Page 69 of Blind Justice

“You asked,” Noah replied. “I answered.”

Duncan grunted. “I feel like I’m fucking this all up.”

“You probably are. Remember, I fucked up too.”

Noah had a point. Duncan came to know R.O.O.T. right after Mateo had been rescued. The poor guy hadn’t known a thing about Noah’s job or where he worked. He hadn’t even known about the mission to South America, not once but twice in less than a few weeks’ time. According to Thomas, their arguments were legendary, but they were devoted to each other. “Maybe he was worried about Bex.”

Noah chuckled. “He’s going to offer our apartment to her at the base, to live with us as a family.”

Duncan blinked. “Huge step.”

Noah shrugged. “I’m not getting any younger. Neither is Mateo. Bex needs guardians who will love and take care of her, something she’s been lacking all her life.”

Duncan nodded. “I suppose you’re right. She’s a tough ass kid too.”

“Tell me about it. Taking out two guards with the K-bar knife Alé gave her?” He shook his head. “She’s got balls.”

The pride in Noah’s voice only added to the raw ache in Duncan’s chest. Everyone around him was finding their place in the grand scheme, except him. “Yeah she does.”

As they came around a street corner and into the abandoned part of the neighborhood, the lights went out in the vehicle, and all conversation ceased. They were less than two blocks from where they’d find Raul. Seeing where Bex had been kept and what she escaped made Duncan appreciate everything she’d been through a little bit more. The area was literally a ghost town.

They stopped half a block from the residence and got out, breaking into their teams while Noah went in the opposite direction. Two of the team leaders held battering rams while two more held shields. Each team member had an earpiece, and Duncan shoved his into his ear. The front of his vest had FBI written on it and the back had tactical, distinguishing him from the others. As he stepped onto the sidewalk, two black sedans pulled up behind the BearCats. The passenger door of the first vehicle opened, and Laura stepped out.

“Duncan,” she said. “Here’s the warrant. It’s no knock.”

He took the document, giving her a once over. “You hanging out here, or are you leaving?”

“And let you have all the fun?” She laughed, pulling off her blue FBI windbreaker to expose the black FBI vest. “Please.”

“Stay behind me then,” he said when they started to move.

“You got it.”

They inched closer to the front of the house in single file, their foot falls almost inaudible. One of the BearCats rolled down the road beside them and stopped catty-corner to the front of the house. The officer in the passenger seat jumped out and grabbed the hook off the front of the vehicle then lowered himself. He ran for the front of the door.

They stood rooted in their spot, waiting for him to hook up the wench to the security door on the front of the house while the secondary team went into the backyard. Duncan’s heart hammered. His palms itched. He pulled his gun from his holster, lowering it to his side while he waited for the signal to go.

“Breach, breach, breach!” The officer in the BearCat reversed quickly, snatching the screen door from the house with ease.

They ran for the door then, and the guy holding the battering ram stood at the ready. “Search warrant. Search warrant.” He beat down the door with one swing while the other officer holding the shield threw a flashbang into the house before allowing them entrance.

Laura and Duncan went right when the other part of the team headed left. Those at the back were making entry as well. The stench of dried blood and death assailed him. It had to be the two men Bexley killed when she got away earlier. Worry crept in around the edges.Stop thinking and focus.Duncan pushed the thought away and paid attention to where he was going. With the first three rooms cleared, it narrowed their search to one. Duncan licked his bottom lip.

“Raul, give yourself up and this will go much easier,” Duncan said.

Raul’s wild laughter filled the room. “Fuck you.”

Laura used the wall as cover while Duncan faced the door head on. He glanced over at her. She gave him a curt nod.

“I’m giving you one more chance.”

“I said, fuck you, cerdo sucio.”

With the team surrounding him, Duncan put his foot into the door—literally. The place was falling apart, and when he kicked it, his foot momentarily became stuck. The guy with the ram appeared once more and knocked through the shattered remains, revealing Raul and a beaten and battered Enzo. Rage burned through Duncan’s veins. Raul’s arm was wrapped around a passed-out Enzo’s neck, and he’d placed a knife against Enzo’s jugular.

The wild unhinged look in Raul’s good eye denoted he’d do anything to get out of there, to hell with the consequences. Enzo hadn’t been kidding when he said Raul sustained some damage from his fight with Ignacio. The angry scars slashing across his face would be a daily reminder that Enzo’s father didn’t go down without a fight. Duncan looked to Enzo again, and a pang of uselessness rolled through him. He’d tried to protect Enzo and Bella from this monster, yet his best laid plans fell short.Shit. Get out of your head. You have to save his life now. Raul can’t get away.

Duncan leveled his gun at Raul’s head. “Let him go.”

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