Chapter 10
10
D ixie wrapped her arms around Elle’s trembling body in the back of a white van. Guilt plagued her mind. None of this had been Kent’s fault, and she’d all but blamed him and now she and his daughter were being held at gunpoint.
“I’m scared,” Elle whimpered.
“I know, sweetie.” Dixie smoothed down Elle’s hair, tucking her head into Dixie’s chest as the child sobbed uncontrollably. “Your dad is going to find us.”
“What do those men want?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but someone I used to know showed up today, and I think he has something they want.”
Elle tipped her head. Her normally happy toffee eyes had turned a cold brown filled with fear. “But what does that have to do with us?”
Dixie had no idea how to answer that question. If she told Elle the truth about Nicky’s father, then her son would probably find out, and it was hard enough to find answers about why his father left.
“It has nothing to do with you.”
The back doors swung open.
“Let’s go,” one of her captors said, showing his gun. This man was the meaner of the two. He had piercing blue eyes that were lined with deep-set wrinkles. “Be quiet, and don’t say a word.”
Elle shook violently.
“I’ve got you, sweetie.” Dixie’s heart pounded like a jackhammer, but she needed to be strong for Elle. Holding her tightly, Dixie helped her from the van. She looked around, straining to see the street sign a few houses away. The homes were run-down, and most of the grass and bushes were overgrown. There was a random solar window shop across the street.
Her captor held her by the arm, guiding them toward an old blue home with weeds as tall as Nicky swaying in the breeze. The picture window in the front of the house was covered with a thick layer of dirt. They walked around to the backyard. The door to a back patio rattled, hanging open.
“Get inside.”
The floorboards creaked under the weight of her steps. A musty stench filled her nose, causing her to sneeze. The house smelled like death and animal droppings. The other man who had taken them sat at the kitchen table with his nose in a tablet. He’d been kinder, offering them a tissue for Elle, but that didn’t make him a good man since he’d shoved a gun in the poor child’s face.
“Take a seat over there,” the blue-eyed man said, pushing them toward a couch.
Elle cried out, clutching her side.
“I’d appreciate it if you stopped manhandling her.” Dixie eased Elle onto the sagging sofa covered by an old crochet afghan.
“Oh, you would now,” Blue Eyes said.
Elle coughed.
Dixie cradled Elle’s head in her lap, stroking her soft brown hair. “Can we get some water?”
“I wouldn’t drink the water in this place,” the other man said, lifting his gaze from the screen in his hands. “But you can have this.” He picked up a half-empty water bottle and tossed it.
Thankfully, she caught it before it landed on Elle’s face.
Dixie tested the water, ensuring it tasted okay.
“Take a sip,” she whispered, tilting Elle’s head.
“Any news?” Blue Eyes asked as he set his gun on the table.
“It’s not looking good,” the other man said, leaning back in his chair. “The Feds are on his tail.”
“So, the idiot didn’t call off his dogs. Stupid man.” Blue Eyes shook his head.
Dixie swallowed the sob, smacking the back of her throat.
The other man pulled out a phone… Kent’s phone.
A glimmer of hope spread like jam across Dixie’s skin. She never turned off location sharing on her phone, so if Kent had found hers, he could track his and send help. Maybe they were hiding somewhere outside right now.
“We can’t let the Feds nail him, especially if he still has all the product with him,” the tissue man said. “Boss wants to let Danny boy think he’s getting away with it right up to when he meets with whomever his buyer is, killing two birds with one stone.”
“Based on Daniel’s direction, I bet it’s that dipshit out in Tennessee who snagged a small shipment last year,” Blue Eyes said.
Tissue Man traced his thumb and forefinger across his jaw. “We need to know what the Feds are up to.” He pointed to Dixie. “What do you know about all this?”
“Nothing,” she croaked out.
“And your boyfriend?” Tissue Man asked.
She swallowed. Kent knew more than she did about whatever Daniel was up to, but she didn’t know how much or if she should say anything. She didn’t want to make matters worse. “I really don’t know.”
“Get him on the phone.” Tissue Man chucked the phone in her direction.
“But this isn’t my cell.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t reach him,” Tissue Man said.
“What are you waiting for?” Blues Eyes picked up the gun and pointed it at her.
She fumbled with the phone, dropping it twice, trying to remember the passcode.
“9845,” Elle whispered.
Sucking in a deep breath, she called her cell, praying Kent would answer.
He did on the first ring.
“Dixie? Are you okay? Is Elle okay?”
“Put it on speaker.” Tissue Man pushed back his chair and stomped across the room.
“We’re okay,” Dixie said, setting the phone on the table. “Scared.”
“Elle. Can Elle hear me?”
“Daddy!” Elle cried.
“That’s enough,” Tissue Man ordered. “Tell me what you know about the Feds tailing Daniel.”
“I don’t know anything,” Kent’s voice boomed from the speaker.
“We don’t believe you, and unless you want to me to start cutting off fingers and toes, you better get straight with us,” Blue Eyes said.
Elle whimpered, hugging Dixie in a death grip.
“Shhhhh, sweetie.”
“You touch my kid, and I’ll kill you,” Kent said. “That’s not a threat. It’s a promise.”
“Tell me what I want to know, and no harm will come to her,” Tissue Man said with a much calmer voice.
Dixie didn’t believe that statement for a second. Her stomach twisted and churned like she’d downed a jug of bad milk. She needed to find a way to get her and Elle out of this house, and soon.
“All I know was that when my contact started tailing Daniel, the FBI was already on him. That’s all I know.”
“All right. Your guy still nearby?” Tissue Man asked.
“He backed off, but can’t be more than thirty minutes away,” Kent said.
“What are you doing?” Blue Eyes said in a hushed tone.
Tissue Man waved him off.
“Put him back on. We’re going to create a diversion. I’ll be in touch.” Tissue Man bent down and tapped the screen.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Blue Eyes furrowed his forehead.
“Making sure Daniel gets to the buyer, like our boss wants.”
“Motherfucker!” Kent whipped the phone across the room, missing Arthur’s head by a mere inch.
“Calm down,” Arthur said with a level voice. Arthur never cracked under pressure, not even when his wife had been kidnapped and then in a car crash where Arthur had to pull her limp body from the wreckage. “Destroying her phone isn’t going to help us.”
Kent sucked in a breath. That phone had been their lifeline to Elle and Dixie. One good thing that came from his overprotective ways.
Arthur picked up the phone. “Still working.”
Thank God.
“We’re missing something,” Buddy said from the kitchen table at Arthur’s house near the marina and closer to where Elle and Dixie were being held. “Why would they want us to put a PI back on Daniel?”
“My guess would be they want to use our guy as a diversion. If Daniel has a buyer for the drugs, they probably want to take them both out, making a statement,” Arthur said.
“Nope. That’s not it.” Rex walked into the kitchen carrying his laptop. “Darius got ahold of the field agent in charge of the Pepe Hernandez case, and it would appear they have an undercover agent.” Rex flipped the computer screen so everyone could see. “This guy is Special Agent Simon Gant.”
“That’s one of the men who took Elle and Dixie.” A feeling of butterflies fluttered in his stomach.
“Text just came in from your phone,” Arthur said, his lips slightly smiling.
“Looks like this undercover operative just sent us their location and a time to be there. He’s setting something up.”
“He say anything else?” Kent asked, his pulse racing. This was all good news, but he couldn’t relax until Elle and Dixie were back in his arms.
“Yeah. We’re not to contact him,” Arthur said.
“Well, that makes sense.” Kent took the phone with a shaky hand. “Let’s go.”
“Dixie?” Elle’s voice trembled.
“What is it, sweetie?” Dixie cupped her chin, pressing her lips against her temple.
“I have to use the bathroom.”
So did Dixie, but she didn’t dare ask. Blue Eyes kept pacing, constantly questioning the decisions Tissue Man made, and a few times Blue Eyes mentioned something about sending a message by chopping off a couple of fingers or toes and sending them to Kent. Tissue Man didn’t like that idea, thank God, but Dixie didn’t think she and Elle were going to make it out of this situation unharmed. She prayed they’d still be at least breathing.
“Um, excuse me?” she said softly.
“Shut the fuck up,” Blue Eyes snapped.
Elle sniffled.
“What is it?” Tissue Man asked.
“We need to use the bathroom.”
“Too bad,” Blue Eyes said, laughing.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” Tissue Man waved her over. “The bathroom is over here.”
“They can’t go in there alone.” Blue Eyes lifted the gun off the table again, waving it around. “I don’t know why we don’t just kill them now. We’re going to anyway.”
Dixie bit back a sob, but Elle couldn’t keep quiet.
“Go outside to the van and get me a pack of smokes.” Tissue Man pointed to the empty pack on the table. “I’ll deal with the bathroom break.”
“You go get them, and I’ll take the girls to the bathroom. They’ll have to leave the door open, and I’ll have to stand over them, especially the hot mom.” This time Blue Eyes waved the gun in the direction of Tissue Man.
“Boss put me in charge, so do what I say, or I’ll tell him about how you fucked up the surveillance in the first place.”
Blue Eyes narrowed his eyes. “That wasn’t all my fault.”
Dixie helped Elle to her feet while Blue Eyes stomped out of the house.
Tissue Man looked over his shoulder several times and then raced to her side.
She pushed Elle behind her back.
“I’m not going to hurt you. We have only a few minutes. I’m an undercover federal agent, and I’m waiting to hear from my handler so that I can?—”
Bang!
Elle screamed.
Tissue Man’s eyes widened as he arched his back, falling to his knees.
“Knew there was something wrong with you.” Blue Eyes raised the gun at Dixie.
Her body trembled as her gaze went from the man groaning on the ground and the other man inching his way forward with a sinister smile.
Think. Think.
What would Kent do? What would her father have done in a situation like this?
Kent bolted from the car the second he heard the gunshot, followed by an ear-piercing scream. His heart nearly stopped, picturing Elle lying on the ground with a bullet in her body.
Or Dixie.
Or both.
“Kent,” Arthur yelled.
“Nothing you can say or do that will stop me from charging in.” Kent glanced over his shoulder.
“Didn’t expect you to, but I’m not letting you go alone or unarmed.” Arthur’s feet hit the pavement as he carried two weapons in his hand. “I’ll take the front; you go around back.”
“I’ve got the north side,” Rex yelled as he ran past.
Kent did his best to push all negative thoughts from his mind. He tried to calm his pulse to something close to a normal combat situation, though he was more used to running into a burning building with a hose, not a hostile situation with a gun.
Not that he hadn’t done it a time or two with the Aegis Network.
He pressed his back to the side of the house, peering into the backyard. An old door, barely hanging on the hinges, swayed, making a creaking noise. The noise would help. He peeked into the window, and his heart sank to the pit of his gut.
Elle stood behind Dixie, her face buried in her back, while Dixie stared down the wrong end of a pistol. The undercover agent was on the floor, bleeding, trying to move but couldn’t. Kent couldn’t tell where he’d been hit, but the look on his face, and the way his legs remained still while he withered his upper body, told Kent it wasn’t good.
The man with the scar, which they now knew went by the name Dune Dog, grabbed Dixie by the neck, pressing the gun against her temple, and licked her cheek.
Kent swallowed the bile that smacked the back of his throat. If he had a clear shot, he’d take it, but it was too risky. That motherfucker was going to get hurt for doing that. Kent ducked down, inching toward the back door, trying not to make a sound, sidestepping a few twigs. He’d be able to get in undetected, but based on the angle of the kitchen, he’d be seen the second he approached the table.
There was no way either of his buddies could enter through the front door without being seen, so hopefully one of them had found access through a window somewhere.
Gently, he stepped through the door, weapon on the ready.
“You’re a pretty little thing,” Dune Dog said.
The way his voice cooed made Kent want to vomit.
“Nice tits too.”
Kent let out a short breath through his nose. It was now or never. Inching behind the table, staying low, he made eye contact with Dixie who had turned her head, tears streaming down her cheek while that asshole had his slimy lips on her neck and his hand on her breast. Her arms were behind her, wrapped around Elle.
“Don’t do this in front of her,” Dixie said.
“It will be good for her to learn.” Dune Dog traced the gun down the side of Dixie’s face while he sniffed her hair.
Kent pointed to his gun, then at the one in Dune Dog’s hand.
Dixie’s eyes went wide. Hopefully, she knew what he wanted and that it would work.
“Back away from the?—”
“What the fuck?” Dune Dog jerked his head around.
“Now,” Kent commanded.
Dixie curled her fingers around the gun and yanked it free from a stunned Dune Dog. She stumbled backward, shoving Elle out of the way.
“Daddy!” She raced across the room.
Dune Dog reached for Dixie.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Arthur said as he stepped through the front door. Rex followed, racing through the room to get to the injured man with a first aid kit. Rex was prepared for anything.
Kent set his gun on the table, holding his arms out as he pulled Elle right off the floor, squeezing her tight. His muscles ached. In a flash, he could have lost everything he loved, a feeling he hoped he’d never have to face again. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she whimpered, nuzzling her face in his neck. “I was so scared.”
“I know, but Daddy’s here now.” Quickly, he took Elle out the back door, wanting to get her out of that house. Sirens rang out in the distance.
“Don’t leave Dixie,” Elle said.
“I’m not going to. Uncle Arthur is bringing her out the front door. See?”
Arthur had put Dune Dog in restraints and tied him to the railing by the front door as he helped Dixie down the front stoop.
“Your girlfriend’s a feisty one,” Arthur said.
“I know. I think I’ll keep her.” Holding his daughter with one hand, he held out his other. “Come here.”
She wiped the tears from her face and ran to him, throwing her arms around him and Elle. “Where’s Nicky?” she asked, sobbing into his chest.
“He’s with Tilly. When I left, he was still upset, but he promised me he’d be a big boy and hold down the fort until we got back.” He kissed the top of her head. “Did that slimeball hurt you?”
She shivered. “No, but I need a long, hot shower to get the feeling of his fingers off my body.”
“After we get you both checked out by a doctor.”
“Elle complained of stomach pain,” Dixie said.
“I’m okay,” Elle whispered. “I don’t need a doctor.”
“Yes, you do,” Dixie said with a firm tone.
Kent let out a slight laugh. “Are you being overprotective now?”
“I learned from the best.” She tilted her head, staring at him with those warm, blue eyes. She glanced over her shoulder as three police cars and two ambulances pulled down the street. “I hope that man is going to be okay. He said he was a federal agent.”
“He is,” Arthur said as he strolled over. “Rex is tending to him now. I’m afraid it isn’t looking too good. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Oh no.” Elle wrapped her arms around Kent’s waist.
Kent nodded toward the paramedics as they entered the house with a stretcher. A second team strolled in his direction.
“While I think Elle needs to be examined, I’m not sure another ride in an ambulance is warranted.” Dixie patted his chest.
“I’ll let the experts make that decision.” He kissed her temple.
“I supposed that’s reasonable,” Dixie said.
“Oh my God.” Elle rolled her eyes. “Am I going to be ganged up on by both of you now that you’re an official item?”
“Consider this a nice compromise.” Dixie looped her arm around Elle. “He’s not making you get in the ambulance and race off to the hospital. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“I can’t believe he’s rubbing off on you. Next thing I know, you’ll go back on your word and not take me to get a bra.” Elle stomped off toward Kent’s truck.
Arthur laughed. “This is my cue to go see if Rex needs anything.”
Kent shifted his gaze. “You told her you’d take her shopping for bras?”
“She’s getting little boobies.”
“She is not.” Kent stuffed his finger in his ear and wiggled. “I seriously can’t believe you just said that. She’s ten.”
“She’ll be eleven in a couple of months. Before you know it, she’ll be getting her first period.”
Kent reached around and covered Dixie’s mouth. “I don’t ever want to hear you utter those words again.”
“Not saying them won’t stop it from happening and you’d have to be blind not to see the way she’s growing into a beautiful young woman.”
Kent groaned. “I can’t wait to start teaching Nicky how to pick up chicks.”
Dixie laughed. “He’s going to have to go to Rex or one of the other guys on how to accomplish that.” She leaned into Kent’s body, resting her hand on the center of his chest. “You, my friend, have no game. At all.”
“Oh, I sure do. I’ll show you tonight, after the kids go to bed.”
“Don’t go making promises you can’t keep.”
He heaved her to his chest, lifting her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I’m thinking we let Nicky and Elle have a nice little sleepover. Watch a movie while you and I do some door locking.” He wrinkled his forehead.
“It hurt you just to even think about letting me spend the night.”
He kissed her nose. “No. Not at all. The only thing that weirded me out was how normal it felt.”