CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
JAKE
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“What was she doing down there?” Ryder yells.
“No idea,” I reply, taking the corner sharply.
“Right here.” Liam points.
I turn again.
“Did Caylee know about today?” Ryder asks.
My blood starts to boil. “The fuck do you mean?
Is he accusing her of being involved with trafficking? Being an accomplice of Brad Thornton?
He has to be fucking kidding me.
“I don’t know,” the former Delta operator yells. “But it looks like Caylee led that girl downstairs and right into the kidnapper’s hands.”
The fuck she did.
But I can see how it looked like that.
“Stay focused on the job,” Liam growls.
I grip the steering wheel and then finally the van comes back into view.
Our second team pulls in front of them, and they swerve, turning onto a street and almost getting away. Liam is on the comms, getting the third team to go around to cut them off a few blocks away.
I put my foot on the gas again, following.
We’re too far behind.
“She’s Cole’s fucking sister,” I yell at Ryder, unable to let his comment go.
“That means shit. People do all kinds of things.”
I know what it looked like, but I have zero doubt in my mind that Caylee is not involved.
I wish he’d shut up, as I’m trying to remain calm, keep from killing him and focus on driving.
The van slows, and we get closer.
Ryder cracks a window and gets in position, gripping the back of my seat. “Move left.”
Pop.
He takes out a tire, and they start to snake. Nice.
Next minute, gunfire explodes from the side of the van. I swerve, cars move out of our way, and we hear sirens.
Shit.
“Where was the goddamn sniper?” I yell, remembering that we had a guy in a building.
“Couldn’t get a safe shot. They know what they are doing, so if it wasn’t safe, he won’t have fired.” Liam grips the dash.
I don’t question him; they’ve all worked with snipers a hell of a lot more than I have.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
The van skids to a halt, and I slam on my brakes. Three men leap out and start firing at us. Thank you, bulletproof glass.
Ryder is out of the vehicle, behind the door and firing.
Goddamn Delta Force. I might not like his earlier comments, but in a situation like this you want someone fearless and highly experienced on your team.
I climb out and do the same, lining up my weapon and letting off bullets.
“We need backup.” Liam yells into the comms and gives them the address. “All teams circle in.”
“Get Josh on the phone now.” Ryder yells and zips past me as two of the men drop to the floor.
The driver is trying to move the van, and smoke is pouring from the tires.
“We need to get Caylee and Trinity.” I run, ignoring Ryder’s instruction.
I don’t think.
I don’t wait for cover.
If the driver gives up on moving the van, he’s going to shoot the two of them before he bolts. I run for my life, bullets flying over my head.
Time slows, and all I can see is Caylee’s face under me as my cock slips inside her, feeling like I’m in heaven. The flush on her cheeks, the pleasure in her eyes. Hearing the sigh of her moan.
She’s mine.
This is not how it ends.
I refuse to let her die.
Visions of my sister lying on the ground, blood puddled underneath her, flash before my eyes. I feel like a madman.
I cannot lose her.
I love this woman.
It’s taken this moment for me to realize it. Right at this moment, I see what’s truly important.
Her.
Reaching the van, I grip the side of the open door and leap inside. Oh, my fucking god. The world stops as I take in the scene.
Trinity is gagged and slumped in the corner crying. Her eyes are wide and terrified.
Caylee is, fuck me, sitting up and staring blankly as if in shock. Her top and bra are torn, exposing her breasts, her face lined with black tears. She has a bruise forming on one cheek.
Her face crumples when she sees me, and I drop to my knees.
“Jake!” Caylee screams.
“Baby,” my voice is rough as I catch her when she launches into my arms. She’s a dead weight, likely from being drugged, only the adrenaline and a low dose keeping them both awake.
Someone didn’t do their job properly.
Unless they wanted them conscious.
The urge to carry Caylee away from all of this like I’m Superman swooping in to save my heroine is all-consuming.
I glance over at Trinity and tell her she’s safe. “We’ve got you,”
She falls apart, so I reach over and pull the gag out of her mouth and reposition Caylee so I can comfort them both.
“You are safe.” I repeat, over and over.
“Oh god,” Caylee trembles, reaching out for Trinity, which is incredibly admirable under the circumstances. “It’s okay. Jake is here. We’re safe.”
The young girl drops her head and shakes uncontrollably as she cries. I’ve seen this before when I was with NCMEC. They don’t know who to trust or understand what is happening.
Not completely.
The sirens get louder and sound like they are right outside. I wonder if they are the units Reed briefed. Either way, we’re going to need Josh or Aidan to step in fast on this. We have two or three bodies on the ground and two kidnap victims. And somebody needs to knock on Brad Thornton's door.
I wanted to be there, but I glance down at Caylee and know there’s no way in hell I’m going anywhere.
“Ambulance will be here in ten,” Ryder says from behind me.
When I turn, he’s pocketing his weapon. Behind him, a couple of BHS guys stand on guard because until the cops take control of the crime scene this ongoing situation. Like Josh adhered to...with very dangerous people.
Liam walks over with a couple of cops.
“Give me your jacket,” I say to Ryder. He doesn’t hesitate, and I wrap it around Caylee, covering her up.
One cop leans into the van and takes in the situation. He introduces himself and starts asking us questions. As the situation becomes clearer, he asks me for my identification.
“US Marshal Murphy,” I advise. “Former. I’m with BHS now.”
“We’re familiar with the Black Hawke team. I’ll have my deputy go with you to the hospital.” He nods to the female police officer talking to Ryder.
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CAYLEE
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I NESTLE INTO Jake’s side and wait for Trinity to be transported in one ambulance. Then he leads me to the SUV.
I didn’t want to go in the ambulance; I want to stay with him. In his arms. Everything else we need to deal with has been pushed to the back, for another day.
Right now, I’m in fight-or-flight mode and need his warmth, his big shoulders to lean on and those determined eyes that are warning everyone away from me.
I need him.
“Do this up,” he turns and does the zipper up on the jacket, then wraps his arms around me again.
That.
I need all of that.
Forever, if I had the choice.
His phone rings, and he swipes and puts it to his ear. “She’s here. I have her.”
I glance up, and he pulls the phone away from his ear, then hands it to me. “It’s your brother. Tell him you’re okay.”
“Cole.” I grab the phone and start crying.
“Caylee, my god. Are you all right?” Cole demands in a tone I can only describe as angry caring. That’s Cole in a nutshell. No wonder he ended up with Scarlett.
“No. Yes. I’m with Jake.”
“Are you okay?” he repeats.
I snuggle closer to Jake. “Yes. They saved us, Cole. Oh god, does Mom know?”
She will be out of her mind with worry.
“Not yet.” I’ll ring Scarlett when I get off the call and go get Mom. We’ll come straight to the hospital.”
I want to say no, but I can’t. I need them, and they need to see that I’m okay and in one piece. We might not be a perfect family, but we love one another.
Plus, as much as I don’t want Jake to leave my side, I swallow loudly, knowing he could leave. He could get a different phone call and walk away.
He likely will leave.
As much as he was my north star while those men took away all my human rights, even for such a short time, I know I have to face reality.
He saved me.
But that doesn’t mean I should hero worship him. What I need from him is honesty, stability and commitment.
“’K. See you there,” I tell Cole and hand the phone back to Jake.
Jake waves to one of the BHS guys, and a set of keys is tossed his way. “Let’s go, baby,”
Baby.
I love it when he calls me that.
But I deserve more than a man who is excellent in bed, who makes me laugh and calls me baby. Much more.
I will focus on getting through tonight, the hospital, the police questions and my family. Then Jake needs to go. After all, he was doing his job. Nothing more.
He isn’t my savior.
Enough.
Enough is enough.