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The figure cut through the thin light thrown down by a streetlamp, and Ian could clearly see Max’s blond hair and slender frame as he ran. Ian was slowly closing the distance on him. So long as he didn’t jump into a car, Ian had a chance of catching him. Not that he was even sure what he was going to do once he got his hands on the asshole. He fucking set fire to Rialto! And to add insult to injury, he’d tried to fry both him and Hollis while they were inside. No one hurt his Hollis. There was a part of him that was dying to shake some fucking sense into Max. It was getting damn hard to be compassionate and understanding.
As they reached Vine Street, Max stopped in the empty street and turned to look at Ian, an evil grin on his lips.
“You think you can hurt me?” Max mocked.
Ian slowed his steps as he neared the sidewalk, trying to figure out what he could say that would reach Max. It was clear that Max was the one who’d been threatening his restaurant and staff. He had a sneaking suspicion that the magazine spread had been the final straw for an old hatred that had simmered just under the surface for years.
But there had to be a way to get through all that irrational hatred. A way to talk some reason and sense into him so that no one else got hurt.
Ian lifted both of his empty hands toward Max and took a deep breath. But before he could even say a word, a large black van screeched to a violent halt just a few feet away from Max. Neither of them had seen it approach; their attention had been locked on each other.
The side door slid open with a loud metallic clang, and two men dressed all in black wearing ski masks jumped out. They ran straight for Max. The young man was frozen for a second and then attempted to run, but it was already too late. He screamed and kicked, fighting against the men who quite easily picked him up and hauled him toward the van. Ian lurched forward a moment later after recovering from his shock. Max…was being kidnapped. Just a second ago the bastard had set his restaurant on fire and blamed him for everything going wrong in his life. Now he was being grabbed by strange men in black. It was as if Ian were stuck in some crazy dream.
Before he could even get to the street, the van was roaring up Vine Street. Max’s desperate screams could be heard over the squealing tires before the sliding door slammed shut again. Standing in the middle of the road, Ian locked his gaze on the license plate and repeated it over and over again while he pulled out his cell phone.
It was just his luck that someone from Ward Security was calling at exactly that moment.
“Ian!” Gidget’s panicked voice came through when he thumbed on the call.
“H-Q-Q four-thirty-two!” Ian shouted back.
“What?”
“H-Q-Q four-three-two! Black van. I think maybe a Ford. Looks like it could be something used for deliveries, but there are no markings. Just black. It’s headed north on Vine Street. I think it might have turned east on West Seventh.”
“Got it,” Gidget immediately said. “Who—”
“Someone dressed all in black grabbed Max after he set Rialto on fire and threw him in the van. I can’t follow. I have to get to Hollis.” Ian had already turned toward the alley he’d just exited and was jogging down the narrow path back to his husband with the phone pressed to his ear.
“He’s outside. I can see him on the camera in front of the restaurant. The fire department is there.”
Gidget’s reassurance sent a wave of relief through Ian, nearly knocking his knees out. He wobbled and slowed, pressing his free hand against the wall to steady himself. He’d hated leaving Hollis alone to battle the flames, but he’d also known that they could lose their one and only lead. Well, lead no more. Max was definitely the one who wanted to hurt Ian.
But Max had more problems than just Ian.
“Is Max with a gang? Did he have help?”
“No, he was taken against his will. Kidnapped.”
“What?” Gidget gasped and Ian fought the urge to growl. He didn’t have time to explain everything right now. Especially since he wasn’t entirely sure what the hell was happening.
“Just try to track down the van. Find out where they’re taking him. We need to rescue him.”
“Okay…”
Yeah, he got it. He sounded insane. He wanted to rescue the guy who just tried to kill him and his husband. Ian wasn’t thrilled about his restaurant going up in flames or the risk to their lives, but Max could be saved. He was hurting and he was lashing out the only way he knew how. That was a gift from Jagger. The only things they learned with him were pain, suffering, and violence. Max was in pain and he thought it was Ian’s fault, so he wanted to make Ian suffer. But there was another way.
