Kane spread the detailed map out on the large wooden table top while Rebecca made a fresh pot of coffee and their infant daughter napped quietly in the back room.
“He’s here,” he said, his deep voice rolling like thunder as he pointed to what was clearly a cabin in the photo-quality satellite map. “The place is owned by a Roger Crawford.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?” Kieran asked.
“Roger Crawford is one of the missing men from Davidson’s unit,” Shane said, shifting his weight. It was the only indication of his impatience. He pinned his eyes on Kane hopefully. “You’ve seen her?”
Kane straightened slowly and regarded his younger brother. Shane was big, but Kane dwarfed him. “Yes.”
Shane shifted his weight back to his left leg. “And?”
Rebecca appeared between them, her hand resting lightly on Kane’s lower back. His eyes softened just a little; it was her way of calming him. Kane exhaled. He would not reveal everything he had seen during his earlier recon; the last thing he needed was Shane going totally batshit and rushing in fueled purely by blind rage, which was exactly what was going to happen if Kane told him what he had seen. Lacie didn’t seem capable of moving around on her own. The few times he’d observed her out of bed yesterday, Davidson had been carrying her. Exactly why, Kane couldn’t say; either Lacie was very sick or she was being drugged. Shane wouldn’t take either possibility well.
It would have been his preference to say nothing now and spare him the grief. There would be enough time for the truth of it once they had Lacie safely in their hands. However, Rebecca’s gentle touch reminded him that it was Shane’s croie they were talking about here, and therefore, one of their own.
Shane needed something to hold on to. But what could Kane tell him that wouldn’t rip out his heart? Even Kane had to stop himself from rushing down into the cabin and retrieving her himself when he had seen how visibly weak she was. As much as he’d wanted to, he knew that it was better to wait until his brothers arrived. Davidson was an unknown, and he was staying very close to Lacie. In her current state, she wouldn’t be able to help at all. Since she didn’t appear to be in any immediate danger, the safest option was to sit tight. Given the guy’s mental instability, it was highly likely that Davidson might decide that if he couldn’t have her, then no one would.
“She was on the porch last night, watching the sunset,” he finally said, choosing his words carefully. “Davidson doesn’t leave her side for a minute.”
“Is she... did she look... okay?” Shane pressed, the need to know etched in his features; his jaw was clenched, his eyes dark and intense. His muscles were bunched so tightly the veins were clearly visible in his forearms.
Shit, Kane thought. He just wasn’t good at this kind of shit. His natural tendency was to speak the truth, however brutal it might be, but finding his own croie had tempered him somewhat. He tried to put himself in Shane’s place, imagining that Rebecca was the one being held in that cabin, but that was just too painful. Sensing his distress, Rebecca stroked his back lightly with the pads of her fingers. God, he loved her.
And Kane was going to make damn sure his younger brother got to experience the love of his croie.
“She’s holding her own.” Kane said the most positive thing he could. He felt Rebecca’s approval when she discreetly slid her hand down his back and patted him on the backside. She was the only one he would allow to get away with that, and she knew it.
Shane opened his mouth to ask more, but a glance from Kane warned him not to. Instead, he pressed his lips together and nodded.
“Right,” Kane said, anxious to move on. “We’ll move in right before dawn, when Davidson is most vulnerable. Set up positions here, here, and here.” He pointed to various points around the cabin as he spoke. “Kieran, you go in first and take care of Davidson.”
Kieran nodded; Kane ignored Shane’s bold pointed stare. “Mick, when Davidson’s secure you go in next. Based on what I could gather, he seems to be keeping Lacie in this room here.” Kane circled the rightmost back corner of the building. “We’ll have the Hummer here for immediate transport back to this location, where Rebecca will have a room set up for Lacie. Understood?”
Shane clenched his jaw so hard it was surprising that it didn’t break. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Kane pinned him with another look. “No. You hang back until I tell you otherwise.”
“That’s bullshit, Kane! Lacie’s my - ” Shane didn’t get to say another word as Kane’s large hand shot out, making contact with Shane’s chest and effectively pinning him against the wall. “I know exactly what she is to you,” he growled. “Which is why we are not going to take any chances of her getting hurt. Feel me?” He let up on the pressure, releasing Shane. “You are too close. You are not thinking clearly.”