Pulling in deep breaths, I take my phone out and dial the head of the security team. “Where is she?”
“She’s at home. We’ve been watching and—”
“No, idiot,” I grate. “She’s gone.”
“No, can’t be. We’ve been monitoring. You’re the last to go to the front door—”
“The back door! Were you watching the goddamn back door?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Come to the hotel. Someone has taken her. I’m going to follow the trail I’ve found. Stay close to your phone. I’ll update you on what I find.”
I end the call and start on the path. It’s steep and plunges into darkness. I hurry along, not caring.
Maddie is in danger. That’s all that rings in my head. Over and over. I failed her once before, I can’t fail her again.
The path ends and I fall into an open field. I look around. I’ve lost her—
Hushed sounds reach me. Across the field, hidden in the night, there’s a car and four people hurrying over to it.
Even in the dark, I can tell it’s her.
I quickly call the head of security and update him on my findings, then I take off running. I draw nearer and my heart shatters.
They have Maddie by her upper arms and they’re pushing her into the car. Her mouth is gagged and all she can do is scream muffled sounds.
The back passenger door opens and they push her toward it. She wedges her feet on the sides of the door, resisting.
“Fuck, Maddie! Just let them put you in the damn car,” a voice says. “There’s no use struggling. No one is out here to help you. You’ll only hurt yourself.”
Somehow, her gag dislodges and she yells. “Fuck you, Todd! And fuck this! I’m not going with you.”
Pride swells my chest at her defiance. But also anger as I hear who’s behind all of this. Her ex. The man she told off. He wants her against her will? What kind of sick bastard does that?
I don’t delay for a second longer. I’m on them in two long steps.
Before they can make sense of the fifth person among them, I grab one of the men who has his hands on Maddie. I hold him back by his collar and yank him backward.
He doesn’t expect the force since he’s so focused on manhandling Maddie. His feet give way and he drops a few feet away, dropping her.
The other man curses and holds onto her. “Who the fuck are you?”
My answer is a punch to his nose. It’s absorbed by the cloth mask covering his face, but he still staggers from the force. Maddie takes advantage of this, raises her leg, and comes down on his foot.
He yells and lets her go.
She runs into me. “Chance, you’re here.” Her eyes search my face as if she can’t believe it.
I spare a second to hold her close, assuring myself she’s alive and well. If she wasn’t... I push away those thoughts. Now’s not the time. “Run.”
She looks back at the men struggling up and her ex watching us with narrowed eyes, his chest heaving. “I can’t leave you. They have a gun.”
“Go, now!” I push her behind me and don’t look back, eyes on the men. “Leave, Maddie.”
I only breathe again when I hear her footsteps recede.
The three men snarl at me.
