Everyone has a price when their hand is being forced. You know this better than anyone.
The voice in his head was right. The CIA and Homeland had used his sister’s disappearance to force his hand. Maybe someone found something of Ben’s to use against him
His wife and kid. Money. Something the man would’ve considered worth the cost of selling him out and handing over Jenna. Something that had cost the man his life.
While he hated even thinking it, Adrian had to accept it as a possibility. Because this was Jenna they were talking about.
Despite his efforts to the contrary, the sexy redhead had wormed her way past his concrete walls and settled herself deep inside his heart. She was a part of him, now. And without her, he realized he’d have nothing.
“Thanks, Carter,” Gabe told Nate. “When you’re done with Campillo, see what you can dig up on Perez. The guy was obviously connected. It would be nice to know how far that connection went.”
“Roger that.”
“Thanks. We’ll finish up here and meet you and the others back at the hotel.”
Ending the call, Gabe shoved his phone into his pocket and went about with his search. The two men completed their search in relative silence, allowing Adrian a chance to gather his thoughts.
Finding no evidence against Perez, they left the house—and the body—behind. Someone would discover the scene eventually, but as far as he was concerned, the bastard could lay there and rot.
Concerned about leaving him without any sort of backup, Gabe had insisted Adrian stay the night in his hotel suite. Though he was pissed that Dawson thought he could order him around, Adrian begrudgingly caved.
Logically, it made sense for them to all be in one place in case they caught a break and needed to head out as a team. Not that he was a part of their team.
He was almost part of something special, though. Almost. Something good and pure. Somethingwonderful.
Then she was ripped from his soul.
Hang in there, baby. I promise I’ll find you. Just please, don’t give up.
Since Adrian’s clothes and things were still at Jenna’s hotel room, they headed there first so he could change out of the ugly ass blue scrubs the hospital had given him. The plan was, he’d shower as best he could with the dressing on his leg, and then they’d meet up with the rest of Bravo in Gabe’s suite at the other hotel.
Standing outside Jenna’s door, Gabe reached into the plastic bag the hospital had used to hold Adrian’s personal effects and pulled out his wallet. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Adrian took it and pulled out the plastic room key.
Ignoring the throbbing in his leg, he held the key up to the electronic sensor and waited for the light to turn green before opening the door. In an awkward move, Gabe brought his arm above Adrian’s head and pushed the door wider so Adrian could go in first.
He’d barely made it into the room when Jenna’s scent assaulted his system. Nearly stumbling, he recovered quickly, schooling his expression as his nostrils filled with a mixture of lavender and vanilla.
Right then, Adrian made a vow to buy a fucking case of the lotion she used…as soon as she was back in his arms, where she belonged.
“You good?”
Not even a little bit.“Yeah.” Adrian moved further into the room. “Just not used to these damn crutches.” That sounded believable, right?
Behind him, Gabe muttered a verydisbelieving, “Uh, huh.”
Fucker.
“Flip the lights, would ya?” he grumbled. “I can’t see a damn thing.”
“I’m sure you meant to say please, right?” Gabe turned on the lights. “I mean, I’m sure that word is in your vocabulary, somewhere. You might have to dig deep to find it, but—”
“What the fuck is that?” Adrian cut him off, his entire focus on the small gold box in the center of the bed.
Both men moved closer to get a better look.
There was a red bow tied perfectly around it, but he didn’t see a card or a note with it.