“He hasn’t had time to really hurt her, Dom,” Miguel said. “Don’t sit over there and imagine the worst. That will just fuck you up and make a mistake. We both know that. We are right behind him. Miller is in visual range. If she has to, she’ll act. And I don’t know about you, but I’d pit Miller against Newcomb any day. Iaskedfor Miller in Homicide. She’s good at what she does.”
Hell, Dom knew that. But Madison…It felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. He couldn’t breathe right now. And he didn’t know if he ever would again.
“Unless she was hurt before he even put her in that van.” Two women had already been attacked. Madison could have already been injured before being thrown into that van. She could be bleeding to death right now. Knowing…that Newcomb and his buddies had killed dozens of people. She had to be terrified.
She already had nightmares. She was already afraid.
The thought of her afraid—it destroyed him.
“Well, she knows you are coming for her, Dom. She knows that. And Madison is one hell of a fighter. I am going to get you to her as fast as I can.”
Miguel floored it, taking the turn to Reservoir Road fast enough to make anyone shit their pants. Dom appreciated it. They needed to cut the distance between them and the ERT van however they could.
“I’ll always come for her. I’ve loved that woman for years. I was too much of a coward to do anything about that. Don’t repeat my mistakes.”
“I won’t. I have plans of my own. Now, let’s get your girl back. You get her—and I’ll grab good old Ernie. There is a lot I have to say to him about what he’s been up to lately.”
“We already have Stillman and one Creevey brother. We’ll catch the other one fast enough. And that lab tech. We’re moving forward. But…I’m getting her back. That is the only thing that matters right now.”
“I get that. We’ll get her back. And never let her go after. Just never let her go.”
The only sound was the gravel crunching beneath the tires.
102
Madison needed a plan here.With her wrists still behind her—that was going to be a problem. But…she was twisting enough, maybe…
She was going to need her hands. Like, really, really soon.
“I know what you are trying to do there. You may succeed, you may not. But I do have my weapon; and I would hate to have to shoot you again. Considering. That is probably not something you want to contemplate, after all you’ve been through. I am sorry for that; like I said, Steven wasnotinvolved in that. You did not deserve that. Then again, how many do deserve such a thing? I have wondered that many times before. What do you think?”
Her blood literally chilled.
He would do it. That was exactly what he planned to do.
Because he was sadistic.
He intended to drive her into the mines and shoot her. Then leave her body behind.
Even if he didn’t shoot her, if he forced her deep enough in the mines and left her, with no light and no supplies, that would mean eventual death. Unless someone else found her. But…there were hundreds of miles of mines under this part of Barratt County. Rescue wasn’t a guarantee. She could get lost, and no one could find her.
Madison just yanked her wrists against the bent edge of the drawer. It was sharp and her arms were going to be sliced a bit, but it was the only option she had.
It had worked for Wilson that night. She just wasn’t going to give up.
If she could get away from him, she had a small light in her pocket. She carried it everywhere on the clock. It came in handy in the vault’s back shelves.
She had a light.
And she had a caveman coming for her now.
Madison just had to get away.
She had to use her head.
103
The sun was setting.Dom knew she hated the night. “She has nightmares. Of the dark. Of not getting away. Of everything she has been through.”
