“You can’t come. Stay here. We’ll have Ash back.”
My voice cracked. “How can you be so sure? How do you know that Tucker hasn’t…that he hasn’t—”
“Tucker likes to drag out his jobs,” Jake interrupted, loading a magazine into his AK. He swung it over his shoulders and started pulling his hair back, keeping his attention on me. “He’s an independent contractor. He’s worked for various criminal organizations for the last ten years, mainly sticking to the States and Mexico. He’s heavily involved with the cartel and has his finger on the global human trafficking pulse.” Jake lowered his arms. With his hair tied back, he looked menacing. A shadow fell over him. “Which is why he was so confident about making those comments about you, and why he knew about Alan Benson.”
“I want to go with you,” I repeated firmly, ignoring the fear coiling around my neck. It had been holding on, circling, waiting for the right moment to tighten and choke life out of me.
“Angel, where we’re going, you won’t—”
I stepped up to Hayes, my blood burning. “Don’t you dare tell me what I can and can’t handle. I’ve been through hell. Ash saved me and blindly sacrificed years to find me.” I turned to Grayson. “I want to be there for him. He’ll need me.”
“I meant no disrespect,” he said gently. “But we’re trained for this. You’re not.” He put his hand on my arm. “Doss would fucking kill me if you got hurt.”
“And if you can’t bring him back to me?” I whispered.
Hayes flinched.
Dominic’s jaw worked and he rolled his neck. “Fuck,” he grunted. “Fucking hell, let her come.”
Hayes’ and Grayson’s heads snapped to him. “What?”
Dominic moved to the cabinet on the wall, yanking open the doors. “Angel, come here.”
“Edwards, what the fuck are you doing?”
Dominic glared at his team as he handed me a bulletproof vest. “Suiting her up.”
“But—”
“We don’t know what kind of state we’re going to find him in,” he pressed, yanking more stuff out of the cabinet. “Ash’s trauma from Devil’s Den has been suppressed. His brain’s way of defending him. We don’t know if this has triggered it and sent him into a state none of us can pull him from. Not even me.” He jerked his head in my direction. “But her? The love of his life? She might be able to.”
Hayes’ anger filled the room. “You’re willing to put her in danger?”
Dominic was in his face then, nose to nose. They were polar opposites. One light. One dark. The air in the room shifted. “You may be willing to play by the rules, and that’s fine. But I will not stand here and let your fucking rule book get in the way of saving my fucking brother,” he said, his voice dark.
“You don’t think he’s mine?” Hayes shot back. “Ash is a part of this family.”
“Then bend the rules for your family.”
I glanced at Grayson. He was set in stone, watching everything play out. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or proud.
Dominic lifted his chin, looking at his boss. “There’s not a chance in hell I’m losing him again, understand? Jake can cover Angel.”
“And if she gets hurt?” Grayson asked, his eyes on me. “What then?”
Jake shook his head. “That’s not happening.” He looked at me. “Get dressed.”
The men started to file out, and I looked down at the stuff in my hands. Thermal shirt, pants, a taser, pepper spray, and the vest. Lifting my head, I found Hayes lingering by the doorway,agony in his eyes. “Please don’t do anything reckless,” he whispered. “We’re going to get him back, but you have to know this.”
A lump formed in my throat, the fear around my neck tightening. “Know what?”
“After he lost you, he was barely living. I know the last few weeks have been hard, but when I see him with you, he’s never been more alive,” he said, his voice thick. His throat worked for a moment. “If he loses you again…if you get hurt…he’ll never live, Angel. He’ll be a ghost again.”
My eyes began to burn. All I could do was nod.
“Do as we say, yeah? Don’t run off. Stay with Jake.” He closed his eyes. “Please, Angel.”
“I will,” I promised. “I’ll be careful.”
