“Drive safe.”
We disconnect, and I put the pedal down as I chew my lip. Maybe Rip isn’t so bright after all. That thought worries me more than the idea he might be watching us. If he’s stupid, he’ll be sloppy.
If he’s sloppy, someone could get hurt, and I don’t want that someone to be Allie. Hell, I don’t want it to be any of us.
My chest is tight, and I press harder on the accelerator. I need to get there now. Protection is what I do. I protect my family, and Allie is my family now.
I grip the steering wheel tighter and reach over to flick on the radio. Anything to make this drive pass faster.
After what feels like an eternity, but is actually only an hour, I’m finally at Tchoupitoulas, winding around to the address I typed into my phone. Garrett texted me his location, and I turn a block early, circling around until I see his gray truck on the side of the road.
I pull up behind him and get out as quietly as possible. My boots crunch on the light gravel, and I scan the houses as I walk up to where he’s parked.
The light from a television screen flickers in the window across the street. The other houses are dark. I tap on his passenger’s side door, and the lock clicks allowing me to hop into the cab.
“I tried calling NOPD, but they don’t have any cause to come out here.” He exhales impatiently, sitting forward. “He hasn’t broken parole. He checked in with his officer, and he hasn’t left the state.”
“As far as they know.”
Garrett’s brows pinch, and he looks down. “That car rightthere is all the proof we need, but it’s not that easy. It was rented in Allie’s name, they share a kid. From where they stand, she could’ve come here of her own accord.”
“What are you telling me?” My jaw is tight, and I don’t give a fuck what the NOPD thinks.
“They said they’d send a cruiser to do a check-in first thing in the morning.”
“That’s not going to help us tonight.”
My brother’s head turns slowly, and when our eyes meet, I see the resolve in his expression. “We’re on our own. I can’t arrest him. I have no jurisdiction here.”
I sit straighter in the seat. “We need a plan. We can’t just walk up to the door and ask him to hand her over.”
“We need our brothers.” Garrett’s voice is tight. “If all five of us walked up to that door, it might intimidate him into doing the right thing.”
“It might.” I rub my hand over my chin, thinking. “Or it might make him panic and do something stupid.”
I’ve never met Allie’s ex, but from what I’ve heard, he’s a loose cannon.
“You think he’s armed?” Garrett’s blue eyes meet mine, and no matter how many years have passed, how much growing up we’ve done, he’s still my little brother.
“Definitely. And I don’t want you or Allie or any of us getting shot.”
Adrenaline tweaks in my muscles, and I can’t allow my thoughts to go down that path. I’ve lost too many people I love in my life. I’m not losing any more.
Garrett punches my arm. “Come on. Let’s case the joint.”
We climb out of the truck, closing the doors as quietly as possible. Garrett digs around in the second row of his truck, pulling out black jackets and tossing one to me. My gun is in the back of my jeans, but I’m not taking it out yet.
Nothing turns up the heat like bringing out a piece. If wecan keep the temperature down, we might get out of this without anyone getting hurt.
A narrow ditch separates the small yard from the road, and we hop across it, doing our best to stay low, near the shrubs lining the property. It’s almost midnight, and I only hope the neighbors aren’t watching.
Streetlights provide some illumination, but for the most part, everything is dark shadows. The moon isn’t full, which helps, and we jog through the damp grass to the side of the house.
It’s completely dark and quiet. It’s on stilts, which puts the windows chin-high on me. Garrett’s a few inches taller, and he leans forward to peek through the glass. Just as fast he jerks away, pressing his back to the wall beside me.
Lifting his hand, he puts a finger to his lips before pointing to the back of the house. I crouch, moving as quietly as possible to the rear.
When we round the corner, he puts a hand on my shoulder, and we lower to a squat. “He’s awake in there.”
