AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Absolutely,” he said. “You get to choose where we go.”
She leaned her cheek against his chest. “You’re on.”
“Now, I need to work with my team to come up with a plan. Tonight’s mission needs to net information we can use to find Meredith. I don’t want to wait much longer for that date. Life’s short; we need to seize the day, grab all the happiness we can and hold on tight.”
“You’re right.” Kiana wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. “We can’t undo the past. Nor should we dwell on it and miss out on embracing the present.”
He chuckled and crushed her to him. “I like embracing the present. I plan on doing a lot more of that.”
Dev stood for a long moment, loving the way Kiana’s arms felt around him. He wanted to get to know her more and to spend time with her when they weren’t worried about a friend. To do that, they had to find her friend first.
Not long after Swede’s revelation, Rex arrived with Lacy and her baby.
Lacy fell into Silas’s arms as soon as she stepped through the door into the back office.
He held her with the baby pressed between them while she told him how she’d packed only enough to get by and not raise suspicion.
Lacy carried a diaper bag with enough diapers for a few days and formula for the same timeframe. She’d stuffed a few items of clothing and toiletries into a backpack, pulled a baseball cap over her hair and met Rex in the driveway when he’d pulled up.
“I didn’t know this man named Rex, but the way you sounded on the phone...” She hugged Silas. “I knew I had to go. Rex was kind enough to fit the car seat into his back seat. I pretended we were going to visit friends on the north shore and climbed in like we were old friends.” She laughed. “Thankfully, Rex wasn’t an axe murderer and did what he said he was going to do, and that was to bring me to you.”
Rex chuckled. “She told me she had a knife tucked into her boot and could slit my throat in two seconds flat if I hurt you, her or the baby. I think I was more afraid of her than she was of me.”
“I would have cut him,” Lacy said, her jaw tight. “I’d cut anyone who hurt my family.”
“I know, babe.” Silas looked over the top of her head toward Dev. “When will you get them off the island?”
“As soon as my reinforcements arrive,” Dev said. “They should be here in the next hour or two.”
Silas shook his head. “I feel like we’re sitting ducks. What if Rocko gets wind of my defection before you get Lacy and the baby off the island?”
“We’ll be okay,” Lacy assured him. “Rex promised to take care of us. He’s Delta Force. Did you know that?”
Silas smiled down at Lacy. “Yes, I knew that. And if he said he’ll take care of you, I’m sure he’ll do his best. But you know how many guys are in the Demons and how it’s not just the gang watching. There are eyes and ears all over this city. I won’t feel like you two are safe until you’re off Oahu and on your way to the mainland.”
Dev’s cell phone dinged with an incoming text. “Our reinforcements are at the airport now. We’re to meet them there. It will be harder for any of the Demons to sneak up on us there while we lay out our plans.” He nodded to the Lacy. “My boss has the plane waiting on standby to take you off the island.”
Lacy met Silas’s gaze. “Can’t you come with us?”
Silas shook his head. “I can’t. If I don’t show up, they’ll come after me and you, no matter where we go. This way, I show up, and everything goes down as usual while you and the baby get away to somewhere you can hide until I can join you at a future date.”
Lacy’s eyes widened. “Future date? How long will that be?” She shook her head. “I’m not leaving without you.”
“Babe.” Silas cupped her chin with a surprising amount of gentleness for a man covered in tattoos who looked like he could chew nails. “I need you two to be safe. Please. Do it for Luke. You said it yourself that you didn’t want him to end up in the gang. This is our only chance to make sure he doesn’t follow in his dad’s footsteps. I don’t want him in this mess any more than you do.”
She stared up at him for a long moment, frowning fiercely. Finally, she sighed. “Okay. I’ll go. But don’t do anything stupid and get yourself killed.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you, you big dumbass.”
He smiled. “I love you, too.” Then he kissed her.
Dev stood back, giving them a little privacy without leaving them completely alone. He still wasn’t sure he could trust Silas. The man could make a dash for freedom at any moment, and they’d miss the opportunity to find the exchange site.
“I moved the baby’s car seat into the van,” Rex said. “Ready?”
Dev glanced toward Kiana.
She nodded.
Rex, Logan and George surrounded Silas and his small family and marched them out to the black van. Once they were inside with the door closed behind them, Dev and Kiana slid into the rental car. Logan mounted Silas’s motorcycle, and they left the office building.
