My heart isn’t in it anymore. It’s not only me on the line each day when I go into work. I want Addilyn to feel as stable as possible for once in her life. I already have enough on my plate between Hart Bonds and still having interest in some real estate investments. Not to mention Jason now wants to get into real estate too. It’s time to turn in my badge.
I read the cryptic message and know something is up. She has no reason to be texting me. My gut tells me so, and it’s never wrong.
“You okay?” Addilyn asks as she comes back out of the bathroom.
“Yeah.” She gives me a long look before her eyes drop to my phone.
“Work.”
“All right.” She walks over and kisses me before heading out of the bedroom. I listen for her feet to hit the stairs before I call in.
“Tara, what’s going on?”
“I could lose my badge for this, but I still owe you for what you did for my cousin,” she whispers into the phone. Tara works on the SWAT team. We worked on it for a few years together. So when I came across her cousin hanging with some lowlifes he shouldn’t have been when I was working the gang unit, I gave her a heads-up.
“Hit me.”
“The name Carter McKenna mean something to you?”
“Yes.” I’m already on my feet and pulling my clothes on. Last I checked, Carter went home last night. Back to the apartment at least. He’s supposed to be there this morning to help with the move.
“There was a bust made last night on a big trafficking ring. His name got brought up. I guess there are whispers that he has something to do with the bust.” She trails off for a second. I hear voices in the background before they fade and she keeps going. “Flex Kilduff was the main target of the raid. He wasn’t there. Barely missed him, but we got a handful of other men and the kid’s name kept coming up. If this Kilduff knows who sparked the raid last night, he’s going to want blood.”
“We’re even,” I tell her before I end the call. I try Carter’s phone, but it only rings and rings.
I quickly get dressed before stopping at my safe and pulling out a gun and putting it into my holster. When I hit the bottom step, I see Addilyn has already started breakfast.
“Babe, I have to make a run.” Her shoulders drop.
“For work?”
“Yeah,” I clear the space between us, dropping a kiss on her mouth. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she responds instantly. “You okay if Carter and I still do some moving?”
“I’d rather you wait.” She doesn’t look like she wants to agree. “Give me an hour.”
“Okay.” She gives. I drop another long kiss on her mouth before I’m out the door, praying that Carter is still asleep and that’s why he’s not picking up his damn phone.
I can’t help the fear that’s riding me. For so long, I’ve always been able to stay calm and cool. Nothing ever rattles me.
I suppose before I didn’t think I had anything to lose. It was only myself on the line. Sure, something happening to me would rip my family up, but with Addilyn, if something happened to her brother or me, it would destroy her.
I send a text to my brother Ben telling him I need him now along with a location, knowing he’s not going to ask a million questions. He’ll just show up and quickly. Ben knows that I don’t send those messages unless something big is going down.
First thing I need to do is find Carter. Once I know he’s okay, Flex Kilduff is up next on my list.
I won’t be playing by the rules when it comes to finding him. I’ll do what I have to so I know my family is safe. In whatever way is the quickest. I may have always done the right thing up until now, but the thought of something happening to Addilyn or Carter lets me know when push comes to shove, I’ll do what I have to in order to keep my family safe.
16
Addilyn
I text my brother letting him know we’re likely going to be late getting over there today before I head back up the stairs and into the bathroom. I go over to my sink area, opening the top drawer to pull out the pregnancy test I’d taken when I’d slipped from bed earlier.
With all the talk of knocking me up, Kane hasn’t brought it up lately, and I haven’t had a period since we’ve gotten together. I have to be pregnant. I’ve been regular when it comes to my cycle my whole life. I was only taking the test to be sure. Since Kane hasn’t brought it up recently, I wasn’t going to. Not until I knew for sure.