Page 67 of Gator

“Who’s on Julius?” Hawk asked, joining us in the office.

“Axel,” I said.

“Okay.” Hawk picked up his phone, and I knew he was calling Axel.

I turned my attention back to Migs. “What call was Devon talking about?”

“Someone called and asked for Jules. He took the call and then just walked right out the back door.”

“Okay, we’ll send Axel inside, and he’ll ask you guys some questions. I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone and looked at Wolfe and Hawk.

“I have to go after him.” I snatched up my keys from the desk and headed for the door.

I moved to push my way through the two men and out the door. But Hawk reached out and stopped me. His voice was low and calm. “Harlan.”

“Hawk. They took Julius. He’s—”

“I know.” He cut me off.

I shoved a hand through my hair. “I need to go now.”

“No,” Hawk insisted. “You’re not going in blind.”

“He could be dead by the time we make a plan.”

“And he could get killed because we didn’t. Besides, you don’t even know where you’re going.” Hawk’s voice didn’t rise; it didn’t have to. I knew he was right. No matter how badly I wanted to go after Julius, I didn’t even know where to look. I would just be wasting time by heading to the salon. “Kat’s pinging both his trackers. The ones on the phone and the earring, and she’s on the cameras. Axel’s heading inside to make sure we have all the information. We will get him back.”

I took another breath. I’d always been proud of how well we all worked as a team, but seeing them jump into action now when Julius’s life was on the line… damn, I was glad these men had my back.

Wolfe clasped a hand on my shoulder. “I called Julius’s sister. His niece is there with her. She’s safe. I sent Bobby over to keep an eye on their place just as a precaution.”

That was a relief. They didn’t have Lainey. That would make getting Julius out so much easier, but we needed to hurry the fuck up.

“What’s the plan?” I asked, through my teeth. I had always been one to act, not the one to make a plan. That was Wolfe’s job, and I knew he would come up with one that would get Julius back. I didn’t like it, but I also knew they were right. Jumping the gun could get Julius killed.

“Come on,” Wolfe said. “Let’s go check in with Kat and see what we know. Then we’ll make a plan.”

Hawk and Wolfe left the office and went out into the ops center. I followed them to Kat’s station. She was typing away at her keyboard while staring intently at her monitor, but somehow she knew when we walked up.

“I have him. They’re on the move near that strip of warehouses off County three-seventy-six. I’m sweeping traffic cams between the salon and those warehouses. If they left on surface streets, I might get a plate. Give me five minutes.”

“You got three.” Hawk nodded. “Did you contact Chance?”

“I did,” she said. “This could be the break he’s been waiting on, so he’s getting geared up and ready to meet you once we have a location.”

“Just so he doesn’t try to take over when he arrives. This may be a break in a case for him, but Julius is everything to me,” Igrowled. “I’m going to get him back, and I’m not wading through red tape first. I don’t give a shit about warrants. If I have my way, no one will be left to prosecute.”

Hawk ignored that comment, but I knew he understood. He’d been through something similar with Mika not all that long ago. “Harlan, get loaded up so we can go get your boy.”

I appreciated his giving me something to actually do. He knew I wasn’t good at waiting, and standing around while they put together a plan was going to drive me insane. I was barely holding it together as it was, and knowing that my brothers were here and were doing what they did best was the only thing keeping me from losing it.

I went to our armory, skipping the elevator and making quick work of the stairs. I slammed a range of gear into my bag—guns, spare mags, radios, zip ties. Everything I could think of that we might need. When that was done, I went back up the stairs to the ops center.

Kat handed me my earpiece, and I shoved it in my ear. Then I looked at Wolfe and Hawk. “Okay, do we have a plan?”

“We do.” Wolfe put his own earpiece in. “We’re headed to the area of the last ping. You and Hawk will be in the tactical vehicle. Maddox and I will be right behind you. Axel is done at the salon, so we’ll be pulling him in as well. Don’t go rogue,” he said. “Promise me.”

I wouldn’t lie to him and promise not to go in after Julius. But I could at least give him something. “I promise I won’t be stupid.”