aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire) (11 page)

A
door slammed shut.

Selena
moved forward in her seat.

The
sound of footsteps approached outside the door. She turned in time to see Agent
Kelly enter the room. Agents Bakker and
Smythe
were pushing
Catal in front of them. Her heart raced at the sight of him. She blocked the
sensation. Every cell in her body longed to have him hold her close. She needed
his touch now, but she had to guard her heart. Once
Tarrin
was found, Catal would be gone from her life again.

Agent
Kelly went to the center of the room.

Catal
walked over to Selena and stood beside her. She glanced at the other agents.
There was no expression on their faces. Selena’s stomach dropped as she
prepared for the worse. She reached up and gripped
Catal’s
hand. Strength flowed into her. She straightened her shoulders and faced Agent
Kelly.

“I
won’t waste your time.” The FBI agent’s voice was strident. “We’ve heard from
the kidnappers. They’ve arranged for us to exchange the boys.”

A
gasp of shock ripped through Selena’s lungs. There was hope. She looked up at
Catal and smiled, but he was expressionless. She frowned. The boys would be
home safe soon. Surely this was good news?

“What?”
Her voice was a raw whisper.

“The
kidnappers said nothing about the boys being alive.”

“Why
else would they arrange for us to pick them up?” Selena’s voice faded as she
realized what Catal was concerned about. She shook her head. “He’s alive. I
know it. I sense him still.”

Catal
frowned. “How do you sense him?”

“Even
before he was born, I had a connection with
Tarrin
.”
Selena’s hand shook as she pulled away from Catal. “He’s my son. I know he’s
alive.”

“Then
we will continue our search.” Catal crossed his arms. “Partlan and the others will
find the boys. My assignment is to stay with you.”

Agent
Kelly pointed at Selena. “You are not to leave. Once we have the boys, we will
contact you. Nikki and Steve can come with us in the police van.”

“No.”
Catal’s
voice was firm. “She has as much right as
they do. We will accompany you.”

The
agent glared at Catal for several seconds before looking away. “You will be in
a separate van and under constant surveillance.”

Selena
stood. “My son has been taken also.”

“As
you so conveniently keep reminding us.” Agent Kelly turned back to Steve and
Nikki. “Do you wish to come with us?”

Nikki
looked at Steve and then back to Agent Kelly. “I will come. Steve will stay
here and try and distract the paparazzi so they don’t follow us.”

“Good
plan.” Agent Kelly nodded. “We don’t need a repeat of this afternoon.”

It
took several minutes to arrange the vehicles that would transport them.
Selena’s stomach was in a knot and her knees weak. Catal kept close to her, his
presence gave her the power to continue. Soon she would have
Tarrin
in her arms. Once again she would see his beloved
dark eyes and grave smile, and know that everything was alright.

She
refused to consider any other possibility.

Her
son was alive.

They
climbed into a black van along with Agent Bakker. There was another agent who
drove, while Bakker stayed in the rear with Catal and Selena. Nikki went in a
separate van with Agent Kelly and
Smythe
. No matter
what the outcome of the exchange, Agent Kelly had made it quite clear that she
didn’t trust Selena. Selena would worry about the FBI’s allegations later.
Right now, she only cared about getting her son back alive.

Catal
sat beside her, his back straight and unmoving. She reached out and clasped his
hand. He looked down at her, a muscle in his jaw tightened, but his eyes
softened. A longing to share the connection she had once had with him rushed
through her. She wanted to turn back the clock and be the young girl who had
believed in love everlasting. With a sigh, she released his hand and looked out
the window.

The
drive to the exchange location seemed to take hours. They turned down a number
of streets that led into the city of Los Angeles. Slowly the houses changed
from luxurious mansions to smaller well-kept bungalows and two storey homes.
When they passed a group of conical towers, she knew they were in Watts.

“Is
this the right spot?” Selena’s voice was hesitant. “I thought this was a
neighbourhood where gangs arranged drugs deals, not kidnappings.”

“We’re
following the instructions we were given.”

They
pulled up in front of small bungalow. It stood out from the rest of the houses
on the street because of its state of disrepair. The paint on the siding was
peeling off and some of the windows were boarded up. An old van in the driveway
was the only indication that someone lived at the place. She moved forward in
her seat when Agent Bakker opened the side door of the vehicle and jumped to
the road.

“You
stay here.” He slammed the door shut.

Catal
reached past her, released the handle and pushed the door open. “I’m going in.
I’ve let the other Hunters know the location.”

Selena
frowned. He wasn’t wearing a wireless ear set. How had he told them? Perhaps
they were following. There was comfort in knowing that reinforcements were
coming, but it wasn’t enough. She had to see for herself.

Selena
slid off the seat and out of the van. “I’m coming with you.”

Catal
hesitated for a second and then nodded. He pulled her behind him, blocking her
view. When she tried to move around him, he stopped her with his arm.

“Stay
behind me.”
Catal’s
voice was low. “That is the only
way I can protect you.”

“The
boys need to see friendly faces, not policemen.” Selena gripped his shirt. “My
safety doesn’t matter.”

Catal
turned to face her. He leaned in close enough so that his words could only be
heard by her. “I lived through the hell of not knowing what happened to you. I
won’t put your life at risk now that I’ve found you.”

“No
one is going to hurt me.” Selena’s voice faltered at the look of pain in
Catal’s
dark eyes.

“If
anything happened to you I would die.”

Selena’s
breath caught in her throat at the sincerity in
Catal’s
voice. “I promise to be careful.”

“Once
I know it’s safe, you can look.” Catal took a step forward. “I’ll try to get us
closer.”

Selena
peeked around his back. There were police everywhere, most of them in
protective vests that said FBI. She shuddered at what the boys would think
about the show of force. Nikki was standing close to Agent Kelly. The two of
them were leaning against the hood of the van they had arrived in. Catal took a
step to the side and she followed.

“They’ve
broken the door in.” His voice rumbled through his chest.

Selena
leaned closer to him, taking comfort in the shelter he provided. Her body was
shivering with anticipation. A second later, a loud gun blast ripped through
the air. It was followed by a second one. She moved to go around Catal. Before
she could take a step, he grabbed her close.

“Wait.”
He stroked her hair. “The police know enough not to hurt the boys.”

“How
can you be certain?” Selena’s voice cracked with a sob. “What if the kidnappers
decided to kill the boys at the last minute?”

“That
would make no sense.” Catal put his hands against her cheeks and looked down
into her eyes. “You said you could feel him with you. You would be the first to
know if something had happened.”

Selena
gulped back her panic and focused.
Tarrin’s
presence
was still there with her. It was faint, though. “He’s alive.”

The
FBI came out of the house leading a large man in front of them. He was bald,
with a torn tee shirt and black sweatpants. Dried food clung to a grey streaked
dark beard that reached his chest. His arms were behind his back and he was
yelling.

“You’ve
no right to barge into a man’s home.” He twisted his body in the agent’s hold.
“I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“We
have it on good authority that you are holding two boys here.” Agent Kelly
stepped in front of the man. “Where are they?”

“You’re
crazy lady.” The man’s eyes bulged wide. “I know nothing about kids. I hate them.”

“Then
that would explain why you kidnapped them.” Agent Kelly’s voice was neutral.
“Tell us where they are and it will go easier for you.”

“I
ain’t
saying nothing without a lawyer.” The man’s
chin jutted out. “I’ll sue you for the damage to my house too.”

Another
agent came out the side door. He shook his head. Selena’s heart stopped for a
second. Did that mean the boys were dead? She started to run toward the house,
but
Catal’s
strong arms held her close. Warmth and
comfort flowed through her.

“Remember,
you know he is still alive.” His words where a whisper against her ear.
“Chances are the boys were never here.”

She
looked up at him. “Why?”

“Nothing
about this kidnapping has made any sense.” Catal kept his voice low. “Partlan
and the others are investigating another suspect.”

“Do
you know who did it?”

“We
have our suspicions.”

“Have
you told the FBI?”

“No.”
Catal’s
finger pushed a strand of hair behind her
ear. “They don’t want our help. We have only one goal and that is to get the
boys back. They want to make an arrest.”

Selena
nodded. “That’s why I called you. I knew you would do whatever it took to bring
them home.”

“We
won’t rest until they are safe.”

Tears
pricked Selena’s eyes. “I remember how determined you could be in the past.”

“I
would never hurt you.”
Catal’s
hand smoothed against
her cheek. “We are bonded.”

Selena
turned her head away. He might not hurt her now, but what of the betrayal and
pain he’d caused in the past? She couldn’t forget what her brother had said.
Right now all that mattered was that he save her son. Whatever it took, she
didn’t care.

“You
still don’t trust me.”
Catal’s
voice shook. “Whatever
you think I’ve done, you’re wrong. I’ve searched for you. All I care about is
your safety and the return of your son.”

“Too
much has happened.” Selena’s voice was hesitant.

Catal
sounded sincere. She sensed more than saw his pain whenever he looked at her.
He had done everything she asked without question. He believed her. What more
proof did she want that she could trust him? Her head ached and her stomach
felt heavy. She would worry about this later.

Selena
turned away and watched with unseeing eyes as the FBI agents left the house.
They were carrying boxes and papers, but nowhere was there anything the boys
might have used. No clothes, no toys.

“Take
me home.”

Catal
led her back into the van and together they waited in silence until Agent
Bakker jumped into the front seat. The drive back to the Walter’s residence was
quick. Selena held herself together, willing the pain away before it overcame
her. How had a once happy and safe life become this?

At
the house, she shook
Catal’s
arm away. “I need to be
alone.”

She
walked to her own quarters holding her body straight and tense. She was close
to breaking and she didn’t want anyone, least of all the man she had once
loved, to see her cry. She was a strong woman, but there were limits.

She
flicked on the light and locked the door to her quarters before stumbling to
the couch. Tears blinded her. She sat and dropped her head into her hands. She
knew
Tarrin
was alive, but where did they search now?
Her chest tightened with agony.

“Don’t
tell me you’ve given up little one?”

Her
head shot up.

Her
brother Juan stood in her kitchen.

Eight
years had passed since she’d last seen him, but he looked the same. He was a
tall and handsome man, ten years her senior. Their parents had died when she
was eight, so he’d become more of a father to her than a brother. She had
rejected the life he led, but he was still her brother. A surge of love raced
through her veins.

“What
are you doing here?” Selena wiped away her tears.

“I
heard about the kidnapping of my nephew.” Juan took a sip from the mug he was
holding in his hands. “You did not think a little thing like a border would
keep me away.”

“How
did you know where to find me?”

“I
have always known where you were.” Juan’s tone was indulgent. “You are my baby
sister. You might have run away from Columbia, but you can never lose your
family.”