Page 36 of Casey's Hero

Mina handed Jacob’s twenties back to him. “Nothing. I feel bad about your friend.”

“Really. You should let me give you something for your time,” Casey said.

“If you like what I do, spread the word. I always have room on my schedule for walk-ins and new clients.” She smiled and walked with them to the door.

“I’ll take a business card if you don’t mind,” Casey said, snagging one from the counter.

“Here, let me writemi abuela’saddress on the back.” Using a pen from a cup near the register, she wrote down the address and handed the card to Casey.

Casey slipped it into her purse and grabbed one of her own cards to give to Mina. “If you think of anything else, give me a call at this number. And thanks again for the information and the beautiful hairstyle.”

Mina hugged Casey. “I hope you find him in time to get him to his wedding.”

“We will,” Jacob said, his jaw hardening.

Casey nodded. “Damn right, we will.” She prayed she was right. It was bad enough to be kidnapped, but to be taken by a brutal Mexican drug cartel didn’t bode well for Hawk.

All the more reason to get to Kauai and start their search in earnest.

Somehow, Casey didn’t think Jacob would let her go with him on that particular information-gathering mission.

She’d have to figure out how to do it and make him think it was his idea.

Jacob drove backto Casey’s apartment, deep in thought. They had so little to go on that he was beginning to feel desperate. The longer Hawk was missing, the more likely he was to be hurt or killed.

As soon as they arrived in the apartment complex's parking lot, he jumped down and hurried around to the other side of the truck.

Casey was already on the ground, shutting the door behind her.

Without saying a word, he took her hand as he walked into the building and up to her apartment. She felt comfortable beside him. They didn’t need to talk when they didn’t have much more to go on. Hopefully, Hank and Swede had come up with more information about the cartel. Surely, their contacts withthe FBI, DEA and ATF would have given them some idea of where to begin their search.

Jacob heard the low hum of male voices before they even opened the door. He glanced at Casey. “I think you have more company.”

Her eyes widened, and her face brightened. “Do you think they found Hawk?” She shoved open the door and stared at the men gathered in the small space.

“Who are all these people?” she asked.

Jacob grinned. “Hawk’s team.” He cupped her elbow and ushered her in, whispering into her ear, “You might remember them from the Big Wave last night.”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink.

“Rooster, there you are.” Rex detached from the others and crossed the short distance to the door. “We heard. And came.” His brow dipped low. “I can’t believe it. Kidnapped. Who does a thing like that to a man about to get married?”

“A nut job,” Jacob said. He gripped Rex’s hand and pulled him into a hug. “Glad you came.”

“Hank put out the word, and we all came,” Levi said. “On the eve of Hawk’s wedding—it just isn’t right.”

“That’s right. You should have called us this morning. We could’ve been helping,” Teller said.

“Well, we’re here now.” Logan crossed his arms over his chest, looking like the conquering warrior he was. “Let’s find our groom.”

Hank pushed his way through the men, Kalea following behind him. “We got info from Swede’s contact with the DEA. They have a fairly recent location where the cartel has holed up. Their source says they might be getting ready to move again. We need to make our move tonight. They have sentries on all entrances into the compound and out further along the roadleading in.” Hank’s face split in a grin. “The good news is…it’s on the coast.”

A whoop went up from all the men gathered.

Jacob couldn’t help his own grin. “That is good news.”

“Why is everybody smiling?” Casey asked. “What does that mean?”

---