“I’ll stop when Lexi’s home,” I reply, turning my attention back to the task at hand.
I’m close, I can feel it.
Digging through the web of clues has been the distraction I needed while we wait for the team to canvas the area and confirm Lexi is there, because we simply don’t have the extra men to infiltrate a building if our guy has just ditched her shoes, and therefore the tracker, at some random warehouse.
Nico and his men will land shortly, and at that point we’ll go in regardless of whether we have confirmation or not.
“Colten?” Riley waits for me to look up before continuing. “She’s going to be okay. You don’t think Lexi’s going to go down without one hell of a fight, right?”
I shake my head. It’s not in my girl’s nature to take something like this lying down, and I doubt she’s going to start now.
“Exactly. We’re going to bring her home, and she’ll be back to keeping you and Cruz on your toes.”
I nod, but the reminder of my wildcat and how she pushes boundaries only strengthens my need to lock her up in an ivory tower where nothing and no one can ever hurt her again.
“You and Cruz have given her all the tools she needs to survive until we get there. Trust her to keep herself safe until then.”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m cut off when my phone buzzes across the desk beside me.
I read over the message and meet my best friend’s eyes across the room before he gives me a slight nod.
“It’s time to move out. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Time to go get my girl.
FIFTY-FOUR
LEXI
All I’ve managed to do since Grant left is make the knots around my wrists tighter.
Without being able to see how he’s restrained me, I’ve mentally run through all the types Colten taught me when we were in high school.
While most kids our age were sneaking out and getting drunk, we were learning how to escape hostage situations, and that’s all you need to know about how weird the life of a Mafia kid is.
Laken has her head bowed and shoulders hunched, but as far as I can tell, she’s not trying to escape.
I glance toward the hallway, and when I don’t find Grant or Jay anywhere in sight, I risk speaking. “How long have you been with them?” I whisper so softly I barely hear my own words, but her eyes glance up and meet mine.
Laken does the same assessment I just did before returning her gaze to me. “I’m not sure. A month maybe?” Her voice is soft but hoarse, and it’s clear she hasn’t used it much recently.
God, I can’t imagine. Spending weeks with her captors with no idea if anyone is coming for her, accepting her fate as the days pass.
“Where are you from?”
“Philly.” She glances around again, making sure they aren’t checking in on us.
Recognition washes over me.
Laken Lancaster.
We’ve never met, but I recognize her from social media because we follow each other.
All I know about the Lancasters is that they’re known for their ruthlessness, which makes me wonder how I didn’t even know she was missing.
I sweep the area again before dropping my voice even lower. I’d rather have to repeat myself than for them to overhear what I’m about to say.
“I have a gun.”
