*
“The Endless Mountains,” Ian said, pulling up a map and pointing near the Pennsylvania-New York border. “Sullivan County, to be more specific.” It had taken a lot longer to narrow down the source of the text sent to Corinne’s number than he had hoped, but he had done it.
“Shit. Are you sure?”
“Positive. Can’t get an exact location, but that’s where the signal originated from.”
“That’s right in Kane’s backyard.” Unlike the others, Kane and his wife Rebecca chose to spend most of their time at the family compound high up in the mountains, and only ventured down into the valley of Pine Ridge for special occasions and brief family visits.
“Yeah, he’s on it. He’s got the whole area mapped out, knows every hunting cabin within a hundred square miles. He’s going to do some checking, see if there’s been any unusual activity.”
Shane nodded. They were closing in, he could feel it. The familiar hum resounded through his gut, preparing him for action. Soon he would have Lacie back where she belonged, and Craig Davidson would learn what it meant to beg for death.
“Something else came up, too,” Jake said, his face looking especially somber. “I got a call back on the bat phone today from Commissioner Gordon.” Shane raised his eyebrows at the reference to the direct, secure line used only for official – or “unofficial” - business. “The Commissioner was very careful about what he said, but he hinted at a couple of things.”
“What kind of things?” Kieran asked, curious. He was always up for a mission, anytime, anyplace.
“Things that might be well suited to our particular area of expertise,” Jake said slowly.
“Extraction? Recovery?”
Jake nodded. “A very specific recovery, as a matter of fact. One that involves a local boy who went missing about three years back.”
They all looked toward Jake. “Brian McCain?”
Jake’s eyes glistened.
“Jesus. Lacie was right, wasn’t she?”
“Maybe,” Jake said carefully. “Apparently there’ve been a few new developments – thanks to what Ian was able to find - but not enough to sanction official action.”
“What’s your gut telling you, Jake?” They always deferred to Jake’s instincts when considering which missions to accept. They all had them, but Jake’s were flawless. He hadn’t been wrong yet.
Jake paused for a moment, then blew out a breath. “It’s legit. God knows what we’re going to find, though. Three years is a fuck of a long time to be in hostile territory.” He looked pointedly at Shane. “Your call, man. How do you want to play this?”
Shane considered carefully before answering. Until he had Lacie safely back in his arms, he wouldn’t be worth a shit, and he needed his brothers in on this. But if he could give her her brother back, he’d do it in a heartbeat.
“Lacie’s my first priority,” he said. “Once I know she’s safe, I’m going for her brother.”
Jake nodded knowingly. “Thought you’d say that. Go on, then. Take Kier and get your ass up to Kane’s tonight. Pick up Mick on the way. The rest of us will handle the prep on this end and have everything ready to go when you get back.”
“Something you’re not telling me, Jake?” Shane said. Jake had slipped in the suggestion to pick up Michael casually enough, but Shane sensed it hadn’t been an off-handed thought. Jake met his younger brother’s eyes. Kane might have been the alpha among them, but Jake was a close second. It was an effort to hold his gaze, but this was Shane’s woman they were talking about.
Jake reached out, placing one hand on Shane’s shoulder. “Just a precaution, little brother. We don’t know exactly what we’re dealing with here, but we already know she sustained some injuries the night of the storm. I’d feel better knowing Mick was there with you.”
Shane nodded, appreciating Jake’s candor, even if he did sense there was more to it than that. This couldn’t be easy for him. The situation was too reminiscent of one Jake’s wife had been in a few years ago. Shane remembered what it had been like when they went after Taryn, the shape she’d been in by the time they got to her. She lost the son she’d been carrying, but if Michael hadn’t been there, they would have lost her, too.
Everything in Shane stilled at that moment as he felt the blood drain away in a rush, leaving him weak. What if Lacie was pregnant? They hadn’t used protection. He’d released in her several times. It was possible. Hell, it was more than possible. Jake got Taryn pregnant in one night. Ian, Mick, and Kane got their wives with child right off the bat as well, in no more than a week. The only reason Sean and Nicki didn’t have a kid right away was because Nicki had been on birth control when they’d first hooked up.
His eyes met Jake’s head on. He didn’t need his psychic sensors to tell him Jake was thinking the same thing.
Fuck.
Chapter Eighteen