Neither answered immediately.
“Where’s Dad?” Burke asked sharply.
Maggie blinked. “Back twenty-five fixing fence.” Her eyes moved between them now, fear rising. “Why? What happened?”
Burke was already moving.
“It’s okay, Mom.”
Which meant absolutely nothing was okay.
Grant jumped out, sprinted to the cattle gate, and yanked it open hard enough the chain clanged against the post.
Burke drove through without slowing.
Grant leapt back into the truck before the gate fully swung shut.
The truck tore across the pasture road toward the back acreage.
Burton Scott looked up from the fence line as the headlights bounced toward him.
Work gloves on.
Fence pliers still in hand.
The truck stopped hard.
Both sons got out fast.
Burton frowned immediately.
“What the hell’s going on?”
Burke walked straight toward him.
“Izzy Moreno’s been taken.”
Everything in Burton’s face changed.
Grant stepped in before Burke could say another word.
“We need to know every place Wade Hollis ever used for his business.”
Burton went completely still.
The mountains behind them faded into silence.
“What happened?” Burton asked quietly.
“Black SUV took her from Bridlepath,” Burke said. “Cal Hollis too.”
That landed.
Burton looked between his sons now and saw it clearly?—
fear.
Real fear.
