Page 5 of Fighting Salvation

Bás dipped his head, knowing he didn’t need to tell Duchess what was needed. She was instinctive and would handle things.

“Thanks. Everyone else, we’ll be working with Jack and Rafe on this too. Watchdog, find Monty and Scout.” He didn’t say it but if anything had happened to those animals, he and the rest of the team would be devastated. They were more than animals; they were team members and beloved ones at that.

“Already on it, boss. It seems they’re still in Germany but they’re in the Kinzig Valley, which is a long way from where she was staying.”

Bás moved to lean over Watchdog’s shoulder, feeling Rafe beside him. “Pull up the aerial images.” There was no reason for Hansen to dump the dogs there and if the pattern on their trackers was any indication, they were alive. “Duchess, take Reaper with you too and bring those dogs home. Bishop, concentrate on the place she was staying. I want to know everything that happened from the time she landed in Stuttgart.”

“Sure thing.”

Bás glanced at Jack, he couldn’t face the look of accusation in Rafe’s eyes right now. “Jack, how do you want to handle this?”

“You lead. This is your team member.”

Rafe bristled. “And she’s my fucking sister.”

Bás lifted his head and met the cool gaze of Valentina’s brother. “I get how much you love her and want to find her but we won’t do that by fighting or dick-measuring. I just want her home, safe.”

“You think I don’t?”

Bás shook his head. “Of course I don’t think that. We all have our own reasons for wanting to take down Hansen, but nobody knows him better than me.”

“And why is that? What makes you the expert?”

Bás had never wanted his past aired in public like this. It was a painful sore that had never healed so he tried his best to pretend it wasn’t there. Now, though, it seemed he needed to scratch the top off that scab and be honest with his team and Jack. “I’m an expert because he was my best friend, and the bastard murdered my entire family. He stole everything I loved from me. I won’t stop hunting him until I get justice and he knows it. That’s why he’s come for Valentina.”

Shocked faces surrounded him, but he had no time to dwell on any of it. He needed to find Val before Hansen hurt her because he knew that he’d never survive if anything happened to her.

“So, if we’re finished, I propose I lead this. Jack, can you and your team look into anyone surrounding Project Cradle, including their movements and any properties they might have? Perhaps Will and Watchdog can work together and decide how best to approach the division of work.”

“Yes, of course, and Lopez is very keen to help.”

Lopez was married to Addie, who had a daughter with Hansen. He’d never gone after her knowingly but Bás wouldn’t put it past him.

“We should up security on everyone too. I wouldn’t trust him not to go after Addie or Astrid or even his own child.”

“Already on it.”

Bás swung his gaze around the room. “Same goes for you. I want everyone on high alert. Nobody goes anywhere alone or without a tracker, including Aoife, Charlie, and any other family members. Titan, you and Snow start combing through the CCTV from Germany. I want to know exactly when Val was taken.”

“Do you want me to go to Germany?”

“No, you can do that from here. I don’t want the team to split. Plus you and Charlie need to stay close to your babies. I don’t want any more kids motherless because of this bastard. Lotus, call Rykov. He needs to quit fucking around and get his ass here now.”

“Did someone mention my name?”

The entire team, except Watchdog who must have known he was there, turned to the door as Rykov sauntered into the room, looking smooth in a designer suit. He looked every inch the mobster he’d been until Jack had flipped him. Until now he’d worked on the fringes of Shadow while he wrapped up his involvement with the Bratva. Until last year it had suited them to leave him in play but with the way things were, they’d called him back.

“Rykov, good to see you.”

Jack was the first to step forward, and shake his hand, followed by the rest of the team except Lotus, who just glared daggers at the man.

Great, just what I need is trouble with Lotus and Rykov. He’d long suspected something was going on between them but Lotus had been dating Gideon’s brother Damon for the last few months, so that put that theory to bed.

“Perfect timing.” Bás shook his hand and eyed the man he’d need to trust with someone he loved. “I need you to reach out to your contacts discreetly and find out if there are any rumblings about Hansen or Project Cradle.”

“Of course, anything I can do to help bring Valentina home.” His Russian accent was sharp and pronounced. He stood out from the rest of the team but he’d proven himself loyal countless times.

Bás glanced up and around the room at the people who were his family now. As much as he’d tried to keep them all at an arm’s length, they’d slid under his radar and become a safety net but also his greatest weakness. Only time would tell if it would be his downfall or not. “Same goes for all of you.” A frown marred his brow. “Where’s Hurricane?”