But the truth is, I need my brothers. And Molly needs me to not be a fucking idiot about this.
“Fine,” I say after a long pause. “But Leon’s mine.”
“Wouldn’t dream of taking that from you.” Cal claps me on the back. “Let’s go get your wife back.”
The warehouse in Sugar Hill looks like it’s been condemned for years.
My gut churns as we approach. Every second that passes is another second Molly’s in danger. Another second that bastard has his hands on her, and Christ only knows what else.
I should have seen it coming. Leon was wrong from the start. I fucking knew there was something off with him. But I was so focused on the active threats—the stalker, the cartelshit, the people shooting at her. I never guessed he might be behind it all, and I missed the snake right in front of me.
He was always there. Lurking, watching. Coming between us. Always the concerned, helpful friend. Always edging in where he didn’t belong under the guise that he gave a shit about her and finding her da.
And I let him in. I let him hang around without being more observant of his true motives.
Wrath pounds between my temples.
“Cameras on the front,” Torin murmurs, studying the building through binoculars. “Two on the door. One on the corner. Back entrance looks clear.”
“Alarms?”
“Probably. Give me a few minutes.”
Fuck, more time. Three minutes has already felt like three years.
Cal leans forward. “She’s alive, Dec. He needs her alive to get what he wants.”
“And what he wants is me.”
“Then we give him what he wants.” Cal’s smile is thin and dangerous. “Just not the way he’s expecting.”
Torin disappears around the back of the building. I count the seconds, forcing myself to breathe. To think.
Leon wants to trade Molly for me. Or for her father’s location. God only knows. He’s desperate. Roark said his deadline’s coming. His time is short, and the cartel will come for him if he doesn’t deliver. That stress means he’s not thinking clearly. He’s making mistakes.
I can use that.
“Okay, cameras are all down,” Torin’s voice crackles through the earpiece. “Alarms disabled. Back door’s open.”
I don’t wait. I jump out of the car and bolt toward the door.
The inside of the warehouse smells like mold andpiss and chemicals. Paint thinner, maybe. Or cleaning supplies used to cover up something worse. My gut wrenches at that.
Silence is heavy and foreboding in the air.
I creep down the hall, my gun drawn. Cal’s right behind me. Torin’s covering the back exit in case Leon tries to run.
My hand grips the handle on the door at the far end of the tunnel-like space. It’s the only one with light peeking out of the bottom. I twist it and push the door open. Fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting everything in a harsh, unforgiving light that makes me blink fast.
My heart free falls in my chest. There’s my Molly, bound on the floor near a chair bolted to the ground. Leon has a gun pressed against her temple as he raises his sinister glare at me and Cal.
“Glad to see you finally decided to show up,” he seethes.
Oh fuck, I wanna put a bullet between his goddamn eyes and end this.
“Let her go,” I growl.
“Or what? You’ll shoot me?” Molly winces as he presses the barrel deeper into the side of her head. “Go ahead. But I promise you, I’ll blow her fucking brains out before I hit the ground.”
