He reached across, unlocked her seat belt and in a low, threatening voice said, “Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”
Her hands trembled as she pushed the door open and slid out.
Travis came around and walked her forward, the gun nudging her in the back.
The steel door groaned as it opened. Inside, the warehouse was cavernous, cold, and empty. The air was stale, with an underlying metallic scent. Droppings littered the corners. Bird shit streaked the walls. Lainey stepped inside and swallowed hard.
What kind of fresh hell had she landed in?
She glanced around. A single folding chair sat in the middle of the open space—so not empty.
And suddenly she knew not only was she in big trouble, but she wasn’t here for a chat. Her eyes darted around the room. No windows. No exit except for the one they came through. Could she make a run for it? Maybe if she zigzagged, threw him off? Maybe.
Too late. Footsteps echoed from behind her, coming closer.
And a voice she hadn’t heard in a while said, “Hello, Lainey.”
Her stomach dropped.
She hadn’t heard that voice for over a year.
But she hadn’t forgotten it.
CHAPTER 47
The silencein the cab of the truck was welcome as Finn drove back to command central. Chase and whoever else was around needed information and they needed a plan of attack.
His grip on the wheel tightened. He should have seen this coming. He should have trusted his gut about Travis. Anger, fear and relief played ping-pong with his emotions and consumed him as the miles passed.
Anger at Travis and also at himself. The bastard had been in his sights, and he didn’t act. Lainey’s kidnapping was his fault.
The fear she was experiencing would be almost paralyzing. He’d been in battle, lived in fear, but as a woman and the mother of his child, she shouldn’t. God, what if she was hurt? What if she thought no one was coming for her?
No, that was just dumb. Lainey knew and trusted that he would find her.
And finding Luke unharmed was a miracle. When his little head popped up behind that fallen tree, Finn’s heart swelled. He looked so small. So brave.
Only a couple more miles to command central, and Dex would be able to flip through traffic cams and hopefully narrow down where Lainey was.
The building came into view, and he recognized several vehicles there. Ryker promised to stay close to Dani and the boys, so that was one less thing he didn’t have to worry about. Chase and Titus were already here. Maybe Zach Rodgers. He lived on campus and if he was home, maybe. But he didn’t go out on rescues. They weren’t his thing right now. Will, Colt and Ford were on a security detail for another week.
He parked the truck and took a deep breath.
Then another. No sense in falling apart. Not until Lainey was back.
“We’re gonna find her,” said Dex. “Promise.”
Finn nodded. They had to. There was no other option.
Caleb pulled in behind them, and they all walked back to the library. The others were already there.
“Sitrep,” said Chase.
Dex sat at his computer, which was already set up.
Finn described finding Luke safe and Travis’s part in the abduction.
Dex’s fingers were already flying across the keyboard. His brow furrowed. “Fuck. I caught the truck on a feed coming off one of the feeder roads into town. But I lost them.”
