Luke responded with a hesitant smile. “I was hopin’ you wouldn’t. And we’ve also come bearing gifts.”
Frowning, he glanced down at Luke’s hands. The man wasn’t holding anything, so his confusion was obvious.
“In the way of a private jet. Trent’s, actually. He was kind enough to send us down here with it. Said it’s at your disposal should you need it. And if you don’t, it’ll return us to Dallas whenever you say the word.”
Trent Ramsey, one of Hollywood’s golden boys, as well as a business mogul, had sent his jet. He’d only interacted with Trent a few times and they had some sort of one-sided rivalry—on Trent’s side—going on, but the man had offered to help in this crisis. On top of that, Luke and Cole had dropped everything to come down and help out an old friend.
“We’ve got Xander keeping an eye on Dichotomy and Club Destiny, so we’re here for whatever you need, Travis. And Logan and Sam have offered to help in whatever way they can.”
Tears filled Travis’s eyes as the pain he’d fought to hold back ripped through him. Before he knew it, Gage was there, a wall of support, pulling him in close. Strong arms wrapped around him, and for a couple of minutes, they held each other up.
It wasn’t that Luke or Cole or even Trent was offering anything more than everyone else, but it was that they were there when Travis and his family needed them most that brought the flood. That and the fact that with so many powerful people helping, he couldn’t deny the hope that flared.
Gage released his firm hold, pulling back enough to look in his face. Those strong hands curled around his neck, his thumbs gliding over Travis’s jaw. “We’re gonna bring her home.”
The promise in his words was so powerful Travis had to believe them. “I know.”
It took a minute, but he managed to pull himself together enough to talk to Luke and Cole once more. He found them in the living room, glancing around the house as though taking it in for the first time. Then again, it probably was the first time they’d been there. Most of Travis’s get-togethers were held at the resort. Simpler that way.
“We appreciate the help,” he told them both. “Sincerely appreciate it.”
“Anything we can do, just let us know. We’ve got some favors due us, so I mean that. If you need us to push someone…” Luke smirked. “Well, you know how much joy I get in that.”
Travis smiled and it felt genuine. “Thanks. Helping with the resort is more than enough.”
“I think the only thing we need from you is permission to be there,” Cole said, speaking for the first time. “I assume you’ve got someone managing the place in your absence. If you give them the go-ahead, we’ll utilize them to get what we need.”
“Of course.” Travis nodded. “And the pilot and crew … might as well put them up at the hotel in case we need them.”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate it,” Cole stated. “But we’ll warn them ahead of time.”
Travis laughed, though the sound was definitely fragile.
***
Once Brantley and Reese joined JJ and Dante in the barn, she began rattling off more details than Brantley cared to have about a woman who was looking more and more like the one who had taken Kate. And if JJ was right, they’d narrowed down her possible location to more than a few beach towns in Mississippi.
While he wasn’t sure how the hell they would cover all that ground easily, Brantley was glad to see they had a direction to go. A mission, so to speak.
Once JJ had finished relaying the information, he’d gotten on the phone with Travis and Gage, passed on what they’d learned, and asked where they wanted them now. They were currently waiting for a phone call with a firm answer.
If they’d had boots on the ground in Mississippi, they would at least have the opportunity to hunt for the woman. Whether she’d taken Kate or not, the only way to check her off the list was to find her and confirm for themselves.
“So, I was thinkin’ maybe I could bring a chair from home,” JJ mused, knocking on the side of the trash can she was still perching on when she worked.
He pretended to consider that. “And what? You’ll drag it back and forth as you need it?”
“It beats the hell outta sittin’ on this thing.” She shrugged her shoulders and rolled her head on her neck. “Not all that comfortable.”
With a heavy sigh, Brantley dug his wallet out of his pocket, produced a credit card, and held it out to JJ. He could feel Dante and Reese watching him.
“What’s this?”
“Money,” he said as though it wasn’t obvious. “Buy some stuff for in here. Maybe another desk, couple of chairs.”
