Page 88 of Honor ’N’ Duty

“Wait.” Jamie stepped in his way. “Where you headed, buddy?”

“The DHS office. I gotta get something.” He made another move to get in, but Jamie didn’t budge, telling Kade that Jamie knew exactly what was about to go down.

“You sure you want to do this?”

“More sure than I’ve been about anything in my entire life.”

Jamie barked out a laugh. “We always knew you were in love with Laia.”

“Yeah, well…” And this time, he would do anything for her.

Even if it killed him.

“In that case,” Jamie said, heading to his vehicle, “I’ve got your back.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Laia walked out of the office supply store, clutching the brown-and-black leather ledger book and other items she’d purchased tightly to her chest. From what she remembered of the one Kade had pulled from the hidden compartment in Rosa’s dinghy, it was approximately the same size, shape, and color.

She continued into the parking lot, darting her gaze back and forth, looking for anyone watching her. Including the police.

Knowing Kade would keep trying to find her, she’d intentionally parked in the lot next door. If she saw anyone waiting for her, she’d have to abandon the minivan and rent a car, but then she’d have to use a credit card, creating a trail. Luckily, she’d had enough cash in her wallet to pay for the new ledger and fill up the minivan with gas.

She stepped over the concrete divider separating the parking lots of the two stores and headed to the minivan. Just before she would have opened the driver’s side door, a young man walked toward her. When he began taking something from his pocket, she tensed, preparing to run. But the man kept walking past, then got into a pickup truck and drove away.

With her heart threatening to beat its way right out of her chest, Laia quickly got into the minivan and drove from the lot.

All she had to do now was find a place to stay for the night. A hotel would require her to show ID, and that was a chance she couldn’t take.

She turned off the main road, meandering down the side streets, searching for just the right place that was close enough to the bank that she could quickly get there when it reopened in the morning.

Remembering what Kade had said about parking somewhere that didn’t have a night crew on staff, she continued driving until she found what she was looking for, a recycling center just off Route 18. The front parking lot was empty. She drove around the side of the building, then turned into the rear lot. The only vehicles there were heavy-duty collection trucks. No personal vehicles that she could see.

She backed into a narrow spot in between two of the trucks parked against the side of the building and directly in front of a large, corrugated metal door at the loading bay. With her back to the wall, and the tall, vine-covered chain-link fence lining the opposite side of the lot, she’d be well-concealed for the night.

Before shutting off the engine, she cracked the windows to let some fresh air in. The stench of garbage filtered into the passenger compartment, and she wrinkled her nose. Here she was, wedged between two garbage trucks and hiding out like a wanted criminal. With a heavy sigh, she let her head fall into her hands.

What were they doing to Rosa, right now, right at this moment? They wouldn’t really hurt a child. Would they?

Her body shook from the effort to keep from screaming at the top of her lungs. If they harmed Rosa in any way, she’d rip them to shreds with her bare hands. Somehow, she’d find a way.

For a moment, she wavered. Kade was the federal agent. He was the one trained to shoot, kill, and take no prisoners. His entire life had been spent defending this great nation abroad, then protecting its citizens back home. Should she call him?

The urge to fling herself into his arms…to feel his strength and warmth envelop her…to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay…

An illusion. That’s what he was. Part of a wishful dream, a life she’d secretly hoped for with someone she loved and who loved her back with the same passionate fervor. That wasn’t meant to be.

It was time to harden her heart against the truth. Yet again, she was alone.

She drew in a series of calming breaths, then pulled her cell phone from her bag and snapped in the battery. The kidnappers had said they would call her tomorrow, but she couldn’t take the chance of missing another call from them.

Once she hit the power button, it seemed like forever before the screen lit up. There was another message from Kade.

Tears threatened to destroy what little remained of her composure. Despite her earlier resolve, the need to hear his voice won out, and she cued up the message.

“Laia, it’s Kade. I know I hurt you. I know you’ve lost faith in me, but you have to know…you and Rosa are everything to me. I don’t want to lose you. I’m working on a plan to find Rosa. Don’t put yourself in jeopardy. Do not go after her alone. I couldn’t—” He broke off, his voice choked. “I couldn’t take it if anything happened to you. Please, call me back right away.”

Hearing his voice, absorbing the meaning of his heartfelt words, nearly took down the steel wall she’d erected around that special place in her heart reserved solely for Kade. She wanted to believe him, but there was too much at stake to change course now.