Page 60 of You for Her (The Edge of Retaliation 2)
“I think you should consider sending us both in, anyway, I know it’s risky but so is your plan and that’s far more likely to get someone killed,” I say. “We could get in there, have a few drinks with them, drug them and get Chase out.”
“You’re assuming they’d keep Chase in the same location that they would take you, not to mention we don’t have time to research where they are and where they hang out. If we had time, it might work, but we don’t,” Tanner says. “Now, we’re not discussing it any further, you clear on that?”
I huff and stare out the window, trying to figure out something else, something less dangerous.
They’re not making it easy for us.
“Don’t get upset with me,” Tanner says, and his husky voice makes my skin prickle. “I owe it to you to protect you, and I’m goin’ to do that. You’re not risking everything for the man that had my sister killed.”
“No,” I say, still looking out the window, “but I would risk it for you.”
He goes silent, so does Ethan.
I turn and glance over at Tanner, and he gives me a quick look out of the corner of his eyes.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I say to him. “Can’t you understand that?”
“I won’t let anything happen to me.”
I hope so.
I really, really hope so.
18
WE ARRIVE AT OUR LOCATION around seven in the morning. We’re all exhausted and racking our brains trying to figure out how we’re going to work this. We don’t know how we’re going to get Chase back without causing harm to anyone with us. There seems like there are little to no options.
I climb out of the truck at the motel we’ve booked and groan as I stretch my legs, lifting my arms high in the air and trying to let my body unwind. Tatum’s truck pulls up behind us, and everyone gets out. We all form a group between the two trucks, and I’m kind of hoping they’ve had more luck than we have at coming up with a plan that’s going to work.
“Got good news and bad news,” Tatum says right away, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. “Good news is, Jo’s friend managed to track the cell and find us a location, so we have an idea of where they called from. Bad news is, there is a chance they’ve been watching us, or at least, know that we’re traveling in a group which means if any of us show up, they’re goin’ to know and call it out. However …”
He glances at Jo, and I know he’s going to suggest something similar to what I suggested. I know it right away. Only the problem with that is, I don’t know if I like the idea of Jo going in alone. It’s dangerous.
“Jo has kept to herself quite a bit, she hasn’t been out and about, and I’m certain they don’t know her face. She could get in.”
“And do what?” Tanner mutters. “One girl against how many fuckin’ men?”
“Let me finish, Tanner,” Tatum growls. “She can go in and look around. Give us entry points, tell us who and what is in there, and then we can make our own attack. At the very least, we will know who and what we’re dealing with.”
“That’s dangerous,” I say, glancing at Jo. “Are you sure this is something you want to do?”
She nods. “We’ve spoken about it. I’ll go in.”
I exhale. It sucks because it’s the only plan we have. I don’t love the idea of Jo going alone, I wish I could go with her, but I also know that we’re running out of time, and if we don’t get Chase soon, he’ll be killed.
“Why don’t we call their bluff?” Ethan mutters. “Why are we risking our lives for Chase, a man who put himself in this position?”
Tatum gives Ethan a look that could kill, and growls, “That’s my brother.”
“Know that, Tatum, I also know that we came here to get justice, and now somehow it’s turned into a fuckin’ rescue mission where people could get hurt, and for what? He is the reason Celia is dead. I say leave him there.”
My mouth drops open, of all the people I thought would say that out loud, it certainly wasn’t Ethan. I mean, I had the same thought driving here. I thought about Chase, I thought about what he had done, I thought about the things he let happen to Celia, and then I got angry that we’re all about to risk everything to get him back.
Then I thought I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t help him.
I couldn’t sleep at night.
Not just because he owes me and everyone else an explanation, but because he’s a human being and I’m not a monster. I’ve made sure in everything that’s gone down I have stayed true to myself. I’m not about to change that, even if deep down I did have that thought.
