Page 82 of Delta
“There’s no November countdown,” I tell him. Because I’ve been processing for the last couple of hours since Emma told me everything, I haven’t had the chance to tell him—or anyone—what all she said.
Mainly because I know how I want to handle it, and I didn’t want to be talked out of it. However, Tucker’s right. If I hunt them down and put them in the ground, I become what I always feared those men made me in that cage: a murderer.
And Emma deserves more than a murderer.
“What do you mean?” he questions.
“When Felicity realized they’d found Emma and brought her in, she contacted Harlow, and the two of them put together all of the paper evidence they had against Gio and Heath. The documents would have given the feds everything they needed to put them both away for good.” I take a deep breath to quell my frustration as best I can. “Harlow delivered it to a messenger service the next day—right after Felicity called you—and told them to delay delivery until November 1st.”
“Which explains why Felicity said they wouldn’t be a threat after then.”
I nod. “Only, Heath tortured Felicity before he killed her, and she gave up the messenger service to him. Those documents are gone. Harlow watched him burn them.”
Tucker groans. “There’s no digital signature? Nothing to trace?”
“Emma asked her that, and she said both Gio and Heath only do business the old-fashioned way. She said it took years of secretly photocopying stuff to build the collection they had. They didn’t keep digital copies of any of it because it was too risky.”
“Why didn’t they turn it in sooner? Why wait so long?” His tone is frustrated, his gaze dark. He’s mad too. Mad that they didn’t take into account what could happen if things went wrong.
“They wanted to be far away when the feds got the information. They’d planned on fleeing beforehand. It was foolish.”
“They’re not professionals,” Tucker says. “They were scared women who were looking for an out.”
“And their mistake may cost Emma her life.”
“It did cost Felicity hers,” he says.
“So that means it’s okay for Emma to be on the chopping block?” I snarl.
“Not at all.” Tucker leans forward and turns his body to face me. “I love Emma too. Not in the same way as you, obviously, but she’s family to me.”
“You didn’t consider the morality of it when you laid waste to that camp I was being held in.” I turn toward him, mentioning the one thing I never wanted to bring up again. “How is this any different?”
Tucker clenches his jaw. “We needed to ensure that what happened to you never happened again. To anyone.”
“Which is what I need to do. I need to know that Emma is safe, Tucker. How many more lives is this guy going to be allowed to take before we stop him? What about Alice? The baby? What if he comes here and she’s caught in the crossfire?” It’s a low blow but one that’s been on my mind right alongside the risk to Emma.
Tucker’s glare darkens further. He’s battling with it too. “Nothing is going to happen to Alice or the baby,” he growls. “As for our rescue of you, this isn’t some militia base in the middle of a third world country, Dylan. These are high-profile criminals who likely have police in their pockets. You go after them on American soil, and you’re likely to end up dead too.”
“It’s a sacrifice I’ll make for her.”
“Is that one she’d want you to make?”
“Value your life like you value mine.” Emma’s words echo in my head.
“Exactly,” he continues. “Let’s do this right. Trust the process. Trust me. I’m watching his financials like a hawk. If he so much as buys a new keychain, I’ll know.”
I take a deep breath.
Trust.
“Fine. For now.” I turn toward him. “But if things escalate much further, I can’t promise I won’t sacrifice the humanity left in me to ensure she’s safe.”
“Then I’ll be right with you, brother. At your side until the very end.”
“Emma?” I call out as I step into the house thirty minutes later. Tucker left nearly twenty minutes ago, and I’d spent the time since then unloading my truck and pondering his words. “I’ll be right with you, brother. Until the very end.”
I don’t think he realizes those words brought me back to reality more than anything else he said. Because I know he’s telling the truth. Tucker would throw his life away for me in an instant—all of my brothers would—just as I would for them.
