Rescuing Jenna - Anna Blakely Page 0,54

make the purchase on the black market then move the cache over the border and sell it. The gang’s main buyer at the time was Mexico’s largest weapons dealer. Thanks to some vital intel Ben shared, we were able to take down the entire organization.”

“That’s great and all, but that doesn’t mean he’s not—”

“Ben also helped me find my sister,” Adrian blurted more loudly than intended.

“Bree, right?” Gabe studied him closely. “You mentioned her once before.”

He had. Back when Elle was in danger and Adrian was still trying to convince Gabe and his team that he wasn’t a fucking traitor.

“The guy risked his career…his life…by giving me the intel I needed to find her,” he shared. “I didn’t get to Bree in time to…” His voice cracked so he cleared his throat. “I wasn’t able to save her. But, thanks to Ben, the men responsible for her death will never hurt another living soul again.”

They shared a look only men like them would understand.

“That’s why you and Jenna went to him for help.” Gabe’s anger seemed to falter. “Makes sense, but what exactly were you hoping he’d be able to do this time?”

“I thought…” Adrian raked a hand through his hair and sighed. “Hell, I don’t know. I guess I was hoping he could set Jenna’s mind at ease. Let her know the cops were still looking for the Gallagher woman. She was convinced no one was.”

A line formed between the man’s brows. “Why did she care so much about this particular case?”

Jenna’s words from before rang through his ears.

I’m just like her, Adrian. That could’ve been me.

“Jenna saw herself in Stella,” he explained. “Single woman. Nurse. No kids. No real family. After what happened at the club, she…I don’t know. Related to her, I guess. We were talking about everything, and Jenna told me if she ever disappeared…” His damn voice broke again, so he cleared his throat. Again. “She was convinced no one would notice she was gone or even care enough to look for her.”

“What the fuck?” Gabe’s face twisted with disbelief. That Jenna would even think that had clearly hurt him.

“I told her she was wrong, but it didn’t matter. For whatever reason, she was determined to stay in town and do everything she could to find out what happened to Stella.”

“And you agreed to help her.”

Adrian nodded woodenly. “It was either that, or she was going to do it on her own. I thought if I was with her, she’d be safe.” I was so wrong. “Instead, I ended up taking a fucking bullet, and now you’re here, telling me my woman’s missing. That the man who was supposed to be protecting her is missing, and—”

“Hold up, your woman?” Gabe’s brows arched high a split second before coming together in a nasty glare. “The hell, you say.”

Shit. Had he really called her that out loud?

Yep. You sure did.

Great. The last thing he needed was Jenna’s self-proclaimed big brother trying to kick his ass. Then again…

Fuck it.

Limping over to where Gabe was standing, Adrian didn’t stop until he’d invaded the other man’s space. Letting the last chunk of his protective wall fall, he made his intentions clear.

“That’s right, Dawson. Jenna’s mine, and I’m hers. So you bet your ass I’m going to do whatever it takes to find her.”

“It’s like that?”

Damn straight. “Yeah.” Adrian nodded. “It’s like that.”

The two men stood nose-to-nose for the span of several seconds before Gabe cursed under his breath and looked away.

“Goddamnit.” The former SEAL locked his fingers behind his head as he paced the room. “You’re telling me, of all the men out there, she actually picked your sorry ass?”

“That’s what you’re focused on right now?”

The pain and fear crossing the man’s face mimicked what Adrian felt to his soul.

“Jenna’s like a sister to me, Walker.” Gabe set his jaw. “Which means, I’ll do whatever it takes to find her, including beating your injured ass to get the intel I need. So if you know more than you’re telling me, you’d better spill it right damn now, or I swear to Christ, I’ll put a matching hole in your other leg.”

The guy’s brown eyes had hardened, and he looked like he wanted nothing more than to make good on his promise to shoot him. But that shit was going to have to wait, because Adrian had something he needed to say.

“You’re not the only one who cares about Jenna.” Not even close. “So you can toss around all the threats