Page 103 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

Rafe—

Once we’re all aboard, Billy and TJ untie the lines and push us off the dock, jumping on at the last second.

Bev puts the engine in reverse and backs away from the dock out into open water, then she guns it, making a wide, sweeping turn and heading across the bay toward the small waterway in the distance. Wind whips over the boat, plastering our clothing to us. We leave a large wake behind us as the boat churns through the water at full speed.

“How fast are we going?” I ask.

“Top speed is about forty miles an hour,” she shouts above the engine noise and wind. “When we get to that canal, the speed limit drops, but you probably want to sneak up on them, right?”

“Fuck that. Just get us ashore.”

“Yes, sir.”

I’ve got the map app pulled up on my phone, and soon, we’re getting close to the location.

Crash looks around at the vast farmland on the right. “Geez, there’s nothing out here, is there?”

“Nope,” Bev answers. “Not down this channel. They just started developing out this way. Not many people have bought land, though. They’re asking too much money.” Bev points at a house in the distance that becomes visible on the left. “That’s it, right there.”

It’s a modern place and must cost in the millions.

“Looks like the governor’s daughter married into money, doesn’t it?” Crash asks.

“You see any vehicles parked up by the road?” Cole asks.

“I see a damn Ninja bike,” I snap, zeroing in on a neon green one.

“If the doors are locked, we’re blasting out a window, got it?” Cole says.

I take out my 9mm and slide a round in the chamber with a click. “I’ll do it.

“Crash, Marcus, you two stay with Bev and guard the boat. You see ‘em head this way, you honk the horn to let us know. TJ and I will take the front, make sure they don’t get out to the road.”

Bev slows and comes alongside the dock, throwing the engine in reverse, and the rest of us hop off, charging toward the house. The planks bow under our pounding boots.

Cole and TJ split off and head around the side to the front.

I move straight to the glass door that leads out to the dock. It’s locked as expected. “Stand back.” I pop three blasts through the glass. It shatters and falls to the ground like sparkling diamond confetti.

I waste no time, shouldering through the opening, my gun drawn. My father, my brother, and Billy follow me in.

Easing my back to the wall, I peer around the corner into a living room. My eyes follow the open staircase to the second level, but I see no motion.

They had to have heard us coming. No one sleeps through gunshots and shattering glass.

I jerk my head, and my father and brother take up positions, weapons leveled at the stairs.

I point at Billy and myself, and he nods as I lead the way up the staircase, moving slowly and quietly. We clear the top stair and I spot a television and gaming equipment set up on a landing with leather furniture.

Billy and I ease down the hall, clearing room after room, but we find nothing. My eyes hit the bed in the guestroom, and I see zip ties looped around the bedposts at the headboard, others freshly cut and lying on the sheets.

A pit forms in my stomach.

Billy exchanges a look with me, then tugs me from the room. We backtrack to the landing and shake our heads at my father. He points to a door that must lead to the garage, and I nod, hurrying down the staircase.

I move to it and try the knob slowly. It opens, and I jump back, gun raised. It’s a large garage with high ceilings. There’s a car parked inside one of the three garage doors. I stand motionless, listening. Then hear a pounding, and I know immediately it's coming from the trunk.

My heart sinks. “She’s in the damn trunk.” I lunge to get to her, but my father jerks me back by the arm, just as Connor and his two friends dart from behind a plywood wall. Beyond it looks like a tool bench and shop area.

---