50. Chapter 50 - Cade
The radio crackles in the cup holder while I drive just a few yards behind Wade in his pickup. Everything is different since the last time I was here, rescuing Rosalyn.
Thick green grass has replaced all the snow and I don’t want to admit just how damn picturesque the spread is overlooking the far canyons when we race into the main parking lot in front of the house.
Wade’s men spill out from his rig and the van directly behind me, quickly spreading into the trees and barn.
Their updates break through in sporadic, clipped verbiage as they clear area after area.
Like dark locusts, they swarm onto the house. The heavy thump of the battering ram carries into the cab making Rosalyn jump next to me.
“They’re here with us, baby.” I take her trembling hand. “You’re safe.”
When Wade gets out, stretching like a bear in the warm sun, I know that the place is empty. He gives me the thumb’s up, gesturing us to join him.
Ros is glued to me so tightly I can feel the small pistol hidden on her waist and I’m happy she is.
“According to the squad commander, it’s been empty a while.” Wade readjusts his broad brimmed hat, then walks with us towards the entrance.
A musty smell hits first, reinforcing how closed up the building has been.
One of the men moves in from the hall, kicking the firepoker on the floor where I dropped it Christmas Eve.
Shit.
“They haven’t been here since that night, Ros.” I point to the wrought iron handle poking around the corner.
“So—” She takes a ragged gasp. “—if you hadn’t come for me, I would have been trapped?” The pitch voice in her climbs while her nails dig into my arm. “He would have left me to die?”
Damn it. It isn’t until she mentions it that the cold truth hits me in the gut.
Her brothers don’t fucking care.
They never have.
“Let’s go see if there’s anything else from your room we should get.” I need to redirect her. I can feel her fingers peeling the skin away from her nails even as she clutches me.
I start gagging on the rot before we even get to the splintered wood of her door.
“Ros, wait.” Holding out my arm, I keep her behind me.
The SWAT team has already cleared, so I know there’s no one there. But it’s the source of the vile odor of decomp that has me wary.
“What is that?” Her arm covers her nose.
“Let me find out. Don’t come in.” With my toe, I push the broken panel.
Fat, lazy flies buzz over the black stains that are splattered everywhere.
“What the fuck?” I exhale, trying not to breathe through my nose.
One more step and I stop cold, then turn quickly for the hall.
“Don’t go in,” I growl, covering the gap with my body. “Don’t even look.”
She shifts her arm to block her view, letting me lead her back into the living room. “What is it? Do I even want to know?”
“Well, Eli came back after you left.” I fight the bile rising in my throat. “But I’d say he was pissed you were gone.”
That lower lip disappears between her teeth, then she thins it and clenches her jaw. “Tell me.”
“It’s Zeus.” I barely catch her before she crumples.
“No.” She falls into my arms in silent sobs. “I wondered. I should have come back.”
I tuck her head under my chin, squeezing her as she heaves. “And what? Been a victim too?” I don’t think I’ll ever get the image of the rotten, dried head of that poor horse out of my head.
Better mine than hers.
“Cade? You gotta see this.” Wade stomps in, frowning when he looks at Rosalyn. “Is everything okay?”
“Yea,” I grunt. “Just an unexpected present from a psychopath.”
“It’s always some new fuckery. I’m so sick of this shit.” He scowls, waving a handful of papers. “Look at this.” Gripping the top, he shoves it close enough I can make out the lettering.
An invoice?
“Fertilizer. Half a ton of it.” A feeling of dread grips me in a way I haven’t felt since I learned that Ava had died.
Wade’s features are mottled with rage. “Delivery was due two months ago. I got the guys checking the property but there’s no fucking sign of it.”
“We’ve never raised crops.” Rosalyn’s voice is muffled against my chest. “Why would they order that much?”
“You gonna tell her or you want me to?” Wade’s dark eyes soften when he looks down at her huddled against me.
I take a deep breath to break the devastating news. “They can use it to make a bomb. A big one. And my niece’s wedding is tomorrow.”