Vaughn watched all of this from the floor with growing realization.
And for the first time?—
real fear entered his eyes.
Because now he understood something terrible:
Flick wasn’t just protected by Rangers.
She was loved by one.
Huge difference.
Ava crossed her arms slowly.
“The senator’s son was supposed to disappear quietly. Instead, his death became a cartel humiliation.”
Tate frowned. “And theyblamed Blaze.”
“No,” Vaughn rasped weakly from the floor. “They feared him.”
The room went quiet again.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Trigger leaned back against the bar.
“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “that’s actually worse.”
Vaughn laughed bitterly through swollen lips.
“You think cartel men forget somebody who slaughtered twelve armed traffickers in under four minutes?”
My breath caught sharply.
I looked at Hersh instantly.
He didn’t react.
Didn’t deny it.
Oh my God.
Wolf stared at him. “Twelve?”
Hersh finally exhaled heavily.
“They had kids.”
Simple answer.
Simple horrifying answer.
Something deep inside my chest broke open completely then.
Because suddenly all those years apart rearranged themselves in my head.
