Page 92 of Rafe’s Future

“Dad, it’s Lena.”

His heart stopped. “What happened?”

“Two guys just forced her into an SUV, and then they took off.”

For one horrifying second, the entire room disappeared. The windows. The table. The men around it. Everything. The only things left were fear and thoughts of Lena.

His mind immediately went to earlier that morning.

Rafe had woken up as the sun began to rise. Lena had been beside him, fast asleep. He probably should have let her be, but she’d looked so damn irresistible.

So pretty. Peaceful. Like an angel resting at his side.

They’d started the morning much like they’d ended the night before. And now⁠—

“Where are you?” he demanded of his daughter.

“I’m two blocks from the office.” A car horn blared as Alice shouted at someone to get out of her way. “I need a computer to access CCTV so I can figure out where they went.”

His heart pounded out a succession of terrified beats. It was hard to breathe, let alone think, but Lena needed him to be in control.

Rafe tapped the screen and placed the phone onto the table. “You’re on speaker with the team. Start from the beginning.”

The men around him were already on high alert. Spines stiffened. Shoulders pushed back. Chins were lifted, and all eyes were on him.

Together, they listened as Alice recounted the horrific events.

“I was with the girls,” she began. “We were leaving the coffee shop, and Lena was about to get into her car when a black SUV with full tint came racing around the corner. It stopped right behind her and two men jumped out. Both had masks and were dressed in all black. They went straight for her. She tried fighting them off, but—” Alice’s voice broke. “I ran toward her, but I was too far away to do anything. She kept shouting at me to get back. I’m so sorry.”

Rafe’s hands curled into fists as the men surrounding him wore matching expressions. Their jaws were clenched, and their eyes became engulfed in flames of fury.

“Did they have weapons?”

“I couldn’t see well enough to tell, but with guys like that, I think we have to assume.”

He closed his eyes for half a second. He could see her fighting tooth and nail to get free. Lena wasn’t the type to willingly surrender.

“Did you get a plate?” Falcon spoke a bit louder than before so Alice could hear.

“No.” The woman’s frustration was obvious. “Everything happened too fast. I pulled my gun and ran toward them, but they forced her into the SUV and took off.”

The men at the table muttered curses under their breath. Rafe didn’t hear them. He was too consumed by fear and rage . . . and something darker. But he pushed the fear and rage aside, knowing they were no good to the woman he loved.

“Alice, listen to me.” He forced his voice to remain steady. “I know you’re worried about Lena, but I need you to make sure you didn’t pick up a tail.”

There was a slight pause and then⁠—

“I’m clean.”

“Good.” There was little relief. “Be careful and get here as fast as you can.”

“I’m pulling into the parking garage now.”

Rafe nodded. “I’ll see you soon.”

He ended the call, looking around the table.

The men were already moving. Falcon had his phone out. Apollo was heading toward the door. Bones’ head was down, and he was texting someone from his cell.