Cobra began clapping slowly. “Good for you, Jeremy. You traded your patch for pussy. It’s clear you’ve served your purpose, now get the fuck out of here.”
My hands shook with rage. I wanted to watch him struggle for air as I choked the life out of him.
“Hey, Jarvis,” I growled. “I’m gonna take pleasure in retrievin’ your colors before sendin’ you to the Reaper.”
He nodded. “Yeah, we’ll see about that. I’m not liking your chances, Pres.”
When the door rolled shut behind him, I shifted to face Cobra, tucking my daughter behind my body. I didn’t have much left in me, but I’d give it all to keep her safe.
“I’m not interested in your daughter, Grey. But if Saint is, you have cause to worry.”
“You didn’t know, did you?” I stroked Kate’s hair when she whimpered, mumbling strings of gibberish.
He leaned against the wall. “No. Maybe it’s his way of keeping her safe until we know who killed your son.”
Tears stung my eyes as I thought about Mikey. I’d broken so many of my promises over the years, but knowing that I’d failed him in this was almost too much to bear. I tightened my hold on Kate and fought against the urge to close my eyes.
They’d already ripped two children away from me.
I’d be damned if I let them take another.
“I’m gonna get us out of this, Katydid. I swear to you.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dakota
“Dakota, focus,” Jimmy pushed. “Keep your eyes open and use your chin to guide your head, like we talked about. You’re getting in your head and overthinking it.”
I nodded, keeping the target in focus. “Got it.”
After several more missed shots, it was clear I didn’t have it, and I released the magazine from my gun with a groan. We were running out of time, and my aim wasn’t improving.
Lauren got up from the porch swing and moved inside, leaving me alone with Jimmy and the overwhelming stench of failure. She was going to lay down. It seemed if she wasn’t sitting on the porch, staring down the driveway, then she was sleeping.
We should’ve been coming up with a plan to avenge Mike’s death. Instead, we’d all gotten lost in our own heads.
“Hey.” Jimmy patted the top of my head as if I was a small child. “You don’t give up, and that’s commendable.”
I pressed my lips together, briefly debating the pros and cons of fighting an ex-CIA agent. “Jimmy,” I said, with as much sweetness as I could muster. “Did Zane ever tell you how he got that shoulder injury of his?”
Zane looked up with an arched eyebrow at the mention of his name before going back to his laptop with a shake of his head.
Jimmy leaned down to inspect my gun. “His shoulder?” he asked distractedly. “No, I don’t think it’s ever come up.”
“Pat me on the head again, and you’ll have one just like it.”
“Did you just threaten me?” He asked, fighting a smile before looking to Zane. “You heard her, right? She just threatened me. Come here.”
I staggered backward, suddenly wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. “I didn’t mean it,” I blurted out.
Jimmy pulled me into a hug and let out a rough laugh, causing my face to bounce up and down from the vibrations. “Fuck, that’s what I like to see. You’ve got spark, Dakota, and that’s not something that can be taught. Now, reload and let’s go again.”
I frowned, following him into the barn. “You’re not going to make me sleep with the fishes?”
“No, there’s not enough water around here. You’d be found too quickly.” Jimmy unlocked the gun safe and began taking stock of what few weapons we did have.
I perched on the edge of an old sawhorse, suddenly curious. “How would you do it?”