Chapter 117

**Blue**


It’s dark now and my feet are starting to feel more like concrete than part of my body. There are lights in the distance, but I can’t tell how far thanks to my vision blurring. I’m not going to be able to get far like this. A heavy weight slams into me forcing me to slam into the ground with a cry.

“You thought you could run? I gave you the benefit of the doubt thinking you weren’t dumb enough to try and run.” Tet growls into my ear.

He’s completely on top of me and pushing my face into the ground hard enough for me to suck in bits of dirt into my mouth. I try to move but I am starting to feel too weak. Still, I can’t stop fighting yet.

“Let’s go back inside, we don’t want to miss the call from Artemis. Hopefully he has my money, or this is the last breath of fresh air you will ever have.” He climbs off me and pulls me up along with him.

My head swims but I try to keep my head clear long enough to figure out what to do. His arm is wrapped around my arms keeping them locked in place and dragging me. I’m not sure if what I’m thinking will work but I don’t wait to make sure. As hard as I can I slam my foot on his and push my self back knocking him off balance. We fall together and the wind is knocked out of me when my body collides over Tet’s. His arms loosen from around me and I use the room I’m given to throw my elbow back and ram it into his stomach.

He curses and I scramble off him. I don’t get far, I’m in too much pain now. It doesn’t take long for him to get back to his feet and come after me. There is no point in trying to fight, I’m too tired. Where would I even go? It’s dark and I don’t know where I am. My body goes limp and it’s as if the world is going quiet and the only sound left is the sound of my weak breaths. Tet must realize I’m no longer fighting because he scoops me up and carries me with ease.

That’s the last thing I remember.


**Artemis**

The General wasn’t kidding about him having men ready to go. There has to be a dozen men waiting for me when I arrive at the meet up. They’re ready to go and provide me with a bullet proof vest and a weapon as well with no questions asked. The General was able to get a lock on Blue’s possible location. I take the lead in my own car and follow the directions given to me. As we’re driving my phone rings and I answer it over Bluetooth.

“What?”

“Brother is that any way to talk to family? Where’s my money? I’m not patient.” He says with a dark laugh. “Your little wife isn’t looking so good.”

“What did you do to her?” I yell at him.

“Nothing! Your little wife tried to run away, but don’t worry I got her back safe and sound. Well, safe at least. She isn’t talking much and looks a little pale. I wonder how long she will last with this injury she has though so you better hurry.”

I’m grinding my teeth so hard that I’m sure he can hear it.

“Put her on the phone.”

“She can’t talk right now brother. She’s a little tired.” He sighs dramatically.

“I have the money Tet! Tell me where she is!”

“You bring me my money first and then I’ll tell you where she is.” He ends the call and I slam my hands on the steering wheel over and over again.

I planned on getting my brother sent away where no one will ever see him again and let him endure the pain of being a nobody, but if he hurt Blue…I will use the weapon I was given. He’s my brother and as much as we did not get along or see eye to eye, the idea of fatally injuring him makes me feel sick to my stomach. Even so, Blue and our children are the most precious people in my life. If he takes her from me then I won’t be able to stop myself from taking him out.
I’m not sure if the General would be able to help me clean up me killing my brother but I wouldn’t regret settling the score even for a little jail time. His men provided me with a weapon, so he must have some idea of what I might do with it. The idea of at least beating the shit out of my brother keeps me in at a steady level of pissed the fuck off that I’m as determined as ever to find Blue.

The directions I was given is leading us further out of town and toward the industrial side of the city. All the buildings in this area look exactly the same and end at the edge of the city park that has been dubbed a protected habitat. The man who bough this land made sure to use every single piece of land for his buildings. The further we go there is less and less light until it’s only our high beams are the only light illuminating the area. We are sent almost to the very edge of the industrial park, and it doesn’t look like Tet has moved from the location, so I continue on.

I find the place and kill my lights, so Tet doesn’t see them and park on the other side of the building beside it. The guys and I cut our engines and quietly pile out of our cars.

“How do you want to handle this?” One of the men whispers.

“I’ll take your lead. This is your forte not mine. Just leave my bother to me.” I tell them.

“You got it. Let’s move boys.” The men move in sync like they’ve done this a million times.

I follow their lead and try to keep up. I may be a king in the board room and a cold-hearted asshole that’s happy to make people piss themselves when they see me, but I have never been in a gun fight. So, I am willing to admit my experience and let these guys handle this part of the rescue mission. We make it to the right building and there is a single light above the door on the side of the building. The men jog over to it and the guys line up along the side of the building while one of them moves in front of the door.

One of the guys start a count down and when it reaches one the guy in front of the door kicks the door in and the men run in behind him with their weapons drawn. I pull out my gun, and even if I never found myself in a position to need a gun, I did take lessons on how to use one. As soon as the door is kicked in there is a loud alarm blaring from the inside. We move in anyway and from the lack of gunfire or an attack of any kind I assume Tet is alone.

Big mistake. He should have been smart enough to at least hire some help. Maybe he thought he wouldn’t need to because I would pay the money and he would be out of the country without a single person getting in his way. His privileged life has let him think he’s untouchable in the world, but that ego is going to get him hurt.

The large room is scantly lite other than the flashing red lights from the alarm, but I can make out pallets of wood and tool benches. Along the walls are what look like offices connected by a single walkway that can be reached by a set of metal stairs.

“Take the left, we’ll take the right.” One of the men says signaling the directions with his hands.

The group breaks up and I stick with the men going left. We jog toward the stairs and pause to make sure no one is coming from any of the offices. The coast is clear, making it clear that Tet really is alone. We take the stairs quickly and one of the men kicks down the first office door and disappears inside. Each guy takes a door only leaving the one on the end left. I run toward it and stop short when I see a dark figure on the ground. There is a light on further in the room so it’s only casting a shadow on the person laying on the floor.

A sick feeling bubbles up in my stomach and I don’t waste another second trying to get in. I don’t have the skill to kick down a door, so I decide to go through the window instead. I pull off my vest and unbutton my shirt pulling it off and putting my vest back on. I wrap the shirt around my hand and cock my arm back before slamming it into the window.

I climb through and pull my gun up when someone comes running out of the back room.

“Tet! Stop!” I take out my gun and point it at him. “Stop.”

He smirks and rushes me sending us both to the ground. He throws a punch at my face making my head snap to the side giving me a better look at the person laying on the ground.

“Blue!” I yell but she doesn’t answer.

Fuck! No…no…no…