Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

after us and set up a rehab clinic with his wife.

“Pax?” Dylan asked.

“Yo.”

“Courtney’s gone.”

Pax pulled the SUV off to the side of the road. “She’s what?”

“She’s gone. Disappeared. We’ve looked everywhere. She went out for her meditation walk and never came back. Jeanette is beside herself.”

“Motherfucker!”

I looked down at my phone, thumbs typing out the new information for Sawyer.

“’I’m sorry, Pax. I’ve let you—”

“No.” He cut off Dylan’s apology, swearing again. “No, Dylan. She’s been kidnapped. Jetta’s missing too. Shit is going off down here. It’s not your fault. We dropped the ball. I underestimated our opponent.”

Silence met this declaration. Finally, Dylan coughed, clearing his throat. “What can I do?”

“Look after Jeanette. We’ll call you as soon as we know.”

“Good luck.”

Pax hit the end button, muttering, “Fuck.”

“Fuck about covers it,” I agreed.

“This is escalating.”

“We’re on it,” Brean assured from the backseat.

“It was meant to be me.”

“What?” I twisted to look at my best friend.

“This whole thing. It’s meant to be me,” he muttered, fingers drumming on the steering wheel.

“What are you on about?” Brean leaned between the seats, frowning.

Pax turned the car, merging back into traffic. “Nothing, forget it.”

Forget it?

“Seriously, Pax?” I shook my head. “After this is said and done, we’re sitting down for a beer and you’re talking that dark shit out.”

We arrived at the office to a packed room. AFP and our guys were frantic as news trickled in. Our lead said it was likely Jetta and Courtney would be held at White’s Thredbo property. Sawyer had sent through a schematic of the building. A large property with three wine cellars scattered across the grounds, the place was heavily fortified.

“Who the fuck needs three wine cellars?” I asked, frowning at the damn map.

Rich fuckers.

Swat arrived, readying for the extraction. They planned to squeeze us out, push us to the back.

Fuck that.

I pulled Pax aside.

“Plan?”

“I’m going in. Fuck what they say.”

I nodded. “I got you. Whatever you need.”

Pax clasped my forearm. “You’ll take care of her, yeah?” His eyes were dead.

“Yeah. But, dude, you’ll be here to take care of her yourself.”

He looked away. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Sixteen

Luc

Wind whipped through the helicopter. Paul White, kingpin of a fucking drug cartel. He’d had Jetta and Courtney under his thumb for years. Simon Esso had been nothing but a figure head, a pawn used by Paul for his ultimate purpose. What that was? We had no idea.

The helicopter banked, starting to descend.

I adjusted my grip on my gun, jerking my head up at Pax. He nodded.

Let’s do this.

We bounded out, racing down the hill towards the cellars.

I hesitated, slowing as a figure appeared in the doorway of one. Paul White held a gun to Jetta’s head.

“Fall back!”

Paxton powered forward, ignoring the directions.

Jesus fuck.

I shook off my unease, following Pax, trusting his instincts.

Paul had a gun pressed to Jetta’s forehead. His eyes were wide, crazed. I breathed, stopping, lining up my shot.

Breathe. Look for the gap.

Years of training took over, I tuned out Paul’s rants, my eyes sharp as I watched the scene play out. Body language told me more than a person’s words.

He ranted, Paxton watching. Jetta’s eyes were firmly trained on Pax, hope and fear warring.

Paul pressed the gun harder to Jetta’s temple, his body language changing. I raised my pistol, squeezing.

Paul’s gun stalled in the chamber, jumping. My bullet grazed his cheek as he flinched.

Fuck.

Pax’s bullet hit Paul’s shoulder, another his arm, while my second embedded in his chest. He stumbled backwards, Jetta still clutched to him.

I moved, watching as they struggled, Jetta desperately squirming to get away. Paul tripped, pulling them both down into the cellar.

“Fuck!”

I chased Pax down the stairs, finding him at the bottom, blood decorating his body, Jetta moved into the recovery position.

“It was meant to be me. It was meant to be me,” Pax chanted as Jetta spluttered. I moved immediately to Paul, taking their back against the potential danger.

I dragged Paul away, pressing a hand to stem the bleeding at his chest. The man gasped, his eyes wide with fear.

A woman crouched behind me while the tactical team swarmed the cellar, securing the room.

“You the sister?” I barked.

She nodded, eyes narrowed on Paul. “Courtney.”

A man dropped beside me, pulling out a first aid kit.

I raised up, letting the medic work. Moved to the younger Oliver.

“You good?”

She nodded, eyes still on her uncle.

“Courtney?”

She finally turned, blinking up at me. “Sorry?”

I frowned. “You hit your head?”

“I…” She swallowed. “I don’t think so?”

I shrugged off my jacket, wrapping her in its warmth.

“Let’s get you above ground and in a chopper. They’ll be dropping Jetta at a hospital. Let’s make sure you’re there too.”

She allowed me to escort her up the stairs, her teeth chattering. The shock kicking in.

Pax had tucked Jetta into a seat, the pilot turning to watch. I strapped Courtney in, jumping into the seat next to her. Pax looked at me, his arms around his girl.

“You good?” I asked.

He nodded, giving Jetta a tight squeeze. “Solid, mate.”

I nodded at the pilot. “Ready when you are, chief.”

The helicopter lifted, starting the journey back to Canberra.

Jetta leaned against Pax, her eyes drifting closed. I watched as Pax leaned down, pressing kisses to her hair. The relief on his face was painful. It was as if a burden had been lifted.

At the hospital, they rushed Jetta and Courtney off for testing. Pax stood outside the theatre while they were in getting X-rayed. Jetta had injured her wrist in the fall down the cellar stairs.

I leaned against the wall next to him, hands in pockets as I watched his face.

“You wanna talk about it?”

He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I should have told you.”

“Of course.”

He shoved my arm. “You don’t even know what I’m talking about.”

“Doesn’t matter. You should have told me anyway.” I bumped his shoulder. “We’re in this.”

Pax blew out a breath. “I need therapy.”

I nodded, biting my tongue. He glanced at me, then huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. You told me so.”

I shrugged. “We can’t all be perfect.”

He snorted