“At least you will be alive to hate me,” He countered, then opened the door and walked out. He turned and keyed in the code that would lock the door. He didn’t have to worry about her trying the window since it was sealed with bars.
A sadness he had never felt in his life swarmed him. His chest felt tight as he headed down the steps. This was the only way. He knew what he was doing, but dammit, with her in danger, he couldn’t do his job right.
He loved her. The realization hit him, stopping him abruptly on the steps. He fucking loved her. He rolled his shoulders, forcing the emotion down where it belonged. If he let himself feel this, really feel it, he would lose the edge he needed. And right now,edge was the only thing standing between Monica and a body bag.
“She’s gonna hate you,” Creed said when he reached the bottom of the steps.
Kane didn’t look his way. “Good.”
Creed scoffed. “You don’t mean that.”
“No,” Kane said quietly. “But to keep her alive, I’ll live with it.”
He headed to where Ken sat cuffed. Tension was thick in the air.
“What’s the play?” Val asked.
Kane’s jaw tightened. “We give Farrar exactly what he wants.”
That got everyone’s attention.
“You,” Kane said, pointing at Ken, “are going to tell Farrar you broke. That Monica figured it out and that you panicked.”
Ken swallowed hard. “He’ll kill me.”
“Don’t give a shit,” Kane said coldly. “I just need you to get me inside.”
“And you?” Charger asked.
Kane walked to the closet and opened it, then reached for a pair of heavy cuffs with a chain. “I go in as leverage.”
“That’s insane,” Val said immediately, then grinned. “But I like it.”
“What about the guy that got away?” Charger frowned, looking at Kane. “That could be an issue if he has contacted Farrar.”
“There was no other guy,” Ken said, his eyes shifting away. “I didn’t want Monica to know it was me.”
“Adam?” Kane glanced toward where Adam stood listening.
“Truth,” Adam glared at Ken. “Guess that explains why Jax couldn’t pick up any other prints or scent.”
“Jax is the best tracker I’ve ever seen,” Blaze added with a frown, glaring at Ken also. “If there had been someone else, he’d have found him. I’ll reach out to him and call off the hunt.”
Kane reached down, grabbed Ken by the shirt, and pulled him up to his face. “You are lucky I need you right now, you sick bastard.” He pushed him toward Val. “Take the cuffs off him and get the directions from him.”
“You know this is a half-assed plan,” Charger walked up, not really looking that concerned.
“And when has that stopped us?” Kane slung the heavy chain cuffs over his shoulder.
“Never, but as the leader of our fucked-up crew, I felt it was my place to voice my opinion on the matter,” Charger said, then grinned, clapping him on the back. “Go on. We will give you time, then get set up. Watch your ass. I’m going to be pissed if you get your dumbass killed and leave me here with Creed.”
Kane grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes as his gaze went to the steps that led to where Monica was locked away.
“Take it from me. I did some pretty fucked up things to my mate,” Charger said low enough for only Kane to hear. “She’ll forgive you,”
“Keep someone here to guard the place,” Kane said, then grabbed Ken as he headed out the door. “Send someone to her brothers and Theo’s, her next-door neighbor.”
Once outside, he pushed Ken in front of him toward one of the SUVs. As they moved, Kane closed his eyes briefly and let himself feel the rage fueling him for what was to come.