Page 118 of Jase

“No. Wait for me to get there. This isn’t the first stunt he’s pulled today. Vitor’s going after them hard. There’s bound to be mistakes. We can’t risk missing anything. Yeah. Let me know.”

He hung up just as my screen lit up. My heart nearly stopped as the notifications began pouring through. I turned up the volume for the speakers, waiting as the message began to play.

“Jase, we’re in trouble. Dominguez and the other guards are dead. There’s five men outside. They’re trying to get in. They set a fire and the alarm is going off. Jase, I don’t know what to do. They’re banging and shooting at the door. I think they’re going to get in. Please—”

The phone disappeared from my hands at Kody’s scream. I didn’t see the device I held. I didn’t even feel as though I were in the SUV anymore. The rolling riptide of wrath sucked me under, feeding flames the devil himself couldn’t extinguish.

“Drive. Faster”

Gaige didn’t speak. Maybe he knew better as he pushed us to the limits. We flew through traffic. He made another call. Me…I lived in my head. I killed and tortured Vitor every way I could imagine by the time we finally drove through the barricade and approached the front of the building. Gaige parked, flashing his badge at an officer who approached.

“Supervisory Special Agent Sullivan. I’m looking for—Nevermind, there he is.”

A man in a suit, stepped around a firetruck, waving us over. Didn’t Gaige know I didn’t have time for this? I needed inside. I had to check on Kody.

“There you are. You’re late.”

“Richards don’t give me that. I was flying. What do we have?”

His stare cut to me, but he gestured with his head for us to follow him towards the entrance.

“The fire was contained outside the front door of the penthouse. It’s been fireproofed so they weren’t able to burn down much. It looks like a fucking war zone up there though. The hotel’s security was pretty on top of it once the alarms went off. I think they may have even saved the penthouse from going up in flames. We do have three dead bodies that were posted in the front of the main penthouse door, security guards—”

“Whoa.” My head sliced back and forth at the shake. “Those were certified protection specialists. Veterans trained in war and protective operations. Thosebodieswere my friends.”

“I mean no disrespect…

“Colter. Jase Colter. And that penthouse is mine. Where’s the women that were inside? Do you have them? Are they safe?”

The agent came to a stop, his brow wrinkling as he shook his head.

“Sir, there was no one inside.”

“But you were able to get in?”

“The door was open when the authorities arrived.”

My hand reached out, but there was nothing for me to hold to. Kody was gone. They had her. They had her, Tiffany, and Rian, and I was standing here helping none of them.

“Jase.” Gaige grabbed my arm, but I jerked it back, turning in a circle as I tried to think. “Jase, come upstairs. Let’s take a look around. Your work is there, yes? There has to be something you can do.”

Look around.Yes. I had to see how they got in. I had to know where I’d failed, once again. I calmed, taking in the agents in front of me. The law. The obstacles. The men I needed to lose so I could finish this once and for all.

“I need my phone. I…have to call Rush.” I backstepped, spinning for my SUV. Gaige was still talking to Richards as I pushed in Rush’s number.

“Do you have them? What’s going on?”

“They’re gone.” I squeezed into the leather of my seat. “The door was wide open when the police arrived. He’s got them. We need to ditch these fucking feds and get to work. Have you made it to Rian?”

They’re clearing the place now. We’re almost there.”

“I’m going upstairs. We have Vitor’s real name. I’m getting to work. Call me the moment you’re headed over. I’ll be ready. We end this tonight.”

“Agreed. Talk to you soon.”

Chapter 40

Kody