Page 100 of Rafe’s Future

He opened the message. A single photograph appeared. Every ounce of air in his lungs left in a rush.

Lena.

Her face was bruised. Her lip and cheek were swollen. Blood marked the corner of her mouth, and one of her beautiful eyes was nearly swollen shut.

Rafe stared, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. His mind raced, yet he couldn’t think.

Another message from the same number came through beneath the picture. It was an address with instructions⁠—

One chance. Come alone. If anyone else is spotted, she dies.

He bent forward, catching himself with a palm on the table’s smooth top.

“Dad?” Alice moved closer. “Oh, my God.”

Rafe grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. He took off for the door, his steps broad and quick.

“Wait, where are you going?”

He glanced back at her as if she’d gone perfectly mad. “To get Lena, where do you think?”

“Uh, not alone you’re not.” She rushed toward him.

“You saw the message. I don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, you do.”

He left the room and hurried down the hall.

“Dammit, Dad. Would you just stop for one second and think this through? You know full well, this is a trap!”

He did know that, and he didn’t care. If he died, at least Lena would know he tried. He couldn’t leave her there to get beaten again, or worse.

A flash of that picture filled his mind’s eye as he stormed through the otherwise empty reception area. His fists curled painfully at his sides.

The fury he felt for Henry Stanton was a living, breathing monster. And it lived inside him.

Not for long.

Because the second he got his hands on that son of a bitch, Stanton would wish he was already dead.

Alice shot directly in front of him, forcing Rafe to make a sudden stop.

“You remember what happened when I pulled my lone-ranger stunt going after Henry’s father, right?”

Rafe clenched his back teeth together. “That was different.”

“No. It wasn’t.” She shook her head. “I almost lost my dad because I thought I could handle everything myself.”

He stared at his daughter. “I have to go after her.”

“But you don’t have to do it alone.”

“Alice—”

“No.” She stepped closer. “You taught me better than that.” Her gaze fell over the open space. “You taught all of us better.”

“Princess?” Digger’s deep voice sounded from the hall’s entrance. “What is it?” He went to his wife.