Indebted (26 page)

As if in answer to my thoughts, I hear a muffled moan from behind the couch. Racing in the direction of the sound, I find Tristan on the floor, covered in blood and barely recognizable from his already swelling face.

I kneel down to assess the damage. “Tristan—oh my God. Talk to me. Where are you hit?”

He struggles to open his eyes and tries to talk a little. “Aar… too… took….” He starts coughing and choking, and blood is seeping from the side of his mouth. Suddenly, his eyes widen and he grips my shirt almost desperately. “Tried… ’m sorry.”

With that final bit of energy used, he goes slack in my arms. Fuuuuuck, fuck, fuck, you are not dying on me.

“Tristan! Stay with me, man. Come on, open your eyes. Think about Addison. She’ll be lost without you.” I shake him, to no avail, and swiftly check for a pulse.

After finding one, I’m relieved slightly. I run my fingers over his wounds, feeling several stabs to the back and chest area. The two in front concern me most because they’re spilling blood at an alarming rate. Thinking of what little I know of first aid, I find something on the floor to press against his injuries and call the doc, telling him to get here as soon as possible.

What a fuckin’ night. How the hell do I even begin to deal with this? All I know is someone better fuckin’ get here soon or heads are going to roll. WHERE THE FUCK IS EVERYONE? I didn’t tell them to stop for damn doughnuts on the way.

Keeping steady pressure on Tristan’s wounds, I’m stunned to think he actually apologized for not saving Aaron. He’s only one man, for Christ’s sake. I’m deeply touched he cares that much, though. He confirmed my second worst fear: Aaron has been taken. The first, of course, would be finding him dead.

Glancing up when I hear a noise in the hall, my body tenses, hoping it’s who I’m expecting. Luke, Chris, Matt, and the doc file in and take in the mess.

“Doc, over here! Tristan’s been hurt!”

Sydney rushes over with bag in hand and immediately takes over caring for Tristan. I am a bundle of emotions right now: worry, fear, anger, hate, and yes, even guilt. I want Aaron back safe and sound and Tristan to be okay. These two people mean the world to me. I’m so torn between my duty to take care of Tristan and my need to find Aaron. I have no idea how to tell Addison about this. In all the years they have been together, I can’t remember him ever being this close to dying. I’m not a medical professional, but I can tell it’s really bad.

Sydney, our resident doc and the person I trusted with Aaron’s care when he was injured, is as intuitive as ever and picks up on my distress. “Liam, I got this. Tristan will be alright. I have a medical unit on the way to take him to my facility. You need to focus on everything else. You have several men waiting for orders. Be the leader you are and show them what needs to be done.”

Swallowing the lump building in my throat, I give him a resolute nod. He’s absolutely right. I can’t fix Tristan, but I can help Aaron. With sudden confidence, I head straight over to the men who are waiting for orders. They give me their full attention as soon as I get close to them, and huddle around.

“Chris, search for anything that might be useful. Matt, go down and watch for the ambulance.” I know every minute is going to count for Tristan. “Luke, I want you with me. From what I can tell, several guys busted in here and took Tristan down as quickly as possible. That means Aaron was the target of this little visit.”

He nods and stays quiet. I’ve worked with Luke for many years now, and we understand each other quite well. He knows I’m sorting things out verbally.

Stepping over to the second area, which seems to be the center of a struggle, I try to figure out what happened. There’s liquid all over the floor and an overturned bottle. The smell of bleach is strong, so it’s obvious what that is. The closet in the hall is open and the washing machine lid is up, so they must have grabbed him in the middle of doing laundry. I hope Aaron at least gave them a good fight and didn’t freeze up. He’s been taught what he needs to know, but it’s a whole other story to have to use it in a real situation.

The guys come to me with very little of any importance besides what I’ve already seen myself, and soon Matt returns, the paramedics following right behind him with a gurney. While they load Tristan up, I decide it’s time to call Addison and break the news.

She is more emotional than I’m used to, and it’s hard to take. As we’re talking, I can hear her moving about frantically, intent on getting to her man. My throat tightens several times as I blink back tears. I’m not crying, but I’m at the end of my rope at the moment. Two people’s lives are depending on me, so I make it quick.

As I hang up the phone, Tristan is being wheeled out the door. Now that I know he is being taken care of, I can focus on Aaron and who the fuck has him.

“Luke, Matt, come with me. We’re going to pay Sam a little visit. Chris, I want you to drive by Aaron’s father’s and Chloe’s houses. Make sure Aaron doesn’t turn up there.” They swiftly head out. I know Aaron won’t be there, but I need to make sure.

Luke gets a determined look on his face and checks his weapons and ammo, then glances up at me and says, “Let’s go teach this asshole a lesson. How dare he touch Aaron, let alone take him. He’s done nothing to that freak. I’m going to enjoy teaching Sam a lesson.”

Hell yes, he’s going to learn a lesson, and if he is indeed the one that took Aaron, it will be a permanent one. After I find out where my man is, of course. I can’t help but feel excited by the fact that Luke is just as pissed as I am. He has grown fond of Aaron during the time they spent together while protecting him.

This kind of thing isn’t usually something I enjoy doing, but I am going to relish every fuckin’ minute of it. Sam is going to suffer and scream like the little bitch he is. With that thought in mind, I make sure I have not only my guns on me, but also a few different types of knives. I know I have some goodies in the trunk, which will be helpful for this trip. Thank fuck the cops are never stupid enough to search me. Matt has already gone to the car, so I discuss my game plan with Luke to make sure he’s on board with it, which he is.

It doesn’t take us long to get to Sam’s shitty little house, and surprisingly, the neighborhood is dead quiet. There are no hoods on the street and only one car in the driveway. While we wait for Chris, I have Matt prep the supplies in the trunk. Luke and I go on recon. He takes the front of the house and I take the back.

Peeking into the windows, I notice only Sam. He’s on the phone in what appears to be a heated discussion. Perfect—the fucker is distracted. Now if only Chris would get his ass here.

Back at the car, I make sure everything I want is in there: hammer, knives, rope, gasoline, oh, and a nail gun. Right, everything is here. The three of us are pumped with adrenaline and anxiously waiting. Luke is smoking like a chimney while Matt is pacing. I’m just standing there running through everything I want to do to him. The bastard took my Aaron, and he’s going to pay dearly for his stupid fuckin’ mistake.

Finally, Chris, the asshole, arrives and I let all the anger and hate I have fill me. We all go around to the back of the house while Matt stays outside as a lookout.

We storm into the house, and Sam is completely caught off guard. It’s three against one, so it takes us no time to grab him and tie him to a chair. Sam sits there, straining against his bonds, looking livid. Pfft, if he thinks he’s angry… he has no clue how utterly pissed I am.

Sam sneers at me. “Why are you assholes here? You should have called first. I would’ve made sure to have snacks ready.”

He thinks he’s going to be a smart mouth now? I quickly backhand him to shut him up, and leaning into his face, I grate out, “I’m the one asking fuckin’ questions here, dipshit. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m the one in control here.”

“You think you’re in control, but you don’t know shit,” he sneers back.

My counterparts know better than to even think about saying anything, and just stand back and watch our interaction. They do cringe when Sam says that. He’s not a very bright man. I grab a chair, straddling it backward as I lean my head down on my arms to bring us to eye level.

“‘You don’t know shit.’ I… don’t… know… shit. I know a lot more than you do, dickhead.”

I shake my head in disbelief as I turn to my men and address them. “I know that Sam here used a pussy move and took an innocent man because he doesn’t have the balls to confront me on his own without a bargaining chip.”

Setting my sights on him again, I let my calm facade show. “Now, I’m going to give you one chance to answer without me using any persuasion. Where… is… Aaron?”

A fake confused look takes over his face. “Aaron? Who the fuck is Aaron?”

Sighing heavily, I give him a grim smile. “So you’re going to play it like that?”

I glance over at Luke and all I have to do is nod, and he rolls our plan into action. The two of them pick up Sam as if he and the chair weigh nothing and take him into the bathroom with me following close behind. He’s struggling the whole way, but he’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to get away. Leaning him over the toilet, I lift the lid and seat hard and fast, making sure to smack him in the face with it on the way up.

Sam grunts at the impact. “Asshole! I told you I don’t know anything! Let me go. I don’t even know an Aaron.”

That’s right, motherfucker. Feel the pain. I’m not playing with you. I’m going to get these answers out of you one way or the other. I need to find out where Aaron is, and fast. Just the thought of my man being held captive and most likely in pain enrages me further. I feel helpless and powerful at the same time. I will find him, and I will see that retribution is made.

“Listen, Sam, don’t lie to me. I know you know more than you’re saying. I’m going to make you squeal like the fuckin’ pig you are. When I’m done with you, you’re going to be willing to tell me where your grandma hides her jewelry, if I ask you.” With that said, I grasp a fistful of hair and shove him facedown into the water. Even fighting as best he can in his bindings, it doesn’t take long for his head to be submerged. His legs kick out as he grapples for purchase with his feet. I let him suffer for a few moments before bringing him up for air. “So, Aaron…. Still never heard of him? Are you sticking with that?”

Panting hard, he answers. “He’s your boy toy, right?”

I chuckle a little. “Isn’t it amazing how a little persuasion jogs the memory? He’s my boyfriend, yes. Now tell me where he is.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not a damn fag. Why the hell would I want anything to do with one, let alone know where he is?”

I can tell he’s lying still, and he just said the wrong F-word about my man. Before he can even take his next breath, I hit him as hard as I can right in the fuckin’ mouth. Several teeth fall out, pinging against the porcelain of the bowl, along with a spray of blood. That’s right, asshole. The next time you take your dentures out, you’ll remember Aaron’s name.

Sam whimpers and spits out more blood, but still manages to mumble, “I told you I don’t know anything.” His words come out with little whistling sounds due to the missing teeth.

“You’re a lying ass. This was the easy tactic and you had your chance. The stakes go up from here.” Setting his chair back down on the floor, I glance at my boys. “It’s time for a change of venue. Take him to the garage.”

Once in the room, I grab my next tool for coercing the truth out of him: a hammer. He knows more than he’s telling, I know that for a fact. The boys are working him over good while I ready myself for this. I will do anything for Aaron, but can I live with myself and look him in the eyes after it’s all said and done? That, I’m not so sure about.

Take deep breaths and get it done. Aaron’s clock could be ticking away, for all you know.
Facing him and making a show of the large hammer in my hand, I give him a chance to tell me what he knows. Yet again, he denies knowledge of anything.

Shaking my head, I tell him “I don’t know why you don’t just make this easy on yourself.”

Sam’s eyes go wide as they follow the hammer around. “Please, Liam, don’t do this. I can’t help you.”

This makes me pause. “Can’t? I knew you had information and were just being a stubborn prick. That’s okay, I’ll make sure you can tell me.”

“No!” He screams as I draw back and slam the hammer down on his left foot. The sickening sound of bones crunching can be heard throughout the garage. Sam is sobbing hard, but he still isn’t saying anything.

“Why can’t you tell me? I don’t have time for your shit. I want Aaron back… NOW!” With even more power behind my stroke, I shatter his other foot.

He is practically convulsing from pain and fear. I’m amazed and even slightly impressed he hasn’t spilled his guts yet. I smash the hammer into first one knee and then the other. He’s looking beyond desperate now. Blood has soaked through his pants, along with the unmistakable odor of piss.

After smelling this, I know I’m on the fast track to breaking him.

“Tell… me… where… he… is. I brought other pain-inducing instruments with me. Would you like to see more? I’ll give you a personal demonstration of each if you need it.”

Crying hard, Sam responds with fear, “I can’t. He’s just a kid who made a bad choice. I’m not going to send you after him, I just can’t.”

Sam has any number of “kids” under his employ. They are old enough to know better, but feel the need to be a part of Sam’s rabble. I need a name, and for that, I decide to skip ahead a little to get him to blurt out his secret. I know now I just have to push the right buttons to get him to talk: one, his dinky house—his pride and joy—and two, his fear—it needs to be upped a bit more.

Clearing my throat, I order Luke to go about dumping the gasoline around the place. After that’s finished, I bring out something that makes a lot of noise and hurts like fuckin’ hell. I’ve had the “privilege” of experiencing this.

He whimpers again when he sees the nail gun. “Please, I’m begging you, don’t do this. I can’t lose everything.”

“I don’t feel sorry for you. You took an innocent man, or you know who took him, and won’t fess up. This man has nothing to do with our little war. Poor you, I’d be more worried about my life instead of this dump at the moment, asshole.”