Page 178 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Cassidy’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t argue.

God was shocked he was letting him assume command and hadn’t tried to override his decisions or take over.

Maybe because Cassidy knew this was too personal for him and his strategies could be irrational and too loaded with emotion.

“If they’ve lost brothers and friends, it’s a gamble to think they’ll just let Xander walk after he transfers the money,” Steele said, making perfect sense.

“Exactly,” Cassidy said.

Ruxs turned from the window, Green beside him.

“Let us go get ’em.”

God met their eyes. He knew those expressions.

Ruxs and Green could get in. Maybe.

Day could too.

Steele could ghost through that place and kill all of them.

Even he could put all nine of those bastards down and sleep just fine tonight.

But that wasn’t the issue.

The issue was what happened after.

A warehouse full of dead kidnappers. No warrant. No LAPD presence. No jurisdictional authority. Captain Vega waiting for him and his men to cross the line.

God wasn’t afraid of blood. But he was afraid of prison bars closing around the men he loved.

If they went out and dispensed vigilante justice, Ruxs and Green could spend the rest of their lives in cages.

So could he. It’d mean never holding or making love to his husband again.

God stared at the screen.

Xander’s breathing had gotten worse. Free leaned subtly toward him, shoulder pressing into his, offering contact.

Curtis looked furious and too young to be in this shit.

Tech’s glasses caught the kidnapper’s boots near them, the gun in his hand.

Ruxs and Green were glaring at him, desperation burning in their faces.

Do something!

Cassidy stood near the screen, barely breathing, one hand braced on the table, the other against his chest. If God didn’t move soon, Cassidy would, and in turn, throw his life away to save Xander’s.

God needed help, and he hated that feeling. It felt like a hand gripping the back of his neck and pressing him down.

There was only one man he knew who could get his family out and make sure the problem in front of him never became a problem again.

Not police, or negotiators, or a damn SWAT team.

It was the name of a man God had promised he’d never call on unless the world gave him no other choice.

Day turned toward him slowly as if he’d felt him make the decision.