Page 735 of Filthy Elites

“You’re not going to believe this.” Xander gave Cade the quick version of the story before Cade hung up to make some calls.

Xander reached over and squeezed Kelsey’s hand. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but everything will be okay.”

Kelsey was trying to hold it together. She had to in order to save Adrian. There was no way they were going through all of this for them to fail. “We need to make sure it is.”

* * *

They hadto break the car window to get the ethics book from the floor behind the driver’s seat. Kelsey had flipped through the book twice to find the small tab tucked between the pages. She took a photo of the numbers with Adrian’s phone and sent them off to Dominic to check out.

Xander insisted on driving back and Kelsey was actually relieved. He drove faster than she did and was better at weaving in between cars.

Xander glanced over at her. “This ride is sweet.” He winced when she glared at him. “Sorry. Bad timing.”

They pulled into the parking lot next to the playground and Xander grinned. “I told you my boys would come through.”

Kelsey gaped. There were at least ten football players huddled in a circle waiting for them to arrive. “Why would they help us? Why are you helping?”

Xander shook his head. “You and Adrian are our friends. We help our friends. We may not know you that well, but you’re one of us. You could have made our community service horrible, but it’s turned out to be a great assignment that we’re all going to continue. You have made it fun. We like coming to work. Dr. Hogan is great, and Adrian has become one of us. We have the protection of the football team. Now come on, we have your boy to save.”

* * *

Kelsey hadtwo minutes left before the deadline and she was once again shaking like a leaf. Her legs felt like jelly, her stomach was queasy, and her head was throbbing. She just might ruin all their plans by throwing up on Greg or Graham, depending on which jerk grabbed her first.

There was still no sign of Grant, so they were forced to enact their crazy plan. A couple of the players were going to sneak in from the back by the dog kennels. Three others would come in through the reception area and a few from the cat wing.

She had a key to the front door of the building, but they would have to break into the back wings. Xander assured Kelsey that locks would not be an issue for his team.

Kelsey would return to the break room through the back door alone, but one of the guys would be just outside the door to rush in if necessary.

As soon as she entered the building, Alec Sanchez would signal for Cade and Hunter to enter the front and make their way through the lobby and past the exam rooms.

Once they were in without incident, Xander and Ian Murray would start to rile up the dogs. The plan was to split up the brothers and take them out separately.

Kelsey took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.

“It’s about damn time!” Greg bellowed.

Kelsey rushed over to Adrian’s side. He was lying on the floor in front of the counter. The towel was soaked through, and Adrian’s complexion was way paler than it had been. “How are you doing?”

Adrian scowled at her. ‘Why’d you come back?”

Graham yanked her up by the arm. “Where is it?”

Kelsey pulled away and forced herself to be brave. She glared at him. “Let Adrian go. He needs a hospital.”

“Where the fuck is it?”

“It’s close by. Do you think I’m that stupid to bring it inside with me? I’ve read all the books with scenes like this. You never bring the item with you. What would stop you from killing us?”

Adrian’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. He couldn’t believe Kelsey was standing up to them like that. She was going to get herself shot. “Babe.”

Graham grabbed her arm and began to shake her. “You’re going to get it right this fuckin second.”

Right on cue, all the dogs began to bark and jump around.

Graham turned to glare at the kennel hallway. He motioned to Greg. “Check it out.”

Kelsey focused on Adrian and kept her eyes off Graham.

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