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“I know,” he admitted. Tank took her hands in his, feeling the warmth of her skin against his palms. “I just don’t like the idea of you being in there without me. I can’t predict what Lowell might do to you.” He hoped Lowell would see her as just another bargaining chip, but the man was seriously unhinged.
Kaylie gave a grim smile. “Whatever it is, if it gives you the opportunity you need to get to Lia, then it will be worth it.”
“So strong,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her hairline. He soaked in her scent, wrapping his arms around her and memorizing the feel. So strong and so soft, two sides to the woman he would never be able to erase from his heart.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
Kaylie carefully approached the concrete barricade. Miranda had arranged for the vehicle, a nondescript sedan that would blend in anywhere. The only sound was the hum of her engine. The abandoned steel mill rose in front of her like a fortress, shadows clinging to its darkened corners.
Kaylie's heart raced. The sound of blood pumping throbbed in her ears, like the bass dropping in a dance club. She could do this, and she ignored her body’s physical response, focusing all her energy on what she had to do.
The headlights cut through the darkness, revealing overgrown grass on the edges of the roads. An old forklift lay tilted in the ditch, as though someone left for lunch and simply never returned to work.
Kaylie swallowed her nerves, gripping the wheel tightly. Her fingers tapped a rhythm of anxiety as she waited. The high-tech contact lens felt awkward in her eye, but a glance in the mirror assured her that it was invisible.
She waited impatiently. They were counting on Citadel coming out to meet her, but where were they? After a moment, she climbed out of the car and stepped into the glow of the headlights.
“Where is she, Lowell?” she yelled into the night. The only sound that met her was the distant rumble and beeping of machinery from the factories across the shipping channel. “I’m here for my daughter, and I’m not leaving until I see her!”
It took a few moments, but men seemed to appear out of nowhere, the large guns they carried making her bravado curl back inside her chest.
"This is private property," one of the guards declared, their voice cold and impersonal.
Kaylie trembled, every cell in her body wanting to tuck tail and run. But she was done running, wasn’t she? “I demand to see Shane Lowell,” she said, wishing her voice wasn’t so shaky, betraying the strength of her words.
One of the guards turned toward the other. “You hear that? She demands to see Mr. Lowell.”
Their laughter was dark and held a cruel mockery. She stood her ground, desperately wishing she had one of the fancy earpieces she’d seen the men using to talk to one another. She could use a bit of a pep talk right now.
Suddenly, the laughter stopped. One of the men grabbed her upper arm, jerking her painfully toward him and marching her past the barricade. The cold wind cut through the air, causing Kaylie to shiver, whether from the chill or the mounting fear, she couldn't tell. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, seeking any sign of Anthony or the team, but the shoreline remained empty.
The men flanked her on either side, their footsteps crunching on the gravel road. The steel mill loomed ahead, a hulking silhouette against the gray sky. The sharp scent of rust hung in the air, a bitter reminder of the building's industrial past.
As they approached, the men led her to a small, nondescript entrance next to a massive steel garage door. The guards maintained their oppressive grip, guiding Kaylie through the threshold. The cavernous space they entered was mostly empty, though pieces of equipment and discarded materials lay haphazardly around the dusty space.
“I sure hope you weren’t stupid enough to wear a wire, little rat,” one of the guards sneered.
“I hope she did. Lowell would probably let us have some fun before we dumped her body in the lake,” his companion replied, leering at her in the shadowy entry.
“Guess we’ll see,” the first said. They pulled some sort of wand from an old fire cabinet and waved it over her entire body. Kaylie’s breath caught as they moved it in front of her face, praying that Miranda had been right about the IRIS lens being undetectable if it wasn’t turned on.
But it worked, and they were soon putting the wand away. Then the man ran his hands over her arms, along her rib cage, and down her legs, a lecherous grin on his face as he frisked her. She bit back the feeling of disgust. It would be worth it to save Lia.
The men led her across the giant manufacturing space and through another set of doors. Shadowy, rusted steel supports gave way to stark walls and flickering lights. Citadel guards guided her through dimly lit corridors, their movements efficient and unyielding. She waited for an opportunity to turn on the IRIS lens, but the men watched her carefully. She had to bide her time.
Finally, she was ushered into a room where Shane Lowell waited. Stark white walls, pristine and unadorned, stretched around the space. Harsh fluorescent lighting illuminated every corner. A sleek, utilitarian desk dominated the room, equipped with state-of-the-art monitors and devices. His smirk widened as Kaylie entered, a twisted play of power on his face. "Kaylie, darling. How lovely of you to join us," he sneered.
He glanced at the guards. “Did you search her?”
The men nodded and were promptly dismissed.
She ignored his taunts, her focus laser-sharp on the figure in the corner. Lia, her small frame dwarfed by the large table she sat at. A random assortment of toys sat in front of her, seemingly untouched. Relief surged through Kaylie at the sight of her daughter, a fierce determination to protect her overriding any fear Lowell tried to instill. Fear was nothing in the face of true selfless love. She knew she’d give anything for her daughter—even her own life. When you loved something that much, fear seemed insignificant.
Kaylie rushed to Lia's side. Lia's wide eyes met hers, and a whispered "Mommy" accompanied her daughter’s nearly pinching grasp as they reached for each other. She embraced her daughter tightly, murmuring soothing words. Nothing had ever felt as good as holding her daughter in that moment. It was as if all the disjointed, missing pieces of herself had suddenly locked into place.
Lowell watched with a predatory satisfaction. "Enjoy your reunion, Miss Richards. It might be the last moment of peace you'll have.” He came beside them and tugged on her hair, forcing Kaylie to look at him as the sting made tears spring to her eyes. “I imagine your friends are on their way as well, aren’t they?”
