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“To the safe house,” Cain said.
“Where?” Sean insisted.
Cain sighed. “Santiago.”
Suddenly, he understood. “Lann’s home?”
“It’s the nearest base where Asia and her family are safe.”
“She needs medical fucking attention.”
“She’s got it,” Cain said, unfazed by his anger.
What should’ve taken six hours only took forty-five minutes. They’d covered roughly three thousand miles. Maybe Bono was flying their craft after all. At this speed, he could’ve made it to Santiago with Asia and back to Colombia to fetch them.
Sean was sick to his stomach when the helijet touched down on a private airstrip next to a hangar. He gasped for air and tried his best not to vomit.
Maya chuckled. “You’ll get used to it.”
He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth. He had no intention of ever getting into one of these flying machines again.
Everyone exited, except for Clelia and Joss.
“What about them?” he asked Cain.
“They’re heading back to Colombia to take care of our unfinished business.”
That could only mean taking out the rest of Juan’s operation.
“Give Laudren a kiss,” Clelia said with longing in her eyes.
Joss kissed the crown of her head.
Cain patted her hand. “You’ll be back in no time.”
An SUV waited inside the hangar. Lann drove them to an old part of the city, pulled into an arched gateway, and parked in front of a building resembling a monastery or a cloister. Sean noted the cameras. At the main entrance, Lann punched in a code that opened a metal door. An armed guard stood aside for them to enter. The minute the door clicked shut, Tim rushed into the room. He scanned the small group until his gaze found Maya. In two strides, he was in front of her, enveloping her in his arms. He kissed her neck and inhaled deeply, as if he meant to memorize her scent.
A vein pulsed in Tim’s temple when he pulled away. “Cain said you fought Armelle.” He gave her a concerned once-over.
“Piece of cake,” she said. “Sean helped.”
Tim let go of Maya to shake Sean’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Sean dropped Tim’s hand. He’d never met a dhampir, but he was wary of them in general. They loved blood a little too much for his liking.
“How’s everyone?” Tim asked.
“All fine, as you can see,” Cain said.
“In that case, we’ll see you at dinner.” Putting his arm around Maya, Tim led her away.
“Welcome to my home and our base,” Lann said. “I’m sure you’re anxious to see Asia.”
Hell, yes.
Sean, Lann, and Cain went through an empty reception hall and down a long, open corridor with an arched ceiling and decorative pillars. The building was constructed around a central garden with a statue as the focal point. They entered through a hallway door into another square, one with a pool. Kat sat on a blanket in a shady patch with a toddler playing next to her and a baby in her lap.
Joy transformed her features when she looked up. The toddler, a boy of about two, pushed to his feet and straightened clumsily before running to them on chubby legs. Lann went down onto one knee and stretched out his arms. A rare grin broke out over his face as he wrapped his arms around his son and hugged him tightly.
“How’s Daddy’s big boy?” He got up and twirled Thomas, inviting a gurgling bout of laughter. “Were you the man of the house? Did you take good care of Mommy?”
“He’s too young to put such responsibility on his shoulders,” Kat said, her smile radiant as she bounced Laudren in her lap.
At the sound of her voice, Lann froze. He slowly lowered Thomas to the ground. The boy folded his hand around his father’s finger, walking beside Lann to Kat. Lann seemed to see nothing but her. He stopped in front of his wife and simply stared for a couple of seconds. In the silence during which the couple locked eyes, Sean felt their emotions as if they were tangible.
Crouching down, Lann took the baby from her lap. “There you are, Laudren, you strong little man.” He kissed Kat’s cheek and offered her a hand to pull her to her feet. “Krasavitsa.” There was raw emotion in that one word. “How were they? Not too difficult?”
Sean presumed he referred to the children.
“Not at all. Laudren cut a tooth, and Tommy tried to feed him a carrot.”
With the baby on his hip and his son holding his hand, Lann leaned forward and claimed his wife’s lips. He either forgot they had an audience, or he didn’t care. He kissed her like a starving man.
Sean couldn’t watch any more. The affection they showed each other taunted him. He needed his woman.
Cain smiled next to him. “I think I know what you need. Follow me.”
They left the group behind and took a flight of stairs to the first floor. A long balcony with a wooden floor overlooked a beautifully manicured garden with a fountain and a church dominated by a clock tower.
