Page 28 of Rescuing Erin

As soon as I’d come back downstairs, I’d called in. I wasn’t surprised when Zane answered and told me he was putting me on speaker so the rest of the team could talk to me as well. Even at the late hour they were all still at the office.

“That’s unknown,” he answered.

“What do we know?”

“We know the woman from the hotel is Alena Zoellick, and her partner, who rigged up Erin’s apartment is Conrad Volle.”

“How in the hell did he get in?”

“Maintenance. Erin put in a legit request with the building. Conrad waited and found an opening,” Declan answered.

“Shit.”

“That about covers it. They’ve been playing the long game. Conrad’s been working at Erin’s building for over six months. Though his employment application lists his name as Connor Vicks,” Garrett added.

“Who are they working for?”

“Henry Shultz. Conrad was all too ready to give up his boss once Zane and Leo applied some pressure.” Declan chuckled.

I didn’t doubt the other man caved under Zane’s demands. I had first-hand experience what Zane’s idea of pressure was. He would’ve rained hellfire down on the asshole until he was begging to spill his guts.

“Abe said the guys from Texas have been detained.”

“They have. Each were paid five K to detain you. From the description of Shultz, it seems he’s behind the attack and the surveillance on Erin.”

“What the fuck? Why can’t we find Shultz? And, again, who leaked our location?”

“Tex and Garrett are working on both,” Zane assured me. “You sit tight and don’t let anything happen to her.”

It pissed me off Zane was treating me like I needed a directive to protect Erin.

“No shit, Sherlock.”

“Or we could end this sooner rather than later, and you can bring her back to Maryland and we can—”

“I swear on all things holy, if you even suggest we leave her unattended and use her as bait, I’m gonna lose my mind.” The team erupted in laughter, and I didn’t find anything funny about what Zane had said. “You think I’m fucking joking? I’m five minutes from locking her ass in an underground bunker and going hunting myself. These fuckers were in her house. Violated her privacy. They crashed into us. They shot at her. But more than all that, they’ve scared the shit out of her. She’s trying to be brave. But she’s terrified. That ends for her. And it ends soon. So, either you and Tex shut this shit down, or I will. And when I’m done and have a warrant for my arrest, she’ll be safe.”

“Just checking,” Zane weirdly said.

“Checking what?”

“That you’re all in.”

“I’m all in,” I confirmed, realizing the meaning of my statement went beyond the mission.

“Good to know. We’ll check in later. Garrett has eyes on the outside perimeter, but there are no cameras in the cabin. Someone will be watching the monitors twenty-four seven.”

“Copy that.”

“Colin?” Leo spoke up.

“Yeah.”

“That master shower is big enough—”

“Fuck off,” I cut him off. A fresh wave of laughter came from my team, and to my surprise I smiled. “Assholes. Got shit to do. I’ll call in later.”

“Yeah, like—” I disconnected before Jaxon could finish.