Chapter 28
DEAN
He kept his distance from his father for the next two days, waiting for Alvarez’s call and praying for Ricco’s nod that meant the meeting was a go. It was time to get Yasmine and the kids to safety.
“What are you not telling me?” Yasmine asked as he continued packing a duffel that held clothes for all the kids.
“I’m getting you out of here. You and the kids,” he said, folding the last pile and zipping the bag shut.
“And…what about you? You keep mentioning me and the kids, but not yourself.”
He turned to his beautiful wife and saw the worry in her green eyes, the same eyes that had captured his soul the moment they met.
His thumbs brushed over her soft skin, and he savored this quiet moment, knowing it would have to hold him over until the world stopped burning and he could see her again.
“You know I can’t leave until Carlos is six feet under and Keene is removed as the head of the Righteous,” Dean said, voice low, steady. “They’ll hunt us forever if we all run. I need to finish this. Keene will be back in a matter of days, that’s when I’ll strike.”
“I don’t like this,” she whispered, voice trembling but dry-eyed. Yasmine was his rock, and she was being strong for him now.
“I promise I’ll come for you, and we’ll go home together. As a family.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“How can you be so certain?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Because I’d be a fool not to come home to you. I love you and the kids more than you can ever know. I won’t let him steal that from me, or force me to be unfaithful with his sick games.”
Yasmine wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like she was imprinting the feel of him into memory. Her warmth sank into his body, lighting him up from the inside. God, he wished they had more time. But they needed to move.
It took all his strength to pull back. A lone tear glistened in Yasmine’s eyes.
“You better,” she said softly, then took his hand and placed it over her stomach. “Because you’re going to be a daddy again.”
“Are you serious?”
Yasmine smiled, her whole face glowing. Dean scooped her up into his arms, spinning her until she laughed.
“We’re going to have our own football team soon,” he chuckled, grinning as he set her back down.
“Not a chance. I’m very happy, but I think we need to slow down. Four was a handful…five, we’re almost at two minivans territory.”
He laughed quietly, the low rumble always made her heart flutter. For a second, the world outside their door didn’t exist. He kissed her again, lingering, then whispered against her lips,
“Te amo como si tu corazón y el mío latieran como uno solo. Voy a volver a casa contigo, mi hermosa esposa. Eres mi razón para respirar.”
Yasmine had saved his soul and repaired a heart he’d thought long gone. There were no words big enough to hold what he felt for her, but as long as he had air in his lungs, he would try.
“También te amo, mi vida,” Yasmine whispered back, and even though they needed to go, he pulled her close again, letting his touch say what words couldn’t.
There was a soft knock at the door. Ricco.
Yasmine lifted a trembling finger to his lips. “Don’t you dare say goodbye. This isn’t goodbye…it’s see you soon.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
With a small smile, he grabbed the heavy duffel and Yasmine’s hand. Peeking into the hall, he saw Ricco waiting, twitchy as ever.
“Everything’s ready,” Ricco informed.
Dean nodded and stepped out, locking the door behind them. “As an added bonus, Carlos decided to go to his favorite spot for a few hours, if we are lucky, the whole night.”
Dean arched a brow. “Do I want to know what his favorite spot is?”
“Let’s just say it’s a place where men can pay to indulge every depraved desire imaginable. Not somewhere I’d ever step foot.”
Dean’s jaw tightened. He knew the kind of place. He’d dismantled a few.
They reached Ava’s room. Aiden and Tate were already dressed in jeans and hoodies, jackets zipped. Andrés slept in his carrier while Ava softly bounced Isabella.
“It’s like she can sense something’s up, she just won’t sleep,” Ava said.
“Not to worry. You ready to go?” Yasmine asked, taking Isabella.
“Yes,” Ava said, hope trembling in her voice.
Dean squatted down, the boys snapping to attention like tiny soldiers.
“I need you both to be very quiet. No teasing, no questions until I say otherwise. Understand?”
“Are we going on a mission?” Tate asked, eyes wide.
Dean smiled. “Yes. A very important one, to protect your mother, Isabella, and your baby brother. You think you’re up to the task?”
The boys shared a look and nodded in unison. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’m counting on you. Stay close to your mom.”
They moved through the halls in tense silence. Maeve was waiting by the back door.
“It’s all clear,” she whispered.
They slipped out into the night, the overcast sky hiding them. A few guards loyal to Dean manned the gate. They would have to go without Matteo this time as he would be driving Carlos around tonight.
Inside the hangar, Dean turned to Ricco. “I’m giving you access to the second Hummer. It’ll follow mine automatically. If you need manual control, just say ‘remove auto-drive’. Got it?”
Ricco nodded, eyeing the tech like it might bite him. Dean clapped his shoulder. “It’ll be fine. It drives like any other vehicle, and your map will stay in place, but lets hope you don’t need to use the option.”
He loaded the bag and buckled the boys into the second Hummer. He kissed each of their heads, then Ava climbed in. At the driver’s seat, Dean activated the system while Maeve recited the code Wolf had taught her.
“Follow mode engaged,” the screen confirmed.
Dean turned to Maeve as Yasmine settled into his Hummer. “You sure you don’t want to come? I know your parents would be happy to see you.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t really remember them. And until Carlos is gone, no one’s safe. I plan to see that through first.”
Dean nodded solemnly. “I wish I could change your mind.”
Maeve pulled out a USB stick and handed it over. “Wolf made this. It’s full of intel on missions and connections I don’t even understand. He said if I ever needed to buy a favor, this would do it. Give it to Yasmine. Make sure it gets to the right people.”
Dean closed his hand around it. “Thank you for trusting me.”
She shoved her hands into her pockets. “Just don’t let it fall into the wrong hands. You are coming back, right?”
Dean surprised Maeve by pulling her into a hug. “You’re like a baby sister to me. I can’t change the past, but I’ll stand by your side, going forward. And, I promise…you’ll see Wolf again. He’s like a cat with nine lives.”
Before she could answer, he turned away and loaded the drones into the back of his Hummer.
“Ready?” he asked.
Yasmine looked back at the younger kids settled in the back. “I don’t want to leave you, but I want them safe. So, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Dean took her hand, kissed it, and held on as they rolled out of the hangar. The guards closed the door behind them. The desert stretched ahead, a dark and endless expanse that was silent at this time.
Each mile through the night was another mile closer to goodbye. Dean didn’t know how long he could hide their escape before Carlos noticed, but when he did, all hell would break loose.
The meeting point was a remote canyon, shadowed by towering rock walls. He tapped the screen. Four vehicles ahead, ten men.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Yasmine asked, eyes locked on the windshield.
“Alvarez is ruthless but honorable. He hates my father more than most. That makes him trustworthy enough.”
“That’s a win,” she said with a shaky smile.
“That it is,” Dean murmured, fishing the USB from his pocket and handing it to her. “This has a message for Trev or Morry. If you can reach them, give it to them. If you need it for yourself, use it. It’s worth a lot of favors.”
She tucked it into her bra. “I’ll do what I can.”
As they slowed and parked, the moment grew heavy, thick with unspoken fear. Yasmine gripped his hand. Her smile steadied him.
“Wait here,” he said, giving her fingers a squeeze.
He stepped out, hands raised for the guards to see.
“This is definitely out of the way,” Dean said, scanning Alvarez’s men.
“You wanted privacy,” Alvarez replied. “You said you had news of my daughter.”
Dean nodded, lowering his hands. “She’s alive. My father found her and the soldier I had you send to protect her. They were outgunned. She’s unharmed, but I’ve lost contact with him.”
Alvarez exhaled slowly. “Then why didn’t you bring her with you?”
“She refused. She says she won’t feel safe until Carlos and his empire are destroyed. She won’t leave until she sees it through.”
Alvarez’s eyes narrowed. “And why should I believe you?”
Dean moved carefully, pulling his phone from his pocket. He showed Alvarez the photos he had taken of Maeve. The two of them together, her smile, her arm around Yasmine, the kids nearby.
“If you’d like, we can call her,” he offered. “But she doesn’t remember much before the kidnapping. That’s part of why she stayed behind. I know it’s hard to hear, but I swear she’s alive and well. With your help, we can keep it that way.”
Alvarez flipped through the images, emotion softening his face before he cleared his throat.
“Alright. I’ll help. What do you need from me?”
“The man commanding the soldiers attacking your convoys is flying in for a meeting. We need to take out my father and him at the same time. My father is funding the operation, but Keene is the one pulling the strings.”
Alvarez handed back the phone and gestured for Dean to continue.
“But before we talk strategy,” Dean said, “I have a personal favor to ask. Something to prove my trust in you, and it helps me.”
He signaled to Yasmine. She stepped out of the Hummer, cautious but composed, Isabella in her arms and Andrés asleep in the carrier.
“This is my wife, the woman in the photos with your daughter. I want her and my children hidden, far from the fight. Will you protect them?”
Alvarez’s gaze softened as he looked at Yasmine, then at the children. “Keep your guns down,” he ordered his men, though none had moved.
Yasmine smiled faintly. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Alvarez. Maeve—Isabella—is an amazing woman. Dean and I named our daughter after her.” She lifted the baby slightly in her arms.
“She’s beautiful,” Alvarez murmured, a flicker of loss in his voice.
Dean waved to Ricco. He got out of the Hummer and walked forward with Ava and the boys.
“This is Ava, our nanny. And these are my sons, Aiden and Tate.”
The boys ran to Dean, gripping his hands tight. “I need to keep them safe. I can’t do what’s needed while worrying about them. And there is no doubt in my mind that my father will use them as weapons against me. I’m trusting you with my family, and I’ll bring Isabella back to you.”
Alvarez crouched to eye level with the boys. “So, you’ll be the men of the house?”
“Yes, sir,” Tate said, shaking his hand solemnly. “Daddy says we have to protect Mommy.”
Alvarez smiled. “That’s a big job. You think you can handle it?”
“Yes, sir.”
He chuckled softly. “I believe you can too.”
Straightening, Alvarez nodded. “No harm will come to them. I’m honored by your trust.”
Dean smirked. “If you like this, you’ll love my next gift.” He gestured to Ricco, who opened the Hummer’s back. “Military-grade drones.”
Alvarez’s smile grew. “I’m really starting to like you.”
Once everyone was loaded, Dean crouched and kissed each child goodbye. Yasmine’s turn came last. She clung to him, neither of them speaking, just breathing the same air for what felt like the last time.
“Come back to us,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his before stepping away.
He stood there until the taillights disappeared into the desert, swallowed by the darkness. Then he bent forward, hands braced on his knees, fighting to breathe.
“You okay?” Ricco asked quietly.
“Yeah,” Dean croaked after a long moment, eyes still on the empty road. “Just need a minute. Then we can head back.”
He tilted his head to the sky, closing his eyes as a single thought ran through him like a prayer.
Please…let this not be the last time I see them.