69. Kade

69

Kade

H arry clings to me like he's afraid something else might happen, which is a legitimate concern. The SUV is being loaded on to a recovery truck. It's a mess after the rear-end collision and being t-boned from the side. Definitely not drivable.

While Mario and Zed showed up not long after our attackers disappeared, they were too late to chase the attackers. The cops closed the immediate area and it was impossible to get out.

If Harry hadn't been there, I would have gone after them the minute they dragged Tessa and Chloe into their car, but I couldn't leave him. The poor kid is traumatized. Fuck knows how he'll recover from this.

There's blood all over his school uniform and he's not said a word since his mom and sister were taken away.

"Come on, kiddo, let's get you cleaned up."

He lets me remove his blood-stained clothes and put him in the shower. Once he's dressed in clean PJs, Buttons trails after us and sits with him when I pop him on the sofa. She climbs on to his lap and he strokes her head while staring at the TV.

"Are Mommy and Chloe coming home?" he asks eventually, lip wobbling. No tears fall though. He's holding it all back, which isn't healthy at all. He reminds me of myself at that age.

By the time I was 5, I'd learned not to cry. Crying was pointless. It made no difference if I cried. My mom didn't give a shit and me crying only riled her up even more.

"I'll bring them home," I tell him while praying to every deity in the universe that nothing bad happens to them in the meantime.

"I thought you had everything under control!" Alberto rages when I finally call him.

He's right, it is my fault. I knew it was risky leaving the house after the woman at the daycare tried to take Chloe, but I stupidly thought I could handle any other threat that came our way.

"You need to find them, Kade."

"I intend to once I take Harry to a safe place."

"I'm flying back this evening. I'll be in touch once I land." He hangs up and I make the call I've been dreading the most.

Madden picks up after two rings. "The instruction manual for the coffee machine is in the drawer next to the pantry."

"That's not why I'm calling."

"Please tell me nothing else has happened?"

"I took Tessa and the kids for ice cream after school. The car was totaled on the way back here. Armed men attacked us. I shot two of them, but they took Tessa and Chloe."

He swears loudly, and I hear something break in the background before he comes back on the line.

"We'll catch the red eye back this evening."

"What about Jewel Silver and her contract?"

"That woman can go fuck herself with a cactus," he spits.

Under different circumstances, I'd laugh, but not tonight. I'm not sure I'll ever have a reason to laugh again.

"I'm taking Harry and Buttons to Tessa's friend's house. One of her partners is a fed. They can keep Harry safe while we find Tessa and Chloe."

"OK, I'll call you when we get back." There's a pause, then he adds, "Whoever's taken them dies."

"Bitch! Where the fuck have you been? I've messaged you like a million times and you've fucking ghosted me!"

"Stella, this is Kade."

"Kade? Why are you calling on Tessa's phone? Is she OK?" I hear a man in the background asking her what's going on.

"Look, I'll cut to the chase. The car was attacked and Tessa and Chloe were taken--" There's a yell down the phone. I pull the phone from my ear and curse.

Harry sits on the floor with Buttons, watching some inane kid's program. He doesn't chastise me for swearing. He doesn't even look up. The kid has been in a catatonic state since we got back. Frankly, I'm worried about him but he won't talk to me.

"I thought you guys were supposed to be protecting her, you fucking asshole!"

"Madden and Cin weren't there. They had to fly to New York." Fuck, I knew she'd eviscerate me, but we don't have time for the blame game right now. The sooner Harry is safe with them, the sooner I can start searching for Tessa.

Stella is still yelling insults at me when I tune back in.

I swallow my irritation. She's upset. I get it.

"Stella, listen! I need your help!"

"Damn right you do!" she snarls. There's a scuffle, some feminine cursing, and then a man speaks.

"Hey, Quinn here. What do you need? Tell me and I'll make it happen."

Thank fuck the banshee has gone. Jesus fucking Christ. How those guys deal with her, I have no fucking clue.

"I need you to look after Harry and Buttons. He's not safe here - we still don't know why Tessa and Chloe have been targeted. Nothing adds up right now, but I can't search for her if I have Harry."

"Bring him here. We'll take care of him until Tessa and Chloe are found."

Some of the tension I've been carrying leaves and I sigh with relief. I wasn't altogether sure they would take Harry but I don't trust anyone in Alberto's house to have him. Not while Dante is there.

There's a chance that me taking Harry to Stella's place might put them at risk, too. But I suspect Harry was never the primary target. Whoever has gone after Tessa wanted Chloe. The fact the daycare worker already tried once to take her points to that being the case.

Quinn gives me their address and we leave 30 minutes later.