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Her head snapped up at the sound of Marx’s voice. Her heart turned to a block of ice in her chest. Unable to help it, her eyes darted back to Josh’s pleading with him not to rip away the only thing she had left. He didn’t look at her. He wouldn’t even glance her way. Trembling, she let her attention drift back to his front pocket, knowing the key still sat hidden inside.
It took everything she had not to scramble away or beg when Marx crossed the room, approaching her in quick, even strides. He moved with surprising agility and speed for a man of his size. Steely gaze darting between them, Josh quickly backed out of his way.
“I’m going to miss our playtime, Taylor. Especially since my pet is no longer with us. Shame given how much I’m sure the two of you wanted to see each other again, but it’s almost time to take you to your new home.” the commander informed her, his tone almost sing-song in its amusement. “But before you go, I’m going to let the boys say their goodbyes.”
~*~*~*~
His chances of finding her again were growing smaller by the day, but he refused to give up. He refused to believe their story was over before it ever had the chance to begin. There were too many chapters left unwritten. The pain hadn’t lessened any. It was still a raw, festering wound that kept him up at night. He tried to keep himself distracted during the few hours when he was home by clearing out the guestroom and preparing the nursery. Most of his time was spent with the likes of Vincent and Jackson, scouring every inch of Arizona in search of Marx or his men. He outlined and plotted, focusing on what he would do when he finally had revenge.
That much was inevitable. Marx knew the war was coming. That was why the coward had chosen to hide.
Blowing out a deep breath, Sebastian straightened the cemetery wreath and stood to leave when a man’s voice stopped him in his tracks. Turning, he paused to peer over his shoulder. Gavin Bradshaw stood a few feet away, that odd combination of sorrow and fear he’d witnessed at the funeral still ravaging the man’s face.
Sebastian snarled beneath his breath. The guy truly did have some nerve. He was fortunate, very fortunate, that he had bigger scores to settle. At least for now.
“If I were you, I would get the hell away from me,” Sebastian warned, his voice coming in a menacing growl.
“Excuse me?”
His hand shifted to the gun holstered against his thigh. “I won’t repeat myself again.”
“Easy,” the man coaxed, raising his hands. “It’s been a rough few weeks for all of us.”
His eyes widened as he stared back at Gavin in utter disbelief. “Us? I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but there is no us. I just put my fiancée in the ground. You were a mere breath away from causing that yourself when you sabotaged her car. Consider yourself fortunate this is her resting place. It’s the only thing keeping me from shooting you on sight.”
“I just…”
“You have five seconds. Start walking or I will blow a goddamn tunnel through your face.”
“Taylor was my daughter, Sebastian.”
He tried to hold himself together, but the last few weeks had been too much. Unable to help it, a crazed laugh escaped him as Sebastian dropped his chin to his chest. His shoulders quaking, he shook his head. “Why does that not surprise me?” All traces of humor evaporated from his face as he lifted his piercing stare, trapping the other man. “What is it with you people, anyway? It’s not enough to abandon her or repeatedly stick a knife in her back? You had to try and kill her too?”
“I didn’t know that was her car. If I had, I swear to Christ, I never would have touched the damn thing. I didn’t know you were together.”
His smile was cold and terse. “If you had been any sort of a father to her at all, you would have. I’m finished having this conversation.”
“Wait. I need to explain.”
“No, you don’t. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Just looking at you is making me sick.”
“I’ve spent the last decade of my life protecting Patrick James and assuring Blue didn’t fall into the wrong hands. You know how vital that program is. You’ve seen the damage, the madness and the greed it’s caused. When my contractors told me someone was trying to locate him, I didn’t ask for reasons. I didn’t ask for names. My only objective was to prevent that from happening. I had to eliminate the threat.”
“Your daughter wasn’t a part of that equation!”
Gavin winced, flinching from the ferocity in his yell. “She wasn’t in it at all, he agreed. They wanted your death to look like an accident. I had plates, vehicle makes, and a list of places you liked to frequent. I had a job to do and I never once imagined any of it would tie back to my daughter. I didn’t even know about your relationship until a few weeks later.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face, his eyes still wide and bewildered. He was too damn exhausted to care about the man’s explanations or excuses. “Is this confession supposed to make me feel better somehow? Am I supposed to be grateful that you were only trying to kill me?”
“Elaine…her mother…”
“I know who she is,” Sebastian snapped, his patience gone.
“She told me Taylor was expecting and how happy the two of you seemed. She also told me you were the one who was searching for Patrick and why it was so vital that you find him. I’ve been friends with him my entire life. Yes, I walked out on my family, but I had my reasons. I’ve always tried to protect them, Sebastian. I severed all forms of communication with them years ago, praying that would keep them from getting pulled into this. I knew where this mess was heading way back when the entire concept of Blue was nothing more than a dream your boss had conjured. I was a shitty husband and a shitty father. I can admit that. I chose safeguarding my friend and my country over my family, but I did my best to keep my loved ones out of this. I tried my damnedest, but I still failed miserably.”
Something in the man’s voice forced Sebastian to lower his gaze as well as his gun. Maybe it was shame. He knew the feeling of failure all too well. “What do you want from me?” he asked quietly. “Is it money, an apology, what?”
“No. God no. These blackouts and bombings, the communities of people going missing…this is Blue at work, isn’t it?”
“Not so much Blue as it is Marx. He’s utilizing the program and blackmailing his men. I’m sure my life has served as a prime example of what will happen if they turn on him.”
“Is my daughter really dead? Is that really her in the ground? I need to know.”
The man’s voice thickened and broke. Sebastian closed himself off from the pain. His jaw tensed as he deliberated his next words carefully. “I have no way of knowing for certain. The remains were already cremated and the heat process destroys all viable DNA.”
“But?” her father asked, a tinge of hope affecting his voice.
“My heart tells me a different story. There is a chance Taylor is still alive. I believe Marx has her hidden somewhere. I’ve been searching. Unfortunately, I don’t have any leverage to use against him, and if I kill him, I lose the only thing I have leading me to her location.”
Gavin nodded. His Adam’s apple bobbed with his swallow. “I understand you were planning a trip to Hawaii.”
“It’s been postponed.”
“I’ll save you the trouble,” Gavin said, stepping forward to press a small scrap of paper into Sebastian’s hand. “These are the codes and specs you’ll need. If you can find a way to access the system, you’ll be able to shut most of Blue down. There’s your leverage. I’ll find Patrick. He’s the only one who can destroy the rest. If you cooperate, the government will give you all the help you need. You have my word. I want justice, Agent Baas. Find my daughter and make that sick fuck that has her pay.”
~*~*~*~
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but when Taylor woke up, the agony branching through her body had lessened. A faint smile curved her lips as she saw Sebastian’s face looming above her in the shadows. There was such l
ove and relief in his pale green eyes, and he reached for her, brushing the sweaty clumps of hair away from her face.
“Sebby,” she whispered, trying to muster the strength to lift her arm. She needed to touch him, to feel his skin beneath her fingertips once again. She ached to run her fingers through his curls or trace the deep, chasm-like dimples framing his face.
