At the sight of Jesse’s ute, I un-click my belt and scramble out of the car before Tanner can even put it into park. The passenger side door is open and the first aid kit is thrown all over the place. My heart threatens to launch out of my rib cage but the intense tightening of my chest holds it all in place. Blood is smeared on numerous wrappers of bandages and gauzes and a trail of blood has been left in the dirt. I spot Jesse’s hoodie which has been left hanging on the side view mirror of the driver’s door and I pull it against my chest. The warm damp crimson colour leeches into my clothes, I breathe in his familiar scent and panic overwhelms me. I drop to my knees. Where is he? I dart my eyes around, searching for any sign of him as my fingers intertwine in the hair at the base of my neck; fisting my hands I pull, the sting of hairs ripping from my head keeps me here in the present. I can’t afford to lose myself right now. Jesse needs you, Kinsley.

Looking at Tanner, my eyes plead for him to find Jesse, he holds my eye contact briefly before he continues to pace up and down. He’s talking into an earpiece, from what I understand it allows him to contact Jesse. My stomach sinks with each frustrated grunt he makes. The only assumption is that he isn’t having any luck.

Chapter Forty-One

Jesse

I wince as Warren’s left hand reaches across, pressing down firmly on my chest.

“I’m sorry, Jesse. I need to keep pressure on this.”

“Enlighten me.” I cough, a metallic taste filling my mouth. “H-how the fuck did you –”

“A story for another day Jess.” He glances my way before refocusing on the road. “Please know that my only comfort was found in knowing you’ve been looking out for our girl. I don’t have the words to even begin to explain – Knowing she has had you has been my lifeline.”

“The girls … How many more are there?”

He shakes his head on a frown before answering me. “This whole operation is bigger than anyone could fathom. I wasn’t kept in the loop, they didn’t trust me with any intel. All I know is that the drugs are a cover up.” Warren glances in the rear view mirror, dropping his shoulders slightly with the knowledge that we aren’t being followed. “I overheard a conversation one day, Lance was speaking with someone he called ‘Luxton’ – I didn’t catch a first name. I asked around later on and apparently they are a family within the Los Angeles Mafia.”

“Wait – as in the United States?”

Warren gives me a curt nod, ending the conversation as he drives back towards where my ute is parked.