Seth turned only his head and met the agent’s gaze head-on, showing the man exactly who he was.Whathe was.
Colbey paled.
“As I was saying. The one thing I’m good at in life is protecting what needs to be protected.” Had he ever even counted the bodies while working as his father’s Enforcer? He rolled to a stop in front of the still partially burned-out home. “By any means necessary. Like I said, I’m a killer. The one thing, the only thing in this entire fucked-up world I was supposed to protect, is Mia. And I failed.”
Colbey audibly gulped. “She’s missing. Not dead.”
“We don’t know that.” Yet Seth had to believe he did. That they were connected enough that he’d know if she’d left this world. If she had, his heart would’ve stopped all on its own. He knew it. “We’re going to proceed as if she’s okay, and you’re going to tell me how to find her.” He opened his door and stepped out of the truck. “Or I’m going to rip you apart, limb from limb, and show you just how long a man can last as he loses inches of himself, one by one.”
Colbey jumped out of the truck. To his credit, he didn’t run. Instead, he yanked open the back door and fetched his gun. “You didn’t lie,” he muttered, crossing around the vehicle and pointing the weapon at Seth. “The gun was in the back seat. You’re obviously having a mental breakdown.”
“Possibly,” Seth agreed. Where was Mia? Was she being hurt? She was strong and smart, and she had to know he was coming for her. Without seeming to, he moved closer to the agent. “I tried to be her hero.”
Colbey gulped. “Most heroes aren’t killers.”
“Maybe not at first. But then they find the one woman in the world who looks at them like they’re something good, and that hat appears.” Seth had that. “It’s more than most people get, and it’s a hell of a lot more than I ever thought I’d find. I don’t deserve her, but she’s mine.” Every inch of her. He might be feral, and he might be vicious, but he was all hers.
“Now, listen—”
Seth moved then, a quick blur, and manacled an arm around Colbey’s neck. The agent struggled, his boots digging into the gravel as Seth hauled him up the stairs and through the house.
“What is wrong with you?” Colbey snapped as Seth tossed him across his father’s study. The agent hit the leather sofa and bounced, quickly righting himself. “You’ve kidnapped an FBI agent, you moron.” The agent stood. He glared, one hand lifting his weapon. “Now I’m going to arrest you, and you’ll spend a lot of years in a federal prison. During that time, Mia can come to her senses.”
Seth smiled. “Pull that trigger, and you’ll regret it.” Then he waited.
Colbey, predictably, set his stance. He was faster than Seth would’ve expected.
Not that it mattered.
In a blur of motion, Seth dashed forward, secured the weapon, and retook his place by the desk. Papers rustled and fell to the floor from near his computer.
Colbey’s jaw dropped. “What the holy hell?”
Seth shrugged. “I’m quick.”
The agent’s eyes widened. “You’re more than quick, but you’re still under arrest.”
“I don’t have time for this.” Seth released the clip onto the floor. He cocked the chamber, and a bullet flew out. Then he threw the gun across the office. “I need you to get on the phone right now and see what the techs found on the CCTV in the area where Mia was taken.” It infuriated him that he hadn’t been able to track her on his own, but the smells of the city were too overwhelming.
Colbey’s chin dropped. “You are insane. I was on my way to Seattle since I have one agent down and another missing. Not only have you now kidnapped a federal agent, you’ve hindered my investigation. Have you lost your mind?” He started to pace by the sofa. “That’s it, isn’t it? It’s because of Mia. You’ve been trying to keep her involved and in your crappy little town here, so you killed those women and created a mystery for her to pursue.”
Seth’s gaze narrowed. “Have you lost your mind? How have you reached this position in the agency? You’re a freaking moron.” He shook his head. “You didn’t listen to Mia when she told you there was another killer. Obviously, there’s another killer. Now, get on the phone, or I will hurt you.”
Colbey set his stance. “You want to go? Let’s go.”
Seth didn’t have time for this. He also couldn’t knock the guy out again because then he wouldn’t gain the information he so desperately needed. He was a hunter and a killer. Standing still right now was destroying him.
Colbey crossed his arms. “I’m not going to help you, so get out of my way so I can get my job done.”
There really was no choice. Seth shook his head. “All right.”
Colbey’s phone buzzed, and he yanked it from his back pocket to read the display. “We have a vehicle in the area where Mia was taken, and we’ve tracked it. Get out of my way so I can go save my agent.”
“Where is it?” Seth barked.
“No way in hell am I telling you.” Colbey tapped the screen, no doubt erasing the text. “Now, if you want Mia home safely—or at least safe because after I speak with her, there’s no way she’s coming back here—then you’ll get out of my way.” The agent started for the door.
In an almost casual motion, Seth grabbed Colbey’s shoulder and flicked him across the room. The man partially landed on the sofa and fell onto the floor before sitting up and shaking his head. He rubbed his jaw and then shoved to his feet. “What are you on?” He peered into Seth’s eyes, his blond hair ruffled. “PCP?”
