Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I exhale shakily, shutting off the video. All it does is stoke my fury. I picture her fighting him, screaming for help. That’s all I can see in my head now. The fear in her eyes rips at my insides.
“Not happening again,” I murmur under my breath. “I’m getting you back, Aubree.”
I call Dean again. He picks up, out of breath like he’s running between computers. “I’m into the city’s transportation network,” he reports. “Got a partial shot of the van heading west on Highway 70. Traffic’s not too bad right now, but they’ll have at least a ten or twenty-minute lead on you.”
“I’m heading that way.” I spin on my heel, striding to the front door. “Send me real-time updates. And do me a favor—ping the local precinct, see if they have any cameras near the highway. I want every possible angle.”
“Consider it done. I’ll funnel everything to your phone. We’ll find them, Boone.”
I kill the call, my heart hammering. Tucking my phone in my pocket, I step out onto the sidewalk, bracing myself against the evening breeze. The sign overhead glows with the bright red neon of “Slice Slice Baby,” mocking me with normalcy. The shop was supposed to be where I surprised her. Instead, it’s a crime scene.
I lock the door behind me, pocketing her keys, my chest tight. She might need the shop intact when she comes back. And I vow she will come back. Then I jog to my truck, yanking open the driver’s side door. The engine roars to life, and I tear away from the curb, heading west. I retrieve my phone from my pocket and perch it on the dash, in case Dean calls again.
As I speed down the streets, streetlights whipping by in a blur, my mind churns with guilt. I should’ve been here. If I’d come just an hour sooner, I might have stopped this. Or maybe it’s not about being early; maybe I should never have left her side after we took down Charles. The memory of her shy grin, her messy hair in the mornings, all of it squeezes my heart.
The phone rings again—Dean. I jab the answer button on speaker. “What’s new?”
“I’ve followed the camera feed a bit further. The van got on the highway around exit twelve. I lost it for a moment, but I’m cross-checking other cameras. We need a better vantage point. The city’s got scattered coverage—some cameras are out, some are pointed away.”
“Just keep looking,” I say, my voice tense. “I’m almost on the highway. Let me know if you get a direction. North, south, wherever.”
“Got it. I’ll call you back.”
He hangs up. I let out a harsh breath, eyes scanning the road as I swerve onto the on-ramp. The radio is off, and all I hear is the roar of the engine and my own ragged breathing. I glance down at the speedometer—pushing eighty-five in a sixty zone. Don’t care. If a cop tries to pull me over, I’ll flash my security credentials and keep going.
I dial another number, pressing the phone to my ear. It rings twice before a deep voice picks up. “ Thor speaking.”
“Thor, It’s Boone,” I say, my words tumbling out. “I’ve got a situation. A friend—someone I care about—has been kidnapped. I need a team, fast.”
Thor’s voice instantly sharpens. “Kidnapped? You sure?”
“Dead sure,” I growl. “I was at her shop. The security footage showed some asshole named Earl dragging her into a van. We have partial route intel, but no exact location yet. She’s in danger, Thor. I can’t do this alone.”
“You won’t,” Thor says firmly. “I’m about an hour out of Nashville right now. Who else you want on this?”
“Garrett’s local,” I say, thinking rapidly. “He’s got good recon skills. Let’s bring him in. And any other guys we can trust, the ones who’ll keep it tight-lipped. This is personal.”
“Understood,” Thor replies. “We’ll keep it off the official grid if that’s what you want.”
“Absolutely,” I confirm, jaw tight. “Dean’s still working the tech angle, pulling traffic cams and city feeds. Once we pin down a location, I’ll call you. We’re going to need a strike team—small, quick, and ready for anything.”
Thor exhales, the sound crackling over the line. “We got you. I’ll call a few guys and get them mobilized. Send me the details once you have them.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” I end the call, relief flickering through the panic. Thor’s reliable—he was my commanding officer’s golden boy at one point. He’s got the skills and the network.
Now for Garrett. I tap his number, heart still thrumming. He picks up, sounding casual at first, “Yo, what’s—?”
“Garrett, it’s Boone,” I cut in. “I need your help. Now. Aubree’s been taken. I have partial leads on a white van heading west out of Nashville. I’ve called Thor in, too.”