Page 108 of Always Been Mine

“Technology changes every day, trackers become more advanced, more difficult to trace. When was the last time those sensors were updated?” Zach asked mockingly. “Everyone who knew the location of the safe house wascareful and experienced in security, but it’s not difficult to determine the weakest link.”

“Travis, call the safe house,” Gabe said before turning back to Zach. “Why are you telling us this now?”

“Why did I give up Frank Wilkes’s name easily? It appears the bastard double-crossed me. Even if he killed Porter for me, what good would savoring that knowledge be if I was locked away behind bars? Even for Crowe, that wouldn’t be worth it. If I get charged with treason, it’ll be the death penalty. I have nothing to lose now.”

“No one’s answering,” Travis said. “I’ve tried everyone’s cell phone numbers. Something could be jamming the signal.”

“They’re probably all dead,” Zach continued to taunt them.

“Here,” Gabe tossed Travis his secure phone. “There’s a direct line to the landline in the control room.”

“I should’ve let them rape her,” Zach continued. “Ventura had the hots for Beatrice.”

“Shut up, Jamison,” Gabe growled as unwitting images of the Colombian gang leader’s hands all over Beatrice flashed through his mind.

“He loves her spirit; he would enjoy breaking her—”

Gabe didn’t reply. It took all his self-control just to keep his hands by his sides.

“Push her to her knees, shove his cock in her mouth, spread her open and— urrk . . .”

Gabe detachedly observed the blood spurting from the C-curve he had carved across Zach’s throat. Ear to ear. He felt like he was a heat-forged sword plunged into water, hardened and tempered to become the deadly weapon he was meant to be. Rage had dissipated into a chilly regard of the bloody scene before him.

“Ah, fuck,” Travis muttered behind him.

“Funny that my regret at the moment is giving Zach what he wanted,” Gabe said tonelessly. “Did you get through?”

“The admiral arrived at the safe house. He’s injured.”

“What?”

“We need to head back. Now,” Travis said, turning and marching to the gate of the barn.

“Tell me what’s going on?” Gabe sheathed his knife into his boot.

“Zach Jamison was right; Harold Baxter knows the location of the safe house.”

“Harold Baxter—”

“—is Redrook, and my bet is Frank Wilkes is an alias he’s used to run Red Bridge since its inception. Porter has the evidence.” They exited the barn, and Gabe followed Travis’s lead into the main house, presumably to look for Viktor. “He needs to send the information to AGS for safekeeping. But to do that, he has to have Viktor’s analyst open a secure socket so Caitlin can transmit the intel.”

Viktor was walking out with another guy who was dressed in fatigues. This must be the Special Op guy Viktor was talking about. Both men looked grim and unhappy, but at least they didn’t look like they were about to kill each other.

“Our man is Harold Baxter,” Viktor said to Gabe and Travis. He made the introductions with the newcomer.

“We got confirmation from Porter as well,” Gabe said.

“So he’s okay? He went off the grid this morning,” Viktor said.

“He’s injured,” Travis announced grimly.

“What?”

“He’s got intel he needs to transmit to Tim,” Travis said. “He’s holed up in the safe house right now, but that location is blown. We need to get over there, ASAP. No telling if Baxter is going after them.”

Gabe and Travis were about to return to their vehicle when Viktor stopped them. “Hold on. If Baxter’s after them, you’ll need backup. And you need to get there quickly.”

“You’re not saying—” Gabe started.

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