Jamal nodded. “I wasn’t even that scared.”
Declan checked the spot where the car went under but there was no other movement. Guilt ate at him that the other two men were down there, even if one had tried to drown him with them. The odds were slim that he’d be able to find the car beneath the surface, but he had to try.
“I’m going back in to see if I can find Boomer or Blaze.”
“Declan, no,” Kenzie protested, grabbing his arm. “It’s too dangerous. Besides, they’ve been under too long.”
“They could still survive.” They’d probably be brain damaged if they did, but he’d do what he could. Death was almost too easy. He wanted them to pay for terrorizing Jamal. He also needed to find out what they were after.
“I’ll go with you,” Jamal stated.
“No!” they both barked in unison and he jumped back with his arms up.
“Okay, okay.”
“Stay here with Kenzie,” he ordered as he waded back in and then swam out to the general area where the car disappeared. The river current was slow, so he didn’t think it would’ve moved much. He dove under, feeling with his hands. Luck was on his side when he found the vehicle. It’d settled on the bottom. The river wasn’t too deep, maybe fifteen feet or so, but it was hard to navigate blindly. He swam through the open back window and felt the driver’s seat. Empty. There was a body in the passenger seat, but he was unmoving. Declan found the latch to unbuckle the belt and maneuvered the limp body through the back window. He gulped in air when he surfaced and then with an arm anchoring the man’s head above water, he kicked for shore. Kenzie and Jamal both waded out to help him drag the unconscious man to the sand.
“That’s Boomer,” Jamal stated.
Boomer didn’t have a pulse. Declan immediately started CPR while Kenzie dialed nine-one-one. Knowing it was a lost cause, he kept going as he called Kenzie over.
“Take Jamal to the SUV and park where you can hide from the first responders. I don’t want anyone knowing what really happened. There could be others coming.” They were outside Detroit city limits, but he wasn’t sure how far the Dogs would go to assist another gang, and they didn’t know who they could trust. For the Dogs to have known Fuller was the detective in charge of their case, they had to have a man or woman inside feeding them info.
“What about you?”
“I’ll say I was out running and saw the car go over. I’ll make an excuse as soon as I can and when you see me, pick me up and we’ll get out of here. The phone you used to call is untraceable and I’ll give a fake name.”
“Okay.” She handed him the cell. “We’ll park where we can see when you come up the ridge.”
He continued CPR and watched to make sure they made it up the hill safely. Jamal waved and then they disappeared. He focused on Boomer, fighting the urge to wring his neck instead of starting his heart. The man could’ve killed Jamal. To Declan, that was an unforgivable offense. Still, he kept a steady rhythm of chest compressions until sirens sounded in the distance.
#
Climbing up a steep hill was hard enough, but add in soggy, wet shoes, and it proved to be quite an ordeal. Finally, Kenzie made it to the top and tugged Jamal the rest of the way. He turned and waved at Declan and then she took his hand and led him to the SUV, boosting him into the back seat. Once he was settled, she closed the door and climbed behind the wheel. Shifting into reverse, she backed up and found a secluded spot nestled in the trees where they could watch the action but not be seen. She winced when branches scraped against the sides, hoping whoever let them borrow the vehicle had insurance.
She glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure Jamal was okay when she noticed him trembling, either from being in the water or from fright, so she cranked the heater. Then she realized she was shaking, too. She’d come so close to losing both of them tonight. She’d have nightmares of the car flying over the embankment with Jamal inside. Then when Declan swam out to save him, he’d been jerked below the surface. She hadn’t had a chance to ask him, but she thought one of the men must’ve grabbed his foot. He’d been under too long and she’d been ready to swim to his rescue when he surfaced. She wouldn’t be able to breathe properly until he was back in the car with them.
Sirens wailed and then several emergency vehicles filled the dirt road in front of them. She slid lower in the seat in case anyone looked in their direction.
“Kenzie?”
She glanced in the mirror again. “Hum?”
“Don’t tell Declan this, but I was really scared, even though I said I wasn’t.”
Her heart clinched. She reached back and clasped his leg. “You didn’t show it at all. What you did was daring and bold. How did you get out of the car?”
“When I realized what was happening, I rolled down my window,” Jamal explained. “Then I had to brace myself. It kinda hurt. But as soon as we hit the water, I wiggled out the opening and started swimming.”
“You were courageous, fearless and brave, Jamal. There aren’t many kids your age—or older, even—who would’ve been able to save themselves like you did today. You don’t have to worry about Declan knowing you were scared.”
“But he’s so big and strong and tough. I want to be just like him.”
She smiled, making a mental note to relay those exact words to Declan. They’d please him. “Don’t tell him I told you this,” she lowered her voice like she was revealing a secret, “but he was petrified, too.”
Jamal’s eyes widened to saucers. “He was? For real?”
“For real.”
She faced forward again to watch the activity in front of them. Eventually, crews hauled a stretcher over the embankment and loaded the body into a waiting ambulance. She wondered if Declan’s life-saving efforts worked, feeling guilty that she hoped they didn’t. The man had kidnapped a child and terrorized him. No telling what he would’ve done to Jamal if they’d gotten away.
More emergency vehicles arrived and packed the area around them. It wouldn’t be hard to see Declan when he emerged since the swirling red and white lights lit up the darkness that had settled over the area. She had no idea where they were, only that they’d left Detroit miles ago headed southwest. She’d given Declan the phone, so she couldn’t pull up a map.
Jamal pointed at the windshield. “There he is.”
Declan was searching for them. She flashed her lights twice and he glanced around before jogging their way. He’d be exhausted from swimming and performing CPR, so she stayed behind the wheel.
He climbed into the passenger seat without complaining. “I snuck away when the detective went to talk to the crew who found the car.”
“They were able to find it below the water?”
“Yeah. The river is only fifteen feet or so deep. It settled on the floor.”
“What about Boomer?” Jamal asked. “We saw them take him away in an ambulance.”
“I couldn’t get his heart started. The trip to the hospital is a formality.”
“Blaze?”
“Someone spotted his body floating down stream. He’s gone.”
“If it wasn’t that deep, how come Blaze and Boomer didn’t get out?” Jamal asked.
“Maybe they couldn’t swim.”
“Boomer screamed like a little girl when we went over the cliff,” Jamal said and then slapped a hand over his mouth. “Sorry, Kenzie. I didn’t mean that to sound bad about girls. My brother used to say that to me all the time. It just slipped out.”
Kenzie’s heart broke for what the boy had endured in his young life. “You don’t have to apologize. Girls do scream pretty loudly.”
Declan slid his seatbelt over his chest and buckled it. “Let’s get out of here before they come looking for me.”
#
Declan closed his eyes and rested his head against the seat as Kenzie navigated onto the road. He was in great shape, so the physical exertion hadn’t phased him. Worry for Jamal’s safety, however, took a toll on him. That and swallowing half
of the river.
A small hand tapped his shoulder. “Declan?”
“Hum?”
“Do you think we’re safe now?”
More than anything, he wanted to reassure the boy and tell him that he was and always would be safe. But just because Boomer and Blaze were dead, the threat wasn’t over. There were other Eighty-Sixers back in Chicago. Until they figured out why they wanted Jamal so desperately, he would be in danger.
“You don’t have to worry. I’ll protect you, Jamal.” He’d evaded the question, but he hoped his answer would reassure him. He would keep both Jamal and Kenzie safe if it were the last thing he did on earth.
Meanwhile, something nagged at him. “How did they find us in that room?” They hadn’t left once, and he’d destroyed his phone. They’d been thoroughly scanned at the police station so there were no trackers. “It’s like they traced us there.”
“Oh, my God.”
His hands shot out to the dashboard when Kenzie slammed on the brakes. She swung into the parking lot of a rural church and shifted into park before reaching into the back for her bag.
“It was me,” she cried, removing a slim silver object. “I checked my email, this morning and again before they arrived. I hadn’t checked for a while and with my phone gone, I used the computer.”
“They must’ve traced your IP address.”
She started to roll down the window, but he reached out a hand to stop her.
“You don’t have to get rid of it. Keep it powered off. They won’t be able to trace it.”
She shoved the laptop at him as she fumbled for the door handle with one hand while covering her mouth with the other. “I’m going to be sick.”
Declan was out his door and around the SUV just as she fell to her hands and knees and lost the contents of her stomach. He gathered her long raven hair and held it back until she had nothing left. She dropped down to sit.
“It’s all my fault.” Her face was wet with a mixture of sweat and tears. “I brought the danger right to our door.”
Before he could reassure her, Jamal spoke. “It’s not your fault, Kenzie. It’s the bad guys’ fault. That’s what you keep telling me.” He handed her a bottle of water.
She thanked him and rinsed her mouth.
“We’re all fine, Kenz,” Declan reassured her. “If we’re going to lay blame, then it’s on me. I should’ve asked if you had any other electronic devices, but I didn’t. That’s standard procedure and I messed up, big time.”
“Or me,” Jamal piped up. “I’m the one they’re after.”
“So, let’s all agree that none of us are to blame. Okay?”
She nodded but looked miserable.
He helped her up and then kept an arm around her as he guided her to the passenger seat and lifted her inside. She didn’t protest or insist on driving. He closed the door and then made sure Jamal was settled and buckled in before he climbed in and adjusted the seat.
“I’m not going to be much of a navigator,” she said. “I have no idea where we are.”
“I’ll make a call.”
He reached Noah and filled him in on the latest events. Noah asked if he knew what road they were on and he remembered seeing a sign a few miles back. He relayed the information and Noah told him he’d call him back soon with instructions on where to head for the night.
He started the SUV and shifted into drive. There was little traffic as he picked up speed. He was relieved now that they knew how they’d been tracked to the motel. He hadn’t been trying to make Kenzie feel better earlier—well, he had, but what he said was the truth. He should’ve thought about other electronic equipment. If the Eighty-Sixers and their Detroit counterparts were savvy enough to find them through tracking devices and torture, they’d surely be able to locate Kenzie’s computer IP address with no problem.
“Declan, can I call Peyton and tell her about how far I swam in the river?”
“Absolutely, once we get somewhere for the night. She’ll be proud of you.”
Ten minutes later, his cell buzzed. “It’s Noah. I’ll put it on speaker,” Kenzie said.
“Hey, Noah.”
“Hi, Noah!” Jamal called out from the back seat.
“Hey, Declan. Jamal, it’s good to hear your voice. We miss you.”
“I miss you guys, too.”
“Are you there too, Kenzie?”
Her eyes widened and shot to Declan. “Uh, yes. Hi.”
“BeBe arranged for a place for you to stay tonight. Keep heading down Route Twelve. I’ll text the coordinates for your GPS and also the security codes. It’s stocked, so you don’t need to stop for food and there should be toiletry items, too. The wi-fi is secure, so you can use the computers. Oh, and there’s a surprise for Jamal.”
“Really?” He was practically bouncing in his seat.
Declan had an idea of what it might be, but kept his mouth shut. “I’ll text you once we’re there.”
“Nice to talk to all of you,” Noah said before disconnecting.
Forty-five minutes later, Declan stopped in front of an imposing iron fence and rolled down the window. Kenzie read the security code to him and he entered it in the box. The gate slid open to allow them through and instantly closed behind them. He motored along a pine tree lined driveway to a clearing. The house was made of wood and stone and windows overlooking a lake that would surely be more dramatic in the daylight. It was nothing short of a mountain retreat. Something you would expect to find in Aspen or Vail, not off the beaten path in a remote town in southern Michigan.
“Who lives here?” Kenzie asked. “It looks like a show home.”
Declan pulled up to the garage and turned off the engine. “No clue.”
“Is it safe to get out?” Jamal asked.
If BeBe sent him here, it had to be secure. Still, he wasn’t taking chances with their lives. “Let me check it out first. Then I’ll come get you guys.”
He slid out, his eyes scanning the surroundings. All was quiet except for the tinkling of leaves and the faint sound of windchimes clamoring with the breeze. Trees swayed and ornamental grasses planted around the house fluttered like waving fingers. His honed senses told him it was safe here. No threats. He found the door Noah instructed him to use on the side of the house and keyed in the code from his phone. The house was large, so it took him a few minutes to clear it. He loped down a set of steps and found a shimmering blue pool enclosed in glass. His guess had been correct. Jamal would love it. He headed back up the stairs and turned on lights in the open concept kitchen and living room with a soaring stone fireplace and a wall of windows overlooking the lake.
Kenzie and Jamal were watching for him when he returned. He nodded and they opened their doors. “All clear,” he told them as he took the backpack from Jamal’s hands. He followed them inside, almost slamming into Kenzie when she stopped in her tracks.
“Wow.” Her head swiveled, taking in the luxurious touches and detailed architecture.
“It’s something.”
“Tell me again how BeBe found a place like this in the middle of nowhere.”
“I can’t because I have no idea.” Maybe COBRA Securities owned safe houses in every state. He wouldn’t be surprised.
Jamal came rushing back in the room, sliding to a stop on the hardwood floor. “This place is huge.” He tugged Declan’s hand and then grabbed Kenzie’s. “Come see what I found.”
Declan assumed he meant the pool, but he headed up the steps instead of down and led them through the set of double doors that stood open at the end of the hall. It was the massive master bedroom complete with lake view.
“This bed is ginormous. I know there are like a hundred bedrooms, but can we all sleep here? There’s enough room for all of us. I can sleep in the middle again.”
Jamal’s eyes were wide, not with wonder, but with worry. Declan had checked out this room in his initial scan and pictured rolling around on the huge mattress with Kenzie, making slow, easy love to her all nigh
t long. The bed would be so much more comfortable than the discount motel room floor. But, after the ordeal Jamal had been through, Declan would give him anything he asked.
“Sure, but first we need to rinse the river grime off our bodies.”
Jamal jumped up and down. “Yay! Was this the surprise Noah talked about?”
“It’s not. Why don’t we look at the rest of the house before we shower?”
“Okay.” Jamal took off while Declan and Kenzie shared a smile. When she slipped her hand in his as they followed Jamal’s bee-like path as he darted into every room, it felt natural. As if they’d been together for years instead of days.
Jamal finally found the stairs leading down. They heard his shout of excitement before they reached the bottom of the steps. “Look, it’s a pool. Can we go swimming?” He held his clasped hands in front of his face, looking like the sweetest angel Declan had ever seen, river sludge and all. “Pretty please.”
“Aren’t you tired from your swim in the river?” Kenzie asked him.
“You’d think, right? But this is good water. I’m not tired at all.”
“We don’t have swimsuits,” Declan pointed out.
“I can wear the shorts we bought. You, too.”
Jamal stripped off his shirt and started for the water, but Declan stopped him. “Let’s rinse off the river first so we don’t contaminate the pool.”
“Oh, good idea. Look.” He pointed to an open door. “There’s a bathroom. I’ll go get the backpack.” He disappeared before returning with the bag and closing himself inside.
Declan eyed Kenzie. “You up for a swim?”
She walked over to a rack of golf clubs and after a thorough examination, selected one. “I don’t have a swimsuit and before you say I can wear my underwear, it’s white and lacy and when wet, it would be like skinny dipping.”
Declan’s head fell back on his shoulders and he groaned as his lower body reacted predictably to the graphic image she’d described. “You’re killing me.”
She smiled cheekily as she took a practice swing.
“You play golf?” He needed a distraction to cool his libido.
She placed a ball on a tee on the putting green next to the pool. “Sure do. I learned so I could schmooze with clients.” She expertly gripped the club and adjusted her stance. After taking a couple more practice swings, she stepped up to the ball and tapped it into one of the holes.
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