I don’t like the way he chuckles darkly. “Yes, she’s here.”
Oh, god. She’s in another of these cells. Was she the one I heard sobbing? “Blake!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
There are more sobs in response, but none that are recognizable.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Ilya says, walking away.
Mikhail turns to wink at me. “Enjoy your short reprieve, Quinn.”
When the door closes, I reach for my earlobe. The stud is missing, but I try not to panic. That’s not the earring that’s critical to my escape, but as I tilt my head and explore the cartilage at the top of my ear, I discover the other stud missing too. Desperately, I search around the cell floor, but I know my earrings haven’t simply fallen out. I’ve been completely stripped, and my tracker has been removed before I had the chance to activate it.
How can Reid come for me if he doesn’t know where I am? I know he said he’d follow his heart, but it’s not enough. Our love isn’t going to be enough.
Chapter 28
Reid
“Let me check your kit,” Ash says, separating us from the group of men taking orders from Jake.
It’s nightfall, and we’re on the perimeter of Barrett’s abandoned estate, dressed head to toe in black combats, face masks, and toting Kevlar vests and utility belts. Our weaponry varies, but it’s all deadly and prepped for use.
“I’m good,” I insist as my older brother starts fixing straps and testing buckles. I feel like a kid being dressed by his mom, and I’m just grateful our men are too focused on Jake to notice. “I don’t need you to do this.”
“No, you don’t. ButIneed to do this,” Ash fires back. “I don’t like that your first active combat is when the emotional stakes are this high.”
“I’ll stay focused.”
Ash checks the clip in my assault rifle. “Just remember, you’re not leading the charge here, no matter how much you may want to. You stay close to me and you follow my orders. I can’t save Quinn if I’m too busy trying to keep your ass out of trouble. Do you understand?”
“You know I always listen to you,” I say.
“Which is why I haven’t put you with the other two idiots,” Ash agrees.
Mace and Hunter are on the opposite side of Barrett’s estate, tasked with taking control of the entrance gates. We don’t know how many of Ilya’s men are guarding the place, or how quickly he can send reinforcements. Ilya’s burner phone gave us no fresh leads, so we’re going in almost blind. All we know for sure is that two containers have arrived with deliveries in the thirty-six hours since Quinn was taken.
She still hasn’t activated her tracker, and as the hours slip by, the chances of her ever activating it are diminishing. The best I can hope for is that her captors recognized the stud earring for what it was, and it’s not that she’s incapable of activating it because…
Quinn isn’t dead. She can’t be dead.
I have to believe that she’s not only alive, but that she’s part of the shipment to Poulton Springs. I don’t think I’d be able to function if I considered any other alternative. I can’t face another night without her.
Jake comes over, interrupting Ash and his lecture. “The drones are in the air, but we’re not picking up any hotspots outside the gatehouse or the stables.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask, when Ash simply frowns.
“There should be patrols,” he says. “Ilya knows we have a special interest in this site, and the security should be better. I don’t like it when our target doesn’t behave as expected.”
Jake looks just as worried. “It could be a trap, Ash. We need to proceed with caution.”
“Agreed,” he replies. “Let’s hold back the attack at the gates until we have eyes on the stables.”
Jake nods his agreement and the order is disseminated through our ranks. Our numbers are small in comparison to what a crime family like the Barkov’s have at their disposal, but the men we have with us tonight are experienced and highly trained.
It makes me feel like the weakest link. Although I’ve had the training, I’ve seen limited action and nothing on this scale. I don’t want to be a distraction to my brothers, but stepping aside was never an option. Quinn offered herself up as bait to lead us to Ilya and her sister. Whatever my brothers think about my abilities, she has complete faith in me. I can’t let her down.
We breach the perimeter, and as we move silently through the woods, Hunter and Mace monitor our progress. I hear their voices in my earpiece, but now that the mission is active, we keep chatter to a minimum.
Impenetrable darkness gives way to a glow through the trees, and we start to spread out as we approach Ilya’s new lair. Jake separates from us to lead a team to the opposite side of the stable block so the occupants are completely encircled.
