26 | TONY MONTANA

The nightmare is almost over.

That's what Nichole keeps telling herself throughout the long drive. She knows what the man said about Ademar was right. Once he learns that she and Taehyun have been taken, he'll more than likely round up some men to help come to their rescue. No cop calling. It's yet another thing for Nichole to panic about. She doesn't know how this night will end for her, Taehyun is barely hanging on, and if Ademar comes rushing in trying to play superhero without a plan formed... Nichole will have essentially lost everyone.

And that, if she somehow makes it out of this alive, will torment her for the rest of her life.

"I think we're at the warehouse," Nichole whispers to Taehyun after the van rolls to a stop. She tries to check out the area through the windshield, but it's dark outside and hard to see clearly. "This is where they wanted Caty to drop off the money."

"Yeah, it felt like we've been driving for a while," Taehyun whispers back, looking utterly miserable. He's lost a lot of blood and is pale in the face. "I remember seeing us pass by a cornfield. We really are in nowhere land. They could kill us out here, bury us, and then build a garden over our graves. We'd probably never be found."

"Calm down, Stephen King. This fight isn't over yet." Nichole kisses him on the cheek. "We're going to make it through this. The both of us. Together. So no more negative talk, okay?"

Taehyun nods. "You're right. I'm sorry, baby."

After the men up front finish talking and making phone calls, the one in the passenger seat takes something out of the glove box and then exits the car. He comes around the van and opens the tailgate door. Saying nothing, he cuts the zip tie from around Nichole's ankles, allowing her to move freely. He places a black bag over her and Taehyun's heads before guiding them out.

"We make our products here, so be careful breathing in too fast and too deeply. Shit will fuck you up if you've never been high before." The man chuckles darkly while leading Nichole by her left elbow; the driver handles Taehyun. "Wish I could stick around to watch this reunion. Unfortunately, I got other errands to run. Just try not to kill each other before the Boss arrives."

Nichole doesn't ask for clarification.

She knows that she and Taehyun are being taken to wherever Kade is. She's more outraged than terrified. Ademar's words slowly creep their way back into her head, gently reminding her that all of this isn't her fault. It's Kade fucking Lowery's fault. If she had a gun in her hand she wouldn't hesitate. Not this time. She'd point it directly at his face and would pull the trigger with a smile. That's how mad she is. Mad enough to literally commit murder.

"Since I'm in a better mood..." After they're done walking, the man frees Nichole's wrists. He then takes the bags off her and Taehyun's heads. "Have yourself a little fun with your boy."

Nichole doesn't waste time examining the filthy dungeon-like enclosure that she's in because the man pushes her and Taehyun into a dark, dingy cell with Kade. The man locks them in and walks away laughing. A door off in the distance creeks open and then slams shut, leaving the three of them alone.

Taehyun sits on the floor in a corner opposite of Kade, scowling hard at the piss poor excuse of a man. Nichole doesn't sit. She pounces. Arms swinging, fists punching, mouth cursing, and legs kicking—she transfers all her hatred over to Kade. Every last drop. And knowing he earned the ass whooping, Kade silently endures it.

After Nichole gets all the rage out of her system, she goes to sit next to Taehyun, panting hard.  

"I..." Kade coughs, then he licks the blood dripping from his busted lip. "I definitely deserved that."

"Fucking right you deserved it," Nichole mutters. "And if we make it out of here, you don't have to worry about your boss coming back around to finish you off. I'll do it my damn self."    

Kade gave a dry laugh, one hand clutching his bruised abdomen. "As I said, I deserve it." 

"How did you get mixed up with these people?" Taehyun asks, trying to shift the conversation.

Nichole will surely kill Kade before anyone else can, and no matter what she says or how she feels right now, Taehyun knows she wouldn't be able to live with herself for killing someone. Even if that someone definitely and undoubtedly deserved death.

"Did you just wake up one day and decide you wanted to enter the drug game?" Taehyun finishes.

"Something like that," Kade answers calmly. "After my business went under and I lost everything to my name, I mooched off my parents for a while. And Nichole, too. After they threw me away, an old friend introduced me to someone who could supposedly get me back on my feet in less than a year. Desperate for money, I met up with the Boss. He taught me how and where to deal."

"Drugs?" Taehyun asks.

"Among other things," Kade replies. "Everything was good until I got caught selling to an undercover cop. When I didn't rat about where I got my shit from and then ended up in jail, Boss had his people on the inside protect me. Naturally, when I later got released, I owed him. I went back to selling, and then I got greedy."

"The man who brought us here told us what you did," Nichole says. "You stole some of your boss's drugs and money, then you got caught. I assume that's why you came to me asking for that 25k?"

Kade nods. "I never planned to actually leak our sex tape. I was only trying to scare you into giving me the money. I hate myself for dragging you into this. I'm so sorry, Nicky."

"Can't be too sorry considering you got me involved to help pay off a debt that you owe." Nichole rolls her eyes, hands balled into fists. "You can die knowing I'll never forgive you for any of this. I'll be in therapy for the rest of my fucking life because of you."

Taehyun grabs Nichole's hand, trying to calm her down. He can't do much with one leg, and if push comes to shove, it'll be best if she not waste more energy on Kade. Between the three of them, she has to be the one who makes it out of here alive. Taehyun wants nothing else.

"I know how tonight is going to end for me. I've made peace with it," Kade says. "They have no intentions of letting me leave. Once a thief, always a thief. When the Boss gets his money back, I'll be the first one he kills." Kade looks at Nichole, flashing a bleak smile. "If you ask nicely, he might even let you watch."

Nichole flips him off, saying nothing.

"Do you know where we are?" Taehyun asks. "I couldn't tell from the drive over, but in the texts they said this place was a warehouse."

"I haven't heard cars, a train, and not even a plane go by this place since I got here," Kade says. "We're in the middle of nowhere. Perfect spot for doing shady business and burying bodies."

"I take it this can't be your Boss' only warehouse," Taehyun adds. Kade shakes his head. "Shit. Who the fuck is this guy? Scarface 2.0?"

"Not quite," Kade laughs. "But he is a very, very powerful drug kingpin."

"That you stole from..." Nichole grumbles. "How smart."

"We can't sit around and wait to be executed. We need a plan," Taehyun says. "As much as I hate to say this, we need to work together."

"If Addy were here, he'd definitely suggest we use Kade as bait to make our escape," Nichole whispers to Taehyun. "I'm down with that if you are."

"I'm down," Taehyun whispers back before speaking to Kade. "Our plan also has to include getting our hands on a phone. We don't know how much security this place has and we have no weapons to take them out with. If we do manage to get a car and escape off the property, we need to call for help right away. What are your thoughts?"

"I know how we can get a phone," Kade replies. "All the guards carry one. Boss prefers to be able to reach us at all times. And some, not all, of the guards carry guns. If we can get one alone and disarm him, that could be our ticket out of here."

"You know the way out?" Taehyun asks. Kade nods. "Good. Because we came here with bags over our heads and had to walk down several flights of stairs..."

"This clearly isn't your average warehouse," Nichole adds.

"Boss has several like these, all of them custom made," Kade says. "To fool the law, it looks like a warehouse on the outside. On the inside, it's anything but. When you two were brought here, I bet they took you the long way around to confuse you, but I know the shortcut to the exit. I've worked here before and I'm certain I can get us out."

"The important question is who will be the one to disarm the guard?" Nichole asks, looking at Kade. "Taehyun was shot because you had the audacity to drag us into your shit. If you're truly sorry for bringing this hell into my life, this is how you can prove it."

"I have a background in wrestling," Taehyun interjects. "After Kade disarms the guard, I can at least help take him down, then—" he says to Nichole. "—you can secure the weapon."

"Babe, I really don't want you to get too involved," Nichole says to Taehyun, squeezing his hand. He'd torn part of his shirt and wrapped it around his wound to help stop the bleeding, but it still looks pretty bad. "You've lost blood... You should save the rest of your energy for trying to make it out of here."

"I'll keep him safe," Kade speaks up, staring at Nichole with earnest eyes. "We go with this plan, and no matter what happens, I'll do my best to keep the both of you safe. I can't take back what I did to you in the past, Nicky. I can't say sorry enough times, but I can do this for you."

Nichole narrows her eyes at Kade, speaking in a menacing tone. "I swear to God and all the angels in Heaven, if you attempt to double-cross me when the shit hits the fan, Kade Lowery... I'll rip your fucking heart out before they can put a bullet in you."

There is no fear in Nichole's brown eyes. None on her face and none in the tone of her voice. She meant every word she said, and for a split second, Kade's life flashes before him.

"I'll protect you and Taehyun until I take my last breath," Kade says. "You have my word."

. . .

a/n: yall... we are almost at the end of this story and I had no idea until I looked at my notes lol welp!

after this is over, I'll be bringing back an (edited) oldie and technically Book 1 of this series...

the title will be different and I will NOT be posting the 'daddy kink' version over here, so if you wanna read that version you can get the link on my website 🥰

the link is in my wattpad bio!