Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Jayson turned his attention back to the men gathered around the table, doing his best to put Sabrina out of his mind.
She said she wanted to help, but he’d found her searching through his things.
How could he trust her? Sure, she’d offered up the “truth” of who she was and who she worked for, why she was there.
But how did he know she wasn’t lying about that?
Normally, his friends would’ve teased him relentlessly about Sabrina. He’d never brought a woman to the bar, and the guys knew he didn’t date. Emma had always been his first priority. His everything. Now with her missing, the mood was somber.
In moments, Mitch appeared on the laptop screen and Brand turned it to face everyone.
General Mitchell Evans possessed a larger-than-life presence.
At sixty-seven, he barely looked fifty. Fit and intelligent, his incredible accomplishments left Jayson a lot awed and a little intimidated.
Julia’s father was also their handler. The Motley Crew was his brainchild, and the ops he sent them on had given them all a new purpose. A new life.
The General’s connections ran deep, and Jayson hoped like hell he could help.
“What’s going on in Cielo Springs, gentlemen?” Mitch asked from his home in Washington D.C.
“Someone kidnapped Jayson’s daughter,” Brand informed him. “We think it may be tied to Rocco Ferrante.”
Mitch eyed the group of men, his expression turning serious. “What makes you think that?”
”There’s an FBI agent here claiming Rocco wants vengeance for Donato’s death,” Brand answered. “She thinks we may have been involved.”
They all exchanged a look. Because, yeah, they’d been involved.
“I’d throw his fat ass right off that rooftop again,” Chaz growled. “He tried to kill Lottie.”
Sitting up straighter, Mitch frowned, attention zeroing in on Jayson. “Rest assured, whatever we need to do to get Emma back, we will.”
Hope bloomed inside Jayson. Mitch had a way of inspiring faith. He also got shit done.
Focusing back on the group, Mitch asked, “What’s this FBI agent’s name?”
“Sabrina Ross,” Jayson answered. “She moved in next door to me a couple weeks ago. I caught her snooping around in my office. We need to verify her identity.”
“Ross?” Mitch echoed, then pinched the bridge of his nose. He heaved out a sigh.
“Do you know her?” Jayson asked.
“If we’re talking about Special Agent in Charge Daniel Ross’s daughter, then yes, I’m familiar.”
“Is that a problem?” Brand asked carefully.
“Probably,” Mitch responded. “Daniel and I have some history.”
“Great,” Chaz said dryly.
“Anything we should be aware of?” Brand pressed.
“No, it was personal.”
Other than being Julia’s dad and a badass who now worked shadow missions jointly with the CIA and the military, Jayson didn’t know a lot about Mitch’s personal life.
Julia had told them her mother died when she was a little girl, and Mitch became her world.
And although she wanted him to retire, it was obvious the man didn’t have any intention of slowing down any time soon.
Mitch waved a hand through the air. “Anyway, I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, if Rocco Ferrante has Emma, we need to move fast. And fuck the FBI—if we need to step on toes, so be it.”
That hope blooming in Jayson’s chest became a full-on fire. Because that was exactly what he needed to hear.
Sabrina sat down on the edge of a chair and looked around Julia and Brandon’s apartment above the bar. Small and cozy, it had a homey, well lived-in vibe. Normally, it probably felt pretty welcoming. But with the wary looks Julia and Lottie directed her way, she felt anything but welcomed.
“You’re FBI?” Julia asked.
“I am.” Sabrina clasped her hands in her lap.
“Why do you think we had anything to do with Donato Ferrante’s death?” Lottie asked.
Sabrina’s gaze lowered to the small woman’s very large stomach. “I don’t think you did. But I was sent to investigate the men downstairs and determine if they had any involvement.”
No point in sugarcoating the situation. Sabrina wanted to be as transparent as possible because it might help her ferret out the truth.
If the women believed she was being honest, then maybe they’d do the same.
She might not always have faith in her abilities as an agent, but she knew without a doubt it would be far easier to get Julia and Lottie on her side than the men downstairs.
“But now, the more important issue is finding Emma,” Sabrina continued.
“If Jayson and his friends were involved with Donato’s death, there’s no doubt in my mind Rocco is behind Emma’s abduction.
He’s a vindictive asshole who lords over the Vegas gambling scene with an iron fist. And he was extremely close to his brother. ”
“You think he would hurt Emma?” Lottie asked, her bright blue eyes filling with tears.
Sabrina swallowed hard. “Yes, I do. That’s why, if Rocco took her, we need to move fast.”
“This is all my fault,” Lottie sniffled.
“Lottie,” Julia warned. “Don’t.”
Sabrina looked between the two women who clearly knew something. “If you tell me, I can help you. And I will. I swear it.”
The petite pregnant blonde broke down into tears.
“My ex, Andy, won a bag of gems from Donato at a high stakes poker game. Andy sent me a map showing where he’d buried the gems. We have a daughter together, but he was a deadbeat dad and never knew Reya.
He wanted her to have the jewels, maybe to make amends.
Anyway, Donato killed him and then kidnapped me.
When he tried to push me off the roof, I stabbed him. ”
“So, it was self-defense,” Sabrina stated, and Lottie nodded.
“I have Reya, and I did what I had to do.” She swiped away the tears on her cheeks. “I still have nightmares about it, but it was him or me. The guys came to my rescue. Chaz showed up right before—” Her voice caught, the memory still obviously very raw and recent.
Julia wrapped an arm around Lottie’s shoulders, and Sabrina leaned forward and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Chaz dragged him off me and Donato slammed into the glass railing. It shattered and he fell,” Lottie finished hollowly. But her blue eyes flashed as she added, “The men downstairs are heroes. If they hadn’t found me… If they hadn’t held off the mercenaries hired to protect Donato… I’d be dead.”
“But you’re here,” Julia said firmly. “And you’re about to be a mother all over again.”
“This pregnancy is making my hormones spiral, and it seems I can’t keep a secret, either,” she admitted with a sheepish smile.
“It’s good that you told me,” Sabrina said, pulling out her phone.
“Who’re you calling?” Julia asked.
“My dad.”
“Why?” Lottie asked, confusion wrinkling her brow.
“Because FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Ross needs to know what happened, and that none of you are responsible for Donato’s death. Then I’m asking him to help us find Emma using Bureau resources.”
“Special Agent in Charge? That sounds important.” Lottie took the tissue Julia handed her and blew her nose.
“I think between Sabrina’s dad and mine, we’ll have enough brass to find Emma,” Julia said, and Sabrina nodded, remembering Brandon’s soon-to-be father-in-law was a General.
In less than twenty minutes, Sabrina explained the situation to her dad, conveniently leaving out the embarrassing fact Jayson caught her snooping. Her dad promised to find out what Rocco Ferrante was currently doing in Las Vegas and get back to her as soon as possible.
“If he has her, they took her alive for a reason,” her dad said, voice thoughtful. “And if everything checks out like you said, I have a feeling she’s on a private plane heading for Vegas and straight into Ferrante’s lair.”
They talked for a few more minutes then said goodbye. She’d just hung up when Brandon called them to come back downstairs. Talking to her father, knowing he would do everything in his power to help, gave Sabrina a boost of confidence, and she followed the women back down to the bar.
“I told Sabrina what happened in New York,” Lottie blurted out, heading straight for Chaz. “I had to let her know you guys didn’t kill Donato and that all of this is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault, Sunshine,” Chaz murmured, pulling her down onto his lap and stroking a hand over her blonde curls. “You had nothing to do with your useless ex getting involved with the mob.”
“Still though, I feel guilty. And I refuse to let any of you get in trouble because of something Andy did.”
Admiration for Lottie and the fierce way she protected the people she loved made Sabrina respect her deeply. “You did the right thing, Lottie. No one blames you for anything.” Lottie gave her a small smile.
The moment she spoke, the heavy weight of everyone’s stares landed on Sabrina, and she tried not to squirm. But, damn, they were an intimidating group. “I called my father to help,” she announced, hoping the calm authority in her voice would convince them she was on the right side of things.
“Special Agent in Charge Daniel Ross?” Brandon asked.
Sabrina blinked in surprise. “How did—”
“Seems like he and Mitch are acquainted,” Brandon said dryly. “If he can help, great. But, we’re leaving for Vegas immediately. Lex, can you get your plane ready?”
“Roger that,” Lex answered, already hopping up. “I’ll have my Spitfire ready to fly in thirty.”
The atmosphere suddenly felt kinetic. Their energy, the way they leapt to help Jayson, showcased the tight, supportive bond the men shared.
Maybe they weren’t family by blood, but this group had each other’s backs, and that made them the best possible kind of family—a found family who chose each other and always would.
Sabrina moved over to Jayson’s side and grabbed his arm. “I want to come, too.”
He hesitated. “You asked your father to help us?”