Page 38 of Redeeming Violet

Jaxon

“What the fuck did you say? That motherfucker farmed my sister out?” Declan seethed.

Zane had just told him that Ortega had put Violet out for bid and apparently there had been a buyer eager to take possession.

“I’m gonna gut that cocksucker,” he went on.

“You have any idea why he has a hard-on for you?” Jasmin asked. She looked a little pale and I wondered if she was coming down with the flu.

Declan leaned back in his chair and rolled his neck. He glanced at Violet before he looked away and started. “Five years ago my team got a lock on Ortega. We tracked him into Brazil. When we breached, there was a woman and young boy strapped with explosives. We told them to stop, but they didn’t and continued to approach. In the end we had no choice but to take them out.”

“Who was the woman and child?” Violet asked.

“His wife and son,” Declan confirmed what the rest of us already knew. Men like Ortega are cowards; they hide behind others.

“You made the shot,” I guessed.

“Yes.” Now we understood Ortega’s motives, revenge. He wanted Declan to suffer the way he had over the years and he wanted to use Violet to do it.

“Fuck,” Zane said at the same time Eric whistled.

“Where are Tex and Garett with tracking him?” I asked.

“He’s gone to ground. Last known whereabouts is Duque de Caxias, Brazil,” Zane answered.

“Then that’s where I start hunting,” Declan said.

“Wait. Is that a good idea? You going alone? I mean, I’ve heard the saying - one is none. You need backup,” Violet said.

A man that had Declan’s training would have no problem tracking Ortega on his own, but Violet was right, it was better to have backup.

“I’ll go with him,” I offered.

As much as I didn’t want to leave Violet, I knew she’d be protected and I’d like the pleasure of putting Ortega down.

“Eric will head down with you. Jasmin and Linc and Leo and Olivia can rotate shifts watching Violet,” Zane said.

Violet’s hand had tightened on mine and her body had gone stiff.

“You’ll be safe,” I assured her.

“I…um… don’t think it’s a good idea if Leo and Olivia come here. I’m not Leo’s favorite person,” she stammered.

“Leo would never let anything happen to you,” I told her.

“His bark is louder than his bite,” Jasmin added.

“Why does everyone keep telling me that?” she huffed in annoyance. “I’ve read his service file; that’s not true.”

I briefly wondered if she’d read my file as well and if she had what she thought of me. My time in the service and as a private mercenary wasn’t exactly squeaky clean. If she was able to find information on our government contracts, she’d know the places we’d been and the targets we’d taken out. I was proud of the work we did. None of us had ever taken a life that hadn’t needed to be taken, but on paper I’m sure my number of kills looked bad.

“You only have to worry about Leo if you’re an unfriendly.” Zane’s cocky grin was back, and his brow had lifted. “Are you an unfriendly Loose Lips or have we learned our lesson about working with terrorists?”

Before I had a chance to tell Zane to shut his mouth, a low sound vibrated from Declan.

“Not sure I like your tone, Lewis,” he said.

“Oh good, were back to the dick measuring,” Eric chuckled. “Maybe I can get some refreshments before you pull your cocks out.”