Jax swallowed. Would the man really hurt his own flesh and blood?
Jax looked away from him. He’d been through so much, and this was just another hurdle. He wouldn’t let this break him. He couldn’t. He had Tabby and Ryder to fight for. He looked back at Bo. “I’ll give you what you want, but I would like to see Tabby. Please.”
Bo laughed. “Oh, Jax … this isn’t a negotiation. It won’t happen on your timeline. Don’t you get it?” The man spoke to him like he was a toddler. “This will happen when I want it to. Just know one thing, you will give me my heir.”
Bo squatted in front of him and caressed his cheek. It took everything in Jax not to flinch away from his touch. “My sweet Jax. Didn’t you miss me? We had some good times, didn’t we?”
Jax tasted bile. How he wanted to tell him where to shove it, but he knew better and pressed his lips shut.
Instead, Jax looked down at his stomach and heaved a sigh. There were several problems with Bo’s plans for him. The most important one being that Jax was already carrying a child. He knew it was early, but his heat should have shown up yesterday. And since he wasn’t in heat and he certainly hadn’t taken any suppressants … He was pregnant with his and Ryder’s baby. But he knew better than to say that. They just had to hold on a little longer because Ryder would find them.
His mate was coming. He knew he was.
Chapter Ten
Ryder
Ryder, please, come find me!Ryder woke up with a start. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. The dream was nothing new. He’d had it every night since Jax was taken.
“Same dream?” Ronin asked. His brother was tasked with watching over him tonight. Even though he’d been allowed to tag along, Ryder had to stay back at the motel they were using while they searched the area.
“I have to go to him. This is stupid. So much time has been wasted looking for him when I could find him.” Ryder jumped up and began pacing. “I’m his mate, and he needsMYhelp. I have to go to him.” Everyone had done their best to hold Ryder back, telling him the professionals were working on finding Jax and Tabby and that he should be patient. But time was running out. And he was all out of patience. Now the only thing that mattered was getting Jax and Tabby home safe again. “I have to go find them. I have to!”
Ronin stood up. “Bro, you can’t go. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. This is way too dangerous for you. Trust the guys. I promise you they’ll bring them home.”
“I just need them back, Ro,” Ryder whispered. “I need my family back.” He fell down to the couch.
Ronin crouched in front of him but didn’t say a word.
“We’re talking about my heart and my life. Tabby and Jax belong here with me. I should have kept them safe.”
“Ryder—” his brother started, but he cut Ronin off.
“I feel him, Ronin. He's terrified and in pain.” Ryder started to tremble. The thought of anything happening to Jax and Tabby was too much to take. “He needs me now, Ro. I know it.”
Ro rubbed his eyes, “Fuck. I shouldn’t do this.” He pointed at Ryder. “I shouldn’t let you do this.”
Ryder held his breath. As much as he would go by himself, having Ro with him would be his first choice. “What kind of brother would I be if I let you do this alone? What kind of uncle? If you’re going, I’m going. And don’t even try and say no, because if you don’t want me to go, then you’re not going either.”
Ryder put his hands up. “Have we forgotten who the older brother is?” He managed a small smile, and relief washed over him. He heaved a sigh. “Fine! But you better not hold me back. I mean it, Ro. I need to do this, and I need to do it my way. My mate is in trouble. You would do the same for Ollie.”
Ro’s eyes softened at the mention of his mate, and he nodded. “I would, and I did. I get it completely. But I’m going along to keep you from doing anything stupid that will surely get you killed. Papa would have my head, and Jax, whatever’s left.”
That got a full-blown smile from Ryder. “We can’t have that now, can we?” Ryder teased.
“I’ll just call Ollie, and then we’ll get ready,” Ronin said, holding up his phone and walking to the adjoining room the team was using.
Ryder closed his eyes and whispered, “I’m coming, love. Just hold on. I’m coming.”
Fuck, he wanted to see Jax again so he could kiss him, hold him, and promise to keep him and Tabby safe always.
As he stood there, his soul crying out for his mate, his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and rushed to answer when he saw it was Maddox calling. “Hello?”
“We’ve located him,” Maddox said and Ryder breathed the biggest sigh of relief. He felt like a balloon that had just been popped.
“You have? Where is he? Can I talk to him?”
“Well, so far, I can tell you that he’s been separated from Tabby. She’s being held by an alpha. By her alpha father, in fact. We haven’t been able to get inside the house. It’s in a run-down neighborhood. On the other side of town from where the fucker lives. We overheard the alpha talking to someone. He said he’s Tabby’s father. I don’t think he’ll harm her, but we’re keeping an eye on him, just in case.”
