Chapter 29

"This could get messy, Dove." Cash winked at me as we trekked through the woods behind Wentworth's mansion.

The Zillow listing called it a magnificent single-family residence. I suppose you could call it that if a single family needed eight-thousand square feet, five bedrooms, hand carved railings from Mexico, Venetian chandeliers handmade in Italy, six fireplaces, a glass conservatory, an elevator, and a rooftop terrace. Yes, all of this from a real estate listing along with the floorplan including measurements on the home and surrounding garden. The only thing the listing didn't give up was the gate code.

People really needed to be more careful.

And the woods Cash and I were now carefully navigating to gain entrance to the property from the rear was easily seen with Google Maps and measured using Google Earth.

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

Google Maps also provided the helpful information that both houses that flanked the rear had pools. So yesterday I donned a polo proudly announcing I worked for Aqua Pools and visited both houses to offer pool services while scoping out the best way to enter the woods unseen. Both owners invited me in. Both walked me through their homes to the backyard. All of this captured on a tiny camera disguised as a button.

Bam.

I had what I needed.

While I was doing that, Smith and Jonas were across the street from the mansion doing the same thing only offering landscaping services. Easton had parked one street over with Cash should we need backup. Layla and Kira were in the Airbnb we'd rented a few miles away watching our feeds. Lincoln and Zane had still been in Annapolis, only making the trip to Lorton, Virginia last night.

"Messy how?" I asked, stepping over a branch.

"Zane's in play. Messy could mean anything."

Truth.

"Lucky for me I'm not squeamish."

Cash chuckled.

Silence ensued and I used it as an opportunity to run through the op. I wasn't used to working with a team. When I breached a location, I did it solo with the intent to take out my target and get out. Do that quickly and quietly and unseen. I'd never been on an op with the intent to capture.

Theo and Easton would breach the front. Smith and Jonas would come in through the conservatory and Lincoln and Zane on the opposite side that had access doors to the basement. They'd come up putting them smack dab in the middle with a full view of the house. I didn't like their point of entry and made that known. Zane noted my misgivings but didn't budge. I figured the man knew better than me so I didn't push.

Cash and I were entering through a side door into what the floorplan called a breakfast room that flowed into the kitchen that opened to a hall with an office, double doors to the dining room, a powder room, and at the end, the door to the basement. That opened to the huge family room to the right, living room to the left, the conservatory off the living room. I went through the floorplan one more time in my head, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything, when Cash broke the silence.

"Would you take offense if I said you look totally hot all kitted out in Kevlar with a piece strapped to your thigh?"

"She might not but her man would." Came through my earpiece.

"Right. Yeah. Forget I mentioned it."

I glanced over to see his shit-eating grin.

"Shit stirrer," I muttered.

He tossed me another wink and we walked.

Finally the house came into view, as did the Potomac. The home was magnificent, the view better.

"Everyone lied," Cash mumbled softly. "Crime pays."

That would seem to be the case. The mansion was worth over eight million and it was one of seven properties Wentworth owned.

I drew my Glock from my holster, or I should say my borrowed Glock. I preferred a Smith he and Lincoln were in the basement. Theo had the front door unlocked and they were waiting for our call saying we'd made it to the end of the hall before they came in through the foyer. Smith and Jonas would be last in. Their point of entry all windows.

We were almost at the end. I knew Cash was going to squawk the radio any second. Within a few minutes this would be over.

Maddon and Wentworth would be in custody.

Easy day.

A floorboard creaked under Cash's foot. There was just enough time for him to mutter a curse before a shot rang out. Cash's shoulder jerked back on impact. One hand pointing his gun in the direction of the living room, the other hand firmly on my chest, he shoved me and returned fire at the same time.

"Cover."

I stepped back and crouched in the doorway of the powder room, gun up and ready.

Cash retreated behind the dining room wall and I lost sight of him.

"Silver, switch to ten," Zane grunted.

I had no idea what that meant and before I could ask what ten was, I caught sight of the front door slowly opening. Easton slipped in first, Smith behind him, both of them riding the wall, coming down the foyer toward me, not bothering to close the door. Body tight, face like thunder, and seriously hacked off. He shook his head and held up his right hand. His left curled around the grip of his .45.

Bad timing, but I couldn't stop the shiver that ran over me.

My man was hot in full gear.

"Dove. Perfect time, doll. Come out and say hello to ol' Charlie Buck."

My insides froze.

He was lying.

Charlie promised he was going to call Dutch.

I didn't follow up.

I stared at Easton.

Another shake of his head.

Did he have eyes on Maddon? Could he see?

Suddenly there was a groan that sounded like someone's soul was leaving their body, it was so pain-filled.

"Say hello to your daughter."

Easton's eyes locked on mine, begging me not to move.

"Speak, Charles, or I'll shoot you in the head while Nebraska cowers in the hall."

Slowly, Easton's eyes left mine. The hand he was using to demand me to stay in the bathroom dropped, cupped the bottom of the grip, and he silently waited.

Waited.

What the hell were they waiting for?

Tick. Thump.

"Run, Nebraska," Charlie groaned.

I didn't run.

I came out of my crouch, fire blazing through me.

"Don't move," Easton growled.

Tick. Thump.

"I can do this all day. But Charlie can't. Come out, say hello, and let's sit down and have a talk. What do you say, Dove? Are you ready to negotiate for your father's life?"

Fuck taking him in. I was going to kill Maddon Judd.

I took a step out into the hall but got no further.

"Trust. Me."

My eyes shot to Easton. He was inching forward, Smith at his back. Neither of them looking at me.

Trust me.

Trust Easton.

Charlie.

Easton.

My mind whirled. Trust him. Every muscle burned as I locked my body. It was painful not to rush to Charlie. The need to get to my father so overwhelming, bile was inching its way up my throat.

Trust him.

I stepped back.

"Go." I watched the word form in Easton's mouth but didn't hear it.

Cash darted from the dining room, grabbed my hand on the fly, and ran, towing me behind him.

One. Two. Three shots. None suppressed. Not from Maddon's gun.

We were out of the house in seconds.

"Cash."

"They got it." Then he said, "In route to exfil."

I didn't hear that through my earpiece.

"Copy," Cash said again.

The team was talking but I couldn't hear.

"What's going on?" I panted, now running full speed through the woods.

"We're leaving cleanup to them."

"What are they cleaning up?"

"Likely Maddon's brains."

It took me a few seconds of breathing heavy to ask, "What about my dad?"

"Keep running, Dove."

Dove.

My heart sank.

Then it shattered.