Page 45 of Ace (The Deuces Wild #4)

Savannah pulled into a shady parking stall at the nearest rest stop.

After quickly walking and watering the dogs, she ushered them back into the Buick.

Red took up his place in the front passenger seat while Galahad lay on his side in the back.

Opening all the Buick’s windows brought the barest hint of a breeze.

With it came all the luscious fragrances of spring in Louisiana.

Magnolia and boxwood. Swamp and humidity.

New growth and sunshine on the bayou. Savannah drew in a deep breath to restore her inner sight, then released it slowly as she told Isaiah, ‘Okay. I’m ready now. ’

‘Me too,’ he answered. ‘My buddy Ky was just here. He took Roxy out for lunch. I’ve got a couple hours to get this done before they get back.’

‘Aw, and they didn’t take you with them? ’

‘Doctor’s orders,’ he grumbled. ‘I’m still under observation. They can’t figure out how I recovered so fast. They’re running more tests to be on the safe side.’

‘Just tell them some voodoo witch from down South commanded you to rise and shine,’ she teased.

‘You bet. Then they’ll lock me up and throw away the key. No thanks. I’m okay hanging around while Roxy’s here, but the minute my son’s released, I’m going home with them.’

‘You haven’t picked a name yet?’

‘She wants to name him Abraham…’

Savannah didn’t understand why Isaiah growled. ‘Like Abraham Lincoln? That’s a great name.’

‘No, like Abraham Zaroyin.’

Oh. Him. Savannah snapped her big mouth shut. She’d forgotten what Keller told her about Isaiah’s father.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my father…’

‘Just not enough to name your son after him. I get it.’

‘Why should I? He’s the reason the Bicks went after my mom. All he wanted was his almighty three Gs: gain, glory, and greed. He didn’t care about Mom. He got her killed.’

And like you, he has to live with that knowledge every single day, Savannah thought.

Tragedy never destroyed just one person when it crash landed.

It always took out the whole family, their home, and sometimes the entire village, whether by first strike or the ripple effect of grief and loss.

Instead she said, ‘You’re still working on forgiving him. ’

‘No, I’m working on forgetting him.’

How sad. ‘How old were you when he... left?’ She couldn’t bear to say, ‘when your mother was murdered.’

‘I was a kid, Savannah. A freakin’ twelve-year-old kid.’

Bitterness Savannah understood. It’d be hard to look at the child you adored knowing he bore the name you hated.

‘At least you knew your dad,’ she said quietly.

‘ Mine took one look at me and dumped me at Gran Mere’s.

Intellectually, I know he did that because my mother bled to death when I was born.

Gran Mere said she was Japanese and had some rare enzyme in her blood.

My father didn’t know what to do with a baby, but then he went and got himself killed.

I can’t even decide if I hate him or like him because I never knew him.

He’s nothing to me, just a blank face where a father should’ve been. ’

‘I’m sorry.’ Isaiah sighed. ‘ Man, we really know how to get off track, don’t we?’

‘Yes, but it’s understandable. Fathers are supposed to be our first heroes, our steady role models, our gentlest teachers, and our constant advocates.

When they fail us, we lose a huge part of our identity, and it’s harder to understand the world of men.

Anyway… I’m sorry, too. Now let me reach out to Keller and see how he’s doing before we derail again. ’

‘I really do like working with you,’ Isaiah murmured. ‘You’re like my sister, Eden Winchester. We’re not really related, but she’s always been there for me.’ Was that a note of longing in his tone ?

‘You do know I’m in the same zone as you guys,’ Eden drawled.

‘I do now,’ Isaiah answered cheerily. ‘Hush, woman. Savannah’s working.’

Closing her eyes, Savannah took a deep breath and relaxed into her seat.

This was her gift, her ability to search the innumerable threads cast out into the universe.

To sense the unique vibration, in this case, caused by Keller’s singular sense of honor, pride, and finely-honed rage.

Until now, she’d only used her gift of sight to locate endangered dogs, cats, and other animals.

Searching out a man—this particularly fierce man—was uniquely stimulating.

The image came slowly. Savannah could almost smell the silk of black ties and starch peculiar to her Secret Agent Man.

‘I see him now. He’s on his feet, but he’s not moving.

He isn’t breathing, either. He’s tense. Poised…

” That was the best word for the aura radiating off Keller.

‘He’s inside a trailer, holding his breath as if…

Oh dear, he’s got both pistols up and… He’s going to kill someone,’ Savannah breathed.

‘Keller’s been shot, Isaiah, and now he’s…

. he’s defending someone, something. I can’t get a clear reading on—’

‘Do you have his location?’ Isaiah asked.

‘He’s outside a long green barn, no, it’s a garage. Fontenette’s antique car collection is stored there.’

‘Narrow it down, Savannah,’ Eden snapped . ‘I need more than that before we go in. I need a landmark. Fontenette’s spread is littered with green barns and—’ Her tone changed. ‘No, Boss. I’m talking to Savannah Church, not you. Hold up a second. ’

The images in Savannah’s mind expanded to include Special Agent Tucker Chase as well as several other officers, all armed, all seated inside a large black FBI van idling on the paved road near the mansion.

Four other FBI vans were parked near them while an army of SWAT and special agents executed the warrant.

Several more agents patrolled all the exits.

The entire group moved like precision clockwork, as if this were simply a drill they were practicing.

Just as quickly as the picture expanded, Savannah narrowed it down on Keller.

‘I’m seeing a dirt road,’ she told Eden.

‘It’s just ahead of you behind the mansion.

In a mile or so, it branches off the paved road.

There’s a long green garage behind the cluster of sand pine trees along the road.

The garage is hidden behind those trees, so it’ll be easy to miss.

Once you clear the trees, turn right, then take another sharp right. ’

‘How many men, Savannah? I need to know who and what we’re facing.’

She got the impression of Eden snapping her fingers.

‘Three big guys, all armed and wearing overalls. They don’t look American, though.

They’re wearing Carhartts. Seven, no, eight other guys, not so big, not in overalls, sneaking around and under the trailer.

I count four semi-trucks with trailers attached, but Eden, these eleven guys are armed. ’

‘And Keller is in…?’ Again with the snapping fingers.

‘The open trailer on the end, nearest the garage,’ Savannah nearly shouted back at her.

‘What kind of weapons? ARs, pistols, shoulder cannons, or— ’

Savannah cut her off. She wasn’t some prissy little girl from charm school.

‘Yes, automatic rifles, and a shoulder cannon if that’s what you want to call it.

Personally, I call it a portable one-shot 66mm unguided Light Anti-tank Weapon, also known as a LAW.

Folks, I think the guys in Carhartts are Russian.

I’m seeing lots of tats on their bald skulls, some Russian lettering. ’

‘Good job, Savannah. Okay boys, we’re going in hot,’ Eden purred as she relayed the intel to the agents with her. ‘Let’s do this and do it right. Yeah, Tuck. I know. The warrant includes all outbuildings. We’re covered. Go! Go! Go!’

Eden and Tucker’s van roared past the house to the dirt road.

Executing a sharp right turn, then another, they kicked up a cloud of red dust on their way to the rescue.

Shots rang out. All the way from Louisiana, Savannah heard the round that struck Keller’s chest. She felt him grunt at the impact.

She smelled the rage in his sweat. She watched him go down.

No, no, no!

Flustered now, Savannah shut Eden out of her mind and cast her most fervent spell to Keller.

Out loud. “For thine is the kingdom.” Deep breath.

“The power.” Then let it go.... “And the glory.” She spoke sharper now, her heart pounding with zeal and enough fear to power The Big Easy during Mardi Gras.

“I command you, Keller. Listen up and talk to me!”