Page 64 of On The Run

I snorted at how ridiculous he sounded. “I’m a 35-year-old civil engineer with a bad knee and back pain when I stand for too long. What do you think?”

Kai shrugged. “People do crazy things when the ones they love are in danger.” His eyes flicked to where Aspen and Sage quietly watched our exchange. “Believe me, I get it.”

I knew he did. I didn’t read the whole story, but Aspen and Sage had something similar happen to them last year. The only difference was Kai was actually the real-life Liam Neeson inTaken, very much unlike me, despite my sister’s joke. He wasn’t hamstrung and forced to the sidelines when the man he loved was in danger.

“I promise I’ll stay put. I’m not going to put you guys and Aiden in any additional danger.”

Kai tilted his head in acknowledgement. He seemed locked and loaded and ready to go. He only had a handgun holstered to his side right now, but his team apparently had an entire armory with them, and he was meeting them somewhere closer to the location.

Kai essentially dismissed me and stalked over to Aspen. It was clear they were going to need some semblance of privacy, so Bronx, Sage, and I went to sit on the couch in the lounge section of the suite and allowed them to say their goodbyes.

“It will be ok,” Sage said gruffly. The words of comfort surprised me coming from him. He obviously cared if he dropped everything to come halfway across the country for a man he hadn’t seen in two years, but he’d been very standoffish with me and basically everyone but his brother. It was clear he was going through some stuff, and I would never begrudge him needing space. But still, hearing him try now meant a lot.

I forced a small smile at him, so he knew I appreciated the effort. “Thanks. I hope so.”

“If he’s there, Kai and his team will get him out. You’ll know what I mean once you get a chance to see them work, but there’s a reason they are considered the best. They’re Aiden’s best possible chance.”

“You don’t think it’s too late?” Forcing the question out of my mouth felt like swallowing glass, but I needed to know.

Sage, in that blunt, honest way he had, just shrugged. “It’s possible, but based off everything we know, he’s going to try to keep Aiden alive. There’s always a chance that he’s lost all control, but we haven’t seen that yet. For as bad of shape that Manny was in, Santino made sure to drop him off in a place where there was a slight chance he would be found still alive. He would be extra careful with Aiden, I’d think.”

That didn’t exactly make me feel better. My imagination was running wild with all sorts of torture I’d never seen outside of movies. Only, instead of some paid actor, it was Aiden as the victim, and it wasn’t a movie but real life. Even if he was alive, what kind of shape would he be in? And not just physically, but mentally as well. I wondered if he or Manny had ever been to therapy. From the little bit I’d heard, I thought not. I made a mental note to look for good therapists for both of them as soon as this was over.

Kai finally separated from Aspen and did one last double check to make sure he was ready to go. I admitted he made an impressive sight. I would be scared shitless if he were coming after me. It gave me a small thrill of pleasure imagining the fear building in Giovani Santino as he was being surrounded by Kai and his team. I hoped he pissed himself.

Kai’s phone rang just as he was about to head out. “This is Rinaldi,” he answered, a frown already present before the caller even got to speak.

“What? Where?”

I looked at the other three men in the room, and all of them seemed as confused as I was. What was going on? Aspen stared at Kai for a split second before he immediately jumped into action. Since I had no idea what half the shit he did was, I turned my focus back to Kai.

“And you’re sure it’s him?”Him?Could it be? I blindly reached for Bronx’s hand. I knew I was squeezing the fucking life out of it, but he didn’t try to get away.

“Send me a picture.”

Less than a second passed before Kai’s phone beeped. He pulled it away from his ear and tapped the screen a couple times. And then his gaze turned murderous.

“It’s him. Do not let him out of your fucking sight. We’ll be there as soon as we can. Does he need immediate medical attention?”

My stomach was in my throat. I was desperate to know who he was talking about. Every fiber in my being was screaming that Aiden had somehow been found, but I couldn’t get my hopes up yet. Not until I knew for sure.

“Ok. I’m sending you the address of a hospital. Talk to Dr. Lawrence and tell her that I sent you. She’ll be pissed but make sure he’s safe. If you have some men to spare, keep them on his door. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

Kai was quiet while the person on the other end must have been speaking. Then he took a sharp breath. “Tell him his pops is safe. It will help calm him.” He paused, and I swore for a second his gaze landed on me. “And tell him Max is here.”

There was another long pause. Holy shit, they found Aiden. My heart was pounding a thousand miles a minute. I was desperate to rip the phone out of Kai’s hand and talk to him, but I somehow refrained.

“I know. I know. I really appreciate this, Ted. I owe you one.”

Kai laughed harshly. “Oh, I know you will.”

Kai hung up and I was on my feet and in his face before he got his phone shoved back into his pocket.

“Is it him? Is it Aiden?” I needed him to say it, to hear the words, even if it was obvious.

Kai’s jaw was tight, and the rage burning in his eyes was enough to make me take a step back. I forced myself not to look away.

“It’s him,” Kai responded through gritted teeth. “Aspen, contact the team and tell them the mission has changed. This is no longer a rescue. It’s a takedown. Rivera’s in charge. Tell them to get in position and get their eyes on the fucking target but to not make a move until they hear from me. I’ve got to go to the hospital first.”

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