“I knew I was on the right track with Casey’s death certificate. I tracked down a digital copy of her birth certificate and managed to find Violet’s, too. Check this out.” Caden turned his laptop around so everyone could see the screen.
Tanner didn’t see anything unusual until he spotted the box for the father’s name.Tanner Rhodes. “She put my name on Violet’s birth certificate.”
“Nice,” Blake said.
“But April said she didn’t know my name. That’s why it had taken the private investigators so long to find me.”
Blake shrugged. “She probably didn’t have a copy of it on hand and didn’t think Casey would’ve listed you, given how angry she was with your family at the time. As for the private investigators, I doubt they were very forthcoming. Probably milked her for more money for very little actual work until she cut them loose.”
“Fuck,” Tanner breathed, hating that she’d been used and abused by so many people in her life. “This would’ve solved everything.”
“I don’t know about everything, but it should be enough to go in front of a judge,” Caden agreed.
Tanner’s blood was boiling at all the red tape his friend was talking about. “I just got off a call with my six-year-old daughter telling me she’s terrified and doesn’t know where her aunt is. I’ve also got physical proof that she’s mine from the DNA results, and now we have a copy of Violet’s birth certificate that says I’m her father. Forget the courts. We go in now. Hard and fast,and get them both out. If a judge wants to throw me in jail for protecting the people I love, so be it.” Tanner was already moving, but he didn’t have to look around to know his friends had his back.
They were out the door and ready for anything in minutes. The only thing left to do was find April, and get Violet away from that monster for the last time.
Chapter 29
Tanner was sure his pounding heart was making an audible sound as they pulled up in front of the DynaTech Corp building. It was a massive compound of steel and glass. Imposing and powerful in the heart of Dallas. They had arrived in two vehicles. Tanner went in Luke’s truck with Garrett, and Caden drove his sedan with Blake. They were standing between the two vehicles, looking up at the building. Thankfully the storm was passing and the rain had all but stopped. But the drive had given Tanner time to process and think about what he was asking his friends to do for him.
Even if Violet was biologically his daughter, what they were planning to do tonight was illegal, and anyone who breached that building would be held responsible. They could lose their badges and their pensions.
For Tanner, it went without question that this was what he had to do. He could always get another job. Hell, he had a job waiting for him at the ranch, or any one of his father’s successful businesses. But it was different for his friends. Some of them had wives that depended on their husband’s income.
Luke never wanted Orly to feel like she couldn’t take time off, or be a stay-at-home mom once they started their family. Caden was damn good at his job, and he liked knowing Hallie could fall back on his paycheck during the slower months at her store. Theeconomy was rocky at best. Skyla was dealing with a lot these days despite Madigan’s doing well. But Reese was just restarting her art career, and Garrett wanted to make sure she felt secure in doing that without worrying about money.
It went without saying that Tanner would do everything he could to cover for his friends, but he had to say it. “Guys, you don’t have to go in there with me. This is my fight. I don’t expect any of you to risk your lives or careers.”
“Shut up,” Blake said.
“We don’t turn our backs on our friends,” Garrett added.
“Never have, never will,” Luke said. “Just like you didn’t turn your back on me when I was the one in trouble.”
Tanner nodded. “That was different. And you’ve got Orly who needs you now. Caden, you’ve got Hallie, and Blake -”
“Yeah, we know what’s at stake. We’re not going in blind.” The rough edge in Blake’s tone showed just how seriously he was taking this. “And I for one know that Skyla would kick my ass if she thought I hesitated for even a second to save an innocent little girl and a helpless woman who were at the mercy of a monster.”
Tanner could understand that. But Skyla was also very well off financially because Madigan’s was the hottest bar and club in town, and her father had left her his entire estate. Tanner was more worried about the others. He turned to Luke, Caden, and Garrett. “What about Orly and Hallie? And Reese? They need you guys. If you lose your badge or -”
“We’ll figure it out,” Caden said. “Let me ask you something, if Hallie was in there, would you walk away because you might lose your badge?”
“Hell no,” Tanner said. “But I’ve got the ranch to fall back on. It’s different for you guys.”
“No, it’s not,” Garrett chimed in. “We might not have a ranch, but we’ve got each other and our families. And that’s a hell ofa lot more than most people have. Now, are we going to stand around here shooting the shit, or are we going in and saving your family?”
Tanner wasn’t surprised by his friends’ words, and he was incredibly moved by their loyalty and commitment to helping him. He just hoped they were making the right decision following him into this mess. “Let’s do this,” he said, swallowing back the knot in his throat. He had no idea what they were getting themselves into. He also didn’t know where to even start looking. Violet had said they were in different locations, which meant that April might not even be inside. He pulled out his phone and sent a text message to Violet, hoping there was still some battery life left in hers.
Tanner: Can you call me?
A moment later, his cell phone buzzed in his hand. He answered it on the first ring. “My phone is down to one percent battery.” She sounded like she’d been crying, but Tanner steeled himself. Ned would pay for every tear he caused his little girl, but right now, they didn’t have time, and that phone didn’t have much power left. “Where in the building is your room?”
“I’m on the 24th floor. Room number 2401. It’s locked though. I can’t get out.”
“Violet is on the 24th floor,” he announced. “I’m going in after her first. Once she’s safe, I’ll find April. I’m not leaving without her.” He hadn’t forgotten April’s demand of him to save Violet first. It was like she knew something like this would happen, and that Tanner would honor her wishes. But he wasn’t going anywhere until they were both safely back in his arms.
A cell phone pinged behind Tanner. He turned to see Caden pulling his phone out of his pocket. “I just saved our asses. We got a warrant to search this place for April since she’s akidnapping victim and we have an eye witness who can place her inside.”
