She twisted her hands to see if she could get out of the zip ties but wound up rubbing her skin raw. She checked out the kitchen island to see if there were any knives. If the senator turned his back, maybe she could grab something from the counter to cut the binds.
The picture window on the far wall of the kitchen overlooked the expansive backyard. A thrumming sound grew louder. Was that—a helicopter?
She watched out the window as the helicopter approached. It landed in a big white circle at the end of the lawn.
No. Dani wasn’t getting on a helicopter with this man. Who knew where she’d wind up?
A scuffle in the hallway by the kitchen caught Dani’s attention. Deville’s lackey arrived and shoved Cortez into the chair across from Dani.
Deville moved to the table. “Our rides are here.”
Ridesas in plural? Dani’s mind whirred at the implications. The men were going to separate so the cases wouldn’t be together.
Which meant she and Cortez would probably be separated. But was she going to be leaving by helicopter?
The senator grabbed Dani from behind and jammed the familiar white cloth over her mouth and nose. She struggled, but it was no use.
She was going to die, disappear without a trace, and no one would know she had her story.
And Grizz would never know that she’d loved him.
* * *
“Just breathe.”
Rio’s voice brought Grizz back to reality. His mind spun out of control. He’d hitched a ride on the helicopter and now sat in Mike’s office.
But his thoughts could only focus on one thing.
Dani.
Grizz stood and paced the six-by-ten office. “Where is she? We will find her.”
Rio leaned on the doorframe with his arms folded. “Senator Deville is our top suspect, and he has that mansion on the other side of the mountain. Jamie uncovered the property in his second wife’s name. She also pieced together the money trail that will be the final nail in his coffin when we arrest him. If Dani isn’t there, he might have left something behind that could tell us where she is. I’m getting a SWAT team in place to raid the house.”
“Not good enough. I have to be there for her. I can’t let it end this way.” Still in uniform, Grizz could smell the smoke that clung to his shirt. But he wasn’t going to clean up. He wasn’t going anywhere until there was a plan in place to rescue Dani.
The woman Grizz loved. “Rio, you have to let me go. What if the team doesn’t get there in time?”
Rio looked over his shoulder to see if anyone might overhear his next statement. “Tucker is letting usborrowthe helicopter if we promise to not let it get blown up like the last one. I’ve got a pilot that can get us near the property, and we’ll take a few agents. I don’t want him to get away.” He pointed at Grizz. “You’re not a trained FBI agent. Your job is to observe and be there for Dani. Tell me you understand.”
“I understand.” It didn’t matter. Grizz would say anything to get one step closer to finding Dani. If he got his hands on the senator…Maybe it was a good thing Grizz was justobserving.
He might not have always done the right thing, but he’d get there in time to save Dani. But he couldn’t do it alone, not in his own strength. It was time to step up and be the hero he knew he could be—because of the strength God had given him.
You were right, Grandpa.
The tune to “Amazing Grace” filtered through his mind.Yes, when this flesh and heart may fail, and mortal life shall cease: I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
Dani had prayed, and he’d arrived just in time to stop Jeremiah.
Lord, please let this be a successful rescue operation coordinated by You. I can’t do this alone. I trust You with Dani’s safety.
Grizz stopped at his quarters and filled his lightweight backpack with supplies, grabbing his backup knife and some zip ties—anything and everything he might possibly need—before heading to the helipad. He was walking into this situation blind.
The ride took twenty minutes, which was nineteen and a half minutes too long for Grizz.
And once Dani was safe, he was never going to let her go. She made him want to be a better man. Less grumpy. He’d been hooked from the moment she’d called him her hero. Even if it meant that he lost everything to be by her side. He’d do it.
