"Yeah, I'm sure."
Natalie's shoulders slumped with relief, and she blew out a long breath. Cade felt relieved as well, now that he let himself notice it. The only thing left was to get these girls back to their families.
To get Natalie back to Tris.
Natalie carefully approached the other girl and said gently, "Hey, Emma. We're getting out of here. This man is a friend of my brother's, so it's safe. Come with me, okay?"
Emma studied Natalie and blinked several times before accepting the outstretched hand, but eyed Cade warily as she stood. He led them out of the room and down the stairs, while Rodriguez and four girls walked in front of him, including the shell-shocked blonde, who clung tightly to a dark-haired girl.
Before they left the house, Cade took a quick detour to the kitchen and tossed the keys to the floor next to the dead guys, trusting that the cleaner would wipe their prints. Stepping out onto the porch, he saw Kate had arrived, and knowing the girls were in good hands, he approached Natalie and told her, "Come with me. Tristan's over here."
Now that the rescue was over, Cade's heart thumped with excitement and satisfaction. He couldn't wait to see Tristan reunited with his sister, to see the relief on his face, to watch the tension drain from his body. He imagined the smile that would split Tristan's face, how he'd hug Natalie tightly, and how they'd both cry.
How he'd finally see Tristan happy and would know he'd helped make it happen.
With Natalie close behind, Cade strode to the car and grabbed the handle. As he swung open the back door, he announced, "Tris, Natalie's here. She's safe."
When Tristan didn't jump out, Cade looked inside.
The car was empty.
Chapter 18: Search
Cade
Cade gaped into the empty car, so gobsmacked he couldn't move or speak. As the ground tilted beneath his feet, he told himself not to jump to conclusions, that Tristan had to be nearby.
He immediately began to scan the space around the car, while Natalie trailed behind him and demanded, "Where is he?"
With more confidence than he felt, Cade assured her, "I'm sure he's around here somewhere."
Gaze sweeping over the illuminated area near the house, Cade searched for that familiar shock of red hair. Finding none, his focus shifted to the darkness beyond the glow of the porch lights. No movement, no sounds, just stillness. His blood ran cold in his veins as Natalie's voice pitched higher: "Where's my brother?"
Dazed and numb, Cade answered, "He was here, but he's... gone."
Natalie's face contorted, but he couldn't tell if she was scared, confused or shocked.
That made two of them.
Cade motioned to Rodriguez, who asked, "What's going on?" as he approached.
Still unable to comprehend this turn of events, Cade muttered, "Tristan's gone."
"What do you mean 'gone'?"
"He's not in the car."
"What the fuck, man?"Rodriguez looked for himself, then suggested they search around the house. Cade trailed behind the other agent, heart thumping erratically, eyes desperately seeking Tristan's familiar form. By the time they had circled back to the front without finding anything, Kate had arrived to transport the girls to safety.
Trying to push down the panic that gripped him, Cade asked over comms, "Annabeth, do you know where Tristan is?"
"No, isn't he with you?" came the sharp reply.
Silence, except for the whooshing of blood in his ears. "No, he's... gone."
"I'll be right there."
"I don't understand. Where did he go?" Natalie's voice trembled as she spoke.
