“Let me transfer you to Beacon.”
“Yeah?”
“These guys are idiots,” he states.
“Who?” I stand up from the table and go to my room.
“Vance’s people,” he answers.
Speaking of the idiot, I’m about to close the door when I notice my brother right behind me. I let him inside. Once the call is over, I might have to talk to him.
“What did they do?”
“Talk about a job gone wrong,” he states. “They tried to play a cartel and get away with the drugs and the money.”
“You don’t fuck with those guys unless you plan on killing them,” I state. So, they’re not our problem anymore. Unless… “Does it matter?”
“It wouldn’t,” he pauses, “if two of my guys weren’t held captive along with them.”
I run a hand through my hair as I pace along my room. “Fuck!”
“Yep, fuck is about right. We have the blueprints of the ranch. If you come along with your team, we might be able to rescue them tonight.”
“Where are you?”
“On a plane. I should be in Portland soon. I need you at the airport in thirty. My father is with me. He plans on staying in Baker’s Creek with a team, just in case.”
“In case what?”
“Bennett, Vance’s guy.” He grumbles something. “He isn’t with them. I haven’t been able to locate him.”
I rub the back of my neck as I stare at my brother. “Are you serious?”
“It’s like the earth swallowed him. They either killed him, or he’s somewhere searching for a way to get to Vance—and maybe the rest of the family,” he speculates. It’s a hypothesis, but we can’t take chances. Before I can think of what to do, he adds, “If you ask me, your family should move to the cabin, at least until everything is safe.”
“If the lawyer catches us, this is over.”
“If we don’t take precautions, their lives might be fucking over,” he concludes.
I take a big sip of air and let it out slowly as I think of a solution. “I got a report earlier that Jerome Parrish is in town. I’ll have the guys bring him over.”
“Get moving. I’ll meet you at the airport in thirty.”
I send a message to everyone alerting them that we’re on the move, then request Mane to bring Jerome Parrish ASAP. When I finish, I go to my closet and pull out my armor. Vance patiently watches me as I dress. Once I’m ready, he says, “Pockets and a utility belt, wow. It’s like you’re Indiana Jones.”
“Fuck off!”
“Tell me what the fuck happened.”
I stare at him, not sure how to deliver the news. Your guy might be dead or coming to kill you. Pick your poison.
“Listen, I know shit is happening because your woman just jetted out of the house.” He glances at me. “And you were on an important call.”
I sigh, hunch my shoulders, and tell him what we know. One of his hands rests on his waist while the other pinches the bridge of his nose. His eyes are closed. “I’m sorry. I promise to find out what happened to him.”
“Unless he’s spying on us and trying to kill me?”
I shake my head because I don’t like that option. That makes me want to leave Seth’s men behind and stay here to take care of my family. “If he were anywhere near, we’d know.”
“He could be hiding anywhere. We can camp in zero-degree weather—without being detected. Even with all the security details you have around.”
“You’ve noticed them?”
He nods. “Just because I know what I’m looking for,” he explains. “They’re cautious enough to go undetected. So, what’s the plan?”
I tilt my head toward the door, and we march to the downstairs area.
“You going to a concert and didn’t tell me?” Pierce asks when he sees me.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Listen, we have a problem. Grace and I have to leave immediately. We won’t be back until tomorrow—if we’re lucky.”
“We need authorization from Jerome Parrish—in advance,” he claims.
No, I don’t. It’d be so easy to just leave without telling them shit, but I have to. Mason Bradley is going to be here soon. He might evacuate them from the town—or at least shove them in my bunker.
“He should be here soon. Then I’ll debrief you.”
“He’s going to debrief us.” Henry chuckles. “Those are big words for my baby brother.”
“I’d give you a comeback if I didn’t need to make sure your ass stays alive.”
Henry goes pale. I love the man, but his timing is shitty. Suddenly, I feel everyone’s eyes on me.
“What’s happening,