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. Kelly turned on Ty then, jaw set, eyes flashing. You haveto go find that money to save the man you love, I get that. Then he pointed to his own chest. But I ve got to do the samething.I m going to find Nick.I m done. Ty felt the world spin a little as he tried to come to termswith the fact he was considering letting anyone else go rescuehis best friend without him. Fuck this! he finally huffed.He291 brushed past Kelly, heading for the driver s side door of theSUV. Zane. Zane was nodding. Let s go get him. Ty s heart clenched. Are you sure? Zane smiled softly. What good is it to save ourselves if wesacrifice who we love along the way? Ty puffed out a relieved breath. I m not coming with you, though, Zane added. What, why? I want to go to Quantico, talk to Jack Tanner.I think Ican read him better than Nick.A day out of the way, then I lljoin you. But going alone Ty, I ll be okay for twelve hours. Ty was skeptical, but he nodded. We ll find Nick.Youquestion Tanner.We ll meet in the middle. A face swam above Zane s vision, blinking in and out as hefought his way back to consciousness. First lesson I ever taught you, boy, Jack Tanner said witha shake of his head. Never trust anyone. What? Zane whispered, and he squeezed his eyes closedto fight back the nausea and confusion.What the hell had happened? He remembered leavingthe other boys to their search for Nick and driving towardQuantico.He vaguely remembered trying to find the rightaddress to talk to Jack Tanner, and he remembered beingexcited to see the man again.The one man in the academywho d believed in him, who d seen something in him to push292 for.He wasn t ashamed to admit he was looking forward toTanner seeing him now, seeing what he d made of himself.But after that, he had no memory of anything.Had hebeen jumped? Had he had an accident? Why the hell did hishead hurt so much? I hit you in the head, son, Tanner told him, soundingalmost amused. Wilkins.You two idiots come hold himbefore he gets his senses back. Rough hands dragged him off the ground.Zane wasbattling to remember, to understand.He d been welcomedinto Tanner s home and offered coffee, and then.This wasnot how he remembered Tanner s coffee.He shook away the confusion and the blurriness, meetingTanner s eyes as two other men held his arms and proppedhim up on wobbly legs. Always did have a hard head, didn t you, Zane? Tannerasked. Where s Dick s money? What? Tanner waved a photo in Zane s face.It was the one of Tyand Nick that had been hanging in their living room.Therewas blood smeared over the corner of it. I know you and yourboys are looking for the money Dick stole.You got into thatsafe, didn t you? You were the one after it? Neighbors called the law on me before I could get itopen.Richard and I were partners.The information in thatsafe is rightfully mine.What was in it? Zane struggled to pull in breaths, trying not to react tooviolently to the photo or to Tanner s betrayal.Pain burnedthrough him, making things hazy, blurring his vision.Bloodwas pounding through his head at warp speed, and he couldfeel it trickling down his neck.293 Why not just kill them when they came to you? he askedTanner roughly, though deep down he knew the answer.If hecould stall, though, maybe Ty would realize he was in danger,or he d find an opening to attack. Why the act? Because when your idiot friends showed up at my door, Irealized you and Grady knew where the last pieces of Richard slittle puzzle were hidden.He tried to screw me. Tanner stoodup, shoving the picture of Ty and Nick in Zane s shirt pocket. And really, Garrett, I just need you.Not Grady.Certainlynot any of your friends.All I need is the information fromthat safe.And I know you can get it for me. Fuck you. I thought that might be your answer. Tanner held upone of Zane s knives in a hand with a brand-new cast. I canget it from your husband. Zane couldn t hide the stark fear that came over him.Hetensed his shoulders and yanked at the men holding him,almost pulling the smaller of the two off his feet.Tanner laughed and then hit Zane with a sharp left hook,leaving his cohorts to shore Zane up.Zane used the leverageand kicked out with both feet, hooking one ankle aroundTanner s neck.When Tanner ducked and bowed his headunder the weight, Zane got the other foot against his neckand tightened his feet together like a vise.Tanner flailed and pushed ineffectually at Zane s foot,hitting his leg with the plaster cast.A little more torque andZane thought he might be able to snap the man s neck.Hepushed his toes against Tanner s chin.Tanner gasped andmotioned wildly at his lackeys, who both simply stepped backand let Zane go, removing his leverage.But Zane refused torelease Tanner, even as he lost the support from behind.294 The thin rug didn t do anything to pad his fall, and thehard landing stunned him once more as pain lanced throughevery joint in his body.He lost his grip on Tanner s neck, anda heavy, booted foot pressed down on his throat before hecould recover his senses.He gasped and grabbed at the ankle,receiving an angry kick to the ribs for his trouble. Always were a persistent little shit, Tanner hissedbreathlessly.He was on his knees, and he gestured to his menas he climbed back to his feet. Get the bastard up.And holdhim this time! The rookie agents bent obediently to haul Zane up,cursing at him under their breath.Tanner took a syringe from his back pocket, holding itup as they struggled with Zane to bare his arm.Zane twistedand fought, even biting down on an arm that came too closeto his mouth.But the needle burned into his skin, floodinghis body with ice.Tanner sneered at him as his vision wavered. We ll seehow fucking tough you are when you re watching your friendbleed out in front of you. I ll kill you, Zane whispered. You can sure as hell try, boy. 295 Chapter 10ane woke so fast it stole his breath
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