Page 41 of Kade

A police cruiser pulled in behind them, his blue lights flashing, but still Conner kept driving until they parked in front of the Miami Police Department. The officer got out cussing, but Conner ignored him.

“Everybody okay?” He looked over Angel, very aware she was pregnant. Kade suspected he’d not driven like he’d wanted to for fear of doing something to harm the baby.

“We’re fine.” Kade got out of the car and waited for the officer to finally calm down. “Are you done?”

That only incited the older man to another round of cussing. Kade understood they’d technically fled the scene of an accident, but he wasn’t giving the cartel the opportunity to murder them. He sent a text to Jeremy to come collect them before they were arrested. Conner got out of the car and opened Angel’s door, helping her out. Kade knew he was hiding the bag of weapons in one of the secret compartments in the vehicle. Letting the police know they were packing illegal weapons wasn’t the best move.

Jeremy Bradford walked out into the noon sunshine and squinted before putting on his shades. He was tall, his skin a creamy caramel. He knew Jeremy’s mother was white and his father black, which attested to the man’s light hazel eyes. Angel called him drool-worthy, gorgeous eye candy, which never sat well with Kade.

Kade handed over his weapon to Bradford. “I shot out tires, and I think I nicked one of them on the hand.”

“Officer, thank you, but I’ve got this.” Jeremy collected Kade’s weapon. “You can go now.”

“The hell I will. These people were the cause of a major accident! They need to be arrested.”

“These people were the ones you were sent to protect from the cartel following them.” Jeremy lowered his glasses and stared the man down. “Kincaid is a former FBI agent who’s been reinstated for this case. Do you really want to cause a pissing match between your division and the FBI?”

The officer looked like he wanted to argue, but his common sense was catching up to him. He closed his mouth and stomped back to his vehicle.

“That went well.” Conner leaned against the vehicle, watching Jeremy. Kade knew that look. It always made him uncomfortable knowing his brother liked both men and women, but he accepted it because he loved his brother. He’d support him as long as his choices made him happy.

Angel leaned in toward Conner, and Kade heard her whisper, “He’s single.”

“Is he, now?” Conner’s grin came out full of the promise of dark things. Jeremy cleared his throat. Kade had no idea if Jeremy was gay or bisexual or straight, but he knew his brother could make a straight man want to experiment. He had, in fact, done that to a few men Kade knew of. If he set his sights on Jeremy, this could turn out to be an interesting trip in more ways than one.

“Let’s get you lot inside before moreLos Muertosdecides it’s open season.” Jeremy turned and walked into the building a little faster than he’d emerged.

Kade saw his brother grin and his dark eyes glow with the intent of a predator.

This was definitely going to be interesting.

Allison Bentley waited for them in the conference room that had been set aside by the police chief. She already had whiteboards full of knownLos Muertoshierarchy. Kade zeroed in the picture that stood by itself at the top. Tomás Rivera. He looked mean as sin. In the movies, the leaders of the cartel always looked handsome and dangerous. Not Tomás. He wasn’t even slightly handsome. His ugly mug promised pain to anyone who brought harm to him or those he cared for. Or his business.

“Hey, Ally.” Kade gave her a quick hug. She’d been his partner the last year he’d been with the bureau. Allison was more than pretty; she was beautiful, but she didn’t realize it. It was the same kind of beauty Angel had, and it made them both more attractive for their lack of knowing how stunning they were. “Let me introduce you to my wife, Angel, and my brother, Conner.”

“Charmed.” Conner took her hand and kissed the back. He was laying on the charm. Jeremy shook his head and settled into one of the chairs around the table. Maybe he was grateful Conner’s attention had shifted from him to Allison, but Kade knew his brother well. He would go after them both if he really wanted to.

Allison blushed and quickly pulled her hand away. She was a no-nonsense kind of girl who would put his brother in his place if he came on too hard. As far as Kade knew, she wasn’t in a relationship, but he hadn’t seen her in months.

“It’s good to meet you both. Now, if you’ll sit, I’ll show you what we’ve come up with.”

Conner’s lips quirked at her dismissive tone, but he ambled over and sat beside Jeremy, his big frame dwarfing the chair. He adjusted it, and in the process, inched it closer to Jeremy, who shot him a sideways glance.

Angel was trying her best to hide her smile. She’d gotten to know Jeremy a little in Boston. Kade doubted she knew his sexual orientation, though. He had to admit it was a little funny. Conner was making no secret about his interest in Jeremy, who seemed to be trying to run from him.

Before she could start, Dylan and Max came through the door, followed by their new hire, Cole Daniels. He wasn’t what Conner expected. He was lean, built, and had a carefree look about him. Very casual in jeans and a Bob Dylan t-shirt. His shaggy brown hair leaned more to someone who’d just rolled out of bed than either a police officer or a security consultant. Not a great first impression. He hoped Viktor knew what he was doing when he hired him.

“This is the rest of my team.” Kade motioned them to take their seats. “Max, Dylan, and Cole.”

Introductions were made, and Max tossed a file folder on the table. Inside were photos of Matthew playing in a garden behind a gated fence. “He’s at Rivera’s compound. Security is tight, armed guards every four feet no matter where you are on the property.”

“That’s why we’re here.” Allison picked up the photos and looked through them, her voice melodic and soothing. Kade suspected she had a lovely singing voice, though he’d never even heard her hum. “You need to be legally able to enter the compound.”

“But that’s the problem.” Jeremy took the opportunity to inch away from Conner by pretending to lean forward and adjust his chair. Conner only followed him, his arm brushing against Jeremy’s. “The DNA test you ran…” Jeremy cleared his throat, clearly rattled. “The DNA test isn’t valid. It was illegal. You didn’t have permission from the child’s legal guardian, who we’ve discovered is Tomás Rivera.”

“And there’s not a shot in hell he’ll give that to us.” Kade sat back, his mind going to plan B. Conner might be their only shot at getting the boy back, but then how did they manage to keep him when he wasn’t legally theirs?

“Afraid not.” Allison nodded. “But I have had a warrant drawn up for his DNA, providing all the information you gave me as well as the photos you texted. The kid looks like you, Kade. There’s no denying that, but I don’t know if that’s enough.”

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