“Uh, because there are some bad guys tracking your brother.”
“But not me, and Boone won’t be there. We’ve got mad security.”
“I got close to you once.”
“You were stopped, and if I hadn’t walked out at that moment you wouldn’t have even seen me.”
“Just don’t be anywhere alone, okay? Just in case they know what’s up and decide to come after you. I want to go with you, but…” My words trail off. “Shadow thinks you’re safe, so he must know something.”
“I’ll be okay.” He cups my chin. “I’m the motherfucking Bouche, man.”
“Yes, you are.” Searching his eyes, I let the hope bloom in my chest freely. “I love you so fucking much. I want you to know that no matter what happens next, you have my heart.”
“What happens next is you come home in one piece and we get a chance at a future together. After all this, I deserve that. Okay?”
“Okay.” I lean in and kiss him again. It’s too brief, but I’ve got work to do so we can get to that hopeful future we both want. “I need to change clothes.”
Ten minutes later, I’m dressed in my ubiquitous work outfit: black jeans, black t-shirt, black boots. Hair in a messy ponytail, holster on.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Can I come back here after the game?”
“You better.”
I head downstairs, where I’m quickly joined by my brothers except Nimble. Shadow is the last to enter, his face set with tension. We fall silent, waiting for the boss to speak.
“Joey is in the hospital,” Shadow says, his tone dark. “Apparently he’s been working as an informant for the DEA, but the traffickers got suspicious and beat the fuck out of him. He says he didn’t know about the kids, and I believe him.”
“So the cops are involved already?” Specter asks.
“Not as much as they should be. Joey said he feels like he was left out to dry. They haven’t contacted him while he’s been in the hospital at all and his contact won’t return his calls.”
“Figures,” Ghost huffs.
“Here’s what we know,” Shadow says. “The main guy is named Blackhawk. No one knows his first or actual name. He’s actively involved, not some dude sitting behind a desk somewhere barking out orders. He’s got problems in his ranks. Lots of guys side hustling, trying to break off and do their own thing. He’s grown paranoid and unpredictable.”
“Is Blackhawk Boone’s former boss?” I ask.
“No.” Shadow shakes his head. “That guy is Phil Connelly. He runs Connelly Construction and he’s in deep with Blackhawk.”
Oh, right. That name sounds familiar from the files Boone had.
“Phil dies tonight. He’ll be at the docks waiting for a shipment. Then they’ll all be in the old warehouse district. Apparently they time their human shipments with Magnets games because the whole city is distracted.”
“That’s how they fucking figured out where to find Boone,” I grumble.
“Probably, yes,” Shadow says. “We’re gonna split up. Some of you will be at the dock, others at the warehouse, and the rest of us will get the kids to safety. No one walks away alive unless I’m given a damn good reason, and by the time the sun rises, I want Connelly and Blackhawk’s bodies at my feet.”
“And Mike Connelly.” We all turn to see Boone standing in the entrance to the rec room. “He’s Phil’s brother and he’s a piece of shit. I’d bet it was his idea to kill me.”
“You shouldn’t be listening,” Shadow says.
He shrugs. “It’s about me. Pax told me you had news so I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to help.”
Shadow clenches his jaw but he nods. “Mike Connelly too, huh?”
“Hothead, definitely the stronger personality. Phil is a dick but he’s influenced by his brother. He’d definitely try to pick up where Phil left off.”
