Chapter Twenty-Two
T he Motley Crew was back on the private jet and almost home when Brand’s phone buzzed.
“Hey, baby,” he answered, and Corey smirked. They were all falling like dominoes for strong, smart, beautiful women. “Whoa, slow down.”
Corey sat up straighter, hearing the change in Brand’s tone. “Is everything okay?” Corey asked.
“ What? ” Brand’s steel-blue eyes met Corey’s, causing his gut to take a sickening plunge. “I’m putting you on speaker, Julia. Tell us exactly what happened.”
Everyone listened closely as Julia’s frantic voice filled the cabin, bringing them up to date on how she, Mitch and Sera had returned to Corey’s place because Sera wanted to check on Storm and surprise Corey with dinner.
His heart tripped. She’d wanted to do something sweet for him. Christ, he adored that woman. But then Julia told them how men showed up, taking both her and Mitch by surprise, and locking them in the shed.
A lethal look descended over Brand’s face and his hand fisted.
“They wanted us to give you a message.” Anger filled her voice.
“What message?” Brand gritted out.
“He said to back off. And he was”—her voice caught—“taking Sera.”
A chill ran through Corey as he fought to process what he was hearing.
“What else, baby?”
“He plans on giving her as a gift to the new head of the Lazaro Cartel. To make amends since their operation got shut down because of her.”
A hot rage began boiling in Corey’s blood, burning through his veins and traveling to every part of his body. “Turn the jet around,” he ordered, voice strangled.
Brand gave a sharp nod. “We’re going to get Sera back,” he stated reassuringly. “Are you and your dad okay, Julia?”
“His pride is a little hurt, but we’re okay. He’s on the phone with his contacts.”
“Good. I’m calling him as soon as we hang up.” After they exchanged I love yous, Brand disconnected the call. “Battle, tell the pilot we’re heading to Tierra Caliente.”
“Roger.” Lex jumped up and bolted to the cockpit to tell the pilot to change their course.
Corey stood, swiping a hand through his hair.
His world had jolted off its axis and plunged into a death spiral.
With jerky steps, he stalked down the aisle until he reached the back of the plane.
Pressing his palms against the wall, his head dropped between his shoulder blades and he squeezed his eyes shut as his words came rushing back.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you like that again. I’ll protect you until my last breath. I promise.”
Lies. All fucking lies. He was a failed protector, and thinking he could keep her safe was a joke. He hadn’t kept Cassidy safe, and now Sera had been abducted.
Today is the anniversary, he belatedly realized. Twenty years ago, his life had taken a plunge into darkness when he’d lost his teammates and the woman he was supposed to have saved. Being with Sera, finding happiness in her presence, had allowed him to mentally block it out.
And now Sera was gone.
A deep growl rumbled within him. Why had he promised? Why? Giving his word was the fucking kiss of death. Pain and regret punched through him, and he’d never felt so helpless.
I’m going to lose her. Just like I lost the others.
Hot tears blurred his vision as he lifted his head and a haunted sound tore from his throat, echoing through the plane. A howl, utterly forlorn and without hope.
“Cor?” He heard Wes move up behind him. Felt the plane turning around. “We’re going to get her back.”
“How?” Corey gritted out, staring down at the floor. “We destroyed Lazaro’s compound and have no idea where they’re taking her.”
“Brand is talking to Mitch. They’re doing everything they can to pinpoint her location.”
Corey felt the edges of his soul crumbling. They’d taken her because he’d fucking messed up. He’d believed Sera and Julia would be safe, and he’d left them unprotected. Sera didn’t deserve to go through another nightmare.
“I told her I’d protect her. I promised. ”
Behind him, a hand squeezed his shoulder. His friend knew what a big deal that was. Knew Corey had stopped making promises the day Cassidy died in his arms.
“You’re gonna keep that promise, buddy. But you gotta pull it together and stay strong. For Sera.”
Forcing himself to pull in a breath, Corey’s palms slid down the wall, his hands dropping to his sides and fisting. “Why is this happening again?” The words came out so low, so tortured. “I can’t lose her.”
“Grieve. Yell. Cry. Feel. Do what you need to do. Let it all out— later. Because right now we’re flying straight into a war zone to save Sera,” Wes reminded him. “If you’re not solid, you don’t go.”
Corey dragged his hands over his face and finally turned around. “I’m going.”
Wes nodded. “Good, because we need you. But lock it down or Brand will sideline your ass.”
Regrouping, Corey knew Wes was right. He had to get his head back on straight, lock his emotions down tight and focus on the rescue mission ahead.
Releasing the fear, he centered on his anger instead. As they walked back up the aisle to join the others, a powerful, all-consuming wrath filled him. No one was going to harm Sera. He’d fight for her until his last breath.
“We’ll make sure no one hurts her,” Chaz said, and Corey gave him a grateful nod.
“Makes you want to cut some narco fingers off, huh?” Xander asked darkly. “I’d be happy to help.”
Corey saw the demons rise in Xander’s blue eyes.
Noticed the way he tried hard to hide the pain behind his dry, wicked comment, but couldn’t quite do it.
There was a devastating story there, but now wasn’t the time to ask.
Besides, Corey didn’t believe the other man was ready or willing to share any tragic details from his private life.
“Appreciate it. But I’m not wasting my time on fingers,” Corey gritted out. “Anyone who tries to hurt Sera is getting hit with three shots—two in the chest, one in the head. I’m not fucking around.”
Across from him, Brand hung up his phone. “José Barrera is holed up in his luxury home in the hills of Culiacan, Sinaloa’s state capital. The place is crawling with Mexico’s most infamous narco traffickers. It’s going to be difficult to infil, but not impossible.”
“Gotta be easier than when we busted into the Lazaro compound,” Chaz said.
“Let’s hope so,” Brand said. “Mitch is working on getting us schematics of Barrera’s place. Once we have those, we’ll come up with a plan. Don’t worry, Cor, we’ll get in and we’ll rescue your girl.”
Corey nodded, unable to trust his voice. He couldn’t get to Sera fast enough, and his mind whirled with possible plans. They’d be ready for anything. And if Joel or anyone else hurt her, he would end them with zero hesitation.
As far as he was concerned, every narco in Barrera’s house was a dead man walking. And Corey? Well, he was the Grim motherfucking Reaper.
◆◆◆
During the entire flight down to Mexico, Sera kept quiet.
But her mind raced. The first opportunity to escape, she’d be ready.
She had no idea what to expect once they landed, but she knew that once Joel handed her over to Barrera, her chances of getting away were slim.
She had to do it before they reached his house or compound or wherever the hell they were headed.
Being a blue-eyed blonde might’ve saved her life because if not for Barrera’s preference, she had a feeling she’d already be dead.
Every time Joel looked at her, she could feel the hate pouring off him.
She managed to stumble onto a murder scene and destroy his base of operations.
If she weren’t so terrified, she might be proud of herself.
Her mind kept going to Corey. Hopefully, Julia called Ellie or Lottie, and they’d let her and Mitch out of the shed.
Then Julia would’ve called Brandon and the team would be aware that Joel kidnapped her.
She prayed the news wouldn’t make Corey teeter over the edge.
Send him spiraling back into his dark place.
He deserved happiness more than anyone she’d ever known.
She made a promise to herself that when she made it out of this—and she couldn’t let herself think any other way—she’d make sure he was surrounded by love and light at all times.
The private plane touched down and the two muscled guard dogs hustled her and Joel off the aircraft and straight into a waiting SUV with black tinted windows. She’d barely had time to blink much less try to make a run for it. Especially when Snake held her upper arm in a secure, beefy grip.
Shit. Suddenly she found herself in the back of the car with Joel. The locks clicked shut and her heart stalled. Time was of the essence and she was running out of it fast.
The two men up front conferred with each other in Spanish, keeping their voices too low to make out any specific words.
Okay, time for Plan B, she thought, turning her attention to Joel.
“Do they work for you or Barrera?” she asked.
Joel sent her a scathing look. “Barrera, obviously. They were sent to escort me down here so he and I could decide how we’re going to continue our mutually beneficial arrangement. No thanks to you.”
“What makes you think he wants to continue anything? In his eyes, you messed up. He probably plans to kill you.”
A flicker of fear flashed through his eyes before his arrogance squashed it. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Besides, I have you to help smooth things over.”
Her stomach soured. If she wound up in Barrera’s hands, she could only imagine the tortures she’d be forced to endure. Bile rose in the back of her throat and she swallowed it back down. Becoming a drug kingpin’s sexual plaything wasn’t in her future. She’d die first.
You’re not a victim any longer, Sera.