She jerked her gaze back at him. “We’re talking now. You mean somewhere where I can scream and not be heard.”
“I meant somewhere where we won’t be disturbed. The screaming is entirely up to you.”
She glanced back out the window, watching as the trees zipped by, the light beginning to set behind them.
Behind them! They were moving east. But to where? She tried hard to remember what Blaze had said about tracking the phone calls and the pings on his web search, but nothing came to mind. She knew she had been unconscious for a while but had no idea for how long and how far away from the hospital they had traveled. She also didn’t know how long it took for someone to find Nash, if the man was even still alive. God, she hoped he was still alive. She didn’t want any of Bobby’s friends to die because of her. She’d never forgive herself.
As she leaned back in her seat, she glanced out the window, trying her best not to let her fear swallow her. She wondered how Bobby was making out with Leon, and whether they knew what had happened at the hospital. Even if they did know, they’d never be able to find her. Not before Matteo had carried out his cruelty on her. They had no way of even knowing which way they had taken her or how they got her out of the hospital. These men had plan after plan after plan. They would have been smart enough to keep her well hidden as they left the building. No. She was on her own, and she had no idea how to get out of the mess she was in.
“You weren’t the only one who lost, you know?” She kept her gaze out the window. “I lost everything that ever mattered to me back then. Everyone who meant anything to me. Gone.” She turned back to face him. “I couldn’t even say goodbye. You didn’t lose your father; he merely went to jail for his crimes. I, on the other hand, lost everything.”
“Then we both have something to take out on your mother.”
She shook her head. “No, we don’t. See, while you're pissed your dad got caught, I’m extremely proud of my mother for taking a stand and doing the right thing. We’re not alike, you and I. Not even close.”
He merely stared at her, saying nothing.
She shook her head, glancing back out the window, intertwining her fingers. She thought of everything she had survived that led her to that moment. She would survive this, too. And even though she had no idea how he would do it, she knew Bobby would find her.
And God help Matteo when he did.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ELVIS WASN’T SURE HOW far behind Matteo and his men they were. All he knew was that Dane couldn’t drive fast enough and Elvis pressed his right foot into the floorboard of the SUV as if he could make the car go faster.
Leon’s tough guy exterior lasted only as long as it took for Elvis to round the table and yank his ass out of that metal chair, almost snapping his wrists which were still handcuffed to the ring in the middle of the table. And Elvis would have delivered the blow without a second thought, except that marshal had barged in, telling him they cracked the security on the man’s phone. They knew where they were taking Delaney. Or so they hoped.
He dropped the man into the chair as he spun on the marshal. “Where?”
“Hilliard, ten to fifteen miles past the state line about eighteen miles west of I-95. It’s a private estate on the St. Marys River. Some shell company’s on the deed, but it’s Matteo’s. FBI have been watching it for years.”
Elvis slammed his palms down on the table. “The only way you help yourself now is by giving me all the information I needto get onto that estate. How many men are with him? How many at the estate? What’s the security like?”
Cochran had stepped in, pulling Elvis back from Leon. “I’ll get that. Right now. I think your team needs to get on the road. I’ll call for backup to meet you there.”
Elvis didn’t need to be told twice.
He hopped in Dane’s SUV while Gage and Grim left from the hospital, swinging by to pick up Blaze on the way. They didn’t bother tracking whoever took Delaney from the hospital, deciding the best course would be to head straight for Matteo. Whoever had taken her would take her to Serrano’s son.
It didn’t take long before the team found themselves down the street from the Serrano Estate, huddling around the back of Dane’s SUV. The back hatch was up, and Blaze stood in the middle, his laptop up as he tapped into the satellite imagery. The estate was a sprawling riverfront property set back from the eastern edge of St. Marys, behind a gated access road. The main house appeared large and pale against the tree line. A dock extended into the dark water like a finger pointing an accusing finger.
Elvis stood there with impatience forcing him to clench and unclench his fists. Gage stood on one side of Blaze, with Dane on the other, and Grim leaned on the side of the SUV, simply watching, his arms over his chest. It had taken them a while to get to Blaze, making sure the doctor checked Grim out before they left so they suffered no surprises on the road. Grim had barely said a word and could barely look at Elvis now, blaming himself for Delaney’s abduction. However, Elvis knew the blame laid at his own feet. He never should have left her side.
Elvis had tried to get the man to sit this one out, but Grim had merely shaken his head with a look that ended the conversation before it could progress. He refused to be left behind. Elvis had merely nodded, letting the matter drop. Hewould have been the same way. Hell, he was just a few weeks ago when people kidnapped Meaghan from the side of the road while Gage and he were supposed to watch out for her.
They stood, staring at the screen as Blaze walked them through the layout of the property, pointing to the important points as the afternoon light outside the structure moved toward evening. Time continued to pass as it always did, not caring that his world had exploded. Time had a schedule to keep, and there was no pause button to be found.
“From what I can tell,” Blaze said, still pointing at the screen, “coming in from the river is the best approach. They have security cameras on the main gate as well as the front of the house. Fewer on the back. I can kill those, run a loop through them, so they don’t see you coming.” He pointed to a slight rise of the ground just to the south of the property. “Someone should be here acting as overwatch. It possesses the best line of sight.”
Gage glanced at Grim, knowing the man would want to be boots on the ground, and there was no way Elvis would be left behind. “I got it.”
Blaze gave a curt nod and then turned to the others. “The rest of you come in from the river. There’s a barrier wall twenty yards from the main house for decoration, but it’ll grant you some cover.” He glanced over at Dane. “I’ll grant you all some time, then move the SUV in front of the gate.” He shrugged. “It’s the only road in or out, so it’ll stop the flow of traffic from the estate in case they try to take her off property.”
Dane simply nodded, his hands in his pockets.
“Dane and I will take the east side of the house,” Elvis said, taking over the details. “Grim, you come out on the west.” He glanced around at the others. “I don’t care what happens to Matteo, but Delaney’s walking out of that place. That’s the only option.”
No one argued with him.
