The guy from the feed store drags her to the car and puts her in the back seat and waits for Hallie to get close before he grabs her by the hair and shoves her in the back seat with Marley. When he closes the door, he turns to me and smiles.
My upper lip involuntarily curls back. “I will kill you.”
He smiles even bigger. “Looking forward to it.”
Once they’re in the car, Mason and I watch helplessly as they drive away.
“Right, we need to call Callum. We need Spits.” Mason says as he turns toward the house.
If only our team were all we needed.
Letting myself feel the overwhelming pain in my chest as I watch the taillights disappear, I rub my fist over my sternum and experience a type of ache I’ve never felt before. I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get her back.
The sounds of tree frogs and crickets are starting to echo across the peaceful yard, completely opposite of the maddening frenzy spinning in my head and heart.
“Jax.” Mason’s hand slaps on my shoulder, pulling me out of a sinking hole, and I turn to him. His hands are fisted at his sides and his face is a mask of rage. “We’ll get her back. Let’s move.”
I need to call Dimitri and Vasilei.
Mr. Harlow and Gray are standing on the porch, looking like they are about to murder someone. As we get to the steps, Mr. Harlow is trying to be calm, but I can tell he’s about to lose his shit. When he looks like his knees might buckle and he lays his hand on his chest, Mason and Gray each grab an arm.
“Dad? Dad, here sit down.” They are pulling him toward achair on the porch.
“Dad, where are your pills?” Gray asks.
“They’re in my office, son.” He grumbles breathlessly as he waves his hand over his shoulder toward the door.
Gray turns and goes into the house, the screen door slamming behind him.
Mr. Harlow had a heart attack last year and, from what I’ve witnessed since I’ve been coming here, is fiercely protective of his family, especially Marley because of what she’s already been through.
Mason squats in front of him. “Dad, we’re going to call the team and get them back.”
Mr. Harlow is rubbing his fist over his chest in slow circles and levels his eyes on Mason. “Do you know where they took ‘em, Mason?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think your sister will recover from anything else being done to her.” He winces and takes a deep breath.
The thought of what they could do to her and how that will affect her mind has my heart racing in my chest. I realize I’ve mirrored Mr. Harlow, my fist is over my chest as well, trying to rub away the pain and fear that is making the air around me feel thick and hot.
Leaning over to put my other hand on my knee, I suck in deep breaths, as much as the boulder on my chest will let me. I have to get her back. The briefest flash of memory crosses my mind, my mom on the floor of that room. I don’t think I can survive this again.
“I know how to find them.” I blurt out between breaths. I had planned to keep the tracking device close to my chest until after I spoke with Dimitri, but if something happens to Marley’s father, I don’t think she will recover from that.
Two sets of eyes lock on me in question, and I take a deep breath as I right myself. “The necklace that Marley wears, the one she got in the mail. It was from me, and it has a trackingdevice in it.”
Mr. Harlow takes a deep breath of relief and Mason’s eyebrows go up to his hairline. “She got that necklace months ago.”
Gray comes back out with a glass of water in one hand, and one hand fisted with Mr. Harlow’s pill. I turn my back on them while they are distracted and pull my phone out to dial Dimitri’s number.
“Da, cousin.” He answers in our tongue.
“I need you.” It’s still hard to catch my breath. “I’m on the fucking edge Dimitri.”
“Calm down, Brana, tell me what’s happened?” There is female murmuring in the background and Dimitri mumbles to her that everything is okay and to go back to sleep. I’ve never heard him use that tone before, he actually sounds affectionate. My heart hurts even more.
“They took her.” It’s all I can get out before a growl rumbles in my chest and I pull out my gun to empty the clip in the tree, but Marley’s beautiful voice in my head stops me. It would scare her horses. “I’m about to start a fucking war and I need you.”
Rustling travels over the line and I hear a door shut in the background. “Listen to me, Brana, DO NOT engage with them, DO NOT do anything until I get there or I’ll kill you myself.” All affection is gone and his Captain’s voice is back giving orders.
“That will be tomorrow, what the fuck am I supposed to do until tomorrow? I can’t just leave her there.”
