“Yes.”
“I really wanted to hang on to those plans myself, but I just couldn’t do it.”
She nodded. “You see, I can do those things that you can’t bring yourself to do. I’m not bothered by my conscience. I know you worry about being like your father, but you don’t have to. I’ll be him for you.”
A chill seized the back of his neck. How did she know so much about him? “What happened in the warehouse, Abby?”
“I shot Jeff and hit myself on the side of the head. He was going to get you and Jenna all relocated in some nice, cozy place. I couldn’t allow that.”
Sweat dampened his brow. How was he going to get to Jenna and Gavin? If he tried to walk out now, Abby would shoot him, and God knows what would happen to his family.
“Of course you couldn’t allow that. What now? Should we go to your mother’s house and tell Jenna our plans?”
Abby’s jaw dropped and the gun wavered—for a second. “M-my mother doesn’t live near here.”
“Come on, Abby. You don’t think I knew all along that your mother lived two doors down on this same street?”
“Why didn’t you say something before?”
“I wanted to wait and see how this all unfolded. I didn’t realize you had the plans. That changes everything.”
“I’ll take you there on one condition.” She pointed to the floor. “Give up your weapon and slide it toward me.”
Every instinct in his body screamed no, but he had to get to Jenna and Gavin. He had to see if they were okay.
He reengaged the safety on his gun, ducked down and slid it toward Abby’s feet. Keeping her weapon trained on him, she scooped up the gun. She shoved it between the cushions of the couch.
“Now open the door slowly and don’t try anything.”
As he opened the door, he could feel her breathing down his neck.
“Turn to the right and keep walking. It’s the house with the flower box at the window, but then you already know that.”
If only J.D.’s text had come sooner. The house with the flower box would’ve been Cade’s first stop.
Low lights seeped from beneath the drawn blinds. When they reached the porch, Abby tossed him a set of keys. “The big, gold one opens the dead bolt and the lock on the handle.”
Cade shoved the key in the dead bolt and stopped. “Is there anyone else in there?”
“Not yet, but I have one of Zendaris’s men on speed dial, and he’d be more than happy to collect his cargo.”
Gritting his teeth, he pushed open the door. His gaze swept the dimly lit room, and a pulse throbbed in his temple. “Where are they?”
“The house isn’t that big. They’re in the back. Your kid’s sleeping. I gave him a little something to help him along.”
Cade’s fingers itched to wrap around Abby’s throat, but he put one foot in front of the other to get to his family.
Abby jabbed him in the back with the gun. Could he spin around and take her right now? She’d have no problem shooting him.
“It’s this room.”
Cade pushed open the door, and his blood percolated through his veins, hot and rash. Abby had bound and gagged Jenna and she lay diagonal across the bed. She hadn’t bothered with Gavin, parking him on the floor in the corner.
His little legs were drawn to his chest and he had one arm curled beneath his head to act as a cushion from the hard floor.
Jenna’s eyes widened above the gag and she choked.
“Don’t get too excited, Jenna.” Abby lined her back up against the wall and leveled the gun at Cade. “We’re here to tie up loose ends and you’re one of them.”
“Has Jenna properly met you, Abby?”
“No, she wasn’t in any condition to carry on a conversation after I spiked her wine.” She waved the gun at Jenna. “Take her gag off.”
Cade crouched by the bed and loosened the tie behind Jenna’s head, cupping her face as he did so. Her eyes, as blue as the Pacific, told him everything. She trusted him with her life right now and the life of their son.
And he wouldn’t let them down.
“Step away.”
Blocking his action from Abby, Cade caressed Jenna’s cheek before he pushed away from the bed, the gag dangling from his hand. “This is Abby, Jenna. She’s Beth Warren’s twin sister and has decided to take her sister’s place at Prospero. She’s the one who hacked into my computer and stole the anti-drone plans.”
Cade allowed Abby