Chapter 30: Chapter 30

CODY

Clubs are one of the places that we all usually actively try to avoid.

Too many people. Too many civilians who could potentially get hurt if something went wrong.

Beyond that, a drunk Devin is even less fun to deal with than the sober one.

I feel out of place as we walk into the club filled with sweaty and drunk people. Most of them are either crowded around on the dance floor grinding on each other, or they're around the bar getting drinks.

Couples are making out in practically every area that seems fitting to them, and it's nearly impossible to see through the mass of bodies.

"Lovely," Chase comments dryly as people push past us and around us.

Chase is in no mood to deal with them so when one guy drunkenly stumbles into him, he shoves him back full force into the crowd. Nearly toppling down half of them like dominoes.

Chase's shoulder nudges mine and he gestures with his eyes over to the corner, where a couple guys clearly don't know how to blend in. As I look around I begin to notice more and more of them, all watching us and all glaring.

But it's the girl sitting in a back booth that catches my attention. Only because her death glare is not only terrifying but a very welcome sight.

"I'm thinking half of these goons are here for us," I mutter to Chase and he nods.

"And the other half?"

"My guess? They're here to make sure she doesn't cause any problems." I reply pointing at Thirteen, who's still shooting lasers out of her eyes.

Chase visibly flinches under her gaze.

"They're blocking all the exits," Chase says as we begin to push our way through the sweaty mass of bodies towards Thirteen. "There's no way we're getting out of here without a firefight."

"I honestly didn't expect anything less."

Chase looks around discreetly as we walk, taking note of how many there are in here and where they're at.

I focus my attention on Thirteen. She's got some new bruises forming along her jawline and on her arms. Her stitches still seem to be intact which is a surprise in itself.

Her glare doesn't let up even as we come into view of Garrett...who has Elaine hanging off his arm, and even though they're clearly working together...

He looks less than amused that she's all over him.

Almost makes you feel bad.

Almost.

"You do realize how a hostage situation works right? You're not supposed to give in to the demands of the nut job terrorist who's favorite thing in the world is screwing people over and then killing them because it's fun and gives him a sick kind of pleasure." Thirteen spits out at us once we're in hearing range.

"Well hello to you too," Chase replies sarcastically. "I thank-you would be appreciated."

"I'm hurt you think so lowly of me," Garrett says dramatically to Thirteen, completely ignoring us.

"You'd be surprised just how lowly I think of you."

He laughs and it's not a nice sound. It's taunting and dark. His eyes hold a hidden anger and evil intentions.

"Search them for weapons," Garrett says over his shoulder and the two guys standing on either side of him and Elaine.

Both me and Chase share a look. I notice Thirteen roll her eyes and give us a look that clearly says, 'what? Did you think he wouldn't have you searched? Are you both that stupid?' I give her a glare and she glares back at me.

Garrett lets out a whistle when the two guys take our weapons from us.

Just freaking great.

"You boys sure don't disappoint." He says simply as he takes one of our guns from the guys. He keeps it hidden from the view of everyone but us as he aims it at us.

"Have a seat." He orders and we both slide into the seats across from Thirteen. Garrett himself slides into the booth as well, sitting next to Thirteen.

She casually begins twirling a sword-shaped toothpick in her hands. A silent warning for him not to come any closer.

Garrett eyes it like it's the most dangerous thing in the world and Thirteen smiles a sickly sweet smile at him while batting her eyelashes like she has no idea what's she doing.

"Something wrong?"

He loads the gun and aims it back at the both of us. Thirteen stops twirling the toothpick and gives a deadly glare. A warning.

She may not notice it, but he falters just slightly. Barely noticeable. Even if he's just as good as hiding his emotions as she is...

He's scared of her. Threatened by her.

"Let's get right to it. I have things to do." He says coldly. "The numbers. Now."

He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her flush up against his side, digging the barrel of the gun into her ribs. She hisses in pain but doesn't try to shove him off.

Chase glances at me before pulling a slip of paper out of his pocket and passing it to Garrett.

Garrett shoves Thirteen away and grabs the paper, standing from the booth and pulling out his phone in the process.

I go to move out of the booth but Elaine stops me. She holds the gun up with a smirk on her face.

"You're staying here...for now." She says simply. I glare at her and move further back into the booth.

I turn my attention to Thirteen. Her eyes are closed as she leans back in the booth. Even though I can't see her eyes I know what she's thinking.

"They're fine," I whisper so Elaine won't hear me.

Thirteen's eyes snap open and she looks at me before shaking her head. "Devin won't be." She mutters just above a whisper. "It's all my fault."

"It is not your fault," I tell her firmly and she just smiles weakly at me. Her hand's clenched in a fist on the table.

I reach over and take her hand in mine...and she slips whatever was in her hand into mine.

I give her a questioning look as I pull my hand back and sneak a glance at whatever it is she gave me.

A small glass vial filled with a slightly clouded liquid, and a slip of paper taped to the bottle with the words 'For Devin.' I look up at her and she gives me a sad smile.

I shake my head. "Give it to him yourself."

"You had to know what you were walking into." She says simply. "You give him the numbers and now you have nothing he wants, but me? He still needs something out of me, and now that you two so stupidly walked in without an exit plan, you've given him leverage over me. He's going to ask me to go with him or he's going to kill you both and guess what I'm going to do?"

"Pretend you didn't hear him?" Chase suggests and Thirteen kicks his shin.

"I'm going to go with him to keep you two from getting killed dumbass."

Chase shakes his head. "Not if he wants the real string of numbers."

Her eyes widen. "You didn't."

Chase shrugs and leans back in the seat, putting his arms behind his head.

"We might have given him the numbers."

"But not necessarily in the correct order," I add.

She shakes her head and smiles slightly. "I can't believe you two."

"What? He said to give him the numbers."

"He never said they had to be in order." Chase finishes.

Garrett comes walking back up and Thirteen's face blanks and hardens. He places both hands on either side of the edge of the table and leans over. His gaze staying focused entirely on Thirteen.

"You're coming with me. They're staying here. Once we're out of here Elaine will let them go, otherwise, they die."

"Straight to the point I see." Thirteen grumbles while shooting us a look that clearly says, 'I told you so.'

"The deal was we give you the numbers and she walks out with us." I hiss and he just gives me a knowing smirk.

"Deals change." He says before reaching over and grabbing Thirteen's upper arm. "Get up, now."

"What if we gave you the wrong numbers?" Chase asks and Garrett's eyes darken.

"You better hope for her sake," His grip on her arm tightens and she flinches. "You didn't."

I start to stand and so does Chase but Thirteen shoots us a warning glare not to. Her eyes shifting to the vial in my hand and then back to me. Silently telling me to get back to Devin. To just get back to Devin. Not to worry about her.

Her eyes pleading with me to stay. To not do anything stupid. I shake my head and she narrows her eyes further as Garrett drags her off.

"Don't even think about it." Elaine chides, wagging her finger at us, one hand holding the gun tucked into her jacket in a silent warning.

"Cody don't," Chase hisses in my ear. "It's not worth getting yourself and her killed."

"So we're just supposed to do nothing?"

"There's nothing we can do." He shakes his head. "Zero doesn't know where we are and neither does anyone else."

"You do realize that as soon as Thirteen's a far enough distance away they're going to shoot and kill us right?"

"Yeah, I know," Chase mutters and runs a hand through his hair in frustration. "And we need to get that to Devin."

He points at the vial and I shove it in my pocket as if to ensure no one tries to take it.

"How?" I question and Chase shakes his head.

"We need a distraction of some kind."

"What we need is to get these people out of here. They shouldn't be here when this goes turns into a battlefield."

"Yeah well, I think this was his plan."

"Who? Garrett's?"

"Yeah. When things get rough what better place for a group of freaking terrorist to be than a club full of people? They'll start using them as human shields and hostages."

"Clever," I mutter, though I hate to give that guy credit for anything.

"We need to get a message to Zero to send help."

"How do you suggest we do that?" I question. "They took our phones, and it's only a matter of time before Garrett realizes we didn't give him the numbers he wanted. What happens to Thirteen then?"

Chase's expression turns grim. "I'm trying not to think of that." He admits honestly. "Thirteen will hold out until we can get out of here and find her."

"But how long will that take? We don't have all the time in the world."

"I don't..." Chase trails off Elaine slides into the seat across from us in the booth.

She opens her mouth to say something but ends up getting cut off as kissing couple drunkenly falls onto our table.

"Oops sorry." The girl giggles. She pushes the guy off her and gets shakily back to her feet. She sways and giggles into her hand like it's the funniest thing in the world.

Elaine looks down right pissed at this girl who is obviously too drunk to notice...or care.

The girl's eyes suddenly widen and she points at Elaine. "I totally have like, that exact same jacket!" She squeals and jumps up and down clapping her hands.

Her eyes drift over to us and a flirty look passes over her features. "And what are your names?" She purrs, completely ignoring the guy she was previously making out with, who still happens to have his hand around her waist.

"Back off now," Elaine growls dangerously. But this girl is much too drunk to care.

Chase leans over to whisper in my ear. "This may just be the distraction we need."

"Oh honey, there's no way you could handle both of these Greek gods," The girl waves her hand dismissively at Elaine. "I'm not even sure you could handle one." She turns to us. "Wanna dance?"

Elaine places her gun in full view on the table. The girl pales, holds her hands up in surrender and backs off. The boy, on the other hand, does the stupidest thing you could possibly do in a situation like this.

"GUN!" He shouts in terror. Screams echo out followed closely by gunshots. The music's cut off and suddenly everyone's being crowded into the middle of the dance floor...everyone that didn't already get out that is.

The guys all around the exits hold guns up, daring anyone to make a move out of place, and occasionally firing shots in the air to keep everyone from trying to bolt.

"This the distraction you wanted?" I question Chase sarcastically and he gives me a flat look.