In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2)(101)

The first thing Beau registered as they surged out of the cell and into the long hallway was the sound of gunfire. Close.

Fuck!

A female cry arose, sharp in the ensuing silence. Then more gunfire. Beau’s pulse exploded and he rapidly motioned the others to be on the ready.

They spread out, quickly pouring down the hallway in the direction of the sounds of shots fired and the feminine cry of fear. At least he hoped it was fear and not pain.

When they reached the open cell door, a gruesome sight greeted them. Gavin Rochester had taken down two armed men and was systematically taking apart the third and only remaining assailant.

When the man managed to break away from Gavin’s enraged grasp and lunged for Ginger, Beau didn’t hesitate. He put a bullet through her attacker’s head and he dropped like a rock, mere inches from where Ginger stood, pale, frozen, eyes wide with shock and fear. In the attacker’s hand was a wicked blade, one he clearly intended to use to take Ari’s mother out, and if it weren’t for Beau’s sudden appearance, the man would likely have succeeded in his desperate attempt to lash out.

Gavin whirled, eyes cold, enraged, prepared to take on the new threat. He was an impressive sight even with blood dripping from multiple wounds.

“Stand down!” Dane barked. “We’re on your side.”

Beau took a step forward, careful not to trigger any violence from Gavin, who was clearly determined that no harm come to his wife.

“Ari came to us,” Beau said in a calm voice. “I’m Beau Devereaux. These are my men. We need to get you out of here now.”

Gavin visibly relaxed and now stark fear replaced his earlier fury. Ginger flew into his arms with a cry, burying her face in his chest as her body heaved with sobs. Gavin tenderly cradled his wife’s head with his palm, holding her tightly. His gaze lifted to Beau’s and the raw agony, fear and emotion in his eyes were stark. Beau nearly flinched from the very real pain in the older man’s face.

“Ari,” Gavin said hoarsely. “You have to find her. Save her. She let them take her. Wanted them to take her because she planned to destroy the entire damn building. She instructed me and her mother to remain in one spot so she could protect us and how she was able to do it I have no idea, but she erected some sort of force field around us. The bastards opened fire on us and the bullets just bounced off.”

The incredulity in his voice was evident, but Beau only nodded because none of this information surprised him. He’d witnessed firsthand just how powerful Ari was. But fear skittered up Beau’s spine, because the protective shield had obviously been breached, which meant that Ari had faltered at some point. He shook off the paralyzing, gut-wrenching thoughts of her being incapacitated. Hurt. Dead. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—go there.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about your daughter’s power, sir,” Beau said. “Now, we need to go and I need you to tell me every single thing you know so we can find Ari. But you and your wife have to be out of the way and safe.”

When Gavin started to launch a protest, Beau immediately shut him down.

“With all due respect, sir, if you love your daughter, if you want her safe and alive, then you’ll go with my men and you’ll remain out of the way. We can’t afford any distractions or hindrance and you would be both. Let us do our jobs. I will not rest until I have her back.”

The last statement came out fierce. Not the words of a man simply doing his job. There was a wealth of emotion in those words, but they slipped past his lips, heavy on his heart, determination beating as incessantly as his pulse.

Gavin’s eyes flickered and he stared hard at Beau in response to Beau’s choice of wording. His gaze narrowed, almost as if he were trying to discern Beau’s interest and whether it was purely professional or if it was . . . personal.

Ginger too looked up, turning to face the man who’d just declared he’d save her daughter. She studied him even as Beau’s men surrounded them and began herding them toward the door.

Ginger paused when they reached the point where Beau was standing, waving off the efforts of his men to get them on the move. She reached out and gently touched Beau’s arm.

“What is my daughter to you, Mr. Devereaux?” she asked softly.

“She’s everything,” Beau said bluntly, not even trying to disguise his own vulnerability, the wealth of emotion he was sure shone in his own eyes.

It should have made him crawl right out of his skin to make such a personal, open declaration in front of two people who were strangers to him as well as his entire team of operatives. But he didn’t give two f*cks, because damn it, she was everything. His everything. Without her, his life would be incomplete and he didn’t give a shit who knew it.

Ginger squeezed his arm and then to his surprise, she leaned up on tiptoe and brushed a kiss across his cheek.

“I think my daughter could be in no better hands,” she whispered. “Bring her back to me, Mr. Devereaux. I’m begging you. Bring our baby back to us.”

Beau gently touched her elbow, guiding her toward the hallway so they could be taken to safety.

“I will get her back,” Beau vowed, including Ari’s father in his sweeping gaze, one firm with resolve. “You have my word.”

Just as they reached the cell where the explosives had carved out an exit through the wall, the ground beneath them quaked and rolled, nearly knocking Ginger off balance. Gavin made a grab for her, securing her against him as they all looked around in bewilderment.