Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(70)

“Guys!” Rick catches up to us, almost out of breath. “I heard Abby whisper something before the communication went dead. Three six four, I think.”

Drew explained how his father has some form of blocking technology in use on the rooms in the back so no one can record anything that goes on in there. It’s why the feed went dead the second she stepped foot inside. Before that, when she’d been out in the quiet corridor with Mathers, we’d all been too afraid to speak to her in case he overheard.

It killed me not being able to reassure her.

But Abby is smart, and she knows we’ll get to her somehow.

“It’s a four-number code,” Drew barks.

“Then start trying numbers!” I snap, yanking strands of my hair. Hunt, Lauder, and Xavier are on their way, along with the four security guys I hired a month ago to help protect us and Abby. But I fear we’re all too late. “Hurry the fuck up!” I hiss. I’m terrified of what they’re doing to my wife behind this door. I thought I was doing the right thing creating a distraction but all it did was get me, Dad, and Rick kicked out.

After a few carefully chosen words on my behalf, Dad wandered off in search of Patrice, while we listened helplessly to Abby getting taken. We lost precious time sneaking into the building via the back entrance, not realizing Drew was busy getting rid of a body, meaning Abby was all alone.

I kick the wall in frustration as Drew continues punching in numbers, to no avail.

If they’ve hurt her, I will fucking murder every single one of them.

A loud bang from the back of the room momentarily startles me. Screams and shouts ring out as a secondary bang follows it, joined by a crackling sound that has people running toward the exit. “What the fuck is that?”

“I told Shandra to grab a few of the others and create a diversion that would get everyone out of the room,” Rick says.

“Whatever she did, it’s working,” Chad says, watching people rush from the room as a third bang reverberates around the emptying space.

“Thank fuck,” Drew shouts as the door finally opens. “Look sharp, guys,” he says, drawing his gun up. I flip the safety off as Rick and Chad do the same.

Drew races into the corridor, holding up a hand when he reaches a control panel mounted to the wall. He taps in the code again and a couple of other buttons, before jerking his head to the side. “Come on.”

We take off running down the long dark corridor.

“How likely are we to be ambushed?” I inquire.

“I just locked every room but my father’s private room. There is an override button inside each room, but it’s on a timer. We have five minutes before they all come after us,” Drew explains. “And I fucking hope he took her to his room.”

A gunshot goes off, quickly followed by another one, and my heart lodges in my throat. Panic claws at my insides, and I pray it was Abby who fired those shots and not the other way around. I push my legs harder, sprinting alongside Drew. His face matches how I feel on the inside.

We reach the end of the hallway and the only other door in this section of the dungeon. I’m expecting to have to break the door down, so when Drew turns the handle and it freely opens, I’m surprised.

My eyes are black orbs of hate as I lock eyes on Trent Montgomery. He’s buck-ass naked, crouched at Abby’s feet, his hands trailing up her legs. Drew aims his weapon at Christian Montgomery, his finger curling around the trigger. “Get the fuck away from my sister.”

Christian has his hands around Abby’s throat, and I aim my gun at his forehead. Her eyelids are fluttering, her skin pale, and it’s clear she’s struggling to breathe. My finger twitches on the trigger. “Don’t, Kai,” Rick says, cautioning me to keep my cool.

If I shoot him, as I want to, they will call the cops and have me hauled away for murder. I’ve no doubt about that. All that will do is leave Abby more vulnerable and exposed, so I force myself to rein in my murderous rage.

Charlie is half-tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth, pinning frantic eyes on me. He’s been beaten, and it’s clear the intent was to violate Abby and force him to watch.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Christian warns, yanking Abby upright so she’s shielding him. The pervert is naked too. As is Denton Mathers. He’s groaning in pain, clutching his leg, his fingers coated in blood. A flash of silver glints, and Christian raises a knife to Abby’s throat. Her head is lolling back, her body limp, and she’s barely conscious. Her dress is torn in several places, her legs are covered in blood, and there’s a trickle of blood from a small cut in her neck.

My blood boils and my fingers twitch with the need to inflict pain. But I hold back. Because that psycho nutjob has a knife to the throat of the woman I love. One false move and she could die.

“Drop your weapons. Now. Or I’ll slit her throat,” Christian demands, and he’s not fucking around.

The four of us drop our weapons without hesitation.

The asshole smirks, yanking Abby to her feet and kicking our guns aside. “Your father will be most disappointed in you,” he says to Drew, inching around us, continuing to use Abby as a shield, keeping the knife pressed to her flesh. A fresh line of blood oozes from a new cut, and I want to lunge at the bastard and gut him from the inside out. “Trent. Grab Denton. We’re moving our party upstairs.” He shoots me a malevolent grin, and I dig my fingernails into my palms. “We’ll return her to her husband tomorrow,” he says, setting his gaze on Charlie for a second. “If you attempt to intervene again, I will enjoy slicing through her soft skin.” He presses the knife to her throat as he backs up toward the open door, and a whimper falls from Abby’s mouth.