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Jocelyn frowned. “I wonder who it was.”
“I don’t know. There is also the possibility whoever it was couldn’t been watching another house.”
That thought had crossed Gabby’s mind, too, but something deep down told her that whoever was in that car was watching her.
“But we’re not going to take any chances. I’m going to have my two guys stay here with you ladies until your men get here. I am also sending one over to Duke and Hannah’s.”
Gabby pinched her eyebrows. “But we don’t know how long the guys are going to be away.”
Tink grinned and looked at Jocelyn. “I guess Derek didn’t tell you when you spoke with him. The guys are on their way home.”
Gabby’s heart skipped a beat when Tink casually mentioned, “The guys are already on their way home.”
She froze for a second, processing the words. A rush of emotions hit her all at once—relief, excitement, and a pinch of anxiety. She’d been holding her breath for days, knowing Playboy was out there, doing what he did best, but the constant worry gnawed at her. She couldn’t wait to see him and welcome him home.
Plus, with all of this happening, she would feel better and safer having Playboy by her side.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Playboy climbed out of the transport, feeling the usual rush of adrenaline tapering off now that their mission was over. It had been a surprisingly short, clean operation with no major issues. It was just how they liked it. He glanced around at the team and could tell that they were all ready to settle back into some normalcy, at least for a few days.
As they made their way inside their building and down the hall to their gear room, Playboy spotted Derek waiting for them.
Derek’s face was serious, his expression a mix of concern and uncertainty. Neither expression sat well with Playboy, and his instincts kicked in immediately—something was wrong.
“Commander,” Bear called out, looking like he had picked up on the vibe as well.
“Welcome back,” Derek began. “And congratulations on a successful mission.” He then motioned toward the room. “Let’s go inside and talk.”
Once they all entered the room and set their gear down, all eyes were on their commander.
“Before I explain, know that everyone is safe. However, there was a situation earlier today at Bear and Jocelyn’s house.”
Playboy saw concern and worry in Bear’s expression increase as he stepped forward. “What the hell happened? Are Joce and the kids okay?”
Derek held his hand up. “Let me repeat myself. Everyone is fine. That includes Jocelyn and the kids. Hannah and baby Izzy. As well as Clover and Gabby.”
Derek then began to explain what happened and how the girls called him, but he couldn’t get over there, so he called Tink, and Tink and a few of his guys went and checked things out.
Playboy’s stomach was in knots as Derek explained the situation. His mind went blank for a split second, then roared to life with worry and anger.
Bear’s face darkened in anger when Derek told them that Amira had been outside with Gabby when she saw the car.
“But everyone’s okay, right?” Playboy asked, needing to hear Derek confirm it one more time. He could already feel the heat rising in his chest, the protective instinct roaring to the surface.
“I assure you, they’re all fine,” Derek said, his voice steady though the tension was still thick. “Gabby, Jocelyn, Clover, Hannah, the kids—everyone’s safe. Tink went out, but the car was gone by the time he got there. He did find a pile of cigarette butts right where Gabby said the car had been.”
“Someone was watching,” Bear growled, fists clenched at his sides. Playboy could see his friend’s shoulders bunch up, the thought of his daughter being in danger igniting an all-too-familiar rage. But the fire in Playboy’s own chest was burning just as hot.
The cigarette butts. That meant someone had been sitting there, waiting. For how long? And for what?
Derek looked at Duke. “Tink sent one of his guys to watch over Hannah and Izzy, just in case. We don’t know if this person’s a threat or not, but we didn’t want to take any chances.”
“I appreciate that,” Duke said, concern etched on his face as well.
Playboy’s mind was racing. Who the hell would be creeping around Bear’s place? One of the possibilities that crossed his mind was whether this could be connected somehow to Gabby’s accident.
Suddenly, Jay Bird broke the silence. “Do we know yet which cartel was behind the drugs that were involved in Gabby’s accident?”
