Saving Calen

21.

Aylah's POV

My knees feel weak as I stand in between Cole and Caden.

"What did you just say?" Caden asks.

"I fucking found him." Cole says.

Cole shuffles quickly to the kitchen bar and spreads out what looks like blue prints.

"I was racking my brain trying to think of where the Galantes would have him. We're supposed to know about every safe house, so why didn't we know about this one?" He speaks as if he can't get the words out quickly enough.

"So I started looking under all of the Galantes family members name for real estate. Any and all real estate. That's when I stumbled across Lilianna's empty warehouse at the New York and Vermont border."

Caden holds up a hand.

"Wait, Lilliana? The fucking five year old?"

Cole nods. "It's genius. No one would think to look."

"But, why would they have one hidden from the bodyguards born and raised to protect them?" Cadens eyebrows furrow, then realization crosses his face. "In case we ever got out of line. Fucking sick bastards. They knew they wouldn't stand a chance, physically, so they needed an out."

I interrupt the boys talk session. "Then what the fuck are we waiting for? Let's go."

I can barely contain my anxiety.

"Not yet. We need a plan. No doubt they're armed to the teeth," Caden says, the wheels in his brain already turning.

"Archer! Get your ass out here!"

...

Calen's POV

I lay stretched out on a table.

My wrists and ankles are connected to rings that are secured to each corner. My clothes have been stripped and electrodes have been placed on each of my temples.

Danny stands behind me with two nasty looking instruments in his hands.

"We'll get this answer out of you, Riot." He sneers.

Before I have time to brace myself, he presses the instruments to each temple. My entire body tenses and convulses under the electricity that's being pumped into it. The pain is unbearable. My muscles lock and it gets increasingly harder to breathe.

A scream rips from my throat as I start to lose consciousness. Just as my world fades, he releases it and my body slumps, aftershocks keeping it impossible to stay still.

"Just tell me, Calen."

I gather what strength I have and shake my head.

"Okay. Fine by me."

He presses some buttons on the machine and then pushes them into my head again, but this time it much worse. I lose all control of my body and scream relentlessly. He keeps on going and my entire being feels like it's on fire.

Then it stops. I see a blurry figure walk up to him, then they both rush out. Commotion sounds from the hallway as my brain finally gives out and I fall into a deep sleep.

...

Aylah's POV

"I'm coming in, asshat." I snap at Caden.

"You're not ready." He says back.

Anger flares in my chest. "I am. Who do you think he's going to want to see?" With that, I storm past him to the back of the van and start strapping gear to myself.