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Levi deliberately turned Finley in the direction of the forest coverage that would make them invisible from the front gate.
“Something isn’t right. Let’s get through the gate and back on defendable territory.” Levi was ushering them ahead of him, not running, but at a faster pace than typical. “Initiate your keep safe program.”
“I already did.”
Levi’s eyes darted between the suspicious man on the outside of the gate and Finley, his instincts screaming danger. He had to get them out of this park and to safety, but how? A sudden blur of movement caught his eye–another figure in the shadows.
“Finley, on my signal, take Storm as fast as you can down that path,” Levi instructed, nodding toward a nearby trail that led away from the stranger to the gate at the property edge. “I’ll buy you some time.”
“Levi, don’t–” she began, her voice wavering with fear.
“Go!” he urged, stepping forward to confront the ominous figure.
Finley hesitated for only a second before holding Storm to her tightly and getting them to the gate as quickly as she could. Her heart hammered against her chest. She cast a worried glance at Levi as she calculated where to put Storm. Through the fence was the safest place, but for a free moment to defend his safety she could put him back in the stroller.
Finley hit the activate key again, mute, and slipped the thin phone inside her deep front pocket. She was glad she had grabbed these pants. They were loose and full of pockets, like tricked out camouflage pants. Storm was taller now than even amonth ago. He was growing, but right now, smaller would have been better.
“We need to—”
“Just get you two through the fucking gate, Finley. There’s no time to—”
Just as Levi squared up to the threatening man, another figure emerged from behind him, wielding a blunt object. Levi barely had time to register the new threat before a crushing blow connected with his skull, sending him crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
Finley looked back in time to see Levi drop like a stone. The scream froze in her throat. She couldn’t stop to check on him. Her mission was to protect Storm. Always. She ignored her worrying self, that wanted to check on Levi and reached for the gate now within her grasp.
She placed her hand on the keypad and just as she hit the second number; she felt someone bear hug her from behind. She hit the third number on the keypad, and it buzzed as though it was the wrong number. Simultaneously, she felt a sting in her neck. Storm’s terrified cries rang in her ears as she struggled in vain against her captor. The gate and fence were too high to place him over onto Reynaud’s land.
Panic surged through Finley’s veins as she reached for the gate to try again, but the same strong arms remained wrapped around her, dragging her away from Levi’s crumpled form and the gate she so desperately wanted to get through. She tried to tighten her hold on Storm, but she felt her loss of muscle control almost immediately — first her arms, then legs. She was just able to twist and fall, hopefully on her side to protect her charge from her body weight, as she felt the darkness come in on her. Finley faintly heard Storm whimper. Then nothing.
Chapter 5
This is your formal invitation to the party.
Gifts mandatory.
Your RSVP is confirmed.
For the first time since they had been receiving these notes, something came of them. This one was really happening. No more asshole games. Jac rubbed his neck and waited as his wife sent out the alarm.
“Finley and Storm have been kidnapped.”
“On our way.”
“Gotcha.”
“Give us twenty.”
The audio message that hit every Alpha team member’s cell phone and computer email was answered immediately. Without further information, within twenty-eight minutes, every member of the team had arrived. Ryker, his Oakley, and a man he had defended before becoming good friends, Colonel Benjamin Darington, US Army Retired, entered fast on their heels.
The Reynaud residence was descended on in a stream of operatives with a mission. The men came geared up; the women came grim-faced and just as determined. When they were all assembled, Spring and Florent exited the kitchen area and counted heads before a tearful Spring was placed in a chair. Florent’s hands settled possessively on her shoulders, offering her a little squeeze and a gentle rub. Many seemed to take notice of the change in their relationship, but today, that wasn’t thefocus. That was for another day unfilled by fear and low-level chaos.
Cash stormed in from checking the premises and asked, “Where is Levi? He was with Finley and Storm. And how do you know that they were kidnapped?”
“We can’t get Finley on the phone. And if Levi was with them, we can’t raise him either.”
“Fuck,” said Cash. “Let me try.” He did, but with no result.
Levi’s vision swam as he groggily came to, the world around him a hazy blur. Pain throbbed at the base of his skull, spreading through his entire head like wildfire. It took him a moment to remember where he was and what had happened, but as clarity returned, so did the urgency of the situation. He was immediately on alert, but his body couldn’t follow.
