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Foster picked his way over to her. “We’ll get whoever’s behind this.”
“Before or after they hurt someone else we care about?” She shook her head. “Josh is dead, Greer’s in the ICU, and your teammates look as if they just survived a few rounds inside the Thunderdome. If I’d just agreed to be part of this business when my father first kicked it off, maybe?—”
“What? Josh would still be alive? Because there was no stopping that train, Mackenzie. Your father still would have needed medics and rescue crew, and Shaw and Newport still would have been his best option.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, I do. And you do, too. But I suppose it could have been you who was killed, instead. Which is really what this is all about. Wanting to be the one who made the sacrifice. And yeah, I’m intimately familiar with that scenario — have been living it every day since my last mission. But all this guilt and second guessing doesn’t change the facts, regardless of how much we want them to.”
Her chin quivered as a few tears welled in her eyes then spilled down her cheeks.
Foster wiped a couple away then gathered her in his arms, holding tight as she took a few shuddering breaths.
“I know nothing will bring your brother back. But maybe stopping Carrington and his enforcers will help ease the burden. And we will.”
She nodded, giving him a hint of a smile before pursing her lips into a tight line. “We’re going to find those damn drugs and tear down Carrington’s entire empire.”
“Hooyah.”
She snorted, glancing at the door when his buddies reappeared. “I guess this means my big plans for the morning are on hold.”
Foster sighed. “Trust me, I’m not happy about that either. But I need to get that device to Bodie. See if he can get any prints off it that might give us a clue as to who we’re up against—if they’re just your average mercenary or more.”
“I’ll do that.” Chase ambled over to them. “I told Bodie I’d spell him off and watch over Greer for the day. I’m sure the guy needs some sleep, but he could get the process going.”
“We can go and have Greer’s back. You need to rest?—”
“Sorry, Foster.” Chase tapped his chest. “Greer’s my responsibility. I was driving. I’m the reason she got hurt. And I got more than enough sleep last night.”
“If our hunch is right, someone put a bomb under her Bronco.”
“And I didn’t notice.”
“Chase…” Foster speared his fingers through his hair, aware he likely wouldn’t win this argument. “So, the fact your arm’s in a sling?”
“Won’t affect how I shoot with my other hand. And that way, you two can scour the house looking for drugs.”
Kash gave Foster’s shoulder a pat as he moved in on Foster’s other side. “You know he’s not going to back down, so just let it go.”
Foster huffed. “Fine. But I want hourly check-ins.”
“Okay, Dad.” Chase rolled his eyes as he grabbed a Ziplock bag and put the device inside it. “I’ll tell Bodie to call one of you when he has any news, so don’t get so hot and heavy that you miss his call.”
Foster shook his head, snagging Kash when he and Zain made a move toward the front door. “Where are you two going?”
Kash glanced at Zain then back to Foster, brow furrowed. “Home.”
“Oh, no. Everyone’s staying here until we nail these bastards. There’re plenty of rooms on the other side of the house.”
“This is payback, isn’t it?” Kash nudged Zain. “We’ll grab some supplies then we’ll be back to help look for buried treasure.”
“The three of us will look. Zain can sit on his ass and keep an eye on those cameras he installed.”
Zain huffed, obviously less than amused at the prospect of being sidelined. “And you thought I was being paranoid.”
“You were, but like always, we need paranoid.”
Mackenzie moved in beside him, nudging his side after Zain and Kash headed out. “Do you really think there’re drugs hidden beneath the floorboards?”