Max raised an eyebrow. He didn’t need police. He needed to save Mia. That was all he cared about. They’d had her for overa day. Max swallowed down the bile that made its way up his throat.
“You have insurance?” the nurse inquired.
Max nodded. “Yes, I have it.”
She nodded then exited the room, her shoes squeaking on the polished floor and the moment she left, Max moved. He tugged out the drip, wincing. Glancing at the fresh wound on his chest, he noticed it was already starting to heal—the advantage of his unique genetics. He rummaged through the bedside locker and found his phone. Quickly dialing, he connected with Carter.
“Carter, I was shot,” he rasped. “Outside the concert hall. Mia...” His voice broke, the weight of it all pressing down on him. “They took her.”
“Jesus, where are you?”
“Hospital. Baptist Medical.”
Carter was sharp. “Stay put. I’m on my way. I’ll bring you fresh clothes.”
Max didn’t intend to wait in his room. He had no time to talk to doctors or the police. He peeked outside and saw that the hallway was empty. Swiftly, quietly, he moved. Navigating the hospital’s many hallways, he reached the entrance.
Outside, the cool breeze brushed his face, carrying the scent of city and rain. Cars buzzed by—the world seeming to move in its usual rhythm, but for Max, every second was critical. Every moment, Mia was in danger.
He waited, every muscle coiled, ready for Carter and already planning the steps he had to take to find his mate.
A black van screeched to a halt near the entrance. Carterwas behind the wheel, his face set in determination. When Max opened the door, the familiar faces of his fellow CIA officers greeted him—Logan, Arlo, Seb, Toby, and Ezra.
“You’re all here?” Max asked, surprise evident in his voice.
“Of course,” Toby said, his voice firm. “You’re going after Mia. We’re backing you up.”
Max swallowed hard. “I’m pretty sure the cartel have her.”
Carter nodded. “Then I guess we’re all heading to Mexico.”
The weight of their support pressed against Max’s chest, and emotions threatened to spill. These men were more than colleagues—they were even more than friends. They were brothers. Max realized in that moment that this was what had been missing for most of his life—people he could count on, and who would be there for him whenever he needed them. No questions asked.
“Thank you,” he choked out. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
“Where were you shot?” Arlo asked.
Max sighed. “Chest.”
“Damn,” Seb breathed.
“You okay?” Carter asked.
Max nodded. “I will be.”
Seb leaned forward, his keen eyes searching Max’s. “So, what’s the plan?”
“They won’t kill her,” Max said. “Not yet.”
“Are you sure?” Carter asked.
Max nodded. “If they had just wanted her dead, they would have done it at the concert hall. My guess is they want to make a trade.” Max took a deep breath, taking in the scent of leather and sweat that filled the air. “Drive to Mia’s house. It’s high time I had a word with her father.”
The van roared to life, heading towards a confrontation that was long overdue. On the ride there, Max changed out of the hospital gown into the clothes and shoes that Carter had brought for him. When they arrived at the location, Carter parked the van down the street from Mia’s house and they walked the rest of the way on foot. The opulent mansion loomed before them, the intimidating wrought iron gates standing sentry. Two burly guards, noticeable even from a distance, stood watch. Their keen eyes surveyed the surroundings, but Max’s team was ready.
On cue, Logan and Toby sprinted off to the side, causing a commotion to distract them. With the guards’ attention diverted, Max and Carter sprang into action, using the shadows to their advantage. The bullet wound on Max’s chest throbbed as he scaled the gate but he ignored the pain. The wound would heal more quickly if he could shift into his tiger form, but there was no time for that now. Every wasted second was longer that Mia had to endure with her captors. Seconds later, they were all on the other side of the gate and ambushing the guards before they could react. A swift chop to the neck and they crumbled to the ground, landing in a heap. Max grabbed a gun from one of the guards and Carter took the weapon from the other.
With the path clear, the team surged ahead, their footsteps echoing on the grand pathway. The grandeur of Mia’s house was unmistakable, but just like the first time he had visited, Max didn’t have time to admire it. He was there for one purpose only.
