Chapter 14 #3
“He has people shoot at a six-year-old?” Caden nearly roared, as Tanner fought for what was left of his own control.
“I never understood how he could be so cruel, but after what Violet overheard last night, it all makes sense now,” April said.
“A bomb.” Tanner still couldn’t believe how lucky they were to have gotten away when they did. “Are you sure that’s what you heard him say?”
“I’m sure,” Violet said, a little calmer now.
“He said I wasn’t ready because the parts were too small, and I wasn’t strong enough yet.
He said I’d blow it up too soon and kill everyone.
I don’t want to help him build a bomb and kill everyone.
” Her voice took on a whine again as she looked up at April.
“Don’t make me go back, Aunt April. Please don’t make me go back. ”
“You’re not going back,” Tanner said, glaring at Caden, imploring him to do something. “Neither one of you is going back to that man, or ever enduring an attack like that. Not while I’m breathing.”
“No,” Caden agreed. “I’ve seen and heard a lot of things in my time as a Federal Agent, but this -'' He snarled, not even able to finish his thought. “You’re safe now. I only wish we could’ve helped you both sooner.” That last comment was directed to April who looked lost and heartbroken, but Tanner sensed his friend was only thinking of his wife, Hallie, and how she’d almost been arrested by the FBI when they first met.
“You’re both coming with me,” Caden finished.
“We can’t,” April said. “We can’t get you in trouble, too.”
“Who said anything about trouble?” Caden asked. “You are being investigated for kidnapping, which by the way is a federal crime. And Violet is accusing her father of building a bomb, so she’ll need to go into protective custody until the issue can be resolved.”
“No,” April said, still holding Violet tightly to her. “You can’t take her away from me. I’m all she has.”
Tanner stepped in, hating the fear in both their eyes.
“He’s not going to separate you, April. He just needs to get you out of the building, and that’s how he’s going to do it.
” At least that’s what Tanner hoped Caden’s plan was, even if he didn’t like it.
“I’d rather it be me who takes you, but that could raise more questions that I don’t think anyone here is prepared to answer. ”
Caden gave a small nod, and April breathed a sigh of relief, her first probably since arriving here, but then her eyes widened like she remembered something. “What is it?” Tanner asked.
“She has a tracking device implanted in her ankle.”
“Excuse me?” Tanner asked.
“Ned implanted a tracking device in Violet’s right ankle just below the skin. He told me about it when I first started working for him. If we don’t remove it, he can follow us anywhere we go. She won’t be safe from him until it’s removed and disabled.”
“Fu - fudge,” Tanner said, catching himself in front of Violet, the same way he would around Sienna.
This was something he was definitely not prepared for.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me about Violet?
About Ned? When Ethan was stabbed, you told me - but you never said - I could’ve gotten you out of there.
Both of you.” He wasn’t even sure if he was making sense at that point.
Ethan had warned him that April was in too deep, but he never imagined her situation to be anything like this.
April’s eyes darkened, whether in anger or regret, Tanner couldn’t be sure. Then she straightened and lifted her chin in defiance. “I signed an NDA, Tanner. And until recently, I wasn’t even sure if I could trust you. I hardly knew you, and Ned has most of the cops in this town in his pocket.”
Caden smirked. “That doesn’t surprise me, and I would sure like to hear more about what you know.
But you were smart, April. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and all things considered, I think you did the right thing in waiting to make sure Tanner was the guy you thought he was.
Trusting the wrong cop would’ve ended in disaster for both of you. ”
Tanner glanced back at Caden. If Hallie had told someone other than Caden about her ability to see glimpses of the future, who knows what would’ve happened to her.
“He’s right,” Tanner agreed. “But what Ned Dynam was putting a six-year-old through is reprehensible, and I’m personally going to see to it that he doesn’t get away with it. ”
April met Tanner’s gaze then, a feeling of relief and longing shining in her eyes.
“Ordinarily I’d take you to the FBI offices for further questioning,” Caden said, “but given the circumstances, I think we should go somewhere neither of our bosses will think to look for these two. At least for now, until we can get the chip out.”
A knock at the door put everyone on alert, but Tanner opened it, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself, or April and Violet, who were now firmly under his protection.
Nico stood there with his hands tucked loosely in his pockets, and a smug grin on his face.
“Nico, what are you doing here? Better yet, who let you back here?”
Nico shrugged like he didn’t have a care in the world. “It’s still kind of wild out there, and I thought you could better use me back here.” His gaze landed on April, then lowered to Violet. There was no heat, just curiosity, and something that looked a lot like compassion.
Tanner didn’t even try to hide his annoyance at Nico’s presence. “I’m a little busy right now.”
Nico nodded and it looked like he was about to walk away when he turned back. “If anyone is hurt, one of my guys can help. No charge.”
“No injuries, Nico, but thanks,” Tanner said. If he didn’t know better, he would almost think the other man actually cared, but that was unlikely given his reputation.
Tanner was about to shut the door in his face when Nico raised a hand to his forehead, thumbing his temple. “I saw what she did.”
Tanner took a step toward him, but Nico raised both hands, palms front, in a show of surrender.
“I’m not your enemy, and I would never hurt a kid.
But power like that, it either needs to be controlled or is already controlled by someone who thinks they have the right to it.
Either way, I’m feeling generous. So, if you need something, now is the time to ask. ”
“Why?” Tanner demanded. “What’s in it for you?”
“Consider it redemption for past wrongs,” Nico smirked. “Or a show of good faith. Your choice.”
He turned to leave but Tanner said, “You said one of your guys has medical training?”
Nico eyed him curiously. “We call him Doc.”
“Have him come back here, and bonus if he has some numbing medicine and a scalpel on him,” Tanner said.
Nico laughed. “Are you expecting him to perform surgery here?”
“Yes,” Tanner deadpanned. “Minor, but yes. If you want to help, then help, otherwise get the hell out of here and mind your own business.”
Nico rocked back on his feet and took another quick glance at Violet. “I’ll need twenty minutes.”
“Make it fast,” Tanner said, urging him to leave already. The sooner he left, the sooner he could come back and all this could be over. As soon as Nico was gone, Tanner shut the door and turned back to April and Violet.
“Are you going to arrest Aunt April?” Violet asked
“No,” Caden said. “But I will need to talk to her. And to you. Deal?”
Violet nodded and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
There was so much Tanner wanted to ask April, but he didn’t want to do it in front of Caden.
Still reeling from shock at what this little girl could do, he couldn’t stop staring between her and April.
The same woman he’d been running with every morning, the woman he’d invited to hang out with his friends at Garrett’s house, the one he’d kissed senseless in the Murphy’s Soup Kitchen garden, had been hiding this huge secret from him. What else wasn’t she telling him?
Orly, Hallie, Skyla and Reese had all kept secrets from their guys, but this was different. They were all adults. This was a little girl. He couldn’t imagine all the horrors she’d been put through, not to mention having to deal with such a powerful gift.
“Does it hurt, Violet?” Tanner asked, suddenly needing to know if saving him had caused her even an ounce of pain. “When you stop bullets or do other things?”
Violet shook her head. “No. But sometimes my nose bleeds or I fall asleep and don’t wake up right away. Aunt April gets scared when that happens, but I don’t get scared. I just have to make sure I stop the bullets before they hit me.”
“Ned doesn’t have you wear protective gear, like a bulletproof vest or something to protect you from them in case you miss?” Caden asked, his tone laced with disbelief and anger.
“No,” April said, chiming in and sitting down in a chair beside Violet. “Ned thinks if she doesn’t believe she’s in danger, then she won’t perform as well.”
Motherfucker, Tanner wanted to put that man in danger, and see how well he performed.
“I’ve never missed,” Violet said proudly, breaking Tanner’s heart. And from the look on Caden’s face, they were both ready to kill Ned Dynam with their bare hands.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Tanner opened it and found Nico and another biker he didn’t recognize standing just outside. “Is this your guy?”
Nico nodded and pushed his way in. “It is. Let’s make this quick and for the record, he was never here, and whatever he’s about to do, he never did it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tanner said. “Let’s get this over with.”