Chapter Thirty-Seven

Dane felt like a high school kid as he paced by the condom selection for the third time. Unlike when he was in high school, his hesitancy had nothing to do with whether or not to try the ribbed variety, or any worry that his father might walk into the store while he was paying for them.

His concern today was whether or not he should even buy them. To do so would mean he intended to keep sleeping with Lena. Part of him—most of him—wanted to buy the big box and head back. But there was another part of him that thought it was a bad idea.

This wasn’t a honeymoon, or even a vacation. This was a desperate mission to save two children. Possibly more, since Tobey’s new roommates were most likely also missing children.

It wasn’t the first time he’d found himself torn between duty and pleasure. How many nights had he come home to his family and taken refuge in his wife’s arms, back when his money-laundering boss had made vague threats if Dane didn’t go along with their plans? He knew from talking to a couple of his current team members that it was a common need with soldiers, as well.

After a battle it was important to feel alive again. Sex made a man feel alive.

Dane hoped it had made Lena feel better. If only for a little while.

He picked up the bigger box and went to the counter. He wasn’t sure if he’d have occasion to use them, but he wanted to be prepared.

They were ready to fight for their children’s lives. There was no reason they couldn’t help each other relieve the tension until the time came to act. Until they had a plan of attack, they could use sex to expend the restless energy.

He frowned when he walked into the hotel room and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, talking on the phone. Now that he knew her better, he knew exactly how strained that smile was, and sensed the struggle it took for her to keep it in place.

Anyone else might not realize the happy woman with the cheerful laugh was a fraud, but Dane knew. He could feel the stress coming off of her and reached out to touch her knee, hoping to offer her some strength to hold on until the end of the call.

“When are you coming to get me?” he heard the little girl ask, and watched as Lena pressed her lips together. He knew this was the hardest part. The lying.

“Soon,” he whispered to her. She nodded at him and smiled.

“Soon, baby. I’ll be coming for you soon.”

“Love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too, baby. So much.”

He expected her to weep when she disconnected the call, but she looked up at the ceiling and nodded once. As if making a decision. “I feel like maybe that time it was the truth,” she said.

He sat next to her and pulled her closer. “I think so, too.”

As they ate their bagels, he noticed her phone sitting on the nightstand.

“Give me your phone,” he said, holding out his hand. “Please.”

She handed it over without even asking what he wanted with it. He saw that as progress. She trusted him with the lifeline to her daughter.

“This is the number that calls you to speak to Kenzie?” he verified, pointing.

“Yes. But don’t call it. I won’t be allowed to talk to her. I can only speak to her by Viktor’s order.”

He wasn’t surprised. No one did anything without Viktor’s approval.

“I’m not calling the number. It’s okay.” Holding her phone out, he used his own phone to text the number to Angel with a simple message.

Dane: Track this number please. We’ll need a location.

A few minutes later, he received an answering text.

Angel: On it.

He realized if he wanted Lena to trust him, he needed to communicate better.

“I’m having the number tracked so we can figure out where he’s holding our kids,” he told her.

She paused as if putting a piece of the puzzle together. “They’re not keeping Tobey with Kenzie.” She blinked a few times then shook her head.

“How do you know?”

“Because I heard Weller tell Butch he was going to spend some time in his homeland.”

Dane frowned as she continued.

“I didn’t know what that meant, but I just remembered. Butch is from Canada. I have no idea what province or where. I guess it’s not a very helpful clue.”

“It’s still a clue.” He rested his hand on her shoulder and smiled. Then he thought of something. “How do you know Kenzie isn’t in Canada?”

“I can see palm trees through the window sometimes when she’s talking to me.”

“Could she still be in Miami?” He remembered that was where Lena said she had her salon.

She shrugged. “There are an awful lot of places with palm trees. That clue is about as helpful as the one about Canada.”

“Every little thing helps us get closer to finding our kids. Once we find them, we’ll be able to save them.” He wanted so badly to rush forward to that part, but he knew successful missions needed to be carefully planned and thought out.

He couldn’t just rush in and take Tobey without repercussions. Even if he knew where he would be rushing to. Every contingency needed to be planned for.

“I hope you’re right,” she said with a weak smile.

“I have a plan, but it means you’ll need to trust the rest of my team to help. What do you say?”

“I can’t keep lying to my daughter, and I have no idea how to get us out of this.” It only took a second for her answer. “I’m definitely in.”

He held out his hand and she took it, shaking it firmly.

They were in this together. Both their children were in danger. But now they were a team.