It was the last thing Audrey heard before everything went black.

Chapter 27

“I can’t f**king believe this shit!”

Tate nodded from the passenger side of Lucas’ Explorer. “It is bullshit, I’m sorry dude.”

“It f**king sucks ‘cause I’m all over the news as the idiot whose best friend was stealing his money right out from underneath him. I am so f**king mad. Fallon is flipping out and no one can find the f**ker. Let me see him, I swear to God, Tate, I’ll kill him!”

“I don’t blame you, this is nuts.”

Tate would be furious if his friend had been stealing money from him for almost a year too. Lucas got the call while they were in New York and it was already all over the NHL network because of the warrant that was issued for Levi’s arrest. It was crazy because Levi laundered almost five million dollars before Lucas’ accountant noticed. No one could believe it, Molly, Lucas’ mother, was heartbroken, and William was sending his lawyers to help Lucas’ lawyers build a case. Basically everyone wanted this guy to burn at the stake and Tate didn’t blame them one bit.

When Lucas’ phone rang for the 100th time, Tate glanced down at his own, sending a text to Audrey as Lucas answered.

“Hey baby, no, I don’t know, hold on,” Lucas said then he asked, “hey have you heard from Audrey?”

Tate looked up, “About thirty minutes ago, why?”

“Fallon says she is trying to get a hold of her but she isn’t answering.”

Tate shrugged his shoulders as he dialed Audrey’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.

That’s weird, Tate thought as he looked back at Lucas, “I don’t know. She isn’t answering my calls either.”

“No, baby, surely not. Don’t think like that. It’s okay. I’ll have her call you once we get there. It’s okay baby, Fal, don’t stress,” Lucas said calmly before laying his phone in his lap, “I have to keep calm to keep her calm, she freaks about everything.”

Tate smiled, “What is she freaking out about?”

Lucas shook his head, “She says she is scared because she can’t get hold of Audrey and the cops can’t find Levi.”

“So? Audrey is probably asleep, she has been sick.”

“See, we know this, but Fallon isn’t rational, she thinks Levi went after Audrey, it’s a crazy thought that only my crazy wife--” Lucas’ words cut off as his face filled with worry. “You’ve got to f**king kidding me.”

“What?” Tate looked out to where Lucas was looking and saw that there was a car in Audrey’s driveway. Lucas pressed on the gas, driving into Audrey’s yard and throwing the truck in park as he kicked opened the door.

“What the hell are you doing?” Tate yelled.

“Stay in the truck, Tate,” was all Lucas said before he jumped out the truck. Tate was right behind him though. Something wasn’t right. Rushing around the truck, and being only two steps behind Lucas, they made their way towards the front door of Audrey’s condo. Tate’s heart was pounding against his chest and he didn’t understand why. Something felt off. The door flew open and the last person he expected to see come out, walked out quickly.

Levi.

Lucas stopped and Tate barreled into him as Levi looked at both of them, his eyes full of shock. Levi looked crazy, his eyes were wide, his shirt was baggy in spots and he had open wounds on his face.

“Tate, go back to the truck,” Lucas said slowly.

“Fuck no,” Tate said moving beside him, “I’m not going to let you f**k your career up, just wait a minute,” he said taking a step towards Levi. “I wouldn’t move because Lucas is ready to kill you and I can’t guarantee your safety if you run. Audrey! Call the police!” Levi looked behind him, and then back at the guys before he nodded and slowly moved his hand into his pocket. When Audrey didn’t answer, Tate called out again, “Audrey!? Baby, do you hear me?”

“Why is there blood on his hands?” Lucas asked. Levi looked up as a grin went across his face, and then he was off, making a mad dash for his car. He wasn’t fast enough though; Lucas caught him in no time, throwing him against the trunk of Audrey’s car and then grabbed him by the throat. Tate was frozen in place, a dreadful feeling was in the pit of his stomach and sweat was dripping down his temple as he stood in the frigid temperatures of January. He knew something was wrong. He just couldn’t get his legs to move towards Audrey’s condo.

Looking back at Lucas, he saw him with Levi on the ground, his foot on his neck while he had his phone out in his palm. Tate looked back up at the house and started taking shaky steps towards the open door. “Audrey?” he called out again, hoping like hell that she would appear in the doorway smiling. When she didn’t, he called her name again and took each step slowly up the porch. He only got to the second step when Audrey’s limp feet came into view. Tate rushed up the stairs, pushing the door open to find her bloody body on the floor.

“Oh my God,” he said before he rushed to her, picking her limp body up and wrapping her up in his arms. Her head fell back, blood dripping from it as he lightly shook her. “Oh my God, please, Audrey, baby, talk to me,” he said, turning her face up. Her eyes were swollen shut, her lips were busted and her face covered in bright red blood. “Audrey!” he yelled, shaking her more fiercely. When she didn’t wake, her brought her body closer to him. He moved his shaking hands to her throat, pressing his finger to her neck, not feeling a pulse. “Oh God, Audrey, no, baby, please, don’t leave me, please,” he said, hot tears pooling in his eyes and falling down his cheeks. His chest was aching, his heart beating so fast he was sure it was going to pop out of his chest and run away. His body was shaking uncontrollably and he wasn’t sure he was actually breathing. Holding her close, Tate didn’t know what he was going to do. He didn’t know how to move. He didn’t know how to think. “Baby, please, Audrey, love, talk to me, please, don’t leave me,” he cried once more, his lips dusting her temple as he held her close.