Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“Like Topper?” DB asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Topper’s on his way to the hospital with suspected poisoning. Keir and Kai were with me when the call came in about Sayla and the kids, so they’re looking around.”
DB took that in with a slow nod. “How do we help?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Get my woman and my kids back, and keep an eye on my dogs and the cat.”
Simple. Raw. The only thing I cared about at that moment.
The front lawn buzzed with movement. Uniforms from Piersville PD were fanning out, canvassing the area, knocking on doors, and asking neighbors if they’d seen or heard anything. A few were checking door cams, business surveillance, and anything that might have caught even a sliver of the van or the men involved.
Raul jogged over, phone in hand. “Got something,” he said, a little breathless. “One of the neighbors three doors down had a cam set up across the side yard. It’s not much—bad lighting—but there’s a face.”
He handed me the phone, and I played the clip. It was short and grainy as hell, but there was a side profile. The shape of the face and the way the guy moved tugged at something in my memory.
I called over Keir and Kai. They leaned in, watching closely.
“Looks familiar,” I muttered. “But I can’t place it.”
“Too low-res,” Kai said. “We might be able to clean it up, but not tonight.”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice broke through the tension.
“Well, hell,” Hurst Townsend said, striding toward us like he’d just come from a poker game instead of stepping into a crime scene. “Heard what’s going on. My family’s going to help look.”
I blinked, not sure if I was relieved or horrified. “Hurst—”
“I’ll text Ned,” he went on, already fishing out his phone. “He’ll have people out combing back roads in twenty minutes.”
My heart sank. The last thing I needed was the Townsend family charging around like a pack of wild dogs amid an already volatile situation.
But then again, they had experience in this sort of thing. Their methods weren’t exactly normal, but they got results, and right now, I needed results.
I turned the phone toward him, freezing the grainy frame. “Recognize him?”
Hurst squinted at the screen, then shook his head. “Drawing a blank, but Ned might have better luck.”
He tapped the screen, sent the photo, and then frowned at the time. “Doubt he’s awake, but I’ll call him. If he’s in, he’ll move fast.”
He walked off to make the call, already talking just as the line connected.
I stood there, the image still glowing in my hand, the chaos of the scene swirling around me, and something shifted for the first time in hours.
We weren’t alone in this. And maybe—just maybe—we had enough firepower now to start pushing back.
Sayla
The car was moving too fast. I could feel the vibration of the engine thrumming under me, the smoothness of the road beneath new tires, and the soft give of leather seats beneath my legs. This wasn’t some rusted-out van or back-alley vehicle. It was newer, quiet, and deliberately chosen.
And I hated that I had time to think about those things because the worst part of it all—the part that was carving me open—was the sound of the kids crying.
Kaida's wail was sharp, confused, and scared in a way that made my heart break into pieces. Kairo was trying to be brave, sniffling and whimpering through his own tears like he didn’t want to make it worse. Their hands were tied, and their faces were covered—just like mine—and they didn’t understand why.
“Please.” My voice shook as I forced the words past the lump in my throat. “Please don’t hurt the kids, they’ve already been through enough. They’re just babies.”
No one responded. I couldn’t even tell how many of them were in the car. I couldn’t see, could barely hear over the pounding of my own heart. The blindfold pressed against my eyes was hot and scratchy, and the tape around my wrists had already rubbed raw spots into my skin. I had no clue where we were or how long we’d been driving. But I knew one thing: someone would pay if anything happened to those kids.
I lowered my voice, turning my head toward where I thought Kaida was.
“It’s okay, baby,” I murmured calmly. “You’re so brave. I’m right here, and I promise we’re going to be okay.”
I didn’t know if she could even hear me over her sobbing, but I kept going.
“Kairo, you’re doing amazing, sweetheart. We’re going to get out of this, I promise you. Just stay strong a little longer.”
The car came to an abrupt, jarring stop, and my head smacked lightly against the headrest.
“Asshole,” I snapped under my breath, rage bubbling just beneath the surface. “I swear to God, I’m kicking whoever’s driving right in the throat.”