“I think I know where he’s taking her.” She didn’t bother with a formal greeting. “But the property doesn’t belong to Crawford.”
“Then who?” Garrett asked.
“Cyrus Vas.”
Coulter frowned. “Vas owns property in southern California?”
“As of a month ago, yes.” Shadow nodded. “It’s a stretch of farmland located between L.A. and San Diego. It’s not in Vas’s name directly, but rather an alias listed as the owner of a shell company out of Idaho. Of course, they’re both fake, but after digging, I was able to find a county permit with Vas’s real name and signature.”
“What kind of permit?” Coulter asked next.
“There’s a turn-of-the-century farmhouse still there that, up until the sale, had been used as a rental. From what I could tell, it looks as if Vas is planning to tear it down, but the construction permit hasn’t been filed, and satellite imaging shows the farmhouse is still there.”
“If someone was renting it a month ago, there’s probably still water and electricity going to the property,” Digger assumed.
“There is,” Shadow confirmed her husband’s suspicion. “The house isn’t as up-to-date or nearly as fancy as either of Crawford’s homes. But that place is far more secluded. We’re talking a five-mile radius between neighbors. Which means?—”
“There won’t be anyone close by to hear Alex when she screams.”
Coulter felt every eye in the cabin turn his way, and it didn’t take long to understood why.
“Dude.” Bones frowned. “That’s pretty dark. You shouldn’t let yourself go there. Trust me.”
“I appreciate the concern,” he explained. “But I wasn’t saying that as Alex’s boyfriend. I’m saying that Shadow is right. In this particular situation, a place like that makes the most logistical sense.”
“There’s more.” Shadow looked directly at him fromthe other side of her screen. “There’s a private landing strip less than a mile from the property’s eastern border. The owner’s name matches the one on the deed to the farmhouse and surrounding land.”
For the first time since discovering Alex had been taken, Coulter began to feel hope. Real hope that they had an actual chance to save her. That maybe they weren’t too late.
“Text me the coordinates,” Garrett instructed their tech genius extraordinaire. “I’ll get them to the pilot so he can make whatever adjustments needed to follow the course.”
“Copy that, Falcon.” Shadow’s fingers clicked across the keys. “Aaaand . . . there. Done.”
A moment later, Garrett’s phone dinged with an incoming text. “Sweet. Thanks, Shadow.”
“I’d say any time, but I’d love it if this was the last personal rescue mission we go on. I don’t think my heart can take many more.”
“Agreed.” Bones nodded as Shadow blew a kiss Digger’s way.
“Be careful, boys.” The adorable blonde sent them all a quick wave. “I’ll keep you posted if anything changes.”
“Thanks, Shadow.” Coulter gave her a nod.
The feed was cut and the flatscreen went black.
“We’re almost there, Colt,” Garrett spoke up again a few seconds later. “Alex is smart and she’s tough. She’s going to be okay.”
Coulter spent the remainder of the flight praying his brother was right. Three hours later—after being in the air for a total of four-and-a-half—he and the team werefinally landing. The pilot Rafe had on standby set them down smoothly, the transition from air to ground seemingly effortless in its execution.
He didn’t wait for the jet to come to a complete stop before jumping out of his seat and grabbing his gear. Technically the protective vest, two pistols, extra mags, and ammo belonged to the team. But for this mission—his most important mission ever—they were his.
Once Coulter and the others were kitted up, they made their way down the jet’s folding steps. A warm breeze rolled past as his booted feet hit the paved airstrip.
It felt ominous. Almost like a warning of sorts. As if Mother Nature was letting them know danger was near.
Bring your worst, Crawford. I’m ready.
It was time this thing ended for good.
