Page 119 of Under Arthur’s Protection

One small. Gwen, alive, warm enough to glow on a screen. Maybe? Hopefully?

“Get closer,” I huffed out. “Once we confirm it’s them, pull back and track them.”

“Battery may not last,” said Tristan.

“I don’t care!” I roared. “Just get⁠—”

“I see her,” said Tristan. “She’s⁠—”

“Flash!” Galahad’s shout cut Tristan off. “Muzzle flash off the boat.”

My knee buckled, pitching me forward, but Lance caught my arm before I hit the ground. I stopped, holding my hands out, searching for balance in a world that was tipping upside down. “What’s going on!”

Had they shot her? Was Gwen⁠—

I couldn’t⁠—

Wouldn’t⁠—

“Feed’s dead,” said Tristan. “It was Rick. He shot the drone.”

“What about Gwen!” I yelled, clamping a hand over the flimsy earpiece. “Is she⁠—”

“The gun was for the drone, not her,” said Galahad. “She looked fine.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, took a deep breath, and sprinted for the car. My battered body fought every step. I pushed harder.

Rick was armed, and maybe the others were, too.

And he had Gwen.

Had she screamed for me when he came? Was she screaming now?

Goddamnit, Gwen, tell them about the email. Tell them about the dead man’s switch. Give them a reason to keep you breathing.

What were we going to do? Where could we start? What could the team do?

“Hopkins!” I blurted. “That motherfucker is behind all of this! He’s going to tell us where she is.”

Or he was fucking dead.

Chapter 36

Gwen

Gone.

The little drone was gone.

Arthur’s team had found me, but Rick had shot the drone out of the sky.

I wrapped my arms around myself, watching the spot where it had hit the water. Seconds later, the fog swallowed the place where it had fallen. Part of me was waiting for Arthur to come roaring out of the mist. He’d come in fast on a boat, strong and full of confidence, and put himself between me and anything trying to hurt me.

I could almost see it. Almost will it into reality.

But it wasn’t reality.

No, my reality was that I was sitting in the bow of a speedboat that was maybe twenty feet long, with an engine so loud I could barely hear myself think. Wind whipped my hair, and the damp strands stuck to my face.