Captivated Desires

39

"You put Reina in danger because of a gambling debt?" Azar's voice was flat, his disappointment obvious. "You're telling me you sold out not only our teammate but the boss's wife, to save your own skin?"

"I know how it sounds," Josh said, his words thick with regret. "But I didn't think it would be this, I didn't think they would hurt her. I swear, I didn't mean for any of this to happen-"

"You didn't think?" Reign growled, stepping forward. "You didn't think about what could happen to her, what they could do to her? You didn't think that maybe, just maybe, it was a stupid and dangerous idea to give out her location to people who wanted to hurt her?"

"I know, I know, it was stupid, it was reckless, it was dangerous-" Josh's voice was thick with tears now. "I should have gone to you instead, should have come to you for help. But I freaked out, I panicked, I-"

Azar put his gun up "No don't- Don't shoot him-" I screamed at Azar. Azar froze at my scream, his finger tense on the trigger of his gun. His gaze darted between me and Josh, confusion and anger warring on his face. "If you shoot- I swear-" I threatened in a mid sob.

Azar dropped his gun, his face twisted with confusion and anger. "Are you seriously protecting him right now?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the room.

"He has protected me multiple times, he saved me years ago that day when he sat there for 30 minutes getting every shard of glass out of my stomach when I was pregnant with Willow," I said loudly.

Azar's face hardened. "And this makes up for betraying you? For putting you in harm's way and then standing there like a coward while they tortured you?"

"Please don't-" I pleaded, the room was suddenly deadly quiet. Azar lowered his gun slowly, his eyes on the now lifeless body of Josh. The team stood frozen, their expressions a mixture of shock and anger. "Why'd you do it?" Reign demanded, his voice taut with barely suppressed rage.

I cried out "No-" I crawled over his body "Josh wake up-" It was too late. Josh was no longer breathing, his body still and lifeless on the ground. The team looked on in grim silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them heavily. Reign stepped over to me, gently pulling me away from the body. "It's too late," he murmured, his voice strained. "He's gone."

I sobbed more "No no-" He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "I know, love," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I know, I know."

I screamed at Azar "I hate you-" Azar flinched at my words, a look of pain crossing his face. But he didn't try to defend himself, didn't try to rationalize his actions. He simply looked at me, a weary, resigned look settling on his features. "I had to," he said quietly, his voice hollow. "He betrayed us. He put you in danger. He was a liability, a threat. I did what had to be done."

I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. But a part of me knew that strangely, he was right. Josh had betrayed me and had put me in danger. But he had also been a friend, someone I had trusted. And seeing him now, his body lying motionless on the ground, his face still and peaceful in death, it was hard to reconcile those two images.

The room was eerily silent, the only sound of my sobs and the sound of my breathing. Reign held me tightly to him, his arms a strong and comforting presence. But his mind was elsewhere, consumed with anger and grief. He looked over at Azar, his expression hardening. "This isn't over," he said, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "We're not done here yet."

Azar met his gaze, his features set in a hard line. "What do you propose we do?" he asked, his voice steady.

"We find the people who did this," Reign said, his voice cold and resolute. "We find them and make them pay. For what they did to Reina, for what they did to all of us."

The team nodded, their expressions grim and determined. They were all clearly shaken by what had happened, by the pain and suffering I had endured. But their loyalty to the family was unwavering, and their anger towards those who had hurt me ran deep and hot.

 "We start by finding out where Josh was getting his intel," Azar spoke up, his voice all business now. "If he was being blackmailed, we need to find out by who and how."

Azar's eyes flickered towards the man in the corner, who was struggling to his feet. "You stay right there," he said, his voice a low, cold warning. The man stopped, his eyes wide with fear. Azar gestured to one of the team members, who stepped forward and firmly restrained the captive.

Reign, meanwhile, was still holding me close to him. He was hyper-aware of my every breath, my every heartbeat. He could feel the trembles going through my body, the sobs that occasionally escaped my lips.

"We also need to get Reina to a hospital," Azar said, his voice more gentle now as he looked at me and Reign. "She needs proper medical attention, especially for that bullet wound."

Reign nodded grimly, carefully manoeuvring me so he could carry me in his arms. "I'll take her there myself," he said, his voice firm and protective. The team quickly moved into action. They started to clean up the scene, disposing of any evidence and preparing to leave. Azar stayed back, his eyes on me and Reign as Reign lifted me into his arms.

Reign carried me out of the warehouse, his steps hurried and purposeful. He had a lot on his mind - anger, worry, fear - but his main focus was getting me to safety, getting me the medical care I needed after that horrific ordeal.