“Colton. Too much has happened, and I know it’s him.” She nods, not asking me to explain any further. “Please, Rachel, pack what you can tonight, and I’ll help you with the rest in the morning. I want to see Olivia before I go.” She nods as I stand.
I’ve just opened the door to Olivia’s purple-painted bedroom when my phone beeps in my back pocket. Olivia is sound asleep on her bed, hugging her teddy bear. She must’ve fallen asleep while waiting for me.
Quietly, I close the door and pull my phone from my pocket.
Ace:Your Triad fuckers are here. I’m around the block waiting.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
What the fuck are they doing here?!
On high alert, I rush to where Rachel’s standing at the sink, washing our cups. I grab her shoulders and make her face me. “There are some men outside who will be knocking in a second. Do not tell them I was here, and do not act suspicious. You are a normal woman and have a husband who will be home any second.” She nods, knowing better than to ask questions. “Pack your stuff, and I’ll be back. Keep the doors locked and the curtains closed.”
“Lee, I understand. Now, hurry up. You can explain later.” The doorbell chimes, and her eyes widen.
Giving her a quick hug, I slip into the laundry room where the back door is located. I unlock it carefully, just as Rachel answers the door and I hear the voice that I haven’t heard in three months.
Silently, I sneak out the back and run away from the house, going down the street to where I know Ace is waiting.
The moment I reach our car, I yank open the door, climb in, and Ace speeds away, not wanting to chance staying a second longer.
“Did you know they were coming?” I ask, reaching into the backseat to grab my black backpack.
“Fuck no. I knew they’d become aware of their existence, but I never heard any of them saying they would be making a trip here. Last I heard, they were trying to gather information on Rachel and find out how she’s connected to you.”
“I think it’s time to say hello to Rowen.”
“Why? They all think you’re dead. Why would you want to make it known that you’re alive? How can you get revenge if you announce that you didn’t die in that fire as they thought?”
I shrug. “My plan is on pause. It’s only a matter of time until they figure out who Olivia is, and I need to protect her. She’s what matters right now.” He doesn’t say anything else, only nods and places his hand on my thigh while we drive in silence.
Rowen and King were led to Rachel and Olivia for a reason. If cutting my revenge short and letting them know I’m alive will keep Rach and Olivia safe, then it’s what I have to do, whether I like it or not.
My plan has ended. Now, I’m winging it and hoping for the best.
eight
ROWEN
"Areyou sure this is the right address?" King asks for the hundredth time as he stares at the small house. His eyes are squinted as he compares the house in front of us to the house in the photo that Malcolm sent over.
"Yes, I'm sure. Malcolm confirmed this is where the woman in the photo, Rachel Hollis, lives."
"Fine. Let's make it quick. I'm starving and tired," he whines.
I chuckle, slapping him on the back. "We'll find out what she knows, then we'll go check in to the hotel." Rolling his eyes, he smashes his finger against the doorbell, taking a step back so I'm front and center.
The door creaks open, and in the doorframe stands Rachel Hollis, the woman in the photo. It's clear the picture is several years old, but she still looks the same. "Hello? Can I help you?" she asks, her eyes looking us up and down. She's trying to hide her nerves, but it's obvious she's afraid of the two burly men showing up at her door unannounced.
"Hello Miss, sorry to bother you, but we're having car trouble. Neither of us has cell reception. Do you have a phone we could use?" I ask, flashing a bright white smile, doing my fucking best to ease her mind and keep her from slamming the door in my face.
Out of my brothers, Eli is the charmer, but considering he's out of the picture due to my lack of trust in him, I'm left to charm Rachel Hollis. I’m just hoping she's dumb enough to let us inside her home or reveal something useful.
To be completely honest, I don't have a plan. I'm going rogue. I've had two days plus the drive up here to be thinking of a plan, but instead, I spent the time thinking about how the hell this woman is connected to Tate and why the unknown fucker wants her.
King and I plan to use her to lure him out of hiding, but that can be difficult, considering she has a child that will most likely be in the home. We may not live by the greatest moral codes, but we'd never hurt a woman or child; at least, not willingly. Not again.
We learned our lesson when we attempted to trade Tate months ago. This time, we only need unknown tobelievethat we're going to give him Rachel Hollis when we truly have no intention of doing that, considering it's likely he'd kill her since we already know what he's capable of.