Walker shook his head in disgust. “You’re going to tell an officer everything, but right now, all I need from you is his location. Where is Garrett?”
Bridgette held up her hands. “I have no idea where he is. I haven’t spent any time with him wherever he’s staying, we always went to my place.”
Walker extended a hand. “Give me your phone.” Bridgette handed it over without a word of protest. “You better pray we find Tessa without a hair harmed on her head. Because if we don’t, you’re an accessory to whatever crime was committed.”
Bridgette started to sob. Walker said nothing. A phone rang. Hope filled my chest that it might be Garrett calling Bridgette, but Walker ignored the phone in his hand and pulled another from his pocket. He tapped the screen. “Cain. Tell me you have something.”
The hope was back. And like an addict jonesing for my next fix, I gripped that hope with everything I had. Walker left the interrogation room, slamming the door in his wake. Tuck, Jensen, and I followed.
Walker stood in the hallway, gripping the phone tightly. “That’s great. Will you text me the exact location?” Pause. “I owe you big on this one. Come on out to the ranch one of these days, and I’ll pay up.” Another pause. “Okay. Talk soon.”
Walker hit end on his phone. “We think we found him.” My chest seized. “Cabin property twenty miles outside of town. He rented under an alias. The same one that has a plane scheduled to take off from a private airstrip tonight with a flight plan to South America.”
My whole body seemed to lock. The bastard was trying to take Tessa out of the country. “We have to get her,now.”
Walker’s gaze shot to mine. “I’m assembling the SWAT team now. But you have to stay here. Tuck and I will bring Tessa home safe.”
I got right up in Walker’s face. “I’m going with you.”
Walker’s expression grew hard. “No civilians.”
Tuck placed a hand on my shoulder but locked gazes with Walker. “He can wait in the truck at the assembly point.”
“It’s a bad idea.” Walker let out a muttered curse. “Fine. But if you even look like you’re thinking of getting out of that vehicle, I’ll cuff you to the armrest.”
I shook off Tuck’s hand. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Jensen pushed her way into our huddle. “I want to go, too.”
Walker shook his head. “No way, Little J. You’re staying here.”
The determined expression on her face melted into worry. Her gaze jumped from her brother to Tuck and lingered there, fear filling her eyes. “Please be careful.”
Tuck held her gaze for a moment before giving her a cocky grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No need to worry about us. We could do this in our sleep.”
I felt for Jensen’s worry, I did. But right then, Tessa took precedence over everything and everyone. “We need to get moving. Now.”
Walker’s jaw worked. “We don’t head into the middle of an unknown situation without a plan. We have to look at maps of the area, pick our point of attack, divide into teams. It takes time.”
My hands clenched at my sides. It took everything I had not to punch something or someone. “While you’re taking the time to come up with the perfect plan, what is that monster doing to Tessa?”
45
Tessa
Ipushed myself into a seated position. My vision still wavered, but not quite as badly as before. The pain in my head had only worsened. Garrett shaking me like a rag doll hadn’t helped on that front.
I raised my bound hands to my head, trying desperately to get my mind to focus. I blinked a few times, clearing my vision and then lowered my hands. I’d only have one shot at this.
Slowly, I stood. My legs trembled slightly, but not too badly. I thought back to the day Liam had taught me how to break out of restraints. Just seeing him in my mind strengthened my resolve. I could do this. It was going to hurt like a bitch, but I could do it.
I extended my arms out in front of me, my wrists together. Liam had shown me one swift downward movement with as much force and speed as possible, right to your middle. Ideally, the plastic bracket holding the zip ties together would pop right off.
I took a deep breath, summoning all my strength, and slammed my hands towards my stomach. All the air whooshed out of my lungs. My wrists felt as if they had been lit on fire. I fell back onto the bed, and black dots danced across my vision. I tried to lift a hand. My wrists were still fastened together.
A sob gathered at the back of my throat. My whole body burned and throbbed. The temptation to give up, to surrender to my fate was so strong.No. That wasn’t who I was anymore.
I forced myself up, ignoring the blood dripping from my wrists. I replayed Garrett’s threats in my mind. I would not let myself stay at his mercy. I thought of all the beatings. How he berated me. The taunts. I reached my hands out.
