Addy’s eyes went wide. She hurried over to him. “Owen—”
He caught her face and bent close to say, “I love you, Addy. Never forget that. No matter what happens. No matter who says what.”
“Don’t go out there.” She grabbed his forearms. “We just have to wait them out. They’ll be gone by daylight.”
Owen shook his head. “No one comes to a place where I am and shoots at women and children. Besides, I have to find Jax and check on the staff.” He looked at Troy. “This time, I expect you to follow my order and stay here with your mom.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before he could leave the safe room, the door opened. Jax stood there. “Anyone hurt?”
“No,” Owen said.
“What the fuck was that?” Jax asked.
“A drone. Did it fire at you?” Owen asked.
“No.”
Owen stepped out of the panic room into Addy’s dressing room. “Close it, Addy.” He looked back at her as she shut the door. When he heard the bolt click, he said to Jax, “Let’s find that drone and destroy it. The staff safe?”
Jax gave him a little grin and looked over to Spencer, who was standing with a pistol pointed at the floor. Troy’s nanny was only a few steps behind the butler. “The staff are all part of my crew.”
“Great.” He’d suspected as much. “Don’t know how many drones are out there or the current position of the one that shot at us. It could be inside. Be prepared.”
Jax took Addy’s room. Spencer took her office. Before Owen and the nanny moved down the hall to the other rooms, they checked to make sure the drone wasn’t in the conservatory waiting for them. In the poor light, it was hard to tell. Someone downstairs flipped lights on in there. Owen saw a couple more staff members move into that space.
He and the nanny went down the hall—she took the classroom, and he took Troy’s room. The heavy drapes were peppered now with holes from the assault. They billowed as the breeze came in. For all Owen knew, that fucking drone had cut an opening in the window big enough for it to come through. He listened for a moment, then peeked around the doorjamb. Seeing and hearing nothing, he stepped inside the room. Still nothing. He went up to the window and looked out, and just as he did, he heard the drone start up again, lifting off a dormer above the window. As soon as it was in sight, Owen blasted it with two shots from the shotgun. It tumbled out of flight, crashing on the ground below.
Owen sighed and slumped against the wall. How many more were out there? Who had sent it? He went into the hallway. The beautiful antique conservatory ceiling was destroyed. Jax and his staff joined him in the hallway. “We’re clear in this wing.” He ordered Spencer and the nanny to finish checking the upstairs. “The rest of my team are clearing the lower levels and the grounds.”
Owen nodded. “Roger that.” He and Jax went back to the panic room, which Jax opened.
Addy hugged her brother, then caught herself before hugging Owen. Yeah, that didn’t hurt.
“Stay with Addy,” Jax said. “I’ll update you when we’re clear.”
Owen looked her when they were alone. Why was it that the drone had only fired on them, not on Jax or his staff? One more little thing that made him think twice about Jax’s loyalties. He still felt like he was being played.
Owen walked out into Addy’s dressing room, leaving the door to the panic room open. He paced around a bit, listening to Jax’s staff call out to each other. When he came back to Addy, she was sitting on the sofa, holding Troy, who was anxiously watching everything.
“Owen,” she said quietly, “thank you for saving Troy. If you hadn’t been here, we would have died.”
“Maybe. Maybe had I not been here, it wouldn’t have happened. Who knows?”
“Are we still leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes. Why don’t you lie down? Try to get some sleep.” He grabbed a blanket from a nearby shelf and handed it to her.
An hour later, Jax came back with an all clear. Owen stared at him, trying to read him, searching for some proof that would put his fears to rest. He didn’t find it.
Jax’s crew had made another sweep of the area early the next morning. It was clear, but Owen was still worried about his team coming in to a trap. Maybe the drone attack last night had been staged to force him to draw in his team. It hadn’t done any lethal damage, after all. And neither Jax nor his staff were targeted in the hit, which Owen found interesting.
He dialed in to his company’s hotline. Using a password to access a restricted directory, he selected Kit’s number. The phone he was using was one Jax had given him; he was very aware of the fact that Jax’s team was capturing everything he did. As soon as he got through, his password would be deactivated. It was standard protocol. The call wasn’t patched through, but he knew all the data about his location and phone number were being sent to Max. All he had to do was wait for a call back.
It came in less than a minute.
“Go,” Owen said to the caller, wanting to make sure it was someone from his team.
“No, you fucking go,” Val snapped. “You called us. Jesus Christ, O. Where the fuck are you?”
Owen grinned. It had been a long while since he’d been so happy to hear someone bitch him out. “Hey, Val. Kit there?”
“We’re all fucking here,” Kit said, a little farther from the phone than Val was. “What’s your situation?”
“I need a pickup. You’ve got my coordinates. You’ll need to bring the helicopter. I’ve got Addy and her son.”
“You found them? Augie too?” Val asked.
“No. Not Augie. Her other son, Troy. He’s six. Use extreme caution and expect unfriendlies. Our location here was hit by a drone last night. There’s a helipad you can land on near the house.”
“I need two gunners,” Kit said.
“I’m in,” Val said.
“Max, you’re up, too,” Kit said. “We’ll get a room set up for Addy and her son, Owen.”
“In my wing,” Owen said.
“Copy that.”
“Helo’s on its way to us,” Max said. “We’ll be there in under two hours. You secure until then?”
“Affirmative.”
“Copy that.”
There was some shuffling on the phone as Val and Max left the room.
“A lot’s happened since you were gone, Owen,” Kit said.
“This line isn’t secure.”
“Roger that. We’ll catch up when you get here.”
14
Owen went outside to greet Max and Val, who were jogging across the field. Val shook Owen’s hand and gave him a man hug. Max’s greeting was much more reserved—a brief handshake and a hard glare. Owen led them into the blue salon where Addy’s brother was.
“Thanks for the quick pick-up,” Owen said. “This is Jax, Wendell Jacobs. Jax—Val Parker and Max Cameron.” The men shook hands.
“You guys hungry?” Jax asked. “Want some food or coffee before you head back out?”
“I’d kill for some coffee,” Val said.
“Nothing for me.” Max was always wired, always ready for a fight. Owen had hired him for that…and for his staunch sense of honor. His moral compass was sometimes something only he understood, but it always led him to the right place.
“Addy’s finishing getting her things and Troy’s packed up,” Owen said. “She’ll be down shortly.”
Max walked around the large salon like a caged panther badly in need of a run. “Why’d you take off?”
“It’s complicated,” Owen said.
“I’m a bright guy. Lay it out for me.”
“Jax was my only link to Addy. I wasn’t about to lose the chance to see her.” Owen looked at Jax, who was propped against a side table, arms and legs crossed, looking on with calm interest. “And at the time, I didn’t know which side Jax was on. I was anticipating a trap. I couldn’t risk leading you guys into it.”
Val nodded toward Owen’s face with its fading bruises. “Looks like you were right.�
��
“Yeah, but that wasn’t Jax’s doing,” Owen said.
Max wasn’t convinced. He paused in front of Jax and glared at him. “No?”
“Edwards and his guys broadsided us,” Owen said.
Max looked over at Owen. “And you think that was a coincidence?”
Owen gritted his teeth. He and Max were on the same wave length. “I think we weren’t careful and didn’t watch our tail when we left Winchester’s. He took us to an abandoned sanitarium way out east and worked us over. He wanted to know who was funding me.” Owen looked at Val. “I didn’t tell him, but I did ask about my son, which made him take off.”
Val nodded. “We found Lion and his pride. All the cubs are safe…except for Beetle. Your son. Edwards took him from the pride. We didn’t know why he’d singled Beetle out. I guess we do now.”
Owen went quiet as he thought that over. “Any news where he’s holding Augie?”
“No,” Max said.
“Has he made any demands?”
“No,” Val said.
“There a reason you couldn’t have let us know what the fuck was up?” Max asked. “Looks like you and Jax are real cosy now.”
“We only got cosy yesterday.” Jax grinned.
“Addy’s sick. I didn’t know with what or if it was contagious. Took a while for me to feel it was safe to bring you in. And the truth is, once I was here and had Addy again, I wanted the time I took.” Owen shook his head. “Screw that. I wanted to drop off the face of the earth so I could be alone with her. I still want that.”
Max blinked then nodded. “Well, I’m gonna need time to trust you again.”
“You never trusted me.”
“True, that.”
“We do what we have to do,” Owen said. “Sometimes that means doing it on our own.”
“And yet you want us to be a team.”
“I’m not wedded to a team paradigm. I am only about ending the Omnis. I believe we’re stronger together, whether we move in lockstep as a team or as lone operators.”
“You don’t get it—”
Owen cut Max off. “Oh, I do. I like your anger; it keeps you edgy and aware. And I trust you whether you trust me or not. The rest”—he waved a hand between them—“you’ll have to fucking deal with.”
Max moved closer, up into his face. “I lost everything, Owen—my entire goddamned family—only to find we’re being played like game pieces.”
“You want to talk about losses? How about losing the woman you loved your entire life to Edwards? How about learning he tortured her for years? That she had a son you never knew about, and he was ripped away from her in a brutal attack? Talk about lost trust—her parents did this to her. We’ve all been played. We’re about to turn this game on its head. You in or out?”
“In. Fucking in. How about you?”
Owen bared his teeth. “Oh, I’m in.”
Max glared at him a while longer, then nodded. “First, we get your boy back. Then we start cutting throats. I’m done giving them a chance to be human. They can tell God their bullshit stories.”
Owen stood in silence after Max moved away to resume his edgy pacing around the room. He was a hard guy to deal with. Rangy and impatient, but loyal to a fault. Owen was lucky to have him on the team—lucky to have every one of his team members.
Fuck knew he was going to need them.
Spencer brought a coffee tray into the salon and set it on a table. He fixed a cup for everyone except Max. Addy came to the door. She looked pale. Even her makeup couldn’t cover the shadows that were big around her eyes. Owen was glad she hadn’t put her wig on. She wore a cream-colored blouse that hung loose over tight jean leggings that were tucked into brown, knee-hi high-heeled boots. A yellow, cable knit sweater covered her from shoulders to thighs. Her nervous gaze made the rounds of the room, then settled on him.
Owen set his coffee down and went over to her. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but knew that might not be welcomed yet. “Addy, this my friend, Max Cameron, and my cousin, Val Parker. They’re on my team. You’re safe with them. So is Troy.”
She didn’t look convinced, but she did nod at both of them.
“Are you packed?” Owen asked.
“Yes. I couldn’t get everything into only one suitcase each. I have five between me and Troy.”
Owen smiled. “That’s fine. Where is he?”
“I haven’t gotten him up yet. If we’re ready, I’ll go do that.”
“Do you need help?” Owen asked.
“No.”
When she left, Owen turned to Jax. “What are you going to do now?”
“Get this house fixed,” Jax said. “Now that Addy’s out of here, I’ll put another call in to the FBI’s art crime division. They can come take out any of the pieces here that are hot. Better that than having them used as target practice.”
“Good,” Owen said. “There was a lot of stolen artwork in King’s Warren. I wondered if the art here was as well.”
Jax nodded. “Then I have to track your dad down.”
Owen shook hands with him. “I want to know when you do. You know where to find us.”
Jax grinned. “That I do.”
Addy came downstairs a few minutes later with a sleepy Troy in tow. Owen and the guys met her in the foyer. Troy came over and leaned against Owen’s leg, then looked up at Max and Val nervously. Owen stroked his head. “These are my friends Val and Max. Ready to ride in the helicopter?”
Troy glanced at his mom. She nodded and gave him a smile, so he nodded up at Owen.
“It’ll be fun,” Owen said. “And when we land, you’ll be at my home. There are kids there.”
Again he nodded, still too sleepy to do much talking.
“Bye, sis,” Jax said as he hugged Addy. “I’m here if you need me.” He kissed her cheek, then stepped back. Owen read the worry in his face. He nodded at his friend.
Spencer opened the front door. “Do you need help with the luggage, sir?”
“No, we’ve got it.” Owen and Val picked up two suitcases. Max picked one up and grabbed Troy.
“Noooo!” Addy screamed, lunging for her son.
Instantly, Owen realized what was happening, but neither of his guys did. Owen set her suitcases down and took Troy from Max, then pulled Addy close. Her eyes were wild, her face pale. “Easy,” he whispered. “Everyone’s safe. It’s okay. Max is one of us. I’ve got Troy. Let’s get out to the helipad.”
Owen caught the look Val and Max exchanged, but there wasn’t time for an explanation. He kept his arm around Addy and led her outside. Max took the lead, carrying the suitcases Owen had set down. Jax carried the last suitcase as he and Val brought up the rear. In short order, they were loaded up and heading out.
Owen reached over and took Addy’s hand. She looked ready to jump out of her skin. He should have warned the guys not to go near her son. Panic had let her devils out—he could only imagine the similarities between seeing Max lift Troy and what had happened with Augie. He couldn’t wait to get back to Blade’s. She would be able to find a new normal there, in a place far less isolated. She’d have company if she wanted it. Troy would have Zavi and Casey to play with—and the pride boys as well.
Troy, meanwhile, had none of Addy’s angst. He was leaning as close to the window as he could get, excitedly pointing stuff out. The helicopter was too loud for Owen to hear what the boy was saying, but he smiled at everything Troy pointed out.
Owen helped Addy and Troy out of the helicopter at Blade’s. The guys took their bags. The helipad was in the back of the house in a clearing over by Eddie’s kennels. Apparently the entire household had been waiting, for when they neared the house, everyone spilled outside.
Owen picked Troy up and pulled Addy close. He didn’t want her overwhelmed, but it was already too late for that. Most of the team, their women, the children, and three dogs swarmed them. He made the introductions, though he knew it probably wouldn’t stick.
“Greer, go th
rough our stuff downstairs, especially my phone and her devices,” Owen said. “Make sure we aren’t bringing something unexpected into the house.”
“You bet, boss.” Greer grinned as he took their bags. “Glad you’re back. Addy—welcome to our chaos.” Max went with him.
Owen set Troy down so he could meet the kids. They wanted to run off and play, but Addy wasn’t letting him out of her sight. “Not yet, Troy. We’ll get settled first.”
“But Mom—”
The mom glare she gave him would have put Owen in his place.
“Jim has your room all ready for you,” Eddie said. She looked at Owen. “It’s the one next to yours.”
The excitement over, everyone returned to what they were doing. Owen led Addy to her room. Troy and Zavi followed behind, moving slower because Rocco’s boy had to point out everything interesting along the way, like the movie room.
Addy’s room wasn’t as big as her old one, though it was nicely furnished in the decor of a western guest lodge. There was a short hallway between the closet and bathroom, then the room opened up to a spacious area with two double beds, a dresser, a desk, and a round table with four chairs in the corner. By the window, two leather armchairs sat facing the room, with a lamp table between them. It was a nice retreat, but without any of the gilded extravagance of the castle she’d just left. Earthy was the best adjective. And very masculine.
“My room is right next door,” Owen said.
She faced him, then immediately had a flash of the way the female fighter on their team looked at him. Almost possessively. Now that he’d brought her into his world, she realized she hadn’t spared a thought for his situation. Ten years was a long time to be gone from someone’s life. Though he’d denied being married, he certainly could have found someone to be with. He should have done that; she wouldn’t have wanted him to be alone all that time.
Addy could hear Troy coming down the hall. She put aside those thoughts for further mulling.
Her son ran through the sitting room outside this wing of bedrooms and plowed into their room. “Mom! This house is huge. I’m going to get lost.” His smile was wide and his eyes were bright. She hadn’t seen him look so genuinely happy in a very long time—not since before they lost his brother.
Forsaken Duty, The Red Team Series, Book 9 Page 13