Exit Wounds

Chapter 16/19

Veronica sighed as she slid into the cab with Eli and Gavi. It was late and she just wanted to go back to Murphy's to check on Logan and her friends. She pulled out her phone and noticed all the missed calls and text messages. With a confused look, she started listening to them. She frantically clung to Eli's arm. Her voice was a higher pitch than normal. "Lana is in the hospital. She was shot when she and Logan went to get Mac."

Eli leaned forward and redirected the taxi towards their offices.

Gavi pulled out his phone and called Zeke to get an update. "Wallace is safe at Murphy's house, but Logan and Mac are still missing."

Veronica was panting. Big blue eyes looked over at Eli. "I just got them back." Her voice whined softly.

Eli nodded and reached over to put a hand on her thigh. "We'll get them back, V. Adrian is calling you out. He's pulling you in for a trap, you know that."

"What if he's already killed them?" Veronica's brain flashed with images of Logan and Mac dead, laying still and waiting to be found. Her tone made her sound much younger than she was. "What if he tortured them and taunted them like he did to me?"

Eli let out a sigh. "Chica, we'll save them. They will be fine. They are fine. He's probably just holding them so he can hurt them when you show up. He's not out to punish them. He's trying to get to you. He wants you to pay for fucking with him."

Veronica let his words into her mind. She let them soak in and nodded. "It wouldn't benefit him to kill them without me watching. It would ruin a moment to hurt me." Her voice was stronger than it had been.

"Right. So, we need to figure out how to go and get them back." Eli nodded with his back straight as he thought. "Should we go back to Morris and Wills?"

"We'll call them when we find him." Veronica's eyes sharpened as she turned to look at Eli. "Let's gear up and call in some backup."

"You mean boyfriends." Eli's grin was playful, but it dropped suddenly though. "You and me are in this together, right? You aren't going to run off and try to play hero alone, are you?"

Veronica shook her head. "No. I need you and Gavi and Mooney. I need all of you guys." She met Eli's eyes. "I've learned that the hard way. I need my crew." She smiled and set her hand on top of Eli's.

"So, we go, get back Mac and your boy toy and end this." Eli gave a strong nod.

Mac sat at a small table. Her wrists were cuffed to the arms of the metal chair. Her feet were bound with duct tape and attached to a leg of her chair. She had been lead away from Logan and kept in a dusty room for what seemed like hours. The room was white, but dingy, with only the table and chairs inside. There were no windows, and Mac figured she was in a huge facility. She had denied herself any beverage they offered or food. She didn't trust enemies of Veronica.

"Miss Cindy Mackenzie. I don't believe we've been properly introduced." His voice carried into the room from the door and Mac had to turn awkwardly and watch him from a pained angle. He stepped in closer and it gave her neck some relief. "I'm Adrian Knox." He picked up a couple of her fingers and gave them a little shake. "Comfortable?"

Mac watched and flinched at his touch. She was trembling from fear. Her own heartbeat was pounding in her chest. She nodded nervously to answer his question. "Close enough."

Adrian smiled. "Good." He seemed relaxed and a little gleeful. He gestured to the chair across from her with a raised brow. "Do you mind if I sit?"

Mac's eyes squinted a bit. "I don't suppose you actually care either way about my opinion."

Adrian chuckled. "No, I really don't, but my mother taught me to mind my manners. I try, for her." He sat and crossed his legs. He took a moment to look Mac over, obviously internally criticizing her. "Miss Mars does have a variety of friends and associates, doesn't she?"