I got there and saw his face did I realize how bad it was. The guy looked unhinged, and if that was calm, we had problems.
“Jasper told me Wick asked his opinion about being brought into the program and Jasper told Wick that would be a mistake.”
Nick nodded. “So, Jasper blocked a significant career advancement. Belview must have found out it was Jasper. His rage goes beyond simple jealousy. I had a buddy at the BAU enhance it and slow it down. Belview’s got a tell. A tic in his right eye. It’s slight but there. And both his hands are relaxed on the table even though they were arguing. Once Jasper’s brought up, his fists ball up and his knuckles turn white.”
I missed all of that. I’d been focused on the dude’s face.
“You think he’s gonna fuck with Jasper?”
“Actually, after studying him, I thought he’d fuck with Emily. Belview would want the game. Fuck with Emily to get to Jasper. But now, Jasper’s been poking around and going in hard, not hiding the fact he’s unhappy Belview got into it with Addy. The game’s changed and I think he’ll go straight to Jasper.”
“Fuck. We gotta warn him.”
“I’ve called him twice this morning. When he calls me back—”
Nick’s statement was cut off by the most horrific blood-curdling scream. Nick was out the door and I was around my desk following. By the time I made it to the hall, Jason was in the mix, running toward the gym as well.
Nick made it to her first, but she shoved away from him and beelined it to me.
“He has Dad.”
My blood ran cold, then it ran hot.
“Here!” She shoved her phone at me but her hand was shaking so badly I had to grab her wrist to steady her so I could take the phone.
I looked down at the screen and froze. Jasper tied to a chair, head bowed, eyes closed, face fucked up, his thigh bleeding from a gunshot wound.
Tied, beat to fuck, and shot.
Belview was done.
Then I stopped looking at Jasper and read the text: come to the cabin to pick up dear ol’ dad and come alone.
“Where’s the cabin?”
“Madray Springs on Cherokee Lakes. I don’t know the address.”
Cold. Dead. Flat.
Christ, not again.
Never again did I want to hear her beautiful voice sound like that.
“Baby, we’re gonna go get him.”
Nothing.
“Adalynn, look at me.”
“I am.”
“No. You’re off in your head. Look at me. We’re gonna get him.”
“Okay.”
I pulled Addy’s body into my arms and wrapped her close. She did not return the embrace. Her arms hung limp at her sides, her head rested on my chest, but only because I wasn’t giving her another option.
Cold. Dead. Flat.
Christ.
I glanced around the gym, finding every man in the building had heard her scream and was now waiting for orders.
I’d reflect on that later. How once again, my brothers proved themselves to be good men.
“Dylan, get us the address of Belview’s cabin.”
“No property in his name,” he returned.
“It was his grandfather’s on his mother’s side,” Addy muttered.
“Got it,” Dylan said and dashed out of the gym.
“Where’s Emily?”
“My parents’ house with Quinn, going over wedding shit,” Nick answered.
“Your dad there?”
“Far as I know.”
“Find out. Brief your dad, then get Hadley and Delaney over there.”
Nick had his phone out and stepped away from the huddle.
“Trey?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re…he’s…don’t…”
“Listen to me. We’re gonna bring your dad home.”
“Okay.”
I gazed around the room and found the man I was looking for. He was not going to like what I had to say, and I knew because if someone asked me to stand down, I sure as fuck wouldn’t.
“Brady, I need you to take Addy to the Clarks’.” Just as I suspected, he squared his shoulders in preparation for battle. “Brother, please. We can’t leave them unprotected.”
“Clark will be there.”
“He will be,” I agreed. “I need you to see to Addy. Her and Hadley both. We could be walking into a trap. Belview sent the picture, could be to draw us away from Emily, Delaney, Quinn, Hadley, Addy, and Jason. If he’s meaning to fuck with Jasper, then he’ll go for one or all of them. We’re making it easy for him by putting them all in one house. So I need you and Clark both watching.”
Brady’s jaw clenched and he jerked his chin in an unhappy acceptance.
“Briefed my dad. He’s staying with the women but wants backup. Levi’s on his way to us, Blake’s going to Mom and Dad’s to see to Aunt Emily. He said my mom will make the