Seth watched as the reality of the situation came over Jesse’s face. “He knew,” Jesse mumbled. “I’d hoped that it had been a last-minute thing, that he’d taken the opportunity to salvage a deal when everything turned to shit.” He looked up, his eyes blazing. “But he sent me there that night to die. That has to be it. He’s in deep with these motherfuckers and today they called in his debt.”

“Either that or they figured he was talking,” Scott said, shrugging. “Just playing devil’s advocate. We can’t know for sure you were set up from the inside.”

Jesse looked over at Maya, his gaze hardening. “It doesn’t matter which. I need to fix this.” His gaze shifted to Seth and Jesse handed him a cell phone, an old-style one you could buy at a convenience store. “Give me your cell number and then take my sister back to your place. For God’s sake, don’t leave her alone until you hear this is all over.”

He started moving out of the room but was stopped in his tracks when Maya flew out of Seth’s arms and rushed to the door, blocking his way. She pushed at his chest and Jesse, thank God, stopped in place. If he’d kept moving and tried to push Maya out of the way, Seth would have needed to punch him. He was pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well with the in-laws. As far as he was concerned, he was in this for the long haul, and he was pretty sure Maya felt the same way. Introducing him to her parents, however, might take awhile. Mostly due to the six-foot idiot currently standing next to her at the doorway.

“Get back in there and sit the hell down,” Maya hissed through clenched teeth. Seth moved toward them, but she looked over at him just long enough to tell him to stay put. He’d promised that he’d be by her side the entire way, but this was one battle she needed to fight herself. No matter what his reason, Jesse’s actions had really done a number on her, and she needed to take that control back. “I only just got you back,” she said, her eyes glistening. “There is no way on earth I’m letting you walk out there to face those monsters.” She stood tall, unmoving, and pride filled Seth. Push her around, throw everything you can at her, and his girl was still standing. Still fighting—against enemy and family. If you fucked up, she was going to let you know it. She was strong as hell, feisty, and loyal to the end and he loved that. He loved that about her.

Shit. He loved her.

He kept his eyes steady, but inside his heartbeat was thudding loudly in his ears. He loved her, and he was going to help her win this fight, win the whole Goddamned war, and get her life back. From where he stood, there was simply no other option.

He strode over to Jesse and laid a hand on his shoulder. “She’s right,” he said, his voice calm. “What are you going to do, spend your entire life running? Make your parents go into hiding, too?” Jesse winced, but Seth refused to take it back. It was a low blow for sure, but it was what Jesse needed to pull his head out of his ass and accept the help that was being offered. He forged forward. “Maya and Meg will stay here,” he said, looking over at Liam for the nod of agreement. “I’ll call the rest of the squad and get them to come over. They’ll be safe with them here to keep watch.” Seth saw Maya shift toward him out of the corner of his eye, but Seth’s gaze stayed on Jesse. This was make-or-break time and he wasn’t going to let him squirm out of it. “Then you, me, Liam, and Scott are going to get in that car and drive down to the precinct to make official statements regarding the arson and what you remember that night. We’ll sort this out. Right now.”

Jesse swallowed hard, his gaze bouncing between Seth and Maya. Whatever he’d seen in his sister’s face must have convinced him, because he held out his hand to Seth. “Okay.”

Seth took his hand and shook it, before pulling him into a hug. “We’ve got this,” he said, stepping back and taking Maya’s hand. “This is for her. She won’t be truly happy again without her brother in her life. You’ve just gotta trust that we can get the job done together.” Maya’s arms wrapped around his waist and he pulled her down for a hug. Jesse smiled at them both before walking back over to the table and gathering up the papers. Seth bent down, touching his lips to Maya’s softly. That was all he’d do in a room full of people and tensions high, but later, when the job was done, he was going to sit her down, tell her he loved her, and then make love to her until he was calling out his name.

* * *

Things moved quickly once the decision was made. Within fifteen minutes, he was cleaning out the back seat of his truck, getting ready to drive away. Liam checked the front door and security system, even as Meg assured him they were all fine. “Get going,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist and dropping a kiss on his mouth. By the look on Liam’s face, he didn’t want to leave Meg any more than Seth was looking forward to being away from Maya. But Meg was right. Dean and Mason were on their way over already with their better halves, and the sooner they got moving, the sooner he could be holding Maya again.

Scott waved, hopping in his own car. He would drive to the precinct ahead of them and then wait for Seth, Liam, and Jesse to arrive in Seth’s truck. Plausible deniability and all that, should Jesse’s worries about the local force being compromised be in any way correct. Seth didn’t believe it, but there was nothing wrong with being cautious.

“We’ll have to stop by my place first,” Jesse said. “I’ve got some stuff there we’ll need.”

Seth turned, twisting in his seat to catch his gaze. “You have a place?”

Jesse shrugged. “Well, more like an abandoned warehouse. But it was somewhere to stay until I was sure Maya was safe.” He grinned. “Besides, you can’t beat the room rate.”

Seth grinned back. Now that there was a plan in place and they were moving again, Jesse seemed to be in a much better mood. He likely felt in control again, and back on his own familiar turf. Seth could understand that. Not that he went around taking down murderers on a regular basis, but he got the same rush when they headed out to a fire. Sure, it was dangerous, but Seth knew what he was doing and knew he had the rest of Engine 81 at his back. It was the same here. Jesse may have been screwed over by a corrupt SAC, but he had a whole new family to support him now. He belonged to Maya, and Maya was part of them. It was as simple as that.

Jesse guided them through the back streets and into the parking lot outside the warehouse. Seth stared through the windshield. The place was run-down, and looked to be half burned out. Despite it only being mid-afternoon, the sky was overcast and the building sat in shadows. Far too many chances for someone to be hiding inside. If they’d been following the judge, then who’s to say a member of the club wasn’t waiting inside to take Jesse out, too?

Seth slid out from behind the wheel. “I’m going inside with you. It’ll be faster that way.” Liam followed suit, and the three of them headed toward the building. Seth paused at the front door and Jesse stood immediately behind him, still glancing out to the parking lot. He gave the surroundings one more glance and then stepped up to the door, swinging it open. “Stay there,” he said. He pulled out a handgun and swept the immediate rooms, then turned around, giving them the all clear. As Seth and Liam stepped into the room, Jesse patted his jacket, his face confused. “I can’t find my cell,” he said. “It must have fallen out somewhere in the parking lot or the car.” He gestured toward a bedroll in the corner. Several milk crates lay stacked around it, one holding an old lantern and the rest covered in papers. Seth grinned. It looked like Maya’s filing habits were hereditary. “I’ll go look for it,” Jesse said. “It’s got some photos on it we’re going to want. Can you guys gather up the papers?”

Seth nodded and started toward the stack while Liam began to comb the rest of the room. Looking for other evidence or just collecting Jesse’s stuff, either way, Seth left him to it. The man had the best instincts he’d seen at arson scenes. Maybe his skills could transfer to this.

He’d just picked up the final piece of paper littering the floor when Liam’s head went up. “Hear that?” he asked.

Seth cocked his head. A quiet thud reached his ears. “I definitely heard that.” The papers fell from his arms and he rushed to the warehouse’s main door in time to see his truck squealing out of the lot, Jesse behind the wheel. “Motherfucker!”

His phone pinged with a text and Seth pulled it out, still cursing. An unknown number. Tell Maya I’m sorry, and look after her. I have to do this.

Seth took a step forward, ready to chase the truck down the street if he had to, but Liam’s hand on his arm stopped him. “He’s gone, Seth.”

He clicked on his phone to bring up the screen again and started dialing. Scott had proven he was on their side. Seth hoped he’d be able to come through one last time and trace the LoJack in Seth’s car. He’d half typed the number when his phone pinged again. Another unknown number. Fuck. He swiped angrily and nearly dropped his phone when the message came up. It wasn’t from Jesse.

Maya’s face appeared before him, bruised and gagged. Below it, a simple message. “Bring me the FBI brother and I’ll give you back his sister. You choose which one gets to live.”