Finding those involved in putting him in the hospital would make him feel better and more at ease.

  Was there a hit out on him? Possibly. He needed to know who and to learn why. Either way, the motherfuckers were going to wish they had never heard of him. His only concern was how he could take care of it and not land his ass in jail.

  The conversation with Journey back at the hospital came to mind. He hated the way he had talked to her, but how dare she throw his stint behind bars in his face. He’d been in the wrong back then, but she seemed to always forget the part of him ending up in that situation because of trying to protect her honor.

  Laz straightened in his seat when Myles neared their neighborhood. He had no doubt the former CIA agent was alert and knew they didn’t have a tail. However, Laz was a creature of habit. He discreetly glanced around as Myles made a few extra turns while creeping down the quiet streets until he finally pulled into Laz’s driveway.

  Not even a second later, two other SUVs pulled in front of the house. The extra security might’ve been overkill, but Laz wasn’t taking any chances with his family. He knew Parker and Nelson were in one vehicle, and he assumed Angelo was in the other.

  Before Myles could put the car in park, the front door of the house opened, and Journey’s parents stepped out. Laz was surprised to see Geneva and Collin, her and Myles’s preschooler son, with them.

  Myles cursed under his breath at seeing his wife, who was only six months pregnant but looked as if she was going to deliver at any moment, right there on the porch.

  Laz almost smiled. He’d been crazy protective when Journey was pregnant with Arielle, but Myles had taken his protectiveness to another level. As a hair salon owner, Geneva was on her feet for much of the day, which was a bone of contention between her and Myles. He had gone as far as hiring extra help for her and had even hired security to follow her around.

  Of course, Geneva—being the uncompromising person she was—shot that shit down real quick. She kept the extra salon workers but fired the security personnel.

  Myles opened the back door for Journey while Kenton opened Laz’s door.

  “You need a hand?” Kenton asked as Laz slowly exited the vehicle, carrying Arielle in his good arm.

  She might’ve been a lightweight, but with the pain charging through his shoulder and arm, it was like he was carrying a two-ton boulder. Instead of saying that, though, he said, “I’m good.”

  “Well, you look like you’re about to keel over. You need to rethink your plans for this evening,” Kenton said quietly. “We can start—”

  “Not happening. We’re sticking with my plan,” Laz said just above a whisper, not wanting Journey to hear. “You’re taking me to Supreme as soon as I pack a bag.”

  Kenton sighed loudly and shook his head, probably calling Laz all types of a fool in his mind.

  Laz didn’t care. As long as he could stay awake, he had every intention of starting his search tonight. Journey would pitch a fit when she found out he planned to stay at Supreme for a few days. Again, he didn’t care. As angry as he was at her right now, she was lucky he wasn’t moving out of the house for good.

  Laz eased up the walkway toward the large two-story colonial they had purchased years ago. He loved this house and had always felt safe, but right now, his nerves were stretched thin. Until he knew whether the shooters had been after him or Nazir, he wouldn’t rest.

  “I’m so glad you both are okay,” Journey’s mom said as she placed a kiss on Laz’s cheek.

  “Thanks, Ivy. Me too. It’s good seeing you,” he said honestly. His parents had passed away many years ago. Ivy and Logan, Journey’s father, were his bonus parents. They lived a couple of hours south of Atlanta and visited often. Having them there made it feel like a typical weekend.

  Right now, he needed normal.

  Laz stepped onto the porch. Beads of sweat graced his hairline, and his breathing came in short spurts as if he’d run around the block a few times.

  “Here, give her to me,” Logan said and nodded at Arielle, who was starting to stir.

  The big man didn’t wait for a response, and Laz gritted his teeth to keep from protesting when Logan took Arielle from him. Usually, he and his father-in-law got along well, but right now, the man was pushing it. Laz wasn’t ready to let go of Arielle, and Logan didn’t seem to care. The way the old man’s eyes analyzed Laz’s reaction; it was as if he dared him to say something.

  “You need some rest so that you can hunt those bastards down and handle them,” Logan said as he walked back into the house with his granddaughter in his arms.

  Now that was the Logan Laz knew and loved.

  Before retiring from Atlanta PD, the old man’s reputation wasn’t as ruthless as Laz’s, but everyone knew that Logan didn’t take shit from anyone. For the most part, he had done things by the book, but the man was intimidating as hell. That was saying a lot, coming from Laz. While working for Atlanta PD, Laz had been a by-any-means-necessary guy, using his badge to scare criminals into submission.

  Logan was different, and it wasn’t just his size. There was an arrogant air about him that demanded respect…and maybe even a little fear.

  When Laz made it inside the house, his father-in-law still held Arielle, and her eyes popped open. She stretched her neck back to look at Logan.

  “Hi, Papa.” Her gaze went to Journey’s mom, and she squirmed in Logan’s arms to sit up. “We—we go to see Minnie Mouse now?” She still sounded sleepy but also hopeful. “Collin!” she screeched when seeing her cousin.

  As the four of them headed toward the back of the house where the kitchen and family room were located, Arielle sounded wide awake. Laz heard her start talking about Disney World while also giving a convoluted version of what occurred earlier. From what Laz could hear, Arielle didn’t know she’d been a part of a shooting. She only talked about the loud noises she heard.

  Thank God. Hopefully, that was all she remembered.

  Still in the large foyer, Laz breathed in a cleansing breath, glad to be home. Before he could head to the stairs that would take him up to the bedroom, Geneva strolled over. She slid her arm through his and laid her head on his good shoulder.

  “I’m glad you’re going to be okay. Especially since I’m sure you want to go after the assholes who put a bullet in you. Let me know if you want backup. I’m right there with you if needed.”

  Laz couldn’t help but chuckle. He didn’t have any sisters, only a brother, but if he had one, he’d want her to be just like Geneva. According to Journey, her sister was his female equivalent, and he could definitely see the similarities in their personalities.

  Though Journey had plenty of sass and didn’t let anyone walk over her, Gen took being a badass to another level. Whoever came up with the term “ride or die” was talking about his sister-in-law. She was fearless, loyal, and always ready to throw down. Marriage hadn’t changed that. Like some of the men Laz knew, Geneva was a fight-first-and-ask-questions-later type person. The woman was scary as hell, and she was probably serious about having his back, despite being hugely pregnant.

  “Thanks, Gen.” He kissed her forehead before she lifted her head from his shoulder. “You’ll be the first person I call if I need help. But just a heads-up. Your husband is on his way over here, and he doesn’t look happy.”

  “Aww, hell. Let me go and smooth things over. I was supposed to be at home like a good little wife,” she said as she strolled away.

  Laz had just started up the stairs when Journey came from the living room area. Just as she reached him, Kenton and Angelo strolled into the house.

  “Guys, thanks so much for everything you’ve done for us today,” Journey said. “I know you’re probably tired and ready to head home. We can take it from here.”

  “They’re not going anywhere,” Laz said, with more bite behind his words than intended. This was why he had to get the hell out of there before he made the tension between him and Journey even worse. “You’re going to have a security detail until further notice. At least two guys at all times.”

  “Laz,” she started, and that one word held a ton of frustration.

  “This is not up for negotiation.” He didn’t care how mad she made him at times. Her safety was at the top of his list of priorities, and until he knew who or what they were dealing with, he wanted her protected. “I especially want someone around since I won’t be here.”

  Journey’s perfectly arched brows scrunched together, and she jammed her hands onto her hips. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ll stay in one of the crash rooms at work for a few days.”

  When his boss Mason Bennett had purchased an old warehouse to house Supreme Security, he had converted it into a state-of-the-art facility. In addition to tech-smart meeting rooms, a cook’s kitchen, a gym, and a weight room, he’d had the foresight to include several rooms similar to studio apartments. Some of the security specialists, especially those who lived outside of Atlanta, used the spaces to grab a nap in between assignments instead of going home.

  “Whenever you’re at work or too busy for our daughter during that time,” Laz continued, knowing he was being an ass, “one of the guys will bring Arielle to me.”

  “First of all, how are you making these decisions without discussing them with me? Secondly, Arielle is going to Florida with my parents as planned.”

  “Like hell she is,” he roared. “Plans have changed.”

  Journey moved closer to him, and her I’m-not-taking-your-shit-tonight demeanor was fully in place. He loved this woman like crazy, and she was sexy as hell when she was angry. Any other time, he could appreciate the can of verbal whoop-ass she was about to unleash, but he wasn’t in the mood.

  “I know you’ve been through hell today,” she said with controlled fury, “but what you’re not going to do is come in here and start telling me how things are going to be.”

  From his peripheral, Laz saw the moment when Kenton and Angelo eased into the living room, which was probably for the best. He had a feeling this argument was going to blow up at any minute.

  “I’m done talking to you.” Laz started up the stairs to their bedroom.

  “Good, then you can do the listening,” Journey said, stomping up the stairs and shoving past him. “I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

  A smart man would do a one-eighty and head back down the stairs, but Laz never claimed to be smart. He wasn’t in the mood for a drag-down blowout with Journey, but it was safe to say that’s exactly what was about to happen.

  “You want an update before you go and face the firing squad?” Parker asked from behind him.

  Laz turned to his friend, who was leaning his shoulder against the wall near the bottom step as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  Parker had moved to Atlanta from Chicago, hired by Supreme, and was assigned to the Atlanta’s Finest team a couple of years ago. The former SWAT officer fit in perfectly. He was one of the youngest ones in the group, a weapons specialist, and essentially fearless. The man had nerves of steel, and Laz loved having him on the team.

  “You got something and didn’t tell me?” Laz asked as he walked back down the few steps he’d taken. “Tell me you found the bastards.”

  “Haven’t found them yet, and I’m not sure what Ham has already filled you in on. So, some of this might be a repeat,” Parker said.

  Laz hadn’t been in a good head space, so he didn’t know much about what happened after he was rushed to the hospital. Yes, he’d wanted to know who the hell had shot at him, but earlier, he hadn’t been ready to hear anything. His number-one focus had been on finding Journey.

  “Angelo chased after the car on foot. He wasn’t able to get close enough to get the license plate number, but he did get a partial plate off the car,”

  “Did he tell Ted?” Laz asked.

  Parker shook his head. “Nope. He knew you’d want to stay ahead of the cops on this.”

  There was nothing more special than having people in your life who knew you well. This situation was going to be tricky, especially since Nazir had been killed. The cops would be all over the case, trying to piece the events together and find Nazir’s killer.

  Laz didn’t want anyone getting in trouble for withholding evidence, but the men of Supreme Security knew what to hold back and what to share with the detectives.

  “Wiz is doing a search based on the make and model of the car, as well as the partial plate. Last I heard, he’d found over three hundred possibilities, but he assured Ham that he’ll narrow the list down.”

  Laz nodded. Cameron “Wiz” Miller was one of the owners of Supreme Security-Chicago and their go-to person for all things technology. The man was a computer guru and a hacker extraordinaire. What he could do with technology was mind-blowing, and he was constantly developing something new that could help them with their jobs—such as GPS devices for the women in their lives. All of the wives had a piece of jewelry that held a GPS chip.

  Which reminds me….

  “Do you guys have Journey’s watch?”

  “Yeah, Kenton got it from her, but not without a fight.” Parker laughed. “When he asked for it, she refused to give it to him.”

  Laz frowned. “Why?”

  “Well, it happened after they found her, and he read her the riot act for not having her phone on. Anyway, she wasn’t giving it up at first. It wasn’t until he assured her that Wiz just wanted to update the GPS device that she finally handed it over.”

  Damn. “That’s on me,” Laz said.

  Journey thought he no longer wanted her protected: that he didn’t care—which wasn’t the case at all. If anything, he wanted double security on her, at least until they knew who or what they were dealing with.

  “One more thing,” Parker said, all humor erased from his face as he pushed away from the wall.

  Laz braced himself for whatever was coming next. “What?”

  “Ashton dug into Nazir’s background, talked to his employer, and stopped by his apartment that he shared with a roommate. Everyone had only good things to say about him. We were going to keep digging to ensure we ruled him out as the target, but….”

  “But?” Laz prompted, anxiousness slowly building inside his body as he waited for Parker to continue.

  His friend stared him in the eyes, and his jaw was clenched tight enough to crack his teeth. “We just got word that there was a tracker under the back bumper of your truck. You were the target, Laz.”

  Chapter Ten

  Journey stormed into their bedroom and wanted to slam the door in Laz’s face, but she refrained. Her husband had done plenty of crap to anger her over the years, but today, the way he’d been treating her was unacceptable.

  She paced the length of their bedroom twice to calm herself. It wasn’t working. Not even the soft lighting from the bedside table lamps and the tranquil blue-gray walls could soothe her tattered nerves. By the time Laz walked in, she had hoped to have quieted the angry thoughts running through her mind.

  Instead, she wanted to knock some sense into her husband.

  But when she swung around to face him, some of her anger drifted out of her like air from a balloon. Her big, strong man was hunched forward slightly and clearly in pain. His long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, giving her a clear view of his pale face and pinched features.

  Without a word, he shuffled past her and sat in an overstuffed chair near the windows. The blinds were drawn, and he didn’t bother turning on the lamp perched on the small table between the chairs. It was semi-dark in that corner, but there was just enough light in the room for her to see him watching her.

  “I hate this,” she mumbled, unsure what part she hated the most. The fact that they were fighting or the fact that he wasn’t himself tonight.

  She wanted so badly to sit in his lap and wrap her arms around him—something she did often, but she couldn’t. Unless she wanted her ass to end up on the carpeted floor because she had a feeling that that was where he’d dump her if she tried to snuggle up to him. He might be in serious pain, but the way he was glaring at her with his beautiful hazel-green eyes told her he was ready for a fight.

  “I’m sorry, all right?” Journey said. “God knows I wish I was there to….”

  “No.” Laz shook his head. “I’m glad you weren’t at the scene. I have never been as afraid as I was, knowing there was a chance that Arielle could’ve been hit by a bullet. I can’t even explain that type of fear, but it would’ve killed me had you been there and in danger. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.”

  Her heart flipped inside of her chest. She had no doubt that he would’ve done the same thing he did—fight to get to her and make sure she was safe. With him sharing that information with so much emotion in his tone, she knew their love for each other was stronger than any disagreement they could ever have.

  Yet, the tension between them was proof that it took more than love to keep a marriage together.

  “Laz—”

  “I just wanted you to be there when I needed you the most—after everything went down. Arielle was inconsolable, and hearing the fear in her cries….” His words trailed off, and Journey thought he was done talking, but then he said, “I needed you.”

  His voice cracked, and he rubbed his hand over his mouth and down his beard. He laid his head back and closed his eyes.

  The guilt Journey had experienced earlier was back with a vengeance, stabbing her in the chest.

  “You’re my everything, which is why this shit we’re going through is hard as hell,” Laz bit out, emotion clogging his throat.

  “I messed up,” Journey admitted and dropped down in the opposite chair. “I put the job first when I promised you that I’d take today off. I’m sorry. I am so sorry you guys couldn’t find me.”

  She didn’t bother explaining how important her case was or how their key witness was dead, while some of the other witnesses were running scared. At the moment, none of that mattered, and Laz had heard it all before with different cases, which made her feel even worse.