“He also has employees, and you’re not one of them,” Gabesaid, his eyes on the road, but his hands were tight on the wheel.“Keane,Abigail sent you Olivia’s coordinates?”
“I’ve got the address where her phone is located.It’s veryisolated,” Keane replied.“We have to hope they didn’t figure out she still hadit.”
That was the worry.“It hasn’t been long, and even if she’snot there it will tell us something.”
The car went quiet.Keane looked back and Gigi was holdingMiranda’s hand, the women clinging to each other for comfort.They lookedresolute.And Gigi had her bag gripped in her other hand, the one thatcontained all sorts of bejeweled weapons.
The pastures and farmland flew by in a haze.He couldn’tconcentrate on anything except Olivia.
He should never have left her.Not for a second.
This was his fault, and whatever she was currently enduringwas his fault, too.Would she even want to look at him again when he’d failedher?
“Keane, this is not your fault,” Gabe said quietly.
“Why would he think this is his fault?”Garrett asked.“Wejust said one of us should escort her, not that we would never take our eyesoff her.”
“But we should have,” Keane said.“Gabe is reading my mind.”
“No, I know how I would feel, but I would be wrong,” Gabereplied.“It was public in the middle of the day.You ran back to grabsomething.No one could have known the store manager was in on it.”
“I stood there and talked to Deputy Morgan for minutes thatcould have saved Olivia.”He’d thought about this from the moment it happened.Those minutes could have saved Olivia.
“Or they would have knocked you out, too, and had far moretime to do whatever they want,” Garrett reasoned.“They were going to take herone way or another.If you fought, you might have been killed, and I assure youthat’s not what our woman wants.Please don’t let this set you back, Master.Ifyou’re sitting there thinking Olivia won’t want you anymore, you’re wrong.”
“Why wouldn’t she…” Miranda began and then frowned.“You thinkshe’ll blame you?That’s not the Livie I know.”
“The Livie I know is thinking everyone is a moron and tryingto figure out where her kidnapping will land on The Hideout kidnappingbracket,” Gigi explained.
“What?”Garrett asked as Gabe turned down a single-laneroad.
“Hey, a lot of members get kidnapped,” Gabe said like it wasa normal thing.“Daisy O’Donnell’s been kidnapped a couple of times.I heardDevi’s giving her a run, though.”
“I don’t think it should count if she got kidnapped by theguy she’s engaged to,” Miranda added.“Everyone on the board disagrees with me.I’m going to call a vote.Is that a helicopter?”
The sound was unmistakable.A deep, low thud that seemed tobe everywhere all at once.
“They’re right on time.”Gabe brought the SUV to a stop andstarted to get out.He had to yell over the sound of the chopper landing.“Thehouse is past those trees.I hope we’re not too close.”
“They know what they’re doing,” Gigi promised as Keane gotout and held the door for the young women.
He felt his heart thud in his chest as the helicopter landedin the clearing and a massive man hopped out like taking a chopper flight wasno big deal.He was followed by three more big dudes who were covered inweapons and a petite woman who immediately took charge.
“Landon, make sure everything gets moved to the SUV.”Thewoman stepped up and held out a hand.She was dressed in fatigues, a darkT-shirt, and boots, her hair up in a neat bun.“Hey, I’m Tessa Hawthorne.Thisis my boss, Ian Taggart, and the guys.”
Keane shook her hand.“Thanks for coming so quickly.”
“Well, that’s what I’m here for,” Taggart said.“All myfriends’ kids get kidnapped at one point in time or another.Honestly, Olivia’soverdue.Ah, look, you brought chaos with you.Hello, Gigi.How’s your family?”
The big guy had a stunning smile for Gigi and greetedMiranda as well, asking about her family while the chopper’s blades started towind down and the men and woman he brought with him got to work.
“You must be the new guys,” Taggart said.“Good luck.Livieis hell on wheels.At least she used to be.If you two can bring that back, itwould be good.I’ve missed her wild side.She was the kid who made everyonewant to use birth control forever.I found her in my air ducts once when her parentscame in for a consultation.She got through my security.I like her.”
“How are we going to do this?”Keane asked.
“Well, as quickly as possible because I happen to know Jackis on his way, and I don’t want to deal with freaked-out parents,” Taggart admitted.“I’ve been the freaked-out parent.I wouldn’t want to deal with me.Jack isgoing to act like he’s the first person to ever have his daughter kidnapped.Like that hasn’t happened to all of us.I’m three for three.”
“Tag, I found the location,” Tessa said.“Brad is trying toget the heat detector working.It only takes a couple of minutes and then we’llknow how many we’re dealing with.”
