Chapter 21

Chapter 20
Bree sighed, she wouldn’t belong anywhere, she knew that now. She roamed along the street when she found a bridge. She slowly climbed up onto the metal guardrail and sat on top, watching the clear water move gracefully below her.

She wondered what the water would feel like, if it would wash away the pain she felt. She wrapped her arms around herself as she debated on jumping or not. Was she that much of a coward? She hung her head.

Ben and Justin watched the figure disappear and looked at each other when Ben’s phone began to let out a soft tone. Ben silenced the ringer, but he answered, “What’s wrong, babe?”

Great, just great. She wouldn’t call unless it was necessary.

“Okay, on our way back, just keep looking.” Ben ended the call and turned to Justin. “We’ve got a problem, Bree’s gone.”

Justin didn’t need to hear more, he took off in a run back to the Sonata. Why would she leave? Why would she endanger herself like that?

Sure the town was small, but there was no way he was going to be able to find her quickly. “Does she know which way Bree went?”

“We’ll have to find out when we get there, she’s looking for her now, though.”

“Why would she leave like this? Knowing we are out here trying to find the others.”

“A diversion.” Ben stated calmly, shrugging his shoulders.

They reached the car and threw their stuff back in, “To keep us from finding them long enough so they can be moved?” Justin demanded just another possibility that Bree was in on this, unless she was that manipulated, but she was so terrified, and there were signs of PTSD with her. Just like there had been with Cierra, “Ben, you trusted Cierra from the beginning, she was held captive by Rook, was made to do things for him, but you trusted that she had nothing to do with any of it, how did you manage that?”

“I went with my gut, and sometimes you just have to go with it.”

“And what if my gut is telling me she has nothing to do with this, but I also feel that I am misjudging because of those stupid kisses and that she’s a pretty face?” Justin dragged a hand over his face, frustration taking over.

“Look, Justin, no one can tell you which feeling to go with, but our guts are pretty good, you know that, we’ll figure this out, she’s like you said, terrified, I don’t think she’d be able to help these guys, especially after they beat her so bad, but this choice is all yours.”

He gazed out the window, he couldn’t be played, he was too damn good. But how could he have trusted her so easily? Iris, Cierra, and Ben all warned him. He should have heeded that warning.

Cierra drove the streets, frantically her gaze flashed around as she drove. She was close to giving up when she suddenly saw the fragile thing sitting on the bridge’s guardrail she was driving over.

Fear squeezed her heart when she watched Bree stand on top of the metal railing. She pulled over as quickly as possible, making horns blare behind her. She crawled over the center console and rushed over to Bree, “Bree, don’t!” she called out but was pulled up short and an arm wrapped around her throat.

Bree turned when she heard her new name and staggered along the metal rail digging into her sock covered feet. She let out a gasp when she saw Burly had a hold of Cierra, “Let her go!” Bree yelled as she jumped down off the railing and onto the harsher concrete.

“Oh, now why would I do that?” Burly demanded roughly, pulling Cierra back, squeezing tighter.

“Because she has nothing to do with what you’re trying to do, and she won’t be any help to you.” Bree moved closer, fear clouding her. She couldn’t let him take Cierra.

“You aren’t any help to me either anymore, you’ve got my partner in an uproar, they want you taken out, now this pretty thing, on the other hand, will get us the money you were supposed to get for us.”

“No!” Bree yelled, moving closer. “Let her go, I’ll go with you instead, please.” She began to beg.

“How do we know this won’t be some trick to get your new lover boy involved and finding his niece.”

“Because they don’t even know where I am, please, let her go, I’ll go with you, and I’ll behave.”

Burly let Cierra go but shoved her down on the ground roughly, making Cierra let out a scream. Burly rushed forward and gripped Bree's throat, “One wrong move, and you die, do you understand?”

Bree nodded her head slightly but tried her best to keep her gaze away from Cierra. As long as she was safe, that’s what mattered.

Cierra began to panic but pulled her phone out of her pocket, “Justin, you two need to hurry to the bridge on Main Street, I found her, but some man is here, and he’s going to take her, please.” She rushed out panicky yet quickly.

“We’retwo minutes out, try to stop him, don’t let them leave.”

Cierra didn’t know how to fulfill that request, she didn’t have a gun or anything, she always left the weapon handling to the guys and Holly, “You can’t take her!” She made a step to Bree and the man, whose arms bulged below his tight black shirt, hoping the guys would get there soon and in time.

“Oh, and who’s going to stop me, you two?” the man demanded, letting out an evil, gruff laugh.

She froze, he was right, she and Bree couldn’t stop this.

The man stepped backward from her, pulling Bree with him.

Cierra’s gaze widened when she saw Ben and Justin running up the sidewalk soundlessly, at least she stalled enough.

~

As Ben drove past Cierra, Bree, and the man Justin knew as Sal, Justin almost jumped out of the car, but Ben latched onto his arm, “Take him from behind.” Ben pulled over quickly, almost jumping the curb. They got out and hurried to get their guns.

Justin knew Bree wasn’t a part of this, she couldn’t be, she looked so scared as she stared at Cierra. His heart was almost bursting out of his chest as he rushed up the sidewalk.

“Cierra, please, just let him take me, I won’t have you go through what he can dish out, just let us go.” Her voice broke a little.

The man holding her backed up, and Justin drew his gun, “One wrong move, and this gun has a bullet with your name on it.” Justin gritted out as he pressed the gun into the man’s skull, itching to pull the trigger.

Sal turned but then in a split-second shoved Bree toward the metal railing, “Take your pick, the girl or your niece.” He pushed Bree with so much force it sent her over the railing.