Chapter 45: Liam
Liam
Cara's hysterical sobs echoed through the mansion, snapping me out of my sleep. I quickly sit up in bed, my heart pounding as I realize it is the middle of the night. The clock on the bedside table read 2:47 a.m. My eyes widened as the events of the previous few hours rushed back to him. Isabelle had been in bed with me. We shared the most amazing night of my life and I fell asleep with her in my arms, and now she is gone and Cara was here, looking like she had been through the wringer.
I leapt out of bed, wrapping a robe around my large frame, and rushed to Cara's side. She has fallen to the floor in her attempt to get to me, her body trembling, and tears streaming down her face.
"Cara, Cara, it's okay. Shhh, tell me what happened," I cooed, gently taking her by the shoulders and rubbing her arms to warm and soothe her. Cara's words tumbled out in a frenzied mess.
"Liam, I'm so sorry. I-I was kidnapped. Alessandro... he took me. He hurt me, Liam. He's a monster. He would have killed me if Isabelle hadn't come to trade places. I didn't want to leave her. She told me I had to that he wouldn't kill her. I ran, I came back here as fast as I could. We have to help her. Oh God, Liam, he has Isabelle!"
My blood ran cold. Isabelle, his precious treasure, had traded herself for Cara's freedom. How could this be? I held Cara tightly, trying to calm her down and process this new horror. My mind raced. Alessandro, the sadistic crime lord, was known for his viciousness, and if anyone crossed him, they disappeared without a trace. I had never been more terrified of anything in my life. He might not kill her, but he will hurt her. But if he ever finds out what they had done tonight, I knew he would kill her. The urgency of the situation snapped me into action. I barked orders to the men who had followed Cara through the house.
"Get Declan now!"
I need to get all my resources at hand. As I rubbed Cara's back, listening intently to her every word, piecing together the puzzle of her escape and Alessandro's operations. Cara described the house where she was held, the brutal conditions of the seller she was kept, and the glimpse of Isabelle she had seen.
She begged me to save her, her eyes pleading and wild with fear.
"We will find her, Cara. We'll get her back. I promise," Liam said, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. I have to get her back. She has so quickly become the center of my world. The bedroom door burst open as Declan's large frame filled the entryway. The relief on his face when he saw his own wife, he was almost in tears himself.
"Cara." He breathed as he rushed to take her from my arms. The relief short lived replaced with rage as he takes in her beaten frame.
"Dec!" She easily falls into his arms and continues to sob.
I briefed him on the situation, his voice growing more agitated by the second. Declan's eyes darted between me and Cara, understanding the gravity of the matter. That Isabelle gave herself up for Cara. He scoops her from the floor into his arms.
"We'll get her back. Don't you worry. Liam and me will sort this mess out," he said, comforting his wife as his Irish accident coming out thick because of all the emotions he is also feeling right now. My mind was in overdrive. I knew Alessandro wouldn't hesitate to hurt Isabelle, and every minute counted.
"Go take her to get cleaned up, get her something to eat and get her settled. Then we plan. We don't have a lot of time." My voice shakes no matter how are I try to keep it calm and strong.
"I want to help." Cara says into Declan's chest. Now somewhat calmed by Declan's presence, seemed ready to help. She offered vital details about the warehouse's layout, potential exits, and the number of guards. Every thing she saw when being dragged out to meet Isabelle at the gate. When she pauses trying to get out of my brothers hold, I respond before he can.
"You've done enough, you told us where she is. And you have been through so much. You just rest now." I tell her softly squeezing her hand. Declen gives me a thankful look and leaves the room.
I give my men explicit instructions to prepare for war, knowing that a rescue mission would likely involve a confrontation with Alessandro's goons. I tell everyone to meet in the war room. Once everyone knows where we are to meet, I head to my room to get dressed. When I remove the robe, I can still smell her on my skin. For the first time in longer than I can remember I feel tears gather in my eyes. I refuse myself a shower not wanting to lose her scent. Refusing to believe its the last time I will ever smell it. My mind is still trying to play catch up. How did she get away from the estate? How did she get all the way back to his house? And how the hell did I not notice when she wasn't in my arms anymore? I shake myself from those thoughts because they aren't helpful right now. I need to keep a clear head.I finish dressing in my tactical gear. I am not going to waste time having to come change before we head out. I hope the rest of my men have the same foresight to do the same.
Then I go and meet my men.We have no time to waste, She has already been there for a few hours since it takes that long to get back here. Who knows what that monster has already subjected her to. My stomach turns at the thought.
The things I will do to him for what he did to Cara is enough to turn anyone green. But what I am going to go to him for what he has done, and is most likely doing to Isabelle as we prepare? That brings a sickening smile to my face, because yes, he will pay for what he has done. And he will learn what a true sadist is capable of. I let that settle over me and I walk into the war room.