Page 88 of Unleashed

“Have you found anything?” She’s only been in here a few minutes, and I’m positive we won’t be lucky enough to figure this out that quickly, but I have to ask.

If for no other reason than so she’ll snap at me over being impatient.

“No.” Her eyes come to me, moving up and down my sitting form. “You’re going to have to give me more than five minutes.” It’s not the tongue lashing I’m used to, but I’ll take it.

Anything to reassure me she’s okay. That this isn’t upsetting her the way it’s upsetting me. Because if it was, I would personally start dismantling her trailer piece by piece in search of a clue.

I can handle this stress. This uncertainty. She shouldn’t have to. Especially if we’re right and this ties back to the Dead Dans.

“Has your team found anything on the laptop?” I don’t have much hope that the laptop will provide anything—it’s probably a unit that was purchased from a pawn shop after being wiped clean—but it’s worth a shot.

Titus glances at the door I closed behind me when I came in. In spite of the barrier, he lowers his voice, speaking quietly, like he’s concerned someone might be listening. “My team doesn’t have the laptop.”

“What? Why not?” I get that it’s not our best lead, but it’s still a lead. One we should be investigating thoroughly.

“Because we still don’t know who we can trust and who we can’t.” He shakes his head. “I don’t think anyone on my team would betray me, but I’m not willing to bet our family’s safety on it.

“Fuck.” I didn’t even think of that. I always think of all the fucking variables, and now—when it matters most—I missed one of the most important ones.

“So I overnighted it to Heidi.” Titus turns back to the screen. “If anyone can find something on that computer, it’s Heidi’s team.”

That is a fucking brilliant idea. One I probably would have thought of if I wasn’t so fucking twisted up over everything.

I need to focus on the task at hand, but all my thoughts circle back to Maren and Zara. What could have happened if they were in the trailer when these fuckers showed up. How far they would have gone to get what they wanted.

How far they still might go.

My head snaps to Maren. “Who’s allowed to pick Zara up from school?”

“Only me.” She continues watching the screen. “And I already called to remind them of it.”

I want that to make me feel better. Want to believe Zara will be perfectly safe. That no one will be able to get their hands on her.

But then I think about what happened to Toby and Walker. What could have happened to Maren and Mariah.

I’m out of my seat and striding for the door before I fully process what I’m doing. “I’m going to call Pierce.”

Hopefully it seems like I don’t want to distract them by being on the phone. In reality, I don’t want Maren to attempt to shut down what I’m about to do. I wouldn’t listen to her regardless—I have no problem making hard decisions even when I know there will be fallout—but I would feel like an asshole about it.

Pulling my cell from my pocket, I go to an empty conference room a few doors down, closing the door before dialing the owner of Alaskan Security. I pace as I wait for him to answer, practically wearing a hole in the industrial carpet over the course of only a few rings. When the call finally connects, I don’t wait for Pierce to say anything.

“I need you to send me one of your men.”

Pierce sent a trio of men after Dead Dan attempted to blow up our servers, but they couldn’t stay here indefinitely. So when things seemed to quiet down, they went back to their regularly scheduled programming. Whatever the hell that is. Probably killing people.

Hopefully killing people. Because I’ll feel better knowing Zara is being protected by someone willing to kill to keep her safe.

“I take it something new has happened.” Pierce is annoyingly calm.

And he remains calm as I fill him in on this newest development. I continue pacing as I explain about the burglary. The missing electronics. The switching of the laptops and how one is headed his way. I even offer a small bit of insight into Maren’s past so he understands why we weren’t initially concerned.

When I finally finish, I suck in a deep breath, replacing all the oxygen I expended word vomiting details of the last two days.

“I have to say, while I’m sorry something new has unfolded, I am relieved to discover it doesn’t involve you sending me human remnants in a plastic bag.”

I don’t know if it’s Pierce’s dry wit, or that I’m slowly unraveling, but I laugh. “There’s still time.”

I would love to send Pierce remnants of whoever did this to Maren’s home. Whoever decided to make her their target. Dozens of other employees have the same sort of computer she does, and while I don’t necessarily want to put the bull’s-eye on the back of someone else, I sure as hell wish it hadn’t landed on Maren.