Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

H unter and Paxton had walked over to Kane's house full of questions they hoped could be answered. The first was trying to figure out DR3's role in this scheme. Since Nico had assured them Waverly Davenport and any inventions she had weren't known in the criminal world, it narrowed the field to DR3 having inside information. Hunter had contacted Tinsley Faulkner's husband, Paxton Kendry, who used to be on the FBI gang task force when he'd lived in Atlanta and was now with the Charleston FBI office.

Kane kept a close eye on the clock. He didn't want to be late picking up Waverly. "Has the FBI actually learned anything?"

"Yes and no," Paxton told him. "The FBI has an agent undercover with the DR3 based in Miami. The word is everyone is tense about a failed job. I'm guessing that's Waverly. However, why DR3 wants Waverly is unknown. No one knows. It was personal from what they could tell."

"Personal to someone higher-up in DR3. Someone with enough power to hire Bruno, issue this order, and have the Charleston branch jumping to prove themselves. Bruno and his Haiti crew are in town. We know that too. However, I think they're just hired guns. We need to be looking to the DR3 leadership." Paxton laid out three photos. "Here's the leadership that we know of. This one," Paxton tapped the photo of a man who looked to be in his mid-forties. "He's the second-in-command. His name is Sardis Medina. His cousin, Fernando Medina," Paxton said, tapping another photo of an older gentleman whose eyes were dead, "is the head of DR3."

"I take it these are the three who are in the name, DR3," Kane said, glancing at the third image. "Who is that?"

"That is Fernando's son. We know very little about him since he's pretty young. The position used to be held by another cousin—a woman. But she disappeared about twenty-five years ago. The cartel was started by the three Medina cousins. Rumor is she was the brains of the operation. She had a lot set up and networked in, but she knew being a woman would make her a huge target as the face of the cartel. Fernando became the face because of his charismatic personality. And let me state, he's as charismatic as Ted Bundy was. He's a ruthless killer with no remorse or empathy, but he can put people at ease right before he executes them. Sardis is very logical. He runs the logistics of the trafficking. Basically, he runs everything in the background that makes DR3 money while Fernando makes sure no one gets out of line. The rumors are they took out their female cousin. They didn't want to share the wealth with a woman who thought she was running things."

Hunter frowned as he looked at the photos. "This just doesn't add up. Why would they care about an inventor from Charleston who created an invention no one knows about?"

"That's the key," Kane told his brother. "One of them must have a connection in Waverly's lab to know about her invention. They must want it. But who do they know and why do they want it?"

"Now that I might be able to help with," Hunter told him. "Beyond the obvious of cartels and terrorists not wanting the U.S. government to find them, here's what terrorists can do with it.

"Terrorists fight other terror groups. Cartels fight for domain with other cartels. On top of that, there must be plenty of other countries with leaders either directly in or tied to terror groups that wouldn't want the U.S. to have that invention."

Kane got it. Of course. Money. "And DR3 can sell it to them for more money than any drug deal."

"Exactly," Hunter said, leaning back in his chair. "We know the why, but we don't know the how."

"According to Waverly's contract," Kane explained, "even if she did die, the project would still go forward. It's like one roadblock after another."

"Regardless," Hunter said calmly, "we know there's a leak in Waverly's office. That's where we need to focus our attention."

Paxton nodded. "I'm getting a warrant for their financials. We'll find out who the leak is."

Kane was about to tell the guys he needed to leave when there was a knock on the door.

"Expecting someone?" Hunter asked.

"It's probably Tinsley. We're going to get dinner," Paxton told him as he stood up and started to gather his things.

Kane opened the door, getting ready to say hello when he was met with a fist to the face. Definitely not Tinsley. The attacker was DR3. The tattoos answered the question Kane didn't need to ask. Instead of going down, Kane answered with a kick to the man's gut, sending him stumbling backward into the other two men behind him.

"How did you know we wanted to have a word with you?" Kane asked menacingly as he grabbed the man by the shirt and yanked him into his house. The other two charged in, not seeing Hunter and Paxton. They thought it would be an easy three- on-one. That changed when Hunter shut and locked the door, trapping them inside.

"Welcome to the party," Hunter said as he punched one of the men in the face, sending him into Paxton's path, who grabbed him in a headlock.

Kane didn't need to worry about Paxton. He clearly had control of the man and Hunter was stalking the third man while Kane faced off with the man who had knocked at the door.

"It appears you wanted to talk to me since you came to my house. What can I do for you?" Kane asked the leader who saw his buddy fly through the air.

"You need to eat more. You're too light," Hunter told the man now lying with the wind knocked out of him on the floor.

The leader finally looked nervous as if now realizing he wasn't getting out of this. "I'm Kane Townsend," Kane said calmly. "And you are with DR3. You're also not a Medina. So, are you boys local? You can nod if you're too scared to talk." Kane knew that should piss him off enough to talk. And it worked.

"I'm not scared of you. You're an insurance agent. Do you have your own jingle?"

Yup, local. He could tell by the accent or lack thereof.

"I don't have a jingle, but I do have a riddle," Kane said with a smile. "What do you call a criminal who walks into a house with two FBI agents, although one is former, and the head of a special forces division?"

The man's lips thinned.

"It's okay, take your time. You'll get the answer soon enough. I can wait." Kane crossed his arms and waited.

Paxton got tired of holding the man in a headlock and went ahead and squeezed enough for him to pass out. Paxton dropped the man on the ground with a thud. "I have a date, so I'll answer for him. You call him a dumbass who is under arrest."

Paxton called Peter to arrange transport as Kane and the leader kept their stare-off going. "Agent," Kane said to Paxton. "Why don't you take the two people already under arrest outside."

Paxton looked between Hunter, Kane, and the leader, who was the only one still standing, and nodded. "Yup, here comes Granger with his cruiser for transport. Watch this one while I take out the trash."

Paxton stepped over the man who was unconscious and grabbed the one Hunter had tossed. He began to read him his rights as he marched him out the door.

"Now that we have some privacy without the FBI agent here to protect you," Kane said, flexing his hand and balling it into a fist. It distracted the gangbanger enough that he didn't see Hunter behind him. With two quick punches to the kidneys, Hunter had the man gasping before Kane grabbed him by the throat. "One squeeze and I'll collapse your larynx and let you choke on it. Blink twice if you understand."

The man blinked twice. Hunter pulled a knife and placed it against the man's back. He gave him a little poke so he knew it was there.

"Which Medina leader gave you the order to come after Waverly and me?" Kane asked. "Blink once for Sardis, twice for Fernando, and three times for his son."

The man didn't blink. Interesting.

"Close your eyes for three seconds if someone else gave the order."

The man closed his eyes.

"Who?" Kane demanded, loosening his fingers just enough for the man to start coughing.

"I don't know."

Kane squeezed and he choked again. "Want to try again?"

"I don't know. Honest."

"Where's Bruno?" Kane asked, knowing he wasn't going to get more on who ordered the hit.

The man smiled and fear filled Kane. Kane shoved him back and Hunter caught him. In seconds, he was unconscious on the floor from Hunter's headlock. "Waverly is in danger," Kane called out as he was already running to his car.

"Then that means Maggie is too," Hunter raced out after Kane as Granger and Paxton came running toward the house.

"Two men inside, going to check on the weapons class."

"Kane," Granger called out. "There's been an attack at the church, but everyone is safe. Kord and Tristan are there. We'll take care of this here. Go."

Kane didn't need permission. He and Hunter were already getting in the car. They didn't speak as Kane sped the short distance to town. Millions of scenarios raced through his head. One that didn't run through his head was Gator and Skeeter carrying a man hogtied on a spit down the sidewalk.

Kane barely got the car in park before he and Hunter were jumping out and racing toward their women.

"Kane!" Waverly met him halfway. He nearly died when he saw the blood stains on her face and clothes.

"Are you hurt? Where are you bleeding from?" Kane was running his hands down her torso to find the wound, but she was shaking her head.

"Not me. It was the guy who was holding me—Jesus. He was one of Bruno's men. But Tristan and Maggie shot him."

"Thank you," Kane said, holding Waverly to him but Maggie didn't hear him. She was wrapped up in Hunter's arms.

"You're welcome." Tristan stood off to the side grinning. "Granger said you got a surprise visit too."

Waverly pushed back and now it was her turn to examine him. "Your face!"

"Is fine. See, here comes Granger and Paxton with the guys from my house."

Granger slowed to a stop and rolled down his window. "Tristan, did you get everything wrapped up here?" His eyes dropped to the dead guy. "Was that you or Maggie? Please tell me just you."

"Sure thing. Just me. I was holding two guns."

Granger let out a sigh but didn't ask any more questions about the dead guy. "What do you know?"

"These are Bruno's men. The three that survived are being moved to the basement cells."

Granger smirked then. "Great place for them. How do you boys feel about ghosts?" Granger chuckled and rolled up his window before driving to the station.

"Did Bruno's men come after you too?" Waverly asked.

"No, DR3. We know they're working with someone in your office. We just don't know who yet. They're not trying to prevent your invention. They're going to steal it and sell it to the bad guys."

He saw Waverly's mind shift into gear. "That still won't work. It doesn't die with me. They'd have to take out all of Charleston Research and all the electronic records."

"Unless it's someone in Charleston Research who could make that happen for them," Kane pointed out. "We'll know soon enough. Paxton is getting warrants for your co-workers' financials. But right now, I just want to get you home."

Waverly smiled against his chest as he hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Kane. I was so worried about you."

"Nothing would stop me from getting to you. You're my heart." Kane hugged her once more before linking his fingers with hers and turning to his friends and family. "Thank you for protecting Waverly."

"You're a good boy," Miss Ruby said, patting his cheek. "We're happy to help."

"Get your sweetie home and we'll stop by tomorrow with a little something for you both," Miss Winnie told them as she squeezed Waverly's hand.

"It might be worth getting attacked more often if we get food," Waverly whispered, and Kane knew then she was okay. She might be upset, but this was a world away from the island. She was stronger now. "Give me a second."

Kane let go of Waverly's hand and watched her go hug Maggie and Tristan. He saw that while Maggie was smiling and seemed at ease, Hunter wasn't letting go of his wife. The desire to reach out and take Waverly into his arms and hold her to him for the rest of his life was almost overwhelming. He didn't though. He let Waverly be Waverly. He watched as she thanked everyone, apologized for bringing trouble to town, and then she turned to him and smiled. His whole world righted when she placed her hand back in his. Kane felt whole.

"Let's go home," Waverly whispered. Home . His home was Waverly.

Kane's chest swelled with happiness. He'd always liked being on his own, but now he couldn't imagine his life without Waverly in it.