Once that moment passed, I shoved those thoughts so deep into a closet, a therapist couldn’t penetrate if I lived another day.

  Though my hand throbbed, my stomach growled, and my situation was grave, I washed my hands as I inspected the painful one.

  Then, chin up, spine straight, I walked into the room and only barely gave the line of needles on the worn-out dresser a cursory glance.

  He sat like a jailor in a chair wedged in front of the door.

  Compliantly, I lay back on the bed. It wasn’t as though I was giving in. Based on everything I’d experienced so far, I would have one shot at freedom and I had to pick it wisely.

  Given that the only ache between my legs was dull and from the night before, I had to trust that he was still working with whoever had contracted him.

  I didn’t believe this was in any way personal to him. I was just a job and nothing more.

  So I lay down and put my arms over my head, hoping to let him think he’d won as my hand pulsed with pain. I didn’t ask for any medication. For one, I doubted he would give it to me. Secondly, I didn’t think he had any. What was in those syringes wasn’t anything I wanted.

  Red and green lights flash in succession over his face. A sign I couldn’t see bathing his face in eerily color that made him seem more monstrous as he grinned.

  He rose, and just like before, he caught me off guard. I’d woken to no shoes. They’d probably been taken as a deterrent for my escape. He had no idea I’d practically grown up without shoes in the summertime. Then the needle sank into the top of my toe.

  But that wasn’t my concern. What had he given me was the biggest question I held as I did my breath.

  Was it another sedative, or was it heroin?

  Six

  Many things came together in a short period of time. Matt and Turner came back as I was ushered into the van by Joe Gormley, a balding man with a stern but likable face and the team leader.

  Matt and Turner hurried out of the rental and followed.

  “You’ve got something?” Matt asked as we were led into the truck. His team sat in front of a row of monitors, hard at work on various tasks.

  “Actually, yes,” Gormley began.

  “What have you got?” I asked.

  “Good and bad news,” he said. “The bad news is the tread matches tires made for many economy model vehicles.” Inwardly I groaned, knowing we were looking for a needle in a haystack, though I expected as much. “The other bad news is in a small town like this, there aren’t many traffic cameras.”

  Matt spoke up. “What about security cameras on the convenience store and bank?” He held up what looked like a VHS tape from the ’80s. “The bank said they were willing to help and this is from the convenience store.”

  “Yeah,” Gormley said, looking at me like he wanted to say more.

  He thoughtfully nodded at Matt before taking the tape and handing it off to one of his team without dismissing Matt’s find. I immediately liked him. He wasn’t a hothead or egomaniac. I made a mental note to tell Griffin he had a rising star on his hands.

  “The good news is, about a mile and a half down the road there’s a national bank that thankfully uses modern technology. Although it’s a small branch, it has big city security. There are two cameras on the building, each pointing in opposite directions. We were able to get footage in a two-hour window of when we think Miss Glicks was taken.”

  “And—” I pressed.

  “We think we’ve got a location on the car.”

  Matt sighed. “Should I even ask how you got access to that footage?”

  My rising star shook his head and said, “Well, the bank manager did tell you they would be willing to help if they could.”

  Matt frowned and held up a hand. “I don’t want to know.”

  Gormley nodded and continued, “There wasn’t a lot of traffic early this morning. We were able to quickly analyze the license plates of the twenty or so vehicles that passed. Although there are a couple of crossroads between here and the bank, this is the main road that leads to the highway a few miles down.”

  “You found something,” I said hopefully.

  “Yes. One of the vehicles came back as a rental procured yesterday. Lucky for us, the rental companies have GPS tracking on their vehicles in case of theft.”

  I was familiar as Griffin tirelessly explained what he was doing when he searched for Bailey’s rental.

  Turner jumped in, looking optimistic, but this was what I paid the big money for. Results.

  “You found the vehicle?” he asked Gormley.

  “Yes.”

  With that one word, a plan was formed.

  Seven

  I woke again to complete quiet. I took a moment to listen. When I heard nothing, not even slight breathing, I shifted my foot to draw attention to my captor if he was still in the room. Nothing. I turned my head slightly to the left and then right and surmised I was alone.

  It was time to make my move. I scooted back in the bed so my hands could reach my hair. Once I could twist my fingers into my bun, I pulled out my secret weapon, a hairpin.

  As a curious child, I was always interested in how things worked. Our community wasn’t immune to problems. As such, we did have what could be labeled as a jail. A small building with two holding cells.

  I’d gone there once with my dad and came across some handcuffs. He’d been busy fixing something and I’d locked myself in them.

  I almost smiled at the memory. Father had been amused and showed me how to get myself out of them using something I’d always have on me.

  When it had been so easy to free myself, I’d asked why they bothered to use them to bind anyone. He’d said, Most don’t know the trick or wouldn’t have something on them to use to get them out of it.

  It had been a good day.

  As I worked myself free, ignoring the pain in my right hand, I unlocked the first and then the other. I thought about my father and if he would be proud if he saw me now.

  Just as I was about to get up, I heard the doorknob rattle and I froze.

  My car, probably the only one of its kind for miles, stood out like an albatross in the parking lot across the street from the shit motel in Virginia we’d tracked Bailey to. Nerves shot, I hoped like hell she was here and this wasn’t a wild goose chase.

  Turner sat in my passenger seat and appeared just as frayed around the edges as I felt. We hadn’t spoken much during the four-hour drive.

  I was grateful I’d made the choice to drive my own car from New York to Pennsylvania, giving me access to make the drive to Virginia. I didn’t think I could be stuck in the security company’s van the way I was currently feeling.

  Plus, with the threat against her, I’d wanted to be able to get her out without being easily tracked.

  Matt opted to ride with the team in case he could help further. He’d glanced between us when he announced his decision. It was like he wanted to create an intervention between us. I had nothing against Turner. Rationally, I knew he hadn’t known about Bailey and me. And I couldn’t blame him for wanting her.

  “Do you think she’s in there?” Turner asked after clearing his throat.

  I shifted in my seat to look at him while he stared ahead. “A part of me hopes not. The things the bastard could do to her in a hotel room…” I trailed off, not wanting to think about it.

  “Motel, you mean.”

  I waved off his correction and got out of the car. It was a stupid comment. But he was as worried as I was at what could be happening to her.

  I headed to the back of the truck, sure Turner would follow. When I heard the car door close, I lifted up my key fob and hit the lock button.

  The area we were in held several boarded-up one-story buildings, a liquor store closed for the night, and this ramshackle motel. I could afford another car if mine got stolen, but I didn’t have the time to bother with those details. Nor would I make it easy for someone to take it.

  We entered the back of the truck with the team continuing to work at computer stations. Matt huddled with Gormely around a younger man wearing headphones. He gave a thumbs-up and Gormely interpreted.

  “We have movement.”

  He tapped the screen and sound came through.

  “Can we be sure it’s her?” I asked.

  Quickly, I shifted back to cover my hands with my hair. There was no time to get the cuffs back on as the door swung open.

  He checked his watch when he noticed I was awake.

  “I guess you’ll need a higher dose when it’s time to transport you.”

  I said nothing and kept a fearful expression on my face.

  “Don’t worry, doll. At least about me. Our time is almost at an end.”

  “I need to pee,” I said.

  He didn’t miss a beat. My good girl act the first time was paying off. “Same rules apply.”

  I nodded and waited, counting my breaths as he moved around the side of the bed closest to the bathroom. My timing had to be perfect.

  When he bent over me, I held my breath. Once he was as close to my face as I’d thought he’d dare get, I shot my hands forward and dug my thumbs into his eye sockets.

  He made a good impression of a girl as the pitch of his scream reached soprano decibels as he worked to pull back.

  I didn’t have enough strength to hold him, so I swung my knee up and connected with his balls. He bent forward and I dug my thumbs a little deeper into his eyes before pushing him off me. Then I had no choice but to scoot to the end and not the side of the bed.

  It wasn’t the best option, as I was slower. But he was on that side of the bed and I couldn’t be sure of the damage I’d caused.

  One thing I hadn’t counted on was how much of my hair was free once I’d removed one of my bobby pins.

  My head snapped back as he yanked at the strands. It felt as if he’d pulled them out by the roots as I landed flat on my back.

  The dim light didn’t allow for me to see the exact damage I’d inflicted on him, but he was able to focus hate-filled eyes on me as he swung his body to cover mine.

  “You shouldn’t have done that, bitch.”

  I bucked underneath him, hoping to get him off so I could have my limbs free to use as weapons.

  He didn’t budge, only pressed down on me harder and clamped one large hand around my throat, squeezing.

  Air became precious as I reflexively opened my mouth as if that would somehow bring oxygen into my lungs.

  “It won’t be long now,” he declared.

  I thrashed and felt him grow hard. I gagged harder as I tried to find air. Stars began to dance in my eyes and I decided to stop.

  It was my only play left. If he thought I was about to pass out, maybe he’d let up. I needed time and that meant not dying or losing consciousness.

  He didn’t let up. Somewhere in the distance I thought I heard a crash and maybe caught a blur of movement. Either that or I was near death and seeing things.

  Sounds of grunting came through the top-of-the-line equipment that could catch the faintest noise from far off and through walls. My vision turned red.

  “Time to move,” I said.

  Matt called out after me, “That could be coming from a different room.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck,” I said as I pushed the doors open with Matt at my heels.

  “The local authorities are on their way,” he said, reaching for me.

  I shrugged him off. “Time for waiting is over,” I said and took off across the street, not bothering to wait for anyone to follow.

  Abandoning my plan, I headed straight to the door with a weathered number eight barely hanging on it.

  With proper positioning and force of will, my well-placed kick at the sweet spot of the frame made the wood around the lock splinter. It wasn’t my first time kicking a door down. I ignored the memory that wanted to swallow me.

  On the bed a man covered a woman. Though it was dark, I recognized the dress that was fisted in his hand and dove at him. I tackled him off her and we rolled off the side of the bed.

  I hit the floor on my back with a grunt, leaving Bailey’s attacker in the favorable position. I launched a fist at his face and he turned but not before I clipped his jaw.

  He went sprawling over and I moved quickly to grab a fist full of his hair and used it to draw his head up and back into the floor.

  Then I punched him again, my knuckles splitting as they hit bone, pummeling his nose into mincemeat if I had my choice.

  Though he’d gone slack underneath me, I wasn’t done. I grabbed his hair, prepared to flip him and force him to eat the floor with his entire face.

  Only the satisfying sounds of teeth breaking didn’t happen as Matt caught my arm. I could have easily broken loose. It was his words that penetrated my predatory brain.

  “He’s done for and the cops are here.”

  I let go of the bawbag and his head bounced once on the floor.

  Then I let my attention focus on the bed where Bailey had been. Through my breaths, I could hear her quiet sobs until all hell broke loose.

  Sirens screamed closer as I watched Turner scoop her up into his arms. I fisted my hands and the wounds on my knuckles woke up.

  I got to my feet and followed them out into the night. I stood several feet away as an ambulance crew got out and helped Bailey onto a stretcher.

  My mind went to what had happened to her. Were we too late? Had he already hurt her in ways I didn’t want to imagine?

  I made the call.

  “We got her.”

  “Did you get him?” Griffin asked.

  “I battered him up, the bawsack.”

  “Aye,” he said. “You wallop him good?”

  “I lamped him silly.”

  “How’s the lass?” Griffin asked.

  “I dinnae know.”

  She was yards away with another man, but I didn’t say that. I promised him an update when I knew something.

  The cold began to seep in as my adrenaline wore off. But I didn’t move until her eyes finally met mine.

  When they did, she didn’t wave me over. Instead, she seemed to burrow deeper into Turner who was by her side, caressing her face. His lips moved, but I heard nothing but the rush of my blood as I warred within myself as to my next move. In the end, I took Matt’s advice and let her be. She didn’t need me.

  A swell of emotions in my chest threatened to show. As soon as I took in a deep breath of the cool air, I was able to tamp them down. With nothing left to do, I headed back across the street toward the truck and my car. It was late enough that not many cars had passed by.

  Inside the truck, I let the team give me a report. One of the key things I was told was that they’d checked to make sure there weren’t any nearby security cameras that would have caught our rescue mission.

  When Matt stepped into the truck nearly an hour later, I understood the importance of that statement.

  “This goes against everything I stand for,” Matt began. I didn’t like his tone and how he started this conversation. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say. “Because of your excessive force, they might investigate how we found Bailey. Either could be used against us. He could get off on a technicality.”

  “No—” I barked.

  Matt held up a hand. “I don’t have jurisdiction here.”

  I knew differently.

  “What about your FBI friends?”

  His gaze narrowed. “Let’s go for a walk,” he demanded.

  I followed him out, spoiling for another fight.

  “What are you getting at?” Matt asked when we reached my car.

  “Does your family know you work for the FBI?”

  Bailey thought him a cop with the Chicago PD. But I knew Matt had been recruited in college during a sting on the sale of drugs through a fraternity. Technically, he hadn’t been an agent then. Soon after he’d helped close that case, he’d been fast-tracked to be one of the youngest agents.

  “That’s not something you should know,” he said, his eyes boring into mine.

  “Then use the leverage you have to make the charges stick, because if he gets off, he’s a dead man.”

  Matt’s brows knit together. “Why are you even saying this to me? I should put you up on charges of attempted murder for even saying that.”

  I waved him off.

  “He knows something. He’s not the ring leader. Bailey’s still in danger.”

  Eight

  When the door crashed opened, a big blur of a man connected with my captor. I sucked in a breath, starved for oxygen. I had no time to process how I’d been found before my room was flooded with bodies.

  A voice I hadn’t expected to hear sounded in my ear.

  “Are you okay?”

  Matt. What was he doing here?

  I nodded as I continued to find my breath, coughing and sucking in air all at the same time.

  “I’ll be back.”

  Then he was gone as I curled into a ball.

  It wasn’t long before someone else was there pushing wet strands of hair from my eyes.

  “Bails, you’re safe.”

  Though I’d known that on some level, hearing it allowed me to let the walls down I’d protected myself with. I let out a sob for all sobs.

  Turner wrapped me in his arms and cradled me to his chest.

  He was home and home was safe. All the fear that I’d held in poured out of me as I thanked the man above and whoever else had been watching over me.

  “They’re here,” he said.

  I was airborne in his arms as we stepped out of the musky room that smelled of mold and other things. Fresh cold air whipped over me and I shuddered.

  The next thing I knew, I was on a gurney being checked over by EMTs. I clamped down on Turner’s hand, not ready to be alone with strangers.

  I barely heard the questions, answering on autopilot while wondering where Kalen was. I found him standing near the door I’d exited like a valiant knight, all beautiful and dangerous with an indecipherable expression.