warehouse in the distance. “This way.”

We all headed after Rossi’s man and stepped in through what looked like some kind of mechanical workshop, then followed the guy to the back and slipped through a single door to an open expanse at the rear. Everyone was there. St. James, the sons, and even the bodyguard. I scanned the rest, the Bankses’ with Ryth and the baby…Hell, even all the Rossis were here, Lazarus standing protectively next to his wife who held their two children.

My focus went instantly to the dark-haired little one. Not all of them were theirs, remember?

It’s why we were there, right?© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Now that the Stidda had skin in the game.

“Riven, Hunter, Kane, and Thom.” Benjamin stepped forward, his gaze moving to my brother. “I’m glad you could make it.”

Make it?

I still wanted to lay the bastard out for going behind my goddamn back. “Sure,” I answered coldly.

Three massive bald bastards stood in the back. I recognized the white-eyed fucker immediately, and by the way he stared, he recognized me, as well. One small nod and Benjamin Rossi started.

“I’m sure you recognize everyone,” he stated. “Except for Harper Renolt, London’s hacker. To get everyone up to speed, a few of us have been tracking Hale’s escape plan. Last night, we narrowed in on one of his associates and placed a device into their computer for Harper to gain access to their network. There we plan on tracking down his exact current whereabouts while burning any available resource he has to escape the country and go to ground.”

“And almost killing my damn brother in the process,” I snarled.

Thomas flinched, his cheeks reddening.

“That was unexpected.” Rossi looked at Thom. “I told you I’d protect you and I failed. Please accept my apologies.”

Thom nodded. Of course he did. But I wasn’t so forgiving. I took a step forward as all heads turned to the thud of steps behind us. I glanced over my shoulder and found London’s diamond assholes walking in. All fucking four of them, including the smug, self-righteous asshole who’d threatened me.

I glared at him as he walked past. He might be on our side, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to drive my knee into his balls. Yeah, that’s how low I was willing to go. The pompous prick must’ve read my mind. He jerked his gaze toward me as he strode by, giving me a look that told me the feeling was mutual.

“Helene,” He murmured to my woman standing at my side. “So nice to see you again.”

A twitch came in the corner of my mouth. Keep going, buddy…keep fucking going.

“Baron, Royal, Loyal, and Wolfe, and Miss…” Benjamin fixed his gaze on the young woman with them.

“Cloe,” Baron answered for her, his hand protectively against the small of her back, and not in a fatherly way.

Interesting, very interesting.

“Cloe,” Ben added. “Thank you for joining us. The Ares family?” He glanced at London.

St. James just shook his head. “Today is the funeral. I think they have enough problems of their own to deal with right now.”

“Fair enough.” Ben nodded, then turned his attention back to us. “We’re closing in, but we need to move faster. London and Guild have their men pressuring the known gangs who work for him, but it’s not enough. There’s already been two attacks on my family. One two years ago, and another recently.”

Surprise filled me.

All heads turned to Lazarus. His gaze was pure rage, clear, cutting…cold as ice. No wonder the redhead was fixed to his side. The baby mewled in her arms. The raven haired little one dressed in pastel lavender sat on the ground at her side, focused on scribbling with crayons on an open coloring book.

“What kind of attack?” London lifted his focus from Hale’s child.

It looked like I wasn’t the only one left out of the information loop.

“Hale has started proceedings to gain full custody.”

“No,” Vivienne whimpered, shaking her head. She was pale and shaking, her hands around her belly. “No, he can’t do that.”

Ben’s expression only grew darker. “That’s what we’re trying to prevent. This is more than an outright attack, this is fucking sickening.”

Kat’s red eyes shone with tears. It looked like she’d been crying and hadn’t stopped. It made me shift a little closer to Helene. The time for children for us was long gone. But that did little for the bloodthirsty part of my nature. I felt for Lazarus. To take a man’s child was one thing. But to do what we all knew he wanted to do to this little one was a whole new level of sick disgust.

We needed to find him.

And we needed to find him now.

“Harper has been working ever since we gained access to find his location.” London said.

But the moment my gaze found the hacker, he didn’t fill me with confidence. Dark circles under his eyes only enhanced the desperate look. I’d seen that look far too many times.

“If he doesn’t.” I turned to the others. “What then? We keep going door to door until we’ve searched every goddamn building in the city? How long do you think that’s going to take.”

“It’ll work.” Lazarus forced the words through clenched teeth. The guy looked like he was about to rip someone’s head off. I was quite partial to where mine was, but still, someone had to ask the question.

“What about Anna?” Kat asked, turning to him. “Please, Laz.”

“She’s a Salvatore, baby,” he growled and stared straight ahead.

“No, she isn’t,” Kat whispered. “She’s my friend.”

Obviously there was bad blood between the two main Mafia families once more. I’d assumed they were over it, obviously not.

Tears spilled from her eyes. This was a whole new layer of tension.

“I can do it,” Harper muttered, not convincingly. “I know I can do it.”

Ben gave a nod. “Okay, now that everyone is on the same page, we need to work together here. We’re closing in on the whereabouts of a Leroy Hastings, a slimy middleman who specializes in forged documents. The moment we have a location, Caleb, Thom, and Colt will be notified. We need all teams moving on this. We need to squeeze that sonofabitch out.”

A cell beeped. We all glanced toward the sound.

Until it echoed around the room.

First St. James.

Then Lazarus.

Then Caleb…

Hunter’s cell vibrated.

He glanced at the caller ID and answered it instantly. “Yeah?”

“The FBI?” London barked. “What the fuck are they doing in my home?”

His face went pale.

“A raid,” Laz growled. “That goddamn motherfucker.”

“Get everyone out,” Caleb demanded and started walking, heading for the doorway. “I’m on my way.”

“They’re tearing apart the house,” Hunter murmured, meeting my stare, relaying the same information no doubt everyone in the room was facing.

It looked like Hale was stepping up.

Using the law to exact revenge in retaliation after what happened last night.

“Find that Hastings, Benjamin.” I clenched my fist. “Find him and tear the bastard apart.”