Burned Hearts (Burned 3)

“Let me know if a convoy converges.”

“Please don’t even joke about that,” I said.

“No joke, baby.”

I’d suspected as much. “Be careful, Dane.”

“Don’t worry about me. You take care of yourself.”

“I’m worried about all of us. And you need to give Kyle huge props for rigging up the GoPros.”

“I’ll be sure to pat him on the back,” he said dryly. They reached the patio. “We’re going in.”

I sent up a silent prayer they’d be coming out—with Amsel.

Rosa joined us in the great room. I was moderately surprised she didn’t have a bowl of popcorn in her hands as she settled in. Though from the worry lines etched on her face I was on to her. For all her bravado, she appeared as terrified as I was.

“How’s Amano doing?” I asked her.

“Medically induced coma.” She looked a bit pale herself. “He has a lot of healing ahead of him.”

“Shit.”

“He’s tough as nails,” Stan said in a reassuring tone. “He’ll pull through.”

I tried to buy into that theory. But my insides were all twisted and I was a bit loopy from whatever Stan had given me. It was difficult to concentrate on the TV, yet I did my best.

Kyle and Dane split up, each taking a different entryway into the living room.

Rosa said, “If he harms one hair on that baby’s head, so help me—” She went off on another tangent in Spanish.

I was right there with her, even if I had trouble comprehending half of what she said. Her angst resonated deep within me.

Returning my attention to the screen, I told Dane, “It’s still all good. I don’t see any moving shadows.”

A quick in and out would be a blessing. No more bloodshed.

Kyle moved in first. From where Dane crouched to the left I couldn’t hear anything but muffled voices coming from the living room. I could only guess what Kyle had to say to Ethan. Something along the lines of, You can hand over the baby peacefully, or I can kick the shit out of you.

My tension ratcheted. I stared at the scene unfolding in front of me and was utterly hopeless to do anything about it—except watch their backs. That wasn’t enough, of course. It was likely a good thing I was drugged, or I probably would have jumped in the SUV and sped over to the estate right behind Kyle and Dane. Not that I would have been able to since I’d been shot in the leg, but still.

I couldn’t hear a damn thing and that made me crazy.

“Dane.”

“Shh.”

I wanted to scream again. But a movement in the bottom right corner of the screen diverted my attention.

“I think there’s someone outside,” I said. “By the fountain.”

Deeper in the house, Kyle had his gun pointed at Ethan, but no progress was being made to get Amsel back. Ethan had to be waiting for his backup before he made his own move.

My stomach roiled. Chances were very good Kyle just might shoot him. Even though Ethan held the baby close to him.

“This is too much.” I groaned. I wanted to pace but couldn’t. I wanted to do something—anything. But couldn’t.