AllFreeNovel
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“A few miles.”
“Get it up higher, look around for any other vehicles in the vicinity. They can’t have gotten far. Focus on the road between here and town. I didn’t pass anyone on the way.”
“On it.”
I get back in my truck, my blood on fire as I run through a hundred different scenarios, all of them bad. With a squeal of tires, I speed away, going in the only direction that makes sense.
“Where are you, Ace?” I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles going white as I concentrate on every mark along the pavement, every weedy side drive or opening in the trees at the side of the road.
“Ocean?”
“I’m looking! I’ve passed the wrecked car. I can see you.” Tension vibrates through her voice. “Where are you?” she mumbles.
“Any movement. Anything.” I grit my teeth and take a turn so fast the back of the truck fishtails before catching.
“There!” Ocean yells.
“Where?”
“One mile ahead, take a right. There’s a grown-up driveway that leads to a burned-out house. I can see a shed behind the charred structure. Looks new. An SUV just pulled up. Hang on–”
“Is it her?”
“Wait.”
“Is it her?”
She goes silent. My blood pressure spikes as I hit speeds that make my engine whine. The mile is up, and I slam on the brakes when I see the small opening in the tree line.
Wrenching the wheel to the right, I bounce violently onto the rough dirt road. The ruts are deep, but I hit the gas again, powering over them as the trees grow thicker, blocking my view ahead.
“It’s her!” Ocean yells. “A man has her. He’s taking her into the shed.”
“What now?”
“Hang on. They’re inside. No, wait. The door is opening again …”
“What?” I go around a sharp curve, the road falling away on the side into a ravine.
“No!” Ocean yells. “He shot the drone.”
“Did you see who it is?”
“No idea. Dark hair. Red shirt, jeans. He carried her inside. I think she might be unconscious.” The fear in her voice matches my own. Maggie is hurt. I have to get to her.
“I’ve got it from here.” I reach into the glove box and pull out my pistol.
“Get our girl back.” Ocean chokes up. “Please.”
“I will.” The call ends, and I skid to a halt next to the damaged SUV.
As soon as I open my door, a shot rings out. My windshield shatters as I duck behind the tire and brace my back against it.
“You shouldn’t have come here!” the man yells.
His voice is familiar. Then I realize who it is. “Let her go, Parks.”
“She’s mine!” he screams. “You think you can take her from me?” Another shot slams into the side of the truck.
