“Why don’t you come and get me to find out?”
“Okay.” A rough voice suddenly commanded the line. “You’ve had long enough to trace this call.”
Matt whipped his gaze toward the phone in unison with Shane. The fucking commander. He was there.
“Commander. Man. I figured the devil would’ve taken you by now.” Shane forced a deep chuckle into his voice, even as his hands closed into trembling fists. “Don’t tell me you’re still banging this used-up excuse for a doctor.” He’d caught them once in the armory—Madison bent over a table that bore AK-47s, shrieking as she came. Nightmares had plagued him for months afterward.
“Actually”—the commander’s voice matched Shane’s—“I’m thinking about banging your young wife. Well, after both Tom and Emery get through with her, of course. Assuming there’s anything left.”
Shane leaned forward, his entire body going cold. Matt clapped him on the back, shaking his head and pointing to Shane’s temple. Yeah, right. The commander was screwing with his head. Effectively. He nodded. “You know, old man, I think it’s time I killed you.”
“Bring Matthew with you,” the commander said. “He and I have unfinished business. Oh and”—he paused—“you have thirty minutes. Or I go get closely acquainted with the babbling blonde you married. I have to say, I’m quite surprised you married a woman who cries so easily.”
The line went dead.
Oh God. Shane had known the monster his entire life—there wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do to get results. Pure evil. The devil as a father figure.
Matt sucked in air. “Ignore him. They haven’t hurt her.”
“I know.” Shane turned slowly to eye his brother, and emotion ripped through him. Matt had become his father figure, giving him the strength to fight the commander’s pull. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“Sure.”
“No.” Shane grabbed Matt’s arm. “Thank you for everything. Always. I never realized—”
Matt lifted an eyebrow. “Now isn’t a time for girly sharing, Shane.”
Shane swallowed. “Nate is right. I can’t put you and Josie in danger together. We’ll rescue her, and then I’ll take her somewhere safe.”
Matt frowned, his eyes darkening as he turned toward Shane. “We stick together. No matter what. If you say Josie is with us, then she’s with us. Period.”
Emotion heated tears behind Shane’s eyes. They’d hash it out later. He grabbed his cell phone. The commander would hurt Josie with great pleasure. “Let’s go get my wife.”
Matt pulled to a stop in front of the broad cabin. “Good plan. We need to suit up.”
Shane jumped out of the car, his gaze on the front door as it opened. Nathan stalked outside, dressed for combat in black fatigues, a bulletproof vest, and heavy boots.
Emotion swamped Shane until he could barely breathe. Nathan. Family. “What are ya’ll doing back here?” The Southern twang broke completely free with his question. Nate had made his opinion clear—and he’d been right.
Nathan gave a smart-assed grin. “You didn’t think I’d let you rescue the girl all by yourself now, did you?”
“But I thought you went home.”
“I did.”
Shane swiveled his head to stare open-mouthed at Matt. “You called him? When?”
“Last night when you were in surgery.” Matt strode forward, catching the bulletproof vest Nathan tossed at him. “I had a feeling we’d need backup.”
Shane shook his head. “But the plan—”
“Plans change, little brother,” Nate said. He tucked a handgun into a calf holster. “I, ah, was wrong. Josie is family, and if she’s in trouble, we go in.”
Shane searched for the right words but couldn’t find any. “But you were right—”
“I was wrong. We’ll keep her safe and with us, Shane.” Nathan lifted his chin. “My anger shouldn’t change your life. If she’s family, she’s with us. Always.” As a vow, it was absolute.
Shane blinked. “Thanks.”
Nathan nodded, hard lines cut into his rugged face. Gray eyes darkened to nearly black. Anger and pain all but danced on his skin. “Dr. Madison is mine. I’ll take care of Audrey’s mother—after she tells me where her daughter is.”
Shane studied his brother. Something in his conscience whispered it’d be a bad idea to let Nate kill the mother of the woman he once loved. Memories of Nate being happy for a brief time flashed through his mind. So many moments—yet not enough. Not nearly enough.
He nodded. “Of course.” No way would he let his brother live with killing Madison. Shane would take care of the scientist.
Matt cut him a hard glare. Ah. Mattie planned to protect both Nate and Shane from killing the woman who’d helped raise them. Shane straightened his shoulders, meeting his brother’s stare head-on.