“Sorry, man. I don’t know why it didn’t alert, but I aim to find out,” Carter said, falling into step next to him as they jogged toward their building. “And she has one of our bracelets on.”
He nodded glancing sideways at him. “Did you show her how to use it?”
Carter grinned. “Absolutely. So don’t worry, the computer is collecting data on their trek right now.”
Dex flanked his other side. “We’ll get her back.”
Dante blew out a breath as his heart lurched. “Damn right we’ll get her back. I already lost one woman I loved. I’m not about to lose another.”
Chapter Thirteen
Stupid…stupid…stupid.
Amanda silently called herself all sorts of names as she sat with her hands tied behind her back in a van with tinted windows that sped down one side road after another before following one for several miles. She hoped to God she’d managed to activate the ESI bracelet because she couldn’t move her fingers anywhere near her wrists with the way her hands were restrained.
Her heart was an icy shard stuck in her throat. Why hadn’t she ignored the stupid text? Or showed it to the guys?
But how could she ignore a threat stating Noah was an easy target through the open door, and if she didn’t sneak out and get to the other end of the back of the strip mall, she would be responsible for the bullet aimed at his little head?
Her heart squeezed at the thought. And even though she was probably going to die, at least Noah was safe.
She glanced around under her lashes, noting that there were three men dressed in black. The driver, who she only caught a glimpse of when she’d been shoved inside, and the two large bruisers who’d grabbed her and Lyle then zip-tied them.
“Lyle? What is going on?” she asked the man she once thought of as a friend.
With his face pale, shoulders drooped, and rounded eyes, he looked more like a little boy than a proud headmaster.
“I’m sorry…” he started to say, until one of the men in black coveralls leaned in.
“Shut it!” the guy yelled into Lyle’s face, his British accent more than evident.
The other guy snickered. “Yeah. Save your energy for thegaffer.”
He had a similar accent. And she knew gaffer to mean boss.
Just what the hell had Lyle done? And gotten her into?
When the van stopped, she was unceremoniously pulled out along with Lyle, then they were escorted into an old barn that she immediately recognized.
The old Nelson barn. She and her sisters and cousins and Lyndsey used to play hide-and-seek in it when they were young. Geeze, she glanced around at the dilapidated dwelling with its patches of rotting wood. She glanced up and shivered. How was it even still standing? It had been old and decrepit, even back then.
The best thing about the barn, though, was its proximity to Lyndsey and Gabe’s home. Their house was the last house on the way out of town, which meant Dante and the others should get there soon. The long drive had just been Xavier’s goons no doubt driving and backtracking to make sure they weren’t followed.
On a normal, direct route, this place was only about two miles from town. And she knew the shortcut to town from here by heart. If they could get free, maybe she’d lose the guys in the woods and get help for Lyle. He appeared to be in as much danger as she was, so she wouldn’t turn her back on him. She tugged at her hands and her optimism faded. No way would she make it with her hands tied, provided she even managed to get away. No, her best bet was Dante and the others finding them. Soon.
“Ah, Lyle,” a familiar voice echoed from behind.
Her heart lurched to the floor.
Xavier.
She turned to see the creepy guy smiling at her. “Amanda. Do you know how much trouble you’ve been? But I’ll forgive you if you hand me my damn flash drive.”
She frowned. “Flash drive? I don’t have any flash drives. What are you talking about?”
“You can drop the cute act, yank,” he snarled, grabbing her by the arm and jerking her close. “I didn’t buy it in London and I’m not buying it now.” He scowled at her, and even though his fingers were biting into her arm, she held his gaze.
He released her then turned to Lyle and glowered. “I thought you said she’d bring it?”
