She expected him to lash out at her, but instead his lips spread into a smile that revealed his picture-perfect teeth. Radcliff clapped his hands together at a slow, even pace as he looked down at her as if he actuallydidadmire her.
“I’m impressed. Your diagnosis is almost word-for-word the same report the doctors told my parents when I was twelve. You must be very good at your job.”
“I am. I’m also smart enough to know you can kill me, Gabe, and all the men on his team, and yet you still won’t get away with what you’ve done.”
“And why is that, Dr.?”
“Too many people know the truth. You’re finished, Radcliff. Not only will you never be president, you’ll most likely spend the rest of your miserable life in a maximum-security prison. My guess is, they’ll put you in isolation due to your popular status. Can’t imagine that will bode well with a man like you. Spending day after day with no one else around to feed your endless ego.”
His smile faltered. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” Ellena continued pushing. “You killed your entire unit, then used the war to cover it up. You had Mark Ellis killed because he discovered the truth, and then you kidnapped my friend in order to force me into surrendering myself.”
“The Shaw woman won’t talk. As soon as I’m done with you, my men and I are heading back to Texas to make sure of it.”
She schooled her expression. Gabe and the others would never let anything happen to Jenna.
Please let her stay safe.
“And what about my husband and his team? And the other team that was there. You planning to take them all out, too?”
“I told you. I’m waiting for them to get here, and then that little matter will be dealt with, as well.”
“You know what? I was wrong. I should’ve added delusional to my list of diagnoses.”
Moving lightning fast, Radcliff backhanded her, snapping her head to the side. A throbbing fire erupted along her cheek and jaw, and she tasted fresh blood.
“You’ll watch your tongue when speaking to me! I will become President. And these….stories you think your friends will spread before their deaths...those will just be added to the endless list of rumors surrounding every president who’s ever come before me.”
Grabbing her throat, he squeezed like before. Once again, Ellena was pushed into the dark abyss.
* * *
Gabe and the rest of Bravo listened closely as Ryker spoke to Ghost on his encrypted phone. He never really slept, but the shower and time spent resting had recharged him more than he’d thought possible.
Ryker asked questions, scribbling information onto a note pad as Ghost relayed it. When he finally hung up, he looked directly at Gabe.
“They’ve seen Elle. No sign of Walker, yet.”
Gabe’s knees went weak, and he had to sit down. “Is she okay?” he asked anxiously.
“Ghost saw Radcliff, Ellena, and another man exit the vehicle and enter the house. About an hour later, the man escorted Ellena to the shed.”
Gabe’s stomach filled with lead. “And?”
Ryker hesitated. “The next time they saw her, the same man who’d taken her into the building was carrying her back to the house.” His swallow was audible. “Ghost said she was limp and appeared to be unconscious. He said…” Out of character, Ryker hesitated again, almost as if he was afraid to say the last part.
“What?” Gabe looked back at the other man. “He said what, Jason?”
Ryker’s forehead creased as he spoke. “He said that the pattern had repeated itself a few times today.”
Gabe’s hands fisted by his sides. Closing his eyes for a moment, he asked, “How many times?”
“Three so far.”
So the bastard was taking her into that building, and each time she had come out unconscious. His imagination went wild, sending his fear racing into overdrive.
Grabbing the kitchen chair next to him, Gabe belted an echoing roar as he threw it at the cabin’s front door. Pieces of wood splintered in every direction, the other men nearby ducking and hauling ass to get out of the line of fire.
