Page 49 of Kade

Kade took several deep breaths. He couldn’t lose it.

“You good,brat?” Conner’s voice reached him, but it sounded like he was talking through a tunnel. Images of Angel rose, but they weren’t her smiling, laughing face. It was her screaming in pain, pieces of her being whittled away, all the while calling for him to come save her.

He knew this cartel intimately. He’d infiltrated it, witnessed what they did to their enemies. They had his family.

Conner slapped him, and his head whipped back. “Shut it down. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re seeing, shut that shit down. Lock it away, do what you have to do to feel nothing, or we’ll never get them back. Do you understand me?”

Conner the Marine was shouting at him, and Kade blinked. He was right. He had to get this under control now. He let himself go to that place he’d only gone when he’d witnessed murders the cartel had committed in front of him. That cold, desolate place he never thought he’d go again.

“There he is.” Conner nodded. “Allison, get the door. It has to be the EMTs.”

Kade detached himself from the situation. He watched as they checked Watkins then loaded him up. Conner stood next to him, barking out orders, and Kade let him. He felt empty.

“Come on,brat. We’ll go to the hospital and wait for them to call.”

Kade nodded and followed them out, silent all the way to the hospital. He answered all the questions asked of him, coordinated as best he could between Jeremy, Cole, and the police. They’d called in the state police because of the potential Rivera might move them out of the county. Dealing with the state police was easier than trying to get the local police on board.

Three hours he sat at the hospital, waiting for news from either the surgeon or Max. Three hours of nothingness.

When his phone finally rang, he pulled it out and saw Max’s face. “Hello?”

“Kincaid. I’m sending you the text now. They’re both here. Guards posted everywhere. There’s no way we can sneak in.”

“We’ll alert the local authorities. Thank you, Max.”

“You okay, man? You don’t sound like yourself.”

“I’m fine.” Kade hung up before Max asked him questions that would require him to think, require him to leave his cold, dead place. “We have an address. I’m sending it to everyone. Allison, can you stay and wait for word on Watkins?”

“Of course.” Allison stared at him, unsure how to react to his demeanor.

“Conner?”

“I’m ready. Jeremy, let’s go.”

The three of them loaded up into the SUV and headed out, none of them sure what was about to happen.

***

Angel let out a small sigh of relief when they finally pulled up to a concrete wall, the gates steel doors. The gate swung inward as they approached, and she looked out over a vast green lawn with a garden most old women would die for. The house was a three-story stone structure with accents of natural wood. Armed guards were visible anywhere she cared to look. Kade would not get in easily.

She’d come to realize as they drove, Kade would come for them. She had to hold out until he came. He’d found her when she’d been taken by Boston’s serial killer who had eluded the police for months. Kade had found her when all hope was lost. He’d come then, and he’d come now.

“Here we are.” Tomás closed his laptop and waited for the men to open their doors. “Let’s go meet your son.”

Angel got out and blinked as the bright sun blinded her. Her eyes were burning, and a headache started to form. The car had tinted windows, but now that the full glare of the sun assaulted her, some of her symptoms from her concussion returned.

“Forgive me.” Tomás came around and placed his hand on the small of her back, pushing her toward the front porch that wrapped around the entire building. “I forgot you had an injury yesterday. A concussion,sí?”

“Yes.” She closed her eyes briefly then allowed him to lead her inside. The cool air hit her in the face the moment she stepped over the threshold. The entry was beautiful. Hispanic tile covered the floor, and the walls were a soft, creamy beige. Antique furniture decorated what she could see of the entrance and the living room off to the side.

“Maria, please bring our guest some tea and have Mateo brought to my office.” Tomás pushed Angel on toward the rear of the house. They turned at the back of the grand staircase. A small door was tucked under it.

Tomás’s office. There was a large desk facing a bank of windows that overlooked the gardens. Bookshelves lined two walls, and a fireplace dominated the other. An antique couch faced the fireplace, and that was where he led Angel.

“Please sit.” He went over and held the door while a tray was wheeled in, a crystal pitcher of iced tea and glasses on it, along with several pastries. He pointed out the lemon cakes. “Those are Mateo’s favorite. The boy loves lemon. The first time he tasted one, his face screwed up and he asked for more. Even I can’t suck a fresh lemon dry.”

Peter loved lemons. He’d do the same thing when he was a little boy. Drove their mother nuts every time she tried to make fresh lemonade and he’d sneak all the lemons out of the kitchen.

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