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“She’s fine, waiting for you at the house. Per your orders, I didn’t honor her request to come with me today.”
There was a strange look in his eyes, but at this point I didn’t care. Whatever had transpired had allowed me to become a free man. I tossed the orange jumpsuit, gladly returning to my tux. All I wanted was to wrap my arms around Jade. That would happen soon enough.
“Incidentally, there’s no lead on who tried to kidnap Jade,” he told me.
I fastened my trousers, my instinct telling me he’d heard something. “But you have thoughts.”
“Yeah, I do. However, it hasn’t been confirmed. We’ll talk when we’re away from prying ears.”
Nodding, I finished dressing, more than ready to leave the damn place behind. As I followed Barrett through the corridor, some of the prisoners whistled, others making threats. It was just another day at the office.
He stood beside me as I signed papers, able to retrieve my other personal effects. Then we were forced to walk through a line of officers who I expected to heckle me. When several gave me a nod of respect, I realized that Jade’s words had inspired at least a few of them.
Even if she’d lied in front of millions of people in order to save my life.
When Barrett led me out the back door to an awaiting SUV I didn’t recognize, I bristled. I was also surprised there were no reporters. He’d pulled more than a few strings to make that happen.
“What the hell is this?” I snarled, snapping my head in his direction.
“You need to trust me. Get in the back, Constantine. I’ll be in the car behind you.”
“Why?”
“Because I told you to. For once in your life, do what I say.” He tipped his head, staring me in the eyes.
I glanced at the blacked-out windows, every muscle tense. When he opened the door, I did as he asked, climbing in the back, realizing what to expect. As I turned my head, I sucked in my breath.
“Hello, Mr. Thorn. I thought the two of us should finally meet.”
As the passenger took off his glasses, I could immediately tell the resemblance. “Ryan.”
He nodded, a half-smile on his face. “It would seem I underestimated you and your associates. You did what no one up to this point has managed to do. Hunt me down.”
“Why the meeting?”
“Because there are some things you need to know, some aspects of what happened that I think you want to hear. And because for whatever reason my daughter loves you. I can’t say that I approve, but over the last twenty years, across all walks of life, I’ve come across men who are more savage than you. My daughter is formidable, refusing to back down on what she believes or what she wants.”
“She is quite a woman.”
He sighed and shifted in his seat. In his hand was a drink. He didn’t offer me one. I could tell the years had been hard on him, his hand holding the glass scarred. “As you might imagine, being here is not in my best interest. There are people looking for me.”
“They attacked Jade.”
He nodded. “I tried to keep my life away from Jade and her mother, but I should have learned a long time ago that every decision we make will haunt us for the rest of our lives.”
“Who do I need to worry about?”
“While you might imagine, I have many enemies, but from what I’d learned, there is a cartel from Colombia who is quite capable of finding her.”
“The Santiagos.”
He smiled. “You keep up with world news.”
“I make certain I pay attention to anyone who threatens me or my family.”
“Good. They will undoubtedly come again.”
“You’re no longer working for the DEA.”
