Ink's Second Chance - Carol Dawn Page 0,42

me.”

“Think nothing of it, Ink,” he says, reaching up and petting my hair. “I do understand. But your constant pacing is a huge distraction. I can’t be panicked or distracted while I’m searching this deep, I might miss something.”

He’s right, of course. I straighten and walk to Hawk.

“We’re going to find her, brother,” he says, grabbing my arm and pulling my head to his. Much like he and Bear do. Their twin bond is the strongest I’ve ever seen between siblings.

“We’re going to find her,” he repeats. “And, this time, we won’t make the mistake of leaving a single Hernández alive.”

“Ink, can I get a hand?”

I accept more of Hawk’s strength before walking towards Bella.

“Sure thing, pretty lady,” I say. “What can I do?”

Bella takes me over to where Sophia is crying in her highchair.

“She won’t stop crying,” Bella tells me over the wailing of her daughter. “I think she can feel everyone’s anxiety. Do you think you could give it a shot?”

I smile.

“Absolutely,” I say, leaning over to pick up Sophia. “What do you say we go have a seat on the couch?”

I hand Sophia to Trigger before running upstairs to get my guitar. I haven’t played my guitar since Rachel came back into my life. I used to use it as a way to pick up chicks. I won’t tell my woman that when I play for her one day.

“How about a song?” I ask, sitting on the coffee table in front of Trigger and Sophia. “This one always makes the girls smile.”

I strum the chords and start singing.

It doesn’t take but a few seconds for little Sophia to stop crying.

By the time I make it through that song, I’m ready to play another. After about the fifth song, Sophia is fast asleep in Trigger’s arms and I am feeling much more relaxed.

I nod to Trigger and make my way back into the office.

“There’s no way for us to even get close enough to look,” Hawk says as I walk into the room. “It would be next to impossible to get in without getting caught. That place is a fortress. It’s more secure than the White House.”

“Maybe not,” Slim says. “I have an idea, but Ink might not like it.”

“Worst idea ever,” I say, smiling. “So, what’s this idea that I hate?”

Slim, Hawk and Bear all turn to look at me.

“We want to make sure the entire Hernández Cartel gets taken down for good,” Slim says.

“I don’t hate that idea at all,” I assured him. “In fact, I am all for it.”

“Yeah, that’s not all,” Slim says, looking guilty.

“We need to find a way inside of their home base,” Bear tells me.

I shake my head. “Like Hawk said, it’s completely fortified. That’s why we haven’t even attempted it yet.”

“That was before we had someone on the inside,” Slim says. “Before you get angry, hear me out. We know that Carlos Hernández killed his son, took Rachel, and left. Seeing as how the estate is now in police custody, that leaves only one place left. He’s going to take her to a place where he knows we can’t get to her.”

I shake my head, already knowing where Slim is heading.

“If I can find a way to contact Rachel while she’s there,” Slim rushes to say before I have a chance to speak. “Then she might be able to help us infiltrate the compound without getting caught. We can save her and take down the entire Cartel at once.”

“Not fucking happening,” I avowed. “No way are we risking her life more than it already is.”

“Besides,” Wolf says, coming to stand beside me. “That plan all hinges on her being taken by Carlos. There’s always a possibility that she wasn’t.”

“Even if she was,” Trigger adds, leaning against the door. “She isn’t going to have free range of anything. She would be a prisoner and most likely locked up.”

“Those are all valid points,” Slim admits. “But the fact remains that this is our only option. I’m sorry to be so blunt here, Ink, but if Rachel is inside that compound, then there is no way in hell we are going to be able to rescue her without inside help. She’s the only choice we have to both save her and take down that horrible family.”

He’s right. I hate to admit it, but he’s right.

“Alright,” I say, flopping down in Bear’s chair. “You were right. I hate this plan. But it really is our only option. That is assuming that Carlos has Rachel