Page 58 of Corey
“I won’t let anyone hurt you like that again. I’ll protect you until my last breath. I promise.”
Lies. All fucking lies. He was a failed protector, and thinking he could keep her safe was a joke. He hadn’t kept Cassidy safe, and now Sera had been abducted.
Today is the anniversary,he belatedly realized. Twenty years ago, his life had taken a plunge into darkness when he’d lost his teammates and the woman he was supposed to have saved. Being with Sera, finding happiness in her presence, had allowed him to mentally block it out.
And now Sera was gone.
A deep growl rumbled within him. Why had he promised?Why?Giving his word was the fucking kiss of death. Pain and regret punched through him, and he’d never felt so helpless.
I’m going to lose her. Just like I lost the others.
Hot tears blurred his vision as he lifted his head and a haunted sound tore from his throat, echoing through the plane. A howl, utterly forlorn and without hope.
“Cor?” He heard Wes move up behind him. Felt the plane turning around. “We’re going to get her back.”
“How?” Corey gritted out, staring down at the floor. “We destroyed Lazaro’s compound and have no idea where they’re taking her.”
“Brand is talking to Mitch. They’re doing everything they can to pinpoint her location.”
Corey felt the edges of his soul crumbling. They’d taken her because he’d fucking messed up. He’d believed Sera and Julia would be safe, and he’d left them unprotected. Sera didn’t deserve to go through another nightmare.
“I told her I’d protect her.I promised.”
Behind him, a hand squeezed his shoulder. His friend knew what a big deal that was. Knew Corey had stopped making promises the day Cassidy died in his arms.
“You’re gonna keep that promise, buddy. But you gotta pull it together and stay strong. For Sera.”
Forcing himself to pull in a breath, Corey’s palms slid down the wall, his hands dropping to his sides and fisting. “Why is this happening again?” The words came out so low, so tortured. “I can’t lose her.”
“Grieve. Yell. Cry. Feel. Do what you need to do. Let it all out—later.Because right now we’re flying straight into a war zone to save Sera,” Wes reminded him. “If you’re not solid, you don’t go.”
Corey dragged his hands over his face and finally turned around. “I’m going.”
Wes nodded. “Good, because we need you. But lock it down or Brand will sideline your ass.”
Regrouping, Corey knew Wes was right. He had to get his head back on straight, lock his emotions down tight and focus on the rescue mission ahead.
Releasing the fear, he centered on his anger instead. As they walked back up the aisle to join the others, a powerful, all-consuming wrath filled him. No one was going to harm Sera. He’d fight for her until his last breath.
“We’ll make sure no one hurts her,” Chaz said, and Corey gave him a grateful nod.
“Makes you want to cut some narco fingers off, huh?” Xander asked darkly. “I’d be happy to help.”
Corey saw the demons rise in Xander’s blue eyes. Noticed the way he tried hard to hide the pain behind his dry, wicked comment, but couldn’t quite do it. There was a devastating story there, but now wasn’t the time to ask. Besides, Corey didn’t believe the other man was ready or willing to share any tragic details from his private life.
“Appreciate it. But I’m not wasting my time on fingers,” Corey gritted out. “Anyone who tries to hurt Sera is getting hit with three shots—two in the chest, one in the head. I’m not fucking around.”
Across from him, Brand hung up his phone. “José Barrera is holed up in his luxury home in the hills of Culiacan, Sinaloa’s state capital. The place is crawling with Mexico’s most infamous narco traffickers. It’s going to be difficult to infil, but not impossible.”
“Gotta be easier than when we busted into the Lazaro compound,” Chaz said.
“Let’s hope so,” Brand said. “Mitch is working on getting us schematics of Barrera’s place. Once we have those, we’ll come up with a plan. Don’t worry, Cor, we’ll get in and we’ll rescue your girl.”
Corey nodded, unable to trust his voice. He couldn’t get to Sera fast enough, and his mind whirled with possible plans. They’d be ready for anything. And if Joel or anyone else hurt her, he would end them with zero hesitation.
As far as he was concerned, every narco in Barrera’s house was a dead man walking. And Corey? Well, he was the Grim motherfucking Reaper.
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