“How about an Officer Holston, first name Calvin?”
“No Officer Holston here, either. You sure you meant to call our department?”
My stomach twists even though I suspected this would be the answer. Now I know for sure.
“What’s your name, sir?” the woman asks.
For a brief second, I consider actually telling her, but it wouldbe a mistake. Calling with the courier’s phone to confirm Gunn and Holston were impostors is one thing. Filling this woman in on all the details is another. Whoever took Avery has access to resources I don’t. They might be monitoring the police station phone lines. Even mentioning Gunn and Holston’s names was a big risk.
“Sorry, wrong number,” I say, ending the call.
I toss the phone on the passenger seat. I had to know if Gunn and Holston were in on Avery’s abduction. And they must be, but I still have so many questions, like why did Gunn leave me with his car? And is it even his car? Was the house it was parked in front of his house? How many men were involved in the operation? Four, at least. Maybe more. The fact that I still have no answers is terrifying. Worse, I no longer know what they want. They have our money. All of it—every fucking dollar. So why haven’t they returned my wife? Why are they continuing to do this? That’s the question that scares me the most.
A memory snaps through my head: Avery asking me about my biggest fear two months into our relationship. When I said heights, she’d tilted her head.
“No, really.”
“Really,” I’d answered with a laugh.
Her forehead had crinkled, her smile fading. “The truth. Out with it.”
I didn’t know what to say. I’d simply sat there hoping she’d let it go. She didn’t, so I’d finally waved at the table, at her. “This. You.”
“I’myou’re worst fear?”
“No. Being vulnerable with you is. Letting someone in. That’s my biggest fear.”
“Why? Because you might get hurt?”
I’d nodded.Because I’vebeenhurt and swore I’d never let it happen again.
“What about you?” I’d asked.
Her eyebrow had quirked higher. “What about me?”
“What’s your biggest fear?”
She’d grinned. “I'll never tell.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” I’d said, momentarily hurt but playing it off with a laugh.
She must have noticed because she’d reached across the table to take my hand. “It’s losing you.”
“Come on, seriously.”
She’d said nothing, just stared at me in such a tender way I knew she meant it. Dear god, she did. Part of me thought about running then—standing up and bolting for the door. It’s what I’d always done in previous relationships when things got too heavy too fast. I’d run. But I was tired of running, and another part of me—a deeper part—recognized how special Avery was. What she’d just done took guts. No bullshit. No lies. Just the truth.
And there was something else lying beneath her expression in that moment. Something other than tenderness. She’d looked fragile in a way—like if whatever I said next came out wrong, it might cause her to shatter and break. Which meant she was as scared as me. And I remember staring at her, thinking,I will never let anyone hurt you. I’ll protect you with my life.
A promise I’d just broken.
Not yet,a voice whispers as I scan the clock.You still have a chance to save her. You still have time.
But not much.
Chapter 18
GRANT
