I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding and nod. “Yeah, let’s go get our guys back. The Vatel’s promised to free our men so they can join the fight.” We learned from Devon that all of Alex’s men are pinned down at the two locations they were sent to by Desire’s men. Desire splitting her manpower is working in our favor. Her armies are split, so it gives us a shot at taking her out before the rest of her forces can arrive and aid her.

“Don’t fucking die, Tate,” Halo orders.

I scoff. “I wasn’t planning on it but if I do, at least I’ll make a pretty corpse.” Halo glares at me.

“If you die, he’ll burn the fucking world down. He won’t survive losing someone else he loves.” The serious tone of his voice gives me pause. I don’t know what to say so I just nod and get my head back in the game. As we round the corner, Vatican slows the car. Both me and Halo push forward to look between the seats. My eyes widen and my mouth parts on a gasp. I underestimated her, she has the street barricaded by armed officers. At the sight of our car, they all turn and raise their guns.

“Where the fuck are the Vatel’s?” Pope snaps.

I shake my head. “They said they would be twenty minutes behind us.”

“Tate, this shit changes the plan,” Vat growls.

“How did you not see this on the cameras?” I direct my question to Halo.

“She’s looped the fucking cameras, that’s why.” He sounds really angry that his sister duped him, but we can’t do anything about that now. The shouts of the officers can be heard. Without any warning, I throw my door open and leap out of the car before the guys can stop me. I just need to buy us enough time before the Vatel’s get here and for the Filthy Few to get inside the building, I fucking hope CJ Vatel doesn’t fuck me over to get back at Alex for aiding Desire in taking down his father.

“Stop right there!” someone yells.

I freeze and raise my hands in the air. I feel the three guys at my back, the anger wafting off them is tangible. “My name is Tatum Lawson. Before you pricks go ahead and get trigger happy you should know my boyfriend is the one that cunt has locked up inside that building.” The four of us remain silent as the idiots speak among themselves. I can guarantee Desire would have given orders for these idiots not to kill me, she would want that honor for herself.

The moment one of them reaches for their radio I know they are radioing into their cum dumpster boss that I’m here. We wait for what seems like hours but it's mere seconds until the cop turns his attention back to us.

“Throw your guns to the side, interlock your fingers behind your heads and get on your knees,” he calls out.

“You must be out of your goddamn mind!” I shout.

“Tatum,” Pope grits out in warning but I ignore him.

“The only man I will ever get on my fucking knees for is being held against his will by that cock guzzling slut who signs your bonus checks. You want me, come get me, you Fonzi wannabe looking motherfucker.” We’re met by the sound of every gun cocking and then suddenly our chests are lit up by red laser beams. How these assholes are able to do this in a city as big as Chicago is a mystery to me, we haven’t seen a single person for at least four blocks.

“Unless you want the boss to skin you alive, I suggest you don’t shoot them!” I turn my head toward the entrance of the courthouse to see a man walking toward us. The officers don’t listen and keep their guns trained on us, but the guy doesn’t seem to care as he stalks into the middle of the road strolling toward us like there isn’t thirty or so guns aimed in our direction. Pope, Vatican and Halo all press in closer to me as the man draws near. He stops a few feet away from me and nods to the guys, which has a frown pulling at my brows.

“Who are you?” I ask.

The man smiles. “My name's Devon.”

“You seem important,” I reply.

He snorts. “Nah. I’m so far from important it's laughable. I’m what you call expendable.”

I cock my head to the side and study him. “Why the hell are you here then?” I grit out.

“Because I’m the only one who is going to take you to Alex.” I open my mouth to reply but he pushes on. “There isn’t much time, Tatum. Desire has a four inch blade lodged in his abdomen and currently has four men stringing him so she can whip him while Omen and Carnage watch. Did you want to keep arguing or would you like to get in there so we can try to save him while we wait for your backup to arrive?”

A lump lurches into my throat. “Take me to him,” I force out through clenched teeth.

“Tate, if we go in there we’ll be outnumbered. We need to wait for the others?—”

I whirl around and pin Vatican with a look that promises pain if he keeps talking. “You want to wait out here and be a pussy, then go for it but I’m going.” I don’t wait for his reply as I nod for Devon to lead the way. The three brothers mutter curses behind me, but follow after us regardless of the risks.

Could we be walking into a trap?

Yes.

Do I care?

No.