Chapter 22
Reece
Dante slams his fist on the granite countertop. “What’s the plan? It’s been an entire fucking day!”
Aurora places three water bottles in the center of the kitchen island, twisting one open and setting it in front of me. “Should I call Ethan?”
Her words shake, and I flash the furious Italian a sharp glare.
I intertwine our fingers in an attempt to comfort her. “No, they’ll only freak out. It won’t do any good.”
She squeezes my hand and smiles gently before turning away.
I shift my attention back to the map on my laptop. Lucas’ dog tags pinpoint him inside an abandoned building in Skid Row, an area plagued by homelessness and drug use. The problem is, we don’t know where in the building he is.
If my partner were here and we were rescuing someone else, he’d be hacking into the security feed, but I doubt this place even has cameras.
Unless it’s not what we think. Unless this seemingly worthless structure is a front… Holy fuck, that’d be perfect for a criminal. A drug and human trafficking hub right in the heart of the city’s most vulnerable. Kyle and his crew were seriously perverse.
“We need eyes inside the building,” I tell the twins. “Are you still in contact with a hacker?”
Desi glances up from his screen. “Text me the address.” He’s been the opposite of his seething brother—deathly calm.
A moment later, Aurora returns with a cheese-and-fruit platter; it’s likely to be ignored, but she has to stay busy. “Do you have Jackson’s old phone?”
“Yes, why?” My tone comes off clipped, and I mentally kick myself.
It’s not her fault my partner went missing while we were asleep, or playing on the beach, or screwing around. It’s not her fault I’m injured at the absolute worst time. She’s trying to help, doing her best to care for us.
“The Land Rover has an app with 360 surveillance and GPS.” She shrugs. “It may show something.”
“Good thinking, angel. You wanna get it for me? It’s in the safe in the security room.”
“We’re wasting time,” Dante grumbles once she’s out of earshot.
“We can’t go in there blind. He’s avoiding contact for a reason.
There’s a hidden alert button in one of the links on his chain.
” I lift my dog tags from my chest to show him.
I don’t mention that it’s designed to prevent accidental activation, requiring it to be pressed and held for five seconds.
More worry will only fuel his rage. “Communication could be risky. There might be others around, too many for us to eliminate.”
He connects the dots, however. “Or he could be injured…or dead.”
Desi’s head jerks up, eyes feral. “Don’t say that, Tay.”
Dante clasps his brother’s nape, much like Ethan does to Aurora and Jax. “Sorry, Des. I’m frustrated. We should have done something by now.”
“This isn’t New York,” I remind him.
“It sure as fuck isn’t.” He draws a calming breath, his nostrils flaring. “None of this shit would happen in New York—none.” He emphasizes his words with a wave of his hands. “That building would’ve been raided, and anyone who touched what was ours would be rotting in a morgue by now.”
“You’re the one who didn’t want to call this in,” I point out. “A raid is still possible.”
“You call this in, it’s out of our control, more time is wasted, and it becomes a hostage situation.”
“This is a hostage situation. He’s not missing by accident.” Hurried footsteps clatter down the hallway, and I lower my tone. “But I’m with you. We gather intel then move in under the cover of darkness.”
“Here you go!” She hands me the phone. “I’ve added the Wi-Fi. It’s updating.”
“Thank you. Could you do me an enormous favor?” I swap phones with her.
“Call my sister. Tell her there’s been a work emergency.
She’ll understand you can’t say more. Let her know our attendance to the wedding is iffy.
Ask if she needs anything. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you after receiving all those pictures. ”
Seeing right through my bullshit, Aurora cocks her head and narrows her eyes. “You don’t want me here.”
I press my lips together and nod. “I’d rather you weren’t, but you get to FaceTime my family.”
She stares me down before she relents. “Fine. I’ll let the men talk. What’s the passcode?”
“Same as your husband’s.”
Her face brightens, but it doesn’t last long. “Te amo,” she says with all her heart, her golden eyes burning into mine before she reluctantly leaves.
I offer the phone to the twins. “Do either of you know how to use this?”
Dante takes over, his fingers tapping until a video pops up on the screen. The dashcam footage shows Lucas emerging from the car, the bright sunlight glinting off the doorframe. Then, with a sickeningly swift motion, he crumples, disappearing from view.
Two uniformed figures appear, their movements harsh. Blood roars in my ears, the air evacuates my lungs, and my stomach clenches. Time stands still, each second dragging on as the fragmented video continues and Lucas never gets to his feet. It’s not a good sign.
“Is there another angle?” I ask, monotone, my heartbeat pounding in my throat.
The view switches to the rear of the vehicle; my body goes numb and my mind races, preparing for what’s next. I’m powerless, seeing my best friend’s motionless form being laid in a trunk, his lolling head covered with a black bag.
“Motherfucker!” With a swipe of his hand, Dante sends the cheese platter flying, the ceramic shattering against the hardwood.
I don’t flinch, don’t so much as blink. My brain locks into crisis mode, separating emotion from reality. I’m laser-focused, calm, rational, but that doesn’t mean I won’t kill someone for this.
Everything’s prepared. Thanks to a hacker, we know Lucas was dragged down to the basement, which has no cameras.
There appear to be only four men—two right inside the back door and two in a surveillance room on the second level. The bottom floor is unknown.
We’ve studied the building’s layout and are familiar with the optimal routes of entry and exit. Guns are loaded, tactical gear and medical supplies checked and rechecked.
Only one problem. “Who’s staying? This might be another setup.”
“You.” Dante cinches the bulletproof vest tighter. “You’re injured and can’t shoot.”
I scoff. “I can handle a gun with either hand, and Lucas needs me. I’m a medic.”
He turns to his brother. “Des—”
“Nope.” Desi shoves a government-issued Glock, which I hadn’t returned yet, into his vest holster. “No way am I staying.”
Dante mirrors his twin and secures his own weapon. “You’re not going without me.”
I toss them each a silencer. If I don’t resign, I’m sure to be fired after tonight. “I’ll call Ethan. He’ll have an idea, or Jax may know someone who’s not on the team.”
“No,” Aurora interrupts, coming into my bedroom.
“Drop me off at Jax’s penthouse. It’s the safest place.
” She stops before me and, without me asking, helps me out of my sling with trembling fingers and into my own vest. “Promise me you’ll be careful.
Call for backup if needed. Once you’re in, you’re in; there’s nothing Bennett can do about it but save your asses. ”