Indebted (27 page)

I know I’m a terrible person for enjoying his fear, but I do, knowing Aaron is scared shitless right now, possibly even hurt… but I refuse to think he’s dead.

Hesitating over his left arm with the construction tool, I demand, “Give me a name.”

S
AM
BITES
his lip and his eyes get impossibly wider.

Slowly, he shakes his head, indicating a negative answer. I suck in a breath and brace myself before pulling the trigger.

Sam is no fucking victim, Aaron is. Aaron is the innocent party in all of this. Don’t you dare feel bad for him.

After giving myself that mental slap, I don’t even bother to question him again, and move to the other arm. Without pause this time, I fire it once again. He cries out a little less this time, due to the harsh sobs coming from him. Chills run up my spine as I clearly remember the feel and pain of it. Thomas’s lesson about running my mouth as a kid left more than scars on my body. Aaron has traced the marks on my skin many times while looking at me curiously. He’s never asked about them, though, and I’ve never offered up information. One day he will ask, but until then, I will relish my reprieve.

Sam struggling against his bindings brings me back to the present, and I realize I can’t handle doing this anymore. I need answers now, so I’m going to cut to the chase. He’s a lot braver—or more stupid—than I thought. I aim the nail gun at his head, moving it directly in front of one of his eyes.

Pissed off, I growl, “Give… me… the… name. This is the last chance you’ll get. Either you’ll lose this eye, or the nail will go straight into your brain. I always buy the best of everything, so it has excellent horsepower. You want to take chances with your life? I’m done playing with you.”

Sam whimpers. “Wait! I’ll tell you.”

I’m beyond relieved he’s finally going to open his fuckin’ mouth and talk. Resting the object of his torture at my side, I wait for him to continue.

With tears streaming down his face, he finally utters a name. “Evan.”

My mind is reeling.
Adam’s brother? Why the hell didn’t you think of that sooner?

I already know the answer, but I have to ask anyway. “Did you order Evan to take Aaron?”

Sam looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, and as if a dam has broken, he spills just like I told him he would. “Fuck no. I don’t approve of bringing innocents into our mess. I didn’t okay Adam to go after Aaron before, and I sure as hell didn’t tell that dumbass kid to take him.”

I know he is telling the truth, and thank fuck he is. “Where is he?”

Looking around wildly, he rushes to answer. “I don’t know! I swear! Before you busted in here, I was on the phone trying to find the little asshole. I haven’t a clue. It’s like he’s vanished off the face of the planet. I’ve had my guys check all his usual haunts, and they’ve come up empty-handed every time.”

Sam pauses, and I think he’s clamming up on me. Deftly, I move the nail gun into a more threatening position.

His eyes widen once again and he utters, “I tell you, I don’t know. I swear I’d tell you if I did. You have me outnumbered, and there’s no fight left in me right now. I’m pissed, and I wanted to fix things as soon as I found out. Both boys turned into wild animals instead of what I trained them to be. Evan hasn’t been the same since Adam was killed. I understand vengeance, but you can’t explain that to a stupid kid who thinks he knows it all. Adam should have left well enough alone. Aaron’s an innocent in all this. I’ve always tried to keep others out of our little war.”

His statement matches up with what I saw earlier while peeking in the window. I can also agree that Sam, as far back as I can remember, has never brought family into things.
Fuck! Now what are you going to do?
Thinking I was so close to getting the answers, just to find out that I now have another manhunt to conduct, is pissin’ me off.

After telling the men to untie Sam, I step outside for some much-needed fresh air. I take deep breaths as I run through the list of things I need to get coordinated. Luke steps out, sighing heavily, and lights up a cigarette right next to me.

Blowing smoke in a long, furling stream, he asks, “So, what now, boss?”

I’m feeling a little lost at the moment. I want to be in so many places at once, and it’s frustrating that I’m only one man. That thought leads me back to Tristan and how he’s doing. I’ve not heard a word yet on his condition.

One of Tristan’s many assignments is to keep tabs on the comings and goings of the key players of The Natives. His knowledge makes him the best one to talk to for more info on this Evan punk. I’m not sure Adam’s little bro would count as “key,” but Tristan is thorough and it’s a good bet he knows more than is required of him.

Knowing Luke is waiting for a response, I turn to him and answer, “I’m going to have you boys out beating the streets for anything you can find out about Evan’s whereabouts. I need to find this asshole.”

I’m worried this is going to take too long. Who would have thought this young guy, fairly new to these gangbangers, would end up causing such a problem? Luke nods his understanding and walks back in to tell the boys what is expected of them.

I decide it’s time to call Addison and find out what condition Tristan’s in. Not only am I worried sick over him, but now Aaron’s life might depend on what knowledge I can get from him.

Yeah, and what if he doesn’t make it? Not only do you lose your best friend but, quite possibly, Aaron too.

Calling one of the guys I’ve posted at the medical facility, I find out Tristan has successfully made it out of surgery. Relief floods me almost immediately. I know this is a big factor in if he will make it or not. I feel like shit going to see him just to find out what info he can give me. I love Tristan like a brother, but I love Aaron too, and time is of the essence.

Knowing my next course of action, I head back into Sam’s house, where I clean up and try to make myself presentable. Thankfully, with Luke having already given the men instructions, I am able to focus on heading out for hopefully more info. He is well aware of what Aaron and Tristan mean to me. Even though you can’t tell on the outside, the inside is a completely different story. Honestly, I’m a mess when I sit in my car to drive to the hospital. I’ve never felt this lost in my whole life.

As I pull up to the medical building, I can’t help but feel I should be actively searching for Aaron on my own. I know I have to be smart about this. Letting my emotions rule is the worst thing I can do at the moment.

So caught up in my thoughts, I don’t even realize I’ve passed through the sliding glass doors of the private facility. I glance around in hopes of seeing someone I know. Luckily, Jimmy is by the coffee machine in the small waiting area. Strolling over to him with purpose, I pause and ask with my eyes which room Tristan’s in.

Jimmy points to one about halfway down the hall. Nodding my understanding, I head in that direction. The closer I get, the more nervous and real it feels. My friend, and for all intents and purposes, brother, is lying in this place, struggling to survive—all because he was trying to protect the most precious thing to me.

Standing in the doorway, I take in the scene in front of me. Tristan is lying prone in a hospital bed, looking almost as pale as the crisp white hospital sheets he’s covered with. His face is already black and blue, with little cuts and abrasions interspersed with the bruises. I trail my eyes from him to absorb the machines beeping and whirring—then finally lay eyes on Addison.

In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her with a hair out of place. Even though she’s a saucy, down-to-earth lady, she’s always appeared professional and cool under pressure.

This is not the Addison that greets me today, however. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a messy bun, with several stands hanging loose. Her face is pallid and her eyes are puffy from crying. She sits there in her sloppy sweats and holds Tristan’s hand until she finally registers my arrival.

In almost a whisper, she says, “Hello, Liam. Nice of you to finally join us.”

I’m stunned at the accusation in that statement, and my heart stutters as I suck in a breath. I try to remember she’s unaware of the extenuating circumstances surrounding Tristan being hurt.

“I came as soon as I could. Were you told about Aaron being taken?”

Her eyes widen slightly in what I can only guess is surprise. “I haven’t heard anything about it. I’ve been here since I got the call. Someone took Aaron?”

“Yeah, the bastards busted into his apartment and grabbed him. Tristan was there and tried to protect him—he was outnumbered.” My throat tightens a little at the thought of Tristan being surrounded. “I’m so sorry, Addison. I never meant for any of this to happen. We know it’s the risk we take with this life, but never in a million years did I think someone would make such a bold move against me. Fuck, I’m not Thomas. You’d think their beef would be with him. Instead, they’ve made it personal with me.”

Addison stands and hugs me tightly to her. “I know. Have you found out who’s taken him?”

“Yeah, some punk kid named Evan. He’s a part of The Natives.”

Just as Addison is about to ask more, Tristan grunts a little, making us both turn to him.

She grabs his hand and pleads with him, “Tristan, baby, open your eyes for me. I need to see those peepers.”

Groggily, Tristan murmurs, “Addison?”

He starts coughing and groans loudly at the pain it causes, his eyes wide open now. Addison looks at a loss for what to do. Chewing her bottom lip, her hand hovers over the nurse’s call button. He begins to settle, but she still appears like she’s going to call the nurse or doctor. I really can’t let that happen, because it will take too long. The last thing I need is some doctor taking him for tests or herding us out of the room. He seems fine, and no alarms are going off.

“Addison, just give him a second to collect himself.”

She nods but seems unsure. “Babe, how you feeling? Can I get you anything?” After swallowing several times, he finally manages to ask for water. Addison informs him that, just after getting out of surgery, he isn’t allowed any. “I’ll ask in a few minutes if you can maybe have some ice chips at the very least.”

Tristan sighs, obviously frustrated, and glances around the room. His eyes land on me and widen.

“Liam,” he calls out in a faint voice, and then slowly motions his hand for me to join him next to the bed.

I’m relieved he seems to have his wits about him. Many people coming out from anesthesia are confused or even sick.

Grasping his hand, I ask, “Hey, man, how you holding up? If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll send one of the boys right out, just say the word.”

Nodding his head slightly, he then glances around the room like he’s expecting to see someone else. “Where’s Aaron?”

My heart wrenches as he becomes more frantic and glassy-eyed with each moment I hold back my answer. Instead, I hold up a finger, indicating for him to give me a minute.

Turning to Addison, I suggest, “Why don’t you go ask the nurses about those ice chips while I fill Tristan in on what happened?”

She glares at me suspiciously. “I’m not going fucking anywhere. You’re up to something, Liam, and I don’t like it one damn bit. He doesn’t need to get wound up right now. You know how he is over Aaron. He’s started to look at him as a little brother of sorts.”

Guilt rushes through me as I think of the lies I’m about to tell one of my best and few friends. The only thing that keeps me following through with my plan is the thought of Aaron somewhere in pain or, God forbid, being tortured.

Sighing heavily, I plead, “Woman, will you trust me? I’ve known Tristan a hell of a lot longer than you, and I consider him my only family. You think I would endanger him in any way if I could help it?”

I know throwing up all the years we’ve been friends in her face is a dirty move, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I feel even worse when I hear her suck in a breath and see her eyes brim with tears.

“Now you listen to me, Liam. You may have known him longer, but he’s my other half and the f….” Addison stops suddenly and bites her lip as if to keep more words from escaping.

I’m intrigued, but honestly don’t have time to figure it out. I need her out of the fuckin’ room already, so I can ask him what I need to. “I didn’t mean to make any cheap shots. I just think Tristan could really use that water, and I can’t talk about everything in front of you. You know this from all the years working in this business. He wouldn’t want you to be in danger by me saying stuff in front of you.”

Tristan breaks in then, and in a hoarse voice, says, “I’m okay, babe. I’m thirsty as hell, though. Let me run over things with Liam. I know he has questions, and I want to help.”

Appearing to concede for the moment, she huffs and leaves the room.

Tristan, seeming to want to get to the meat of things, starts back in immediately. “Where is Aaron, Liam? You should have found him by now. I know how you are, and I don’t get why he’s not by your side already. What have you learned?”