Page 87 of Her Protector Daddies

Selena’s words circled around my mind and finally, with a heavy heart, I ceased my struggles. Bailey immediately pulled me into a tight hug, placing one hand on the back of my neck.

“I’m so sorry,” Bailey said huskily.

“He took my son,” I whispered hoarsely and my eyes stung. “My son.”

“I know,” Tyler said quietly. “We’ll get him back.”

“Wait—I don’t understand.” Captain Aubrey held up one hand. “What are you even supposed to tank? There’s more to this case than just the killing of your partner. Even if you got that aspect thrown out, it wouldn’t affect anything else.”

“Yes it would.” Bailey stepped away and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Think about it. The fastest way to destroy this case – other than interfering with the suspect – is for Jay to get up on that stand and confess to killing his partner.”

“I didn’t?—.”

“We know that, but that’s clearly what they want you to do. The second you do that, it makes Andrés’ connection to the gun void. Some happy accident or whatever bullshit his lawyer can spin. Get rid of that and then every other piece of evidence in that bag is called into question. Everything would crumble from there on out and nothing would stick. The only thing that would stand a chance would be…” Bailey paused and glanced over at Selena.

Her eyes widened, as sympathetic as they were. “My case.”

“Exactly. Then it would be Andrés’ word against Selena’s and while that can be strong, it’s not enough. Especially not given Jay’s connection to you.”

“A good lawyer would spin that Jay was behind your attack because you were getting close to your father,” Aubrey realized. “Tried to kill you to keep that gun from ever seeing the light of day.”

“How,” I snapped, shrugging off Tyler’s lingering touch. “How is he behind bars, and yet he still has so much fucking power over my life. After all these years, I thought—.” Emotion clogged my throat and killed my words. I ducked my head, hiding behind a few loose bangs while Dae’s screams of terror when he was taken rang in my ears.

“Because he’s a fucking piece of shit,” Bailey growled. “But this time he reached too far. He made this personal.”

“It wasn’t already personal?” Tyler remarked with a pointed glance at Selena.

“You know what I mean,” Bailey bit out. “He went after our woman and now he’s taken our kid. There’s no scenario where he walks away from this.”

His tone was clear, and I felt that conviction deep in my own heart. If Andrés somehow walked away from this, we would find him.

And kill him.

“Okay, listen. We have every available unit out looking for Dae and the car that was seen fleeing the safe house. We will find him; it’s just a matter of time.” Tyler, ever the softer soul, was filled with hope.

I knew better.

I’d seen enough over the years.

“We all know the statistics,” I murmured, finally slowing my pacing. “If I don’t get on the stand right now and confess, my son will die. I’m sorry.” I lifted my head and glanced at each of them in turn. “I can’t take that chance. I can’t. Not with my baby— I can’t— not with him?—.”

My chest constricted, like a red hot band was tightening under my arms, and a flash of iron burst over the back of my tongue. My knees wobbled, and my next breath was just a ragged gasp. Bailey was by my side in a flash, helping me down into a nearby plastic chair.

“Jay, you’ve got to breathe, okay? I’ve got you, man. I’ve got you.” His hands were ice against my boiling neck as he loosened my tie, and any lingering aches from the beating I received faded into nothing as the all-consuming terror of losing my child washed over me.

Case be damned, I would do anything to get him back.

“I have to,” I gasped, gripping Bailey’s wrist. “I have to go up there.”

“I know,” Bailey nodded. “But I swear down on everything I have, I am going to get your son back. Do you hear me? I am going to find him, and I am going to get our boy back, and then we’re going to put Andrés away for a very long time.”

“He will,” Selena murmured. “When I was taken, in the back of my mind, I knew you guys would find me. Dae knows the same. He’s a smart kid.”

“He’s all alone with them.” It made my blood run like ice.

“Then we need to buy some time,” Tyler said. “We’ve got eyes out there but we need time to find them. Captain, can you get Jay onto the docket now? I know he’s not up yet but if we get him up there now and make it look like he’s caving into the threat, that he’s going to confess, then it might buy us some time. Meanwhile, Bailey and I will find Dae.”

“How?” I gasped, still fighting for breath.

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