“And now we walk,” he said, sounding almost gleeful as he led her out the door of the coffee shop and further away with every step from the life she thought she’d have.
“WHAT DO YOU mean you lost her?” Luke shouted into the phone.
“My man followed her from the salon to a coffee shop downtown,” said Jackson, Luke’s head of security. “It looks like she met and left with Ed Samson.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. She can’t stand him. Where is she? Did you check the GPS on her phone?” There was no way Claire would go anywhere with Samson. Something was wrong.
“She left the phone on the table,” he said, and Luke’s heart stopped.
“He took her. That sick fuck took her.”
“That’s what it looks like. Anderson is on his way up. He’s going to take you downstairs. I’m almost there. I’ll meet you out front.”
“I’m not fucking waiting for Anderson,” said Luke, heading toward the door. “Claire is the only thing that matters. Find her, Jackson. Find her before that bastard hurts her.”
Ignoring Colin’s questions as he bolted past, Luke made it to the elevator and hammered his fist against the button. He was about to give up and take the stairs when the doors slid open and Jackson’s man started to get out, stopping when he saw Luke.
“Mr. Masters,” he said, holding the door. “I’ve got him.” He spoke into the mic attached to his ear bud and paused, listening for a reply. “Jackson’s out front. You can ride with him.” He put an arm out to stop Luke before he got out on the ground floor, not letting him go until he’d scanned the lobby.
Luke pushed past him racing for Jackson’s car double parked in front of the building.
“Where is she?” he asked, climbing in the passenger seat his heart hammering so loud in his ears he had to concentrate to hear what Jackson was saying.
“It looks like she still has her wallet.”
“Thank fuck,” said Luke. He’d made her take one of his American Express Black cards to keep in her wallet. He knew full well she’d never use it, but he also knew she’d be crazy-careful not to lose it. Jackson imbedded a GPS locator in the card. If she still had it, they could track her.
“They’ve been heading east and are about fifteen minutes outside the city. My people are right behind them. Samson was smart enough to make her leave her phone, but he wasn’t counting on her having security with her. We’ve only been a couple of minutes behind him from the start.”
Claire wouldn’t have counted on the security either. He hadn’t told her because it was a non-negotiable as far as he was concerned, and he didn’t want to piss her off over something he had no intention of changing. She wouldn’t know anyone was looking for her, and she didn’t know they could track her even without her phone. God, she must be terrified. He was going to rip Samson apart with his bare hands as soon as he was sure Claire and the baby were safe. The baby. He knew she’d do anything to protect their baby.
“Hang on, sweetheart,” he said under his breath. “I’m coming for both of you.”
