Page 143 of Missile Strike

The band around his ribs threatened to crush him.

He searched for Nathan’s number with eyes gone blurry.

Nathan answered, his voice husky with sleep. “What’s wrong?”

“The person threatening Bella was under our noses all along. Talia Collins is Amina Hassan—Omar’s sister.”

Nathan swore. “You still in Phoenix?”

“I’m catching a flight to Charlotte now. Police have been notified.” His damn voice cracked again. “Bella’s not answering her phone.”

“Steady, amigo. Where’s Tavari?”

“He’s driving me to the airport.”

“I’ll call Lachlan. We’ll be on the first flight out in the morning. We’ve got your six.”

“What if I’m too late? What if she’s—” The words strangled in Danny’s throat.

“Don’t lose your shit, Chaos. We’re going to find her in time.”

Chaos. His SEAL nickname. The way his entire world felt right now.

“We’re here.” Tavari pulled up to the curb.

“I gotta go,” Danny told Nathan. He gripped Tavari’s shoulder. “Thanks.”

Then he sprinted into the terminal.

Time slipped away as he checked his bag and got through security. At least at this hour, the lines were short.

He jogged through the terminal.

His phone rang. “Hello?” He didn’t slow down. According to the airline app, boarding had begun for his flight.

“This is Officer Davis from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. I was given your number to contact. We’re outside of Ms. Strickland’s home. There’s a dog barking inside, but no one has come to the door.”

Danny gave the officer the garage door code along with the house alarm code. “Bella never locks the door from the garage to the house.” Even though he’d lectured her on locking every door. “If she did, break it down if you have to.”

His gate was up ahead, the last passengers filing past the attendant scanning tickets. “Her phone’s in the house. The dog’s name is Trip. He won’t hurt you.”

The loudspeaker announced his flight. “This is the last call for Flight 739 to Charlotte. All passengers should report to gate A22 for immediate departure.”

Danny skidded up to the gate. He swiped his phone to pull up his ticket.

The gate attendant gave him a baleful stare over her glasses. “You just made it.”

He strode down the jetway, returning to the conversation with the officer outside Bella’s home. “I’m boarding a flight to Charlotte now. Keep me informed.”

Taking his seat, he closed his eyes and shut out the flight attendant’s mandatory pre-flight instructions he’d heard hundreds of times.

The plane backed out of the gate and taxied to the runway.

He replayed every interaction with Talia in his head.

She’d considered him a threat from the beginning, sowing doubts about his intentions in Bella’s ears.

And he hadn’t fought back because he’d agreed with her.