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“Police barricade,” Ross ground out.
“Oh shit,” came Corrine’s voice. “I blew up the photo and it’s got a match.”
“To whom?” Jace’s chest grew tighter.
“The former partner.”
Jace’s heart froze midbeat. He stared at the phone screen, waiting for Corrine to pop up the image. When he clapped eyes on it, he let out a low groan.
“Oh god. I didn’t recognize the woman from the photos of Angelica.”
“Her lighter hair makes her appear pasty, and her eyes are dull,” Corrine said. “She looks like she lost a good twenty pounds too. It’s no wonder you didn’t immediately make the jump, Jace.”
“But it’s myjob. Goddammit!”
“Hold on. Something new is coming in on the partner that we didn’t see before.” Corrine spoke in slow, deliberate syllables like she did when all her focus was on her computer.
“What is it?” Ross asked sharply, slowing for the barricade.
“The former partner has more of a past than we first thought. Looks like she did some porn to pay for college.”
“Could it be used against her now? Would The Broker use that against her?” Noah asked.
“What lengths would she go to in order to keep that secret?” Corrine could be heard tapping on her keyboard.
Ross rolled to a stop, and two officers came forward to flank the SUV. Ross rolled all the windows down to speak with them and allow them to see who was inside.
Just then, Jace’s phone blasted an alarm. Jaren’s phone peeled the same alarm, followed by Ross and Noah’s. Still on speakerphone, an insistent screech projected over Corrine’s phone line.
Jace stiffened. “It’s Bronte. She tripped the charm on her gown. Trace her location!”
“Got her!” Corrine sang out and started spouting directions.
As the officers allowed them to pass through the barricade, Jace bowed his head into his hands once more, this time with prayers that they would find Bronte safe.
And that when they did, Jace would be the one to put a bullet between The Broker’s eyes.
* * * * *
Bronte’s hand shook as she dropped it to the skirt of her dress. She balled the fabric in her fist and tried to regain her wits.
Why didallkidnappers hurl people into vans? Was there a generic training course on how to make off with people? And how did this become her life?
A month ago, she was busy building her company with her partner at her side. Then, in one day, her world crumbled. Angelica was caught on camera stealing files. But from what she told Bronte, she didn’t want to do it—she was forced.
Well, nobody forced her to drug me and throw me in a van!
Short pants of air escaped Bronte’s lungs as she waited for Jace to rescue her. As soon as she realized her situation, she remembered that charm Jace placed on the neck of her gown and pressed it. Hard.
Was she too far away for him to receive the emergency notification?
A whimper slipped out of her. Chilled fingers wrapped around her forearm, and she jerked her gaze up to find Angelica staring at her with compassion in her eyes.
Bronte twisted out of her grip. She wished Jace had armed her with more than a tiny gold heart charm. She could use a high heel to defend herself, but the thought of that kind of savagery made her shudder.
The van jostled her from side to side, causing her stomach, already queasy from whatever Angelica drugged her with, to heave. Swallowing hard, Bronte tried not to throw up. She breathed shallowly for several minutes and scooted a little farther away from her former partner.
The last thing she wanted was comfort from Angelica. This was all her fault. She didn’t know how The Broker had gotten to her, or what he’d used to coerce her into doing his dirty work, but the woman wasweak.
