London was being my braveheart, insisting on going over her father’s files so she could find out more about the drug and help Connor. But at night when I held her in my arms, her tears soaked into my skin and her body shook as she sobbed.
There was nothing to say and I honestly didn’t know how she felt because I’d never experienced a loss like that. I was too young when my father died and we’d been thrown into survival mode at the farm. I remembered being sad and missing him, but it hadn’t lasted long.
When I was old enough to comprehend why he died and what happened, I didn’t grieve him. I blamed him. He knew my mother was a controlling, power-hungry bitch. He had to have seen what was coming. He had an affair and my mother had her excuse to make her move. It didn’t take long before I stopped blaming him because I didn’t care one way or another. I didn’t care about anything.
It was mid-afternoon and I’d come to check on London, but she was in the shower, so I headed downstairs to make her something to eat. If she ate anything in the last five days, it wasn’t enough and I was worried. Fuck, I was worried. That was what it was to care about someone, you worried about them.
Chess came barging into the kitchen, her hands on her hips and her cheeks red. It looked like she’d been arguing. Probably had been with Tristan.
“Why aren’t we doing anything? They’re going to move the farm, Kai.” Tristan strolled in, leaned against the archway into the kitchen, raised his brows and grinned at me. Obviously, he’d already heard this from Chess. “They could have already.”
I opened the fridge, took out the leftover piece of salmon Deck barbequed the previous night and put it on the plate. “We don’t have a location, Chess.” I popped two slices of bread in the toaster. “Can’t move on it without one.”
She moved in front of me as I went for the fridge again. She glared. It didn’t bother me. I was just glad she was standing before me and not in some prison. “And if they kill the kids? What then? Are you going to be able to live with yourself, Kai?” She snorted. “Yeah, you probably can.” That bothered me, but she was right to think that. I deserved it. “But I can’t. We should be out searching, not sitting here waiting for some prick to call.”
We were waiting for Dorsey to call me. We had the drug, the files, and Connor, who was much calmer after being given the drug. But it was the fifth day since we’d given him a pill mixed in the water we gave him and already he was beginning to show signs of rage again. Deck was hoping we could extend the length of time every week, add a few days until eventually Connor was off the drug.
Tristan pushed away from the wall and went to her. I moved back to the toaster and buttered the toast. I looked over my shoulder at them. He was gentle as he came up behind her and settled his hands on her hips. I saw her jerk to get away, but he merely moved in closer and tightened his hold.
“Dorsey may have the location of the farm,” Tristan said, his mouth close to her ear.
“What if he doesn’t call?” she refuted.
“We give him two more days,” I said. “If he doesn’t call, we go to him. I have someone on him, if he decides to make a move anywhere.” It was always better being the one approached than do the approaching, but Chess was right. If they felt the farm was threatened, they’d move it.
I slapped the salmon on the toast, sprinkled some sea salt and pepper then placed some sliced tomato and lettuce before putting the toast on top. I picked up the plate to take it up to London when my cell rang.
It was my disposable—Ernie. I put the plate back down, leaned against the counter and answered. “Yeah? You have anything?” Ernie was the guy I had in Vegas keeping an eye on Dorsey. If he were going to make a move, it would’ve been after what went down at the lab.
“Your man is rather stubborn,” a heavy, deep voice replied. It was like he smoked too much and his lungs were caked in a layer of black tar. I knew exactly who it was.
“Dorsey.” Chess’s breath hitched. “This isn’t a good time. Just about to eat.”
I didn’t have to look at my sister to know she was furious at my nonchalance. Tristan no doubt was keeping her from being in my face.
“Ah, well, my sharks are about to as well. They have a feeding frenzy once a week. Tonight they’ll have something special.” I tensed because I knew exactly where he was going with this. “Unless of course, you’d prefer to have him back in one piece?”
I glanced up as Deck and Vic came into the kitchen, giving me space, but listening. “What I’d prefer is for you to get to the point.”
He laughed. “I’ve always respected you, Kai. Even now, after killing your own mother. She was a cold-hearted bitch.”
I remained quiet and he continued, “Dr. Westbrook is dead and his files gone. You stole your mother’s files on the drug, you have Dr. Westbrook’s daughter, and I assume the famous test subject, Connor, as he’s disappeared.”
Again I stayed silent. No point denying, he was right on all counts.
“I have a job for you.”