Page 93 of Worth the Risk

“What? Because we’re running out of time, and so is Caden.”

“Fuck,” he bit out viciously.

“I’ll call Paulo and arrange the switch,” she said, plotting aloud, clearly taking his outburst for capitulation. “I’ll make it clear I won’t resist. Once I have the location, it’s up to the rest of you to figure out a way to get Caden out.”

Dan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he’d never let her go. “Dammit, Bella. Why can’t you ever do as I say?”

She hugged him back just as fiercely. “Because this is Caden, and I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to him. And you couldn’t live with me if I let it.”

He would have liked to say she was wrong, but losing his son would devastate him. With no other plan on the table, he had trust in the men and women around him to keep Bella safe. There was only one critical piece missing; where they were holding Caden. Once they knew, and could research, the layout of wherever the fuck it was, they could rescue his boy.

Dan prayed, which he hadn’t done in a good long while, that everything would go down as planned because heaven help him if he lost either of them.

Chapter 20

SQUINTING INTO THEmidafternoon sun, sweat trickled down her back and between her breasts. It was 95 degrees, and to cover her bulletproof vest, she was wearing long sleeves. It didn’t help that she felt a little light-headed. Not from impending sunstroke but from being scared out of her mind. With her heart pounding painfully in her chest, Bella forced her feet forward moving toward the abandoned warehouse.

She remembered Dan’s instructions as if he was beside her repeating them in her ear.Keep your eyes straight ahead, baby. Don’t give Lil T’s presence away.

She wasn’t exactly sure where he’d taken position; all she knew was she was supposed to stay in the open, so he had a clear shot at her. Dear god, had she really suggested they shoot her? Their rescue plan didn’t depend on it, but being free and clear of the Giordanos once and for all, did.

Even though she was about to pee her pants and wanted to abort the whole ridiculous plan and run for cover, she didn’t. Caden and his dad, whom she loved more than anything, were depending on her.

“Stop right there,” a familiar voice called.

Her eyes tracked the sound, seeing Ernesto by the corner of the building, an AK or AR-something aimed dead center at her chest. She swallowed hard, doubtful that Kevlar would hold up under forty or fifty rounds.

“Did you bring the paper?”

“I have it. Let the boy go.”

“You didn’t answer my question. Did you bring it with you?”

“I’m here. You’ve got what you wanted. Let him go. He’s of no use to you now.”

“I don’t know. His cop daddy killed my brother. I can think of several uses for him, revenge being number one.”

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