Chapter 69

HAYDEN

I stared at the motel in front of me, it was quite late and only a few people walking around.

The light rain pelted against my skin as I took a surveying glance around, it would be the perfect spot to meet.

Gracie's phone had binged with a text from an unknown number earlier, telling her to meet here, I didn't have to think twice before I knew who had sent it.

It was perfect for me because I have been wanting to meet him. Too bad for him that the person he expected wasn't the one waiting for him.

The sound of my boot made a crunching sound on the gravel as I came to a halt. I waited for a few seconds just behind the motel but still nothing. I was beginning to get impatient.

"Are you going to continue hiding? why don't you come out ?" I spoke aloud.

I heard a sound behind me and turned around swiftly to be met with the barrel of a gun.

My gaze traveled to meet his, my remote expression revealing nothing.

For a moment we stared, gauging each other silently.

"I would keep that down if I were you detective " I spoke, unable to keep the icy edge out of my tone.

I surveyed the man who had been keeping tail on us for some weeks now, Apparently, he couldn't hide his trail well enough as he got discovered.

Sebastian had specifically wanted to get rid of him but for some reason I was hesitant. I didn't know if I should call him brave or stupid for trying to meet Gracie and thought I wouldn't know anything about it.

And to think that she hadn't been entirely honest to me about meeting him. The thought set my mouth in a grim line. She must have thought I was going to hurt him or worse.

she wouldn't have been too wrong about that though, especially now that he was holding a gun to my face.

"I'm fucking asking you to keep that down " I spoke again, this time my patience wearing thin.

"I'm not intimidated by you " he grounded out, his fingers tightening even further.

He was tough, pity that attribute wouldn't get him anywhere at this instant of time.

This was way more interesting than I had thought.

A slow sinister smile spread across my face.

"Well you should be because any moment from now you'll be a fucking dead man "

His gaze narrowed suspiciously at me for a second, before catching at the sight behind me.

"You motherfuc... " A bullet wheezed past his head interrupting whatever he was about to say.

"You are outnumbered, the next one won't miss, I assure you " I spoke levelly, satisfied when he dropped down his gun.

"Now let's get down to business, shall we? "

I met his furious gaze with a blank expression, I knew he wasn't like the other cops that could be easily paid off, he had interrupted our plans a few times which I wouldn't say was wise because he managed to piss my brother off.

"You met her today " I spoke in a matter of factly, I held up her cellphone to which he had texted her to meet over the important matter he had told her about this afternoon.

"What important thing do you have to tell her? "

"I'm not telling you shit! " he snapped then continued.

"Why do you have them? I found out she's been hiding from you, that's the reason she changed her identity, I refuse to believe that she went with you willingly. "

"So you wanted to rescue her? " a low dark chuckle escaped my mouth, he was not as smart as I had thought he was.

I took a glance around, I refused to waste any more time here with him.

"Stay away from my business...and from HER. " I spoke icily, enunciating each word clearly because I won't be responsible for anything that happens if he gets further involved in our matters, maybe he wasn't in any danger from me but I wouldn't say he was safe from Sebastian.

"It's only a matter of time before I get enough evidence against you " he spoke as if that would be enough to frighten me, I was the only predator over here.

"That might be true, but don't you think you should stay alive for that? "

His gaze took a quick scan around as if my men would jump at him any moment.

"No need to get alerted, if I wanted, then I wouldn't be standing here talking to you, you would have been fucking dead already," I spoke in a tight tone.

"And I'm supposed to be thankful to you? I'm not intimidated by you, I know you first of all kidnapped Hazel then you forced her to come with you "

I didn't miss the sudden look in his gaze whenever he talked about Gracie, I was beginning to get why he was bitching so much and going in circles.

"Even if that is true, it's none of your damn business, they are my family Gracie is MINE, as well as our daughter, you don't need to worry about her, because she's well-taken care of by me!"

A look of anger and something else flashed through his gaze, a look that I knew all too well.

It was Jealousy.

I gave him a cool unwavering stare, I was right that he wasn't doing this because it was his duty or for the goodness of his heart, but because he had a little secret.

"I don't believe you! " he spat

Another low dark chuckle escaped my mouth.

"Like I give a single fuck. You should stay at your level, away from our business, and most importantly away from her, You shouldn't even so much as to look in her direction or I might just..... " I inhaled sharply as I allowed the rest of my words to trail off.

I left him alone leaving him to stare after me.

Somehow she considered him a friend, if she ever found out that I did something to him, she would be hurt by it, and that was something I didn't want to risk.

He should consider himself lucky even though a part of me wanted to rip him to shreds for harboring any feelings for her.

My thoughts were interrupted by the loud sound of a gunshot.

Followed by a scream.

Another gunshot followed and my whole body tensed up in high alert.

My gun was clenched tight In my hands as I slowly and cautiously traced my way back.

The first thing my gaze settled on was the body on the floor.

It was the cop.

I made my way over in hasty steps, my gaze darting towards every corner in the alert.

I scrunched towards his level, he was barely breathing, my hand made contact with something wet on his shirt.

Blood...

Shit.

I tapped on his shoulders roughly

"Who did this?...hang on, get help! " I yelled to one of my men who had followed me.

How had this happened so suddenly?

I was about to straighten up when he clenched my hand tightly with surprising strength.

His next words were incorrigible, I was only able to make out a sentence.

"I wasn't t..the only one f..following t..that day, t..there's also her, ...danger " The rest of his words trail off as he went still against me, I watched as the life drained out of his eyes.

I took a quick survey of our surroundings, It wasn't a question that whoever the killer is was long gone. The question was why him? If the person had been after me then why didn't he come for me?

Unless.......

Someone had been here watching us the whole time, probably waiting for me to leave.

I stared at the now lifeless body in my arms.

We weren't friends but it still set my blood roaring that some fucker had used him as a warning to me.

What had been the important thing he had wanted to tell to Gracie? Could it be that it was something else and not trying to help her escape me?

*

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I watched from a distance as the ambulance and cops set tapes across the scene.

I got inside my car prepared to drive off. He had said someone else apart from him had been following us and had referred to the person as a "She "

I started the ignition and the car vibrated to life, I was just about to press on the accelerator when my gaze caught on to something across the street.

It was a black BMW with tinted glass.

I would recognize that car anywhere.

It belonged to Melissa.

What could she be doing here by this hour?

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