Chapter 16
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
CLAY
I was driving back to headquarters when Rafe’s name popped up on the dash screen.
"Wilder."
"Where are you?"
Something in his voice had me tightening the grip on the steering wheel.
"Heading back to the office. Why?"
"Change of plans.” The tone of his voice made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"What happened?"
“Get home.” He replied instantly.
My jaw clenched. "Rafe."
"Now, Clay."
I hated the urgency in his voice. Rafe was the calmest son of a bitch I'd ever met. The kind of guy who could walk into chaos and make everyone else believe they had control.
So if he sounded bothered something was wrong.
"What happened?"
"We got eyes on the house. Several of your cameras alerted the monitoring center. Black motorcycle. Rider matches the profile for Kael Mercer."
The entire world felt like it narrowed around me. Monroe. Kaleigh. My girls.
The thought hit so hard it almost knocked the air from my lungs.
“Tell me they’re okay.”
“Sloane had her on line.”
“Had?” My foot pressed harder on the gas, pushing the truck as fast as it would go. I was still a solid five minutes out.
"Clay."
I didn’t answer.
"Listen to me." The command in his voice made me focus.
“You can not go in there blind.”
A humorless laugh left my mouth. Everything inside me went cold. "That's my daughter and Monroe in that house."
Kael Mercer had made one mistake.
He didn't just come looking for Monroe.
He came looking for someone under my protection.
And I was almost home.
The engine roared as I barreled toward my house, ignoring every ounce of training screaming at me to stay calm, stay focused, assess the situation. I knew how to handle threats.
I knew how to enter a hostile environment. I knew how to protect people. But knowing what to do and not wanting to rip the world apart because someone had threatened the people you loved were two very different things.
Tires squealed as I turned onto my street. As my house came into view, everything looked normal from the outside, then I saw the front door wide open.
I pulled in fast, throwing the truck into park before it had fully stopped. Rafe was right behind me, his SUV stopping at the end of the drive.
"Wilder."
I ignored him.
“Clay. Wait!”
Fuck that.
Fuck that.
I was already moving.
Rafe caught my arm.
"Don't."
I turned just enough for him to see my face. Whatever he saw made him release me immediately.
He drew his sidearm. "I've got your six."
Together, we moved toward the house. The silence inside was deafening.
Then, I heard it. A growl. Deep, steady. Maverick. It echoed from upstairs.
A second later, another voice floated down the hallway.
"Monroe. I know you're in here. It's time to come home."
Maverick's growl deepened. Another step creaked overhead.
"Come on, sweetheart."
Mercer's tone made my skin crawl.
"I know about the baby now."
My blood ran cold.
"You don't have to run anymore. We'll raise our baby together."
Their baby? The bastard actually thought—
A sharp bark exploded through the house.
Mercer laughed. "Move, dog."
Another step. Then another. Rafe and I reached the base of the staircase.
I leaned just enough to look around the corner.
Mercer was halfway up the stairs. Gun in his right hand. His attention completely fixed on the hallway above. He never looked behind him. Never saw us.
One more step from Mercer was all it took.
Maverick launched. He didn't hesitate. One second he was at the top of the staircase.
The next he was airborne. Mercer barely had time to turn before eighty pounds of military-trained dog slammed into his chest.
Both of them crashed backward.
The gun discharged, the deafening crack echoed through the house.
Glass exploded somewhere behind me.
Mercer's body hit the hardwood with a sickening thud, but Maverick never let up.
His jaws clamped onto Mercer's arm, pinning it to the floor as Mercer screamed.
"NOW!" Rafe shouted.
I was already moving.
Two strides. One kick. The pistol skidded across the foyer.
Mercer swung at me with his free hand.
I caught the punch, drove my shoulder into his ribs and slammed him flat against the floor.
He bucked beneath me.
It didn't matter. Years of Marine training took over.
I trapped his arm behind his back.
Rafe was on us instantly, snapping cuffs around Mercer's wrists.
The fight was over almost as fast as it had started.
Mercer still glared at me like he thought he'd won.
Then I heard her voice.
"Clay?"
I looked up.
She stood at the top of the steps, one arm wrapped protectively around Kaleigh, whose face was buried against her shoulder.
My knees nearly gave out.
They were okay.
My girls were okay.