As usual, the two alpha men were devolving into a crude competition about who loved Tiffany more. Markus pulled them back to reality. "Can you two stop the pissing contest long enough to keep your eyes on what's really important here?"
He heard both men clearing their throats at the other end of the line. They got the message.
Aiden's cold response was all business. "Consider the CPD on the case. I'll call my boss now. I'll be on stakeout myself overnight. Let's talk in the morning."
Lukus replied with a simple, "Got it," just before Aiden dropped from the call. His best friend then continued on with the plan. "I'm gonna fly back tomorrow with Dylan and Hannah as soon as she's released. In the meantime, Markus..." Lukus hesitated slightly before continuing, "I need you to go the closet in my bedroom."
"It's late. Tiff and Rach are already asleep in there."
"Just go there, will ya? It's important." Impatience seeped through Lukus's tone.
"Fine." They remained silent while Markus let himself into the dark bedroom. He smiled as he noticed the women were snuggled close together, sound asleep. They'd left on a small lamp in the corner as if they might have been afraid of the dark. With Davenport on the loose, he couldn't blame them.
"Okay, I'm in your walk-in. What next?" Markus prompted his best friend.
"Go to the far right. There's a row of small cubby shelves right next to my suits. On the top shelf is a black case. Get it down."
Markus found it easily. It was heavy. He suspected what he would find when he set the case down on the nearby island in the center of the mammoth closet, now more full of Tiffany's belongings than Lukus's.
As expected, a Glock .45 caliber handgun greeted Markus when he opened the case. Boxes of ammunition were tucked in the case with the weapon.
Lukus's voice sounded far away as he let unwelcome memories invade. "You think you'll be able to use this if the occasion called for it?"
Markus picked up the gun and wrapped his palm around the unexpectedly light-feeling grip. A fierce need for vengeance coursed through his veins as he forced himself to relive listening to Jake Davenport fucking Brianna. Of the other man belting her to an orgasm; taking care of her sexual needs when he himself had been too clueless to recognize his wife's craving for submission and pain.
"Hell, yeah. I'll be able to use it when the time comes."
"Good. Get some sleep. I'll be there sometime late tomorrow to help. Until then, stay safe," Lukus said.
"Will do. You too." The call dropped.
Markus spent the next few minutes loading the weapon, making sure he felt comfortable with putting the safety on and off. He finally tucked it into the waist of his jeans at the back, pulling his black tee shirt over it to camouflage it for when the women were around. He'd be sleeping with it on the nightstand beside him that night.
I'm ready for you, asshole. You just try to get near Brianna again. I have a nice surprise for you.
Chapter Thirteen
Hannah
Sunlight streaming through the small window in her hospital room roused Hannah out of her slumber. She'd spent a fitful night, waking often in a cold sweat, nightmares of Jake Davenport never releasing her psyche long enough to let her rest.
The only comfort had been that Dylan had been there every time she'd awakened; ready to comfort her, to help her calm down and fall back asleep. It had to have been close to dawn when he'd finally insisted she let the nurse give her a sedative in hopes of getting some quality rest.
The sedative had helped, but Hannah smiled as she recognized that what had finally helped her relax enough to truly get rest had been when Dylan had crawled into her hospital bed with her, serving as her pillow. Once she'd snuggled into his arms, her head on his shoulder as he hugged her close, she'd finally been able to turn her brain off long enough to get some sleep.
Even now, she could hear the steady beating of his heart under her ear. It was strong and sure, and she trusted it—trusted him.
She took her first real opportunity to be alone in her thoughts, reliving the last twenty-four hours of her life. If she had it to do all over again, she'd have let Dylan talk her into driving away yesterday for destinations unknown. Even as she thought it, she knew that hadn't been the answer then, and it wasn't right now, either. She'd been scared shitless going into that warehouse, but she'd do it again if it meant getting Mia and Lucy out alive.
Mia and Lucy.
Dylan's boss, Lukus, had provided updates the evening before on how her friends were doing. The fact that they were both going to make a full recovery was a weight off her shoulders. Dylan could tell her a million times that it wasn't her fault her friends had been in danger, but nothing would ever convince her it was true. She was the only reason their paths had ever crossed with Jake Davenport, and that put their abduction squarely on her. Hannah had no idea how she was ever going to make it up to them. After all, how does one ask for forgiveness at getting your best friend beaten and raped?
"Hey, beautiful. What has you so tense?" Dylan's strong voice comforted her.
She deflected, hoping to steer clear of uncomfortable topics. "I didn't know you were awake."
"Yeah, I've been awake for a bit. Just enjoying holding you. Knowing you're safe." Like he could talk. She could hear his own guilt weighing on him.
Self-doubt washed over her. "So I'm surprised you're still here. I didn't think you'd stick around now that I got you and your boss into the warehouse."
Dylan quickly turned them, sitting up while pressing Hannah's back to the mattress, hovering over her. The look in his eyes was intense. He looked angry, yet
