Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Conversation buzzed around Marie. References and terms were thrown around, but they all went over her head. She knew she should be paying attention to what was being said, but all she could think about was Isaac.
Was he hurt?
Was he even alive?
Her body ached, not from the lovemaking she and Isaac had shared, but from something else, as though every part of her had been hit. She didn’t understand why she was feeling this way. She’d done nothing to warrant this type of aching.
“You okay?” Lilith came up to her with a fresh glass of water, the ice cubes clinking when she put it down.
“I don’t know how I feel.” She wanted to go back to the night before when she and Isaac were cuddled up together. Where his mouth was teasing every part of her body.
“I think it’s fine that you can’t define what you’re feeling.
This is a lot to deal with. What I do know is that Isaac will do everything to come back to you.
He’ll withstand whatever is thrown at him, because of you.
I know that’s what I felt when I was taken.
” Her gaze drifted to her husband who was talking with Fox and Deal.
“I kept my mind on Julian, believing he’d find me, because I had my tracker.
I put up with whatever was dished out because help was coming.
Isaac may not have a tracker, but he has to know no one in this room will sit back and not do everything to find him. ”
Marie took in everyone in the room again. Lilith was right, everyone had come. All the girls were here, their kids as well. They’d all come in and given her a big hug, and she’d appreciated it even though she hadn’t known them for long.
She really wanted to believe what Lilith said; that Isaac would be okay.
Did she want to be the reason he was dealing with whatever punishment he was having to endure?
Yes!
Because if she had been taken she’d be thinking about him.
Believing that he wouldn’t rest until he was found.
He would be her safe haven. The place she could escape to where she didn’t feel anything but his arms on her.
His lips as he kissed his way down. His words telling her that he loved her and would be coming back to her.
He loved her.
Marie had to remember that. Just like she was sure he was remembering that she loved him.
That alone should give her the strength and determination to get through this and be waiting for him.
Standing strong and ready for whatever condition he was in when he returned.
There was no way he was returning to them unhurt.
It would be ridiculous to expect that whoever took him would treat him as if he was a guest in a luxurious hotel.
No matter what they did to him, Isaac wouldn’t cower. Wouldn’t let them believe they’d got the better of him. He would face them down and dare them to do their worst. He would be brave and defiant.
“I’ve got him.” Cass’s declaration killed the conversation, and Marie leapt from her chair and rushed over to where the computer guru sat.
“Are you sure?” she asked, not wanting to have her hopes crushed, then again, there was no way Cass would say she’d found him if it wasn’t true.
“Yes. Because of the cameras outside his house, I was able to get a visual on the car and a partial plate. It took a little time, but I’ve found him.”
“Location?” Ox demanded.
“He’s in a warehouse south of LA, close to the Port of Los Angeles.
It’s a busy area, so we need to go in with care.
” Cass tapped at her keyboard before a document went up on the main screen alongside an image of a warehouse.
Marie moved toward it. “The property is owned by a shell corporation, Lilac Enterprises.”
Cass fired off more information, but all Marie could see was the building where her man was. She wished they could see inside. See where he was exactly, but perhaps not knowing was better.
“Marie?” She looked up to find Fox standing beside her. “We’re forming a plan. We’re going to get him back.”
The determination was shining in his eyes, and with a quick look around the room, she could see all the men clumped together around Cass talking. “I know.”
He gave her a nod, then returned to where the others were talking. Various images flashed up on the screen, which was now split, enabling everyone to see everything Cass found.
“There’s no way you can find out who took him?” Hound asked. “Everything looks too easy to get into, which means it’s probably not. We can’t go in blind. We need to make sure we know everything we can about this place.”
Marie wanted to yell that she didn’t care about that, all she wanted them to do was break into that building and get Isaac out of there.
Would they let her go?
She could offer her assistance if he was hurt and needed medical attention.
“I’m investigating the shell company. There are so many layers which suggests it’s hiding something.”
“The proximity to the port is a red flag to me,” mused Julian, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to recall something. The urge to yell at him to figure it out wouldn’t help, and she had to remember that these guys were professionals who’d done this type of thing for years.
“What are you thinking?” Ox asked, watching Julian carefully. She may have only been there for a few hours, but it was clear Ox was one to listen to what anyone had to say, even if it was just spit balling and not even a possibility.
“The area seems familiar as if we’ve been there before. Can you check, Cass?” Julian asked.
“Of course.” She concentrated on her keyboard while a couple of the guys moved closer to the screen to see if they could recognize the location.
“Okay, we haven’t been there before, but”–Cass looked over at Angel who was standing by his wife–“We have been at a location two miles from there, where we found Steff and Cynthia.”
“Shit,” Angelo cursed and tugged Teresa closer. “Are we looking at the same people who were involved with shipping those girls?”
Cass shrugged. “It’s a possibility. I know Gomez was working with someone, but once we got the girls back we didn’t look into it more. Julian, does the FBI know anything?”
“We have so many organizations we’re keeping a track of. I’ll go give them a call and see if I can find out if there is a connection between any of them and Lilac Enterprises owning this property.”
“How long will that take?” Marie asked, needing for him to say it wouldn’t be long so that they could formulate a plan to rescue Isaac.
“It won’t hold us up if that’s what you’re worried about,” Jag assured Marie. “We’re going in, but we’ll take this into consideration.”
Marie nodded, wrapped her arms around her belly and hugged herself. “You’ve all got to stay safe,” she whispered.
“We will,” Jag said.
Afraid her legs weren’t going to hold her up for much longer, Marie stumbled to where she’d been sitting. She gripped the sides of the chair and prayed.