Just then, the alarms at the front sounded, and Jack turned to the screen. Reid wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad when he saw his best friend’s face smiling up at the camera. He settled on happy because there was nobody else he’d want at his back than Clay, and he had the medical expertise he prayed to God they wouldn’t need.
Reid walked toward the front door, wanting to be the one to give Clay the news his sister had been taken on his watch.
Reid disengaged the locks, his mind working over how this Bás had gotten in before he pulled the door open.
Clay greeted him with a grin that froze on his face before it fell. “Oh fuck, what did you do?”
Reid stepped back and allowed his best friend inside, not wanting to say the words he knew would crush him. He shook his head, trying to find them. “They took her, Clay. Right from me, they took her.”
He watched his friends face harden and then Reid found himself pressed against the wall, his friend’s enraged face in his. “How the fuck could you?”
“Hey, cool it, yank,” Liam called as he moved down the hallway towards them.
Clay looked at him before he shoved off Reid, who hadn’t lifted a finger to defend himself. He wanted the pain he thought Clay might mesh out, hoping it would ease the emotional torture he felt inside his chest.
“Bitch had a gun aimed a toddler. Reid had no choice, neither did Callie, but we know where she is, and we’re planning a rescue now. You want in, you need to play nice.”
Clay lifted his bag, and without another glance in his direction, followed Liam back toward the war room.
Reid moved to stand on the opposite side of the room as Liam made the introductions. Jack shook hands with Clay and told him he was welcome to join them as long as he could follow orders and wouldn’t be a problem.
“Not a problem for me.” Clay looked at Reid with a strained, angry expression. Reid understood but it still stung. “I’m good.”
“Great.” Jack quickly brought Clay up to speed on everything that they knew about Callie and Sophia so far. “Now, unfortunately, we have some business that is completely classified, so I’m going to have to ask you to step out. Blake can show you where to stow your stuff and change.”
Clay picked up his bag and with one more glance at Reid, followed Blake from the room.
“Right, I have an idea about how to deal with Gunner,” Jack said. “I want us to make it look like we killed Milla.”
Reid looked up and around to gauge the other’s reaction, and they seemed as confused as he was, except perhaps Liam.
“We make it looked like we killed her, then once we have Gunner here, we’ll tell him she’s safe and will remain that way and send him back. He can tell whoever the fuck he works for that he wants us all dead because of what we did, and it should keep his cover. He can get us more information, and we can shut this down for good.”
“Do you think he’ll go for it?” Lopez asked.
“Yes, because his sister was the reason he turned and if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he never sees her again. Plus, he owes us.”
“We can’t trust him,” Liam stated as he clenched his fists at his side.
“No, we can’t, but we’ll at least have the upper hand this time.”
Liam shrugged. “Fine, let’s do it.”
“Can Fortis stage that?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, they can do it.” Jack nodded just as the phone on the desk rang.
Every pair of eyes moved to look at it as if it might rise up and bite them before Jack answered. It was go time.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As time wore on, Callie noticed Sophia become more anxious, her control and temper slipping. She wasn’t sure if this was good for her or not, but it did give Reid more time to find her.
It had to have been hours since she’d been taken, and she wondered if the tracker was working as she looked at her shoe. Will had assured her that it worked and had even shown her on the computer. It had been a fail-safe that had given her confidence about leaving with Sophia but even if she hadn’t had it, she still would have gone. The look of abject fear on the young mother’s face as Sophia threatened her son would stay with her forever.
Callie assessed Sophia, unsure how she’d missed all the signs that now seemed so clear. The calculated desire to succeed she’d seen as a drive to do well. The control she’d thought was a woman trying to work in a male-driven business was just a need for power. All the traits she’d seen as good things were signs that this woman would sell out her own mother to get what she wanted.
“Just out of interest, how much are they paying you?” Callie watched as Sophia swung around to face her. The woman looked more unhinged as the day wore into the night.
Sophia offered her a sneer that was ugly and cold. “More than you ever could, so don’t bother trying.”
“I had no intention of it. I wouldn’t waste my money or my breath trying to negotiate with you.” Callie should perhaps be watching what she said, curbing her tongue and the anger inside her, but anger and fear were a dangerous combination in this situation where she needed to keep a cool head.
Sophia stalked toward her, and lifting her arm, swung, backhanding Callie and sending her head flying.
“Enough,” bellowed a voice to her left.
Callie moved her head gingerly in the direction of the voice as she tasted blood in her mouth. A tall man, with long blond hair, piercing blue eyes, a full beard, and a body most models would die for approached them.
Sophia stepped back and aimed her weapon at him. “Who are you?”
Callie heard the slight tremble in her voice, as if Sophia perhaps knew she was out of her depth. The man moved so fast Calle hardly had time to digest it as he disarmed Sophia and shoved her away.
“Do not point a fucking gun at me unless you plan to use it.”
Callie watched as he glared with hate-filled eyes at Sophia as he holstered the weapon in his jeans before his gaze moved to her.
She held her head high as he appraised her, not in a sexual way, but as if he was looking for injury of any kind. Callie thought she saw a gentleness, a regret there before he hid it and turned away, dismissing her.
“You’re late,” Sophia accused as she came to her feet, dislike in her features as she watched him prowl the room.
He had the look of a tiger waiting to pounce, small steps and an economy of power. She’d noticed Reid and Liam did it, in fact, all of Reid’s friends did. She didn’t dwell on it because she was using the distraction to work on the rope at her wrists to little gain. The only thing she’d managed to do was rub the skin from them.
“I don’t answer to you.”
Callie lifted her eyes to the man as he growled the words.
“Maybe not, but it’s time for you to take her. I’ve done my part and I want my money.”
“I don’t have your money. You see him for that.”
As the exchange continued, Callie kept working the ropes, even as she felt blood run down her hands.
“Fine.” Sophia turned to walk away, but the man grasped her upper arm, stopping her. Sophia yanked away from his touch. “Take your fucking hands off me.”
“I need you to stay with her while I bring the car around.”