“Says the sounds I heard from your bedroom thirty minutes ago,” Malloy retorted.
Denver crossed his arms. “You listened to us? Pervert.”
“Look who’s talking.” Malloy shook his head. “I can see with my dumb hick eyes that you care for her, so knock off the act. There’s only one reason you’re fighting off gang members, and she’s sleeping in my guest room. Tell me the story so I can help her.”
Denver finished his drink. “The second I think I can share, I will. For now, trust me.”
Malloy’s nostrils flared and he drank the rest of his Scotch. Standing, he glared down. “Fine, but I’ll keep digging. For now, would you please call your family—all of them—so they stop bothering me? They found out about the explosion, and I don’t want to know how. If you guys are hacking into satellites again, I will arrest you.”
Denver winced. “Sorry. I sent a text, but they were supposed to hold tight.”
“None of you knows how to hold tight.” Malloy stomped out of the kitchen and disappeared.
Denver dragged his phone from his pocket and dialed up Ryker.
“What the fuck, man?” Ryker’s face was instantly on screen with Heath next to him. Denver should’ve grabbed his laptop out of his pack for this call. “The safe house blew up.”
Denver nodded. “I had the safeguards put in place when we were working the Copper Killer case and hadn’t had a chance to disengage them. They came in handy tonight.”
“Are you all right?” Heath asked, the green in his eyes burning.
“Fine. Noni got shot in the arm, but she’s okay.” Denver glanced at the half-full bottle of Scotch. He didn’t need another glass. It tempted him, but he was stronger than that. He had to be—for Noni.
Ryker leaned in. “We’re heading your way.”
“There’s nothing for you to do here yet,” Denver countered evenly. “I’m not even sure if Richie and the baby are here in Snowville. What I can’t figure out is how the gang found the safe house.”
“They must’ve followed you from the hospital,” Ryker said, not sounding convinced. “But it’s odd you didn’t notice something.”
Heath snorted. “His mind isn’t on the op, now, is it? We never should’ve let you go alone.”
Denver ground his back teeth together to keep from snapping. He would’ve felt the same way if Heath was in danger and he was safely at home, but there wasn’t an alternative right now. “Listen. Sheriff Cobb came here to meet with Malloy a week ago Tuesday. One of you start hacking and see if you can find where he flew from,ifhe flew. If there’s no record, we’ll start hacking into traffic cams to see where he drove from.”
Ryker stiffened, his eyes darkening. “You think we can find where Cobb and Madison have set up shop?”
“I hope so.” Denver tapped his fingers on the table. They’d been searching for Cobb and Madison, who’d set up a new lab, for so long. They had to find those bastards. “This is the best lead we’ve had in ages. Maybe ever.” They were so close. It was time. The Scotch caught the dim light from the stove clock, looking delicious. He licked his lips and kept his hand away from the bottle.
Heath cleared his throat. “What are you staring at?”
“Nothin’.” Denver hunched in his chair, his focus back on his brothers. “Just thinking the problem through. I told Malloy what really happened.”
Ryker sighed. “You probably didn’t have a choice. It’s better he hears the truth from us before investigating further, which we know he’ll do. You’re not safe staying there, regardless.”
“Agreed.” Denver scrubbed his face. “I lost the truck.” Damn it. He’d loved that truck. “It was in the garage when the house blew.”
Heath winced. “Sorry.”
“Me too,” Denver murmured. “I’ll need clean transport. The Montana gang sent money and provisions, so I just need to buy something off the street.” There had to be a local magazine with cars for sale around the house somewhere. Malloy seemed like a car guy.
Ryker opened his mouth, no doubt to argue, and Denver cut him off. “There’s no plan, guys. I can’t include you until I know where Richie and the Kingdom Boys are. For all I know, the assholes could be heading in your direction. Keep up your searches, I’ll keep up mine, and we’ll see what happens. I’m safe and fine.” And armed. “Trust me.”
His brothers both looked at him, their gazes worried.
“Fine,” Heath muttered.
“Agreed,” Ryker said, his voice no happier than Heath’s. “We need a plan. Saving the baby takes precedence over any other op, even our main one. Find that baby and get in touch with us.”
“Roger that. Call me the second you find either Cobb or Madison,” Denver said, disconnecting the call. He had to find Talia—time was running out. He leaned back and sighed, thanking God once again for his brothers. A part of him believed that they would’ve found one another even without Madison’s interference, because they were family, and that was that. Speaking of family. He dialed another number.
