Page 80 of Riptide

“Coordinates are already in.”

“She’s not picking up.” Seth raced toward their location. “Fuck.”

“They weren’t even going near the house,” Garrett said.

Seth’s mind churned with a hot rage. “Time?”

“Four minutes,” Evan called off. “I know you care about Kaimana.”

“What?” Seth asked.

“I said. I know you care about Kaimana.”

“Now isn’t the time for this Ev.” Seth called back to him.

“She’s going to be okay,” Evan said. “We’ll get her out.”

“We’re not going to do anything. You’re keeping your ass in this helicopter. Don’t let anything happen to it so we can get the fuck out.”

“All I’m saying is Kaimana’s a good woman. She’s strong. Smart. She’ll buy time and we’ll get her. Kaimana is the real deal.”

“Jesus, are you in love with her?” Seth asked, shooting Evan a look of confusion.

“No,” Evan huffed. “She’s like a sister to me, asshole.”

“Okay, good. Because I didn’t want to have to kill you too.” Seth shook his head, frustrated that he’d let her go with Marcus alone. “I can’t fucking lose her.”

“You love her, don’t you?” Evan asked, remaining cool as a cucumber.

“You’re killin’ me tonight.” Seth refused to have this conversation.

“If she sent that text, my guess is something happened to Marcus. He’s likely dead.”

“What?” Seth’s eyes widened, his stomach in a knot. “Dude. No.”

“Kaimana will survive. I’ve taught her well.”

“Time?”

“One minute,” Garrett called to him.

“I can’t believe the FBI fucked this up,” Seth sighed.

“I don’t think his team was compromised. But I do think Marcus’ team underestimated Marretta’s paranoia. He probably had cameras placed far away from the property to watch the cars.” Evan leaned over to Seth. “Trust me when I tell you Kaimana will be fine.”

“Evan, you know I love you, but I think you got your head knocked around a bit too much.” Seth flashed on the spotlight, and it lit up the ground. “There. The car.”

“My gut tells me this isn’t going to be good,” Garrett said.

As soon as the helicopter touched down, Seth shoved open the door and ran to the car. Through a shattered window, he spied Marcus’s dead body lying in a pool of blood, slumped onto the seat. The passenger door had been left wide open and Kaimana was nowhere in sight.

“Where the fuck is she?” Seth swiveled his head, scanning the darkness. “Kaimana! Kaimana!”

“What the hell?” Garrett shook his head as he caught sight of the dead agent. He called out to Evan. “Marcus is dead.”

“Kaimana’s gone. They took her. There.” Seth pointed to the dusty brown road. “They went into those woods there. My guess is there’s a path to the main house.”

“Jesus Christ. I can’t believe this.” Garrett released an audible breath and rummaged through the car. “I don’t see her phone here. It’s possible she’s still got it.”