“They have it.”
Abby’s head jerked to him. “What?” she asked breathlessly.
“I said I called in some favors. What I didn’t say was who those requests went out to.”
“Honey, please don’t keep me in suspense.”
“A select group of retired SEALs is in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They’re nearby. The moment they hear from me, they’ll move in to help the boys.”
“Oh, thank God,” Abby said as she dropped her forehead against him.
He gave her a squeeze. “They’re my family, too. If I can’t be there to help them, I’m going to make damn sure someone is.”
“I know.” She lifted her head. “Thank you.”
“Thank me when all of this is over. I just hope it’s enough.”
Abby released a deep breath. “I wish Ryan and Danny were involved. I know why they aren’t, but it doesn’t seem right.”
“You didn’t see Taryn’s face. If Jace hadn’t backed her up on not telling the authorities, she would’ve left.”
“I realize that. And Jace never would’ve seen her again. But I also know Danny.”
Clayton frowned. “He wouldn’t call it in to anyone. He doesn’t know when or where. Besides, he wouldn’t put his friends in a situation to be arrested.”
Abby shook her head. “I’ve been so worried about them dying that I hadn’t thought about them being arrested. Thank goodness we know a good lawyer. Leslie Ross handled Skylar’s situation perfectly. She’s great at her job, as well.”
“Let’s not call Leslie just yet,” he cautioned.
They looked toward the speaker on his desk when the word Eldorado came through. It was the final code, letting both teams—as well as Clayton—know that they were in place and ready. All they were waiting on now was Payton.
Clayton rose and walked to his desk. He glanced up to see Abby pacing the office again. For the first time, he understood what it was for his commanding officers to be at the command center while he and his team were on missions. Frankly, he’d much rather be out in the field. Listening and waiting were worse than being in the midst of the action.
Chapter 26
“When am I going to get to see my sister?” Taryn pressed as she stood before Boyd, fast losing patience. Especially knowing that Jace and his friends were likely in place and waiting to make a move. It was all Taryn could do to stay calm and not tell Boyd how she really felt.
After a beat of silence, Boyd grinned at her. “Right on time, as usual. Something should be said for how punctual you are, Taryn.”
Taryn’s gaze swung to Brick for a heartbeat. Boyd’s bodyguard and personal bulldog held her gaze, and she wondered just what Brick had reported. Taryn returned her attention to Boyd. “I told you I’d be here with the money.”
Boyd chuckled. “So you did. Why don’t you show it to me?”
“We had a deal. Where’s my sister?”
Boyd quirked a brow. “You talk to me as if we’re equals, when that’s far from the truth. I’m in charge. You do what I say, when I say it. I thought you understood that.”
“I understand it fine. I’ve done everything you’ve requested and more. The only thing I asked of you was to see my sister.”
“You’ve seen her,” he said without hesitation.
Taryn looked at the concrete as she drew in a steadying breath. “That was six months ago. Before that, it was nine months. And I’ve only seen her through a window. I’d like to talk to her, see her as close as you and I are now.”
“And why would I do that?”
It was difficult for her to remain levelheaded when she hated someone so much. It didn’t help that Boyd seemed to know exactly what to say to ratchet up her anger even more. “Because we had a deal. Because I held up my end of the bargain and brought five hundred thousand dollars as promised. Because I’ve made you a ton of money.”
He gave her a look of surprise. “I’m not sure I like your attitude.”
“What do you expect?” she asked, throwing up her hands before they slapped back down against her legs. “You killed my father and brother, and you took Payton away. She’s all I have left. I’m only asking to talk to her before we move forward with the deal.”
“Bring me the money,” Boyd demanded.
Taryn briefly thought about refusing. But she knew it wouldn’t get her anywhere. Once more, Boyd had put her in a position of helplessness. But he didn’t know about Jace and the others.
Still, Taryn needed Payton. She wasn’t stupid. She knew that Jace would go through with the plan whether Payton was there or not. He wouldn’t leave her behind. Taryn loved him for that. But she couldn’t leave without her sister.
Taryn turned on her heel and walked to the car. She opened the back seat and pulled out the black bag. It was heavy as she carried it to Boyd and tossed it at his feet.
“Open it,” he ordered her.
She froze, fury filling her to the point she thought she might explode. Her time of bowing to Boyd’s every whim was almost over. She just had to remain calm a little longer. All she needed was Payton.
When she didn’t immediately move, Boyd repeated, “Open it.”
Taryn bit her tongue to keep from smarting off. She then walked to the bag and bent to unzip it. When it was open, she straightened and looked at him, waiting for his next order.
Boyd’s lips curved into a cocky smile that made her want to knee him in the balls. He didn’t even look at the money inside the bag. “I still can’t believe you came back. You had a chance to escape, but you didn’t. That means you like working for me.”
“I fucking hate you. I’ve done everything I had to in order to stay alive and keep my sister alive. I’m here for her.”
Boyd started chuckling. “Oh, the irony.”
Taryn frowned and glanced at Brick, but the bodyguard’s gaze was on something behind her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Taryn asked Boyd.
“This is going to be priceless,” Boyd replied.
Taryn was growing more and more confused by the second. The approaching sound of high heels on concrete got her attention. Taryn found her gaze drawn to Brick once more. His black brows were drawn together in a slight frown. But it was Boyd’s arrogant smirk that made her blood run cold.
Taryn wanted to turn around and see who it was, but she made herself remain still. The closer the footsteps came, the wider Boyd’s smile got. If Taryn hadn’t looked at Brick, she wouldn’t have seen his face go blank as if he were wiping all expression from his visage. She didn’t get a chance to think about that for long as she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.
She turned her head to see who it was. At the sight of her beautiful sister, Taryn’s heart leapt. She took in Payton’s body-hugging bright blue dress, the large diamonds in her ears and on her fingers, and her blue heels. The smile Taryn had slipped when Payton didn’t even look her way as she walked to Boyd and put her arm around him. Taryn’s gaze moved from Payton to Boyd and back to her sister.
“She hasn’t figured it out, sweetheart,” Boyd told Payton.