“I don’t know, man, but I think we definitely got played. There is no way in hell anything would stop Race from showing up here today. I may have told her not to, but I knew she wouldn’t listen.” I tried to keep calm, but on the inside, I was crumbling.
“We’ll find her, man.” James patted me on the shoulder. “Move your asses,” he barked into the radio.
“Fuck me,” I whispered, shrugging his hand away. “I did this.”
“Stop being a pussy,” James blurted. “You didn’t do shit.”
I started to hyperventilate. “I did.” I drew in a shaky breath, pushing down the fear that started to grip me. “If she were here, I’d know she was safe.”
“Yo!” Sam yelled as he jogged into the building, Thomas right on his heels.
“We’re all here. Move your asses,” Thomas said, pointing toward the truck.
I pushed the fear away, readying myself for battle.
I’d get her back.
I climbed into the car, feeling on edge but ready to kick Tyler’s ass.
Who was I kidding?
I planned to wring his neck until I choked the very last breath out of him.
The car ride was a whirlwind.
Thomas and James were on the phone with contacts, gathering intel and trying to find someone willing to hack into the phone records to try to pinpoint her location. I tried to text her and call her again, but she didn’t respond or pick up.
Even if she were livid with me, she would have texted me back. I’d made it pretty clear how worried I was and that she was in grave danger, but nada. No reply from Race.
“She isn’t responding,” I said after the fifth text.
“I got a guy working on her location,” James said, flipping the phone in his hand.
“We’re just about there,” Sam called out, moving his face closer to the window, sitting forward and ready to go.
When James’s phone rang, the car grew silent. “Hit me,” James said as he stared at me.
Please let her be okay.
“Got it. On our way there now,” James said before disconnecting the call. “Last known location was her office. After that, the signal goes cold. Someone turned her phone off.”
“Motherfucker,” I growled as I punched the dashboard.
“Stay calm, man,” Thomas said, grabbing my shoulder.
“Easy for you to say.” I closed my eyes as my chest tightened. “I need to find my woman.”
“Listen, we’ve done this shit more than once. We always get the girl back. Always,” Thomas said in a calm, even voice.
“It’s almost an inauguration of sorts around these parts. Angel was kidnapped and Izzy was abducted. Somehow, they’re still alive and breathing.”
“What the fuck?” I asked, jerking my head back. “What the hell did you guys get me involved in?”
“Life isn’t always pretty,” James replied, giving me a shrug.
“It happens when you live your life on the edge, Morgan. You wouldn’t be so upset if you didn’t have feelings for Race.”
“Fuck you! I’d still be pissed off that we were duped,” I shot back.
