I feel Aurora trembling beside me as she watches her sister being forced into a black van that disappears down a dirt road moments later.
“When was this?” I ask, my voice deadly calm.
“Ninety minutes ago.”
“Did the drone follow them?” I ask, my voice tight as I hand the tablet back to Grayson.
He nods, rubbing his jaw with tension evident in every movement. “It followed as far as it could, heading south. But then it ran out of battery and had to return to base. Couldn’t keep following.”
“Fuck.” I turn to the window, mind already mapping possibilities. “Traffic cameras? Highway patrol?”
“There’s no ANPR in the area,” Grayson says. “And they were sticking to the back roads. Local infrastructure is minimal at best.”
Aurora’s face drains of color. I watch her hands begin to shake—the same tremor I’d noticed during her first days of recovery. Her eyes fill with tears as she looks between us.
“Does this mean we’ve lost them forever?” Her voice cracks, raw panic rising. “We were so close! She was right there!” She presses her fist against her mouth, trying to contain a sob. “What if we never find her now?”
I cross to her immediately, taking her face between my hands. “Listen to me. We are going to find them. This isn’t over.”
“But if you don’t know where?—”
“We’ll know,” I say firmly. “Jax can’t go far without leaving traces. He’s arrogant, thinks he’s invincible. That makes him predictable.”
Aurora’s breathing comes too fast, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I press my forehead to hers, forcing her to focus on me.
“And now Ari is with her,” I continue, my voice low and steady. “He’s trained for situations like this. He’s resourceful, skilled. At the very least, Liv isn’t facing this alone anymore.”
“You think he can protect her?” Aurora whispers, hope threading through her words.
“I think he’ll do anything to keep her safe,” I say. “And maybe find a way to get them both out. Jax doesn’t know everything about Ari—what he’s capable of when pushed.”
Aurora nods, her breathing slowing as she clings to this small comfort. “At least she’s not alone now.”
Grayson takes out his phone, his fingers already tapping commands as he speaks. “I’m getting everyone on this. Penn’s coordinating with our satellite team to scan the area, and Blaze is analyzing the most likely routes based on the drone footage.”
I nod, watching him work with the efficiency that’s made him invaluable to me for years.
“I’ve got a ground team deploying to the last known coordinates,” he continues, not looking up from his screen. “They’ll take the same roads and check every possible turnoff, abandoned structure, and potential hiding place along the route.”
“ETA?” I ask, keeping my arm firmly around Aurora’s shoulders.
Grayson’s expression tightens. “They’re about twenty minutes out. It’s remote terrain, and our closest operatives were stationed at the perimeter we established. They’re moving as fast as possible, but?—”
“But Jax has a significant head start,” I finish for him.
He nods grimly. “It’s going to be tough to find them on the ground alone. But we’re not just relying on that. I’ve got contacts in three state police forces checking in-state cameras. Any vehicle matching that description will trigger an alert.”
I move forward and clap Grayson firmly on the shoulder. His loyalty has never wavered, even when following me meant turning against Jax and the Vipers we helped build.
“Thanks,” I say simply, the word inadequate for what he’s risking.
“When you inevitably get yourself killed,” Grayson replies with a hint of his usual dry humor, “I expect a significant raise in your will.”
Despite everything, I feel the corner of my mouth lift. “What makes you think you’re in it at all?”
Grayson snorts. “Please. Someone has to keep your empire from burning to the ground when you’re gone.”
I laugh, the sound breaking some of the tension in the room. “Get out of here. And keep me updated every thirty minutes.”
