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A search of the van offered a couple of zip ties but with her hands bound, she couldn’t get the men tied up. They were too heavy to shift around. She checked her watch. Surely her team was close.
“No way would Jared let them come on their own. Be prepared for his wrath when they get here, Paxton,” she muttered as she started walking toward the main road. She barely covered two yards when the screeching of tires drew her attention. The sight of Jared’s black Hummer was the best thing she’d ever seen, followed closely by Jordan’s red Jeep.
Jared was by her side in seconds. His jaw locked as his eyes did a thorough investigation of her body.
“Are you hurt?” His guttural voice deepened as he cut loose the zip ties and noticed the reddened skin of her wrists. His touch was gentle as he massaged her hands.
“No,” she smirked as she glanced over her shoulder at the van. “But I can’t say the same about those bastards.”
“I hope you fucked them up good, Boss.” Kezlin touched the laceration on her cheek.
“Sure as hell did.”
“I’m gonna check on them,” Kezlin said as she walked to the van with Jordan and Knox hovering at Paxton's side in concern.
“Thank you for getting here so quickly.” Paxton glanced at Jared, who hadn’t said another word but his gaze remained glued on her.
“Thank Jordan for acting immediately when your distress signal came through,” he said.
His head snapped up at a shrill cry coming from the van.
“Kezlin!” he shouted as he sprinted after the van pulling away with a screech of tires. “Fuck!” He came running back. “Get in the Hummer,” he said as he approached but Paxton was already opening the door with Jordan and Knox running to the Jeep.
By the time they took the corner where the van had disappeared, there was no sign of it. Jared slammed his fist on the steering wheel as he looked in all directions. His glacial eyes flashed at Paxton. “Can you lock onto her location?”
“Only from a laptop or iPad. Give me your phone,” she said and held out her hand. “I must’ve lost mine when they took me.”
“It’s linked to the Bluetooth,” he said as he handed it to her.
Paxton quickly dialed Jordan’s number. Her spirit sank as her grim voice echoed through the interior of the Hummer, “I already checked, Paxton. Kezlin left her watch back at the house and her phone is here with us in the Jeep. I’m sorry, there’s no way to track her.”
Paxton went cold. She managed to escape the claws of the Mob but because of her hardheadedness and neglect, she’d put one of her girls in danger. Worse... she’d putJared’s sisterin the hands of Boneiro.
“I’m sorry, Jared,” she said in a defeated voice.
He didn’t respond but continued to scour the surrounding roads for any sign of the blue van.
“We’re wasting time. We’re not going to find her like this. Cruz would have more luck scouring the traffic cams and public CCTV footage of the area.” Jared’s voice was hollow with concern, which made Paxton feel worse. She laid her hand on his arm.
“We’ll find her. Jared. I won’t stop looking until we do.”
She cringed as he shrugged off her hand. His voice was harsh with concern as he phoned Cruz and instructed him to start searching for the van. He didn’t look at her, nor said another word.
He cut the engine but didn’t get out.
“Jared, I’m sorry but—”
“But what, Paxton? Nothing you say is going to change the fact that my sister is now in the hands of Marco Boneiro. All because of your selfish need to prove to the world what a badass you are.”
“I needed time to—”
“I don’t give a fuck what you needed, Paxton. All that matters now is to find Kezlin. For your sake, she had better not be hurt.”
Paxton watched him get out of the Hummer and disappear from view. She had fucked up big time and in the process, endangered one of the few people in her life she truly cared for. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she might have lost the only chance she’d ever have at finding love again. She had realized as much in those moments of coming to in the van. She wasn’t the kind of person who trusted easily— opening her heart even less. She did both in a matter of weeks with Jared. He was it for her. There wouldn’t be another.
Jared was a hard man. He’d never forgive her if his little sister got hurt.
“Don’t beat yourself up, Paxton. We’re all at fault, Jared included. You weren’t the only one there. We should’ve paid attention and never have allowed Kezlin to approach that van by herself.”
