Page 83 of Driven to Love

He had a point. And the longer they stood there, the tighter Nash’s rib cage constricted. What if he was too late?

Nash ignored the rock and pulled out his multi-tool again. “Okay. But the rock is too noisy.”

Cade moved around the house, and Nash got to work unscrewing the old latch. Thanks to some rotten boards, he had the latch, deadbolt and all, removed from the door.

A second later, he heard Cade hollering at the front. “Anybody home?”

That was his cue. He hesitated. He’d been wrong about Jillian. What if he was wrong now?

Worst case, no one was here, and he’d put the latch back on. No harm, no foul.

He blew out a breath and prayed the hinges didn’t squeak before opening the door.

He crept down the stairs. Fuck, it was dark in here. The smell of mold had him pulling his shirt up over his nose.

Maybe it was the light filtering in from the open door, or his eyes were finally adjusting to the dark, but the contents of the basement came into focus. Shelves with mason jars lined the wall to his left. Some jars were empty, some full of what he couldn’t guess. But the one thing he noticed was the lack of dust. This wasn’t canning from a late granny left in the cellar. No, someone was stockpiling. The next shelf held canned goods. Nash pulled out his phone and flipped on the light. Boxes of MREs confirmed it. This guy was a prepper. He wasn’t planning to bug out. Nope. This had the markings of a man who was prepared for something big, and he would be bugging in.

Nash scanned the room and found a door at the far end next to a set of stairs. Aiming his phone away, he crept to the side of the door. He listened. Sound. Faint, but definitely something, or someone, was moving on the other side of the door.

A scream rang out from beyond the door. Nash jumped back. He grabbed the doorknob with one hand and his gun with the other. On a deep inhale, he yanked the door open. With his phone held behind his gun, he scanned side to side. Nothing. The room was empty.

“What the—?” Was he hallucinating?

Just then, another shout filled the room. This time, Nash saw light coming from under a door to his left. He shoved his phone into his pocket and ran to the door. He holstered his gun. Last thing Nash wanted was for Addison to get caught in the crossfire. Besides, he wanted to get his hands on Miller. He flexed his fingers and balled them into fists.

He exhaled. Footsteps pounded overhead. Cade. Nash wrenched the doorknob and burst through the door.

The light was dim but bright enough to see a scene unfolding in front of his eyes that hiked up his heart rate.

Addison tied to a cot, a bloody knife in her hand. Corey looming over her, swearing.

Nash flew into action, tackling the man from behind and taking him to the ground.

Corey pressed one hand to his side. Blood oozed between his fingers, and murder flashed in his eyes as he swung at Nash with the other.

One solid fist connected to the jaw. The second punch broke the man’s nose. Blood spurt from Corey’s face.

Nash pinned him to the ground. He fought the urge to end it, to end the bastard here and now. Thankfully, Cade bolted through the door.

“I got this. Go take care of your woman.” Cade took the spare cord from the ground and secured Corey before applying pressure to the man’s wound.

With that situation under control, Nash rushed to Addison.

“Nash?” Unshed tears clung to her lashes. The knife in her hand shook.

“It’s okay, honey. You’re safe now.” He gently pried the knife from her and started working on her bindings.

“I can’t. I—” His strong woman was rattled to her core.

“Shh. I’m here.” He knelt in front of her, surveying her body for injuries—the physical kind. No doubt she’d have some emotional ones to work through. And he’d be there for her through every step of the process. “Addison? Are you hurt?”

Her gaze roamed his face when locked with his. She propelled herself into his arms. A soft sound touched his ear. “No.”

Nash inhaled deeply, and her scent washed over him like the calm of a quiet night. The feel of her body against his slowed his heart rate, which had been on overdrive since the moment in his truck when the phone call cut out.

“Nash, Simon will be here in a minute,” Cade said from where he had Corey restrained.

It’s time to pay the piper. Honestly, Nash would pay any price to have Addison safe in his arms.