Danger Zone

By Divamercury

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Chapter 13

Gabe took that opportunity to add his input. "I saw Mac give him the address of where we would be, so"

"So if nothing was amiss, he'd be here," I finished. "Damn, something's seriously wrong. Where could he be?"

Just then as I was trying to think, stunned that Ian hadn't shown up, my cell phone rang.

"What?" I answered, truly in a less than friendly mood.

"Hello, Petzini."

Could this day possibly get any more irritating?' I asked myself as every muscle in my body tensed with hatred at the sound of that voice. My trio of advisors noticed immediately.

"Chief?" Gabe asked. "What's going on?"

"It's Dante," I mouthed. Gabe frowned, Mac nodded, and Willjust gave me a blank stare. "Tell you later," I silently added for his benefit.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked frigidly as I turned my full attention back to the conversation at hand.

"Now, now, Petzini, I simply wanted to let you know that a friend of yours has paid me a visit and decided to stay a while."

"What the?"

"Has anyone in your entourage been missing for a while? Tall, dark, and dangerous? Has a serious fetish for black clothing?"

"You're actually trying to tell me that you're holding Ian Nottingham prisoner? Don't make me laugh, Dante; that's pretty farfetched."

"I'm not trying to make you laugh."

"Well, I don't accept your bullshit, Dante; now tell me the real reason that you called me. I'm dying to know."

"There's one thing I can say to your credit, Petzini: You sure as hell aren't gullible. I've seen more tractable personalities on mules. Maybe this will convince you," Dante replied, and there was silence on the line for a few moments.

"Dante? Where are you, you son of a bitch? What are you playing at?" I called, trying to get him back on the line.

"Sara?"

I started. It was unmistakably Ian's voice that came over the wires and reached my ears. "Ian? Is that you?" I asked even though I knew the answer.

"It is I. Are you all right?"

"I should be asking you the same thing, but to answer you, yes, I'm fine. What the hell happened? How'd they get the drop on you of all people? This is unreal."

"They were lucky. One of the other cops working with Dante pushed some shelves over on me and I was temporarily rendered unconscious. When I woke up I was being carried here."

"Where's here'?"

"Some kind of warehouse–"

Ian was abruptly cut off and the sounds of a fight flooded through the phone.

"Was that enough to prove he's here, Petzini?" Dante was back on the line.

"What did you do to him, you bastard? Where is he?" I demanded to know.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Nottingham is unable to come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?"

"Cut the crap, Dante, and don't think for one minute that you're going to get away with this. If you've hurt him I swear the next one to bleed will be you."

"A hollow threat, Sara."

"That's no threat, Dante. That's a promise. One that I fully intend to keep just as soon as you're within my sight. Remember that." I hung up on him and turned towards the staircase.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are you going?" Gabe asked, blocking my exit.

"I'm going to find Ian."

"Do you really think that's such a good idea, Sara?" Mac sternly inquired, appearing at my elbow. "Ian sacrificed his freedom for us; do you really want that gesture to have been in vain?"

"All I know is I want him here and not with those clods."

"How do you know Dante hasn't killed him? It could all be a trap," Gabe stated.

"I know Ian's alive. Dante won't kill him." I pushed past Gabe and started up the stairs.

"Why not?" Mac wanted to know, brushing back a stray lock of her brown hair.

I whirled around and faced her. "Because if he does, then he has absolutely nothing to stop me from killing him and his little club without bias," I stated, tapping the Witchblade with a finger. I started back up the stairs.

"Sara, wait!" It was Will this time. I turned again and gave him a "What?" look.

"Don't you think it would be better if we could work out a plan to rescue Ian? I mean, if this Dante chap is as evil and as bent on killing you as he seems to be, it wouldn't be wise to just run in there and let him shoot you."

"I can take care of myself."

"As can Ian. He'll be able to hang on for a little while longer, Sara. Just cool down."

"I can't! If I relax I'll go crazy. I have to do somethingI can't just sit here and twiddle my thumbs."

"Well, for the time being, why don't you come with me?" Will asked. "The other Associates are dying to meet you. After you get through all of them, then we'll see what we can do. Just give it some time."

"We need a plan, Chief, and you know it. If we don't approach this carefully, the next time you see Ian he could be floating somewhere. Facedown."

"Love the imagery, Gabe. Will, if you don't mind, could I rest for a few minutes before all the intros? Is there anywhere I can crash for a while?"

"Sure, Sara. We've got a few rooms. Follow me."

Will and I left the main room via the staircase and when we reached the ground level took the other flight to the upper floor of the warehouse and opened the first door to the left of the stairs.

"This is probably one of the safest places you can be, Sara. Anytime you need a place to stay, this room will be open for you."

I barely took the time to glance around the room. It was a very simple room with pale yellow walls that was furnished well and seemed quite comfortable. I beamed at Will even though I felt like I was about to drop.

"I'll just leave you alone for a while. Come back down when you're ready to meet the others." He left the room and quietly closed the door. I made my way to the bed and fell facedown on it. Seconds later I was asleep.