Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
I head back into the bedroom as I hit send to call Dean. I hold the phone to my ear, waiting, the ringing stretching longer than it should. Finally, Dean picks up, his voice sharp and agitated.
“Ranger, where the hell have you been?” he barks.
“What’s going on?” I snap back, the tension in my chest coiling tighter.
“It’s the Summit,” Dean says, his tone clipped. “Malser’s gone missing. His team lost contact with him late last night, and no one’s been able to reach him since.”
The words slam into me like a freight train. Missing? Malser’s missing?
“What do you mean he’s missing?” I demand, my voice low and dangerous.
“His security detail found no signs of anything in his hotel suite,” Dean explains. “Bravo team’s already on it, but we’ve got no solid leads yet. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.”
I glance at Tory, who’s watching me with wide, terrified eyes. “What about Tory?” I ask, my voice sharp. “If they’ve taken him—”
“Exactly,” Dean interrupts. “She’s the next logical target. I need you to move her. Now. That location’s been compromised; you’ve been there too long. We can’t take any chances.”
My mind is already racing, running through contingency plans and exit strategies. “What about her father?” I ask, my tone grim.
“Bravo’s combing through everything—footage, communications, witnesses. We’re doing everything we can to find him, but these guys are good. It’s going to take time.”
“Time we don’t have,” I growl.
“Get her out, Ranger,” Dean orders, his voice hard. “And keep her safe.”
“I will,” I say, ending the call without another word.
The silence in the room is deafening as I lower the phone. Tory’s standing at the foot of the bed, clutching her phone like it’s a lifeline. Her blue eyes are wide, her face pale, and I can see the panic starting to creep in.
“What did Dean say about finding my father?” she whispers.
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “They’re trying to locate him now.”
The color drains from her face, and she sinks onto the edge of the bed, her hands trembling. “What?” she breathes. “How?”
I crouch in front of her, resting my hands on her knees. “I’m not sure,” I say carefully. “Dean’s team is on it, and I trust them. But right now, we need to move.”
Her breath comes in short, shaky bursts, and I can see the fear threatening to overwhelm her. “Move?”
“This location might be compromised,” I explain. “If they took your dad, they might come after you next. We’re not staying here another minute.”
She nods slowly, her hands curling into fists against her thighs. “Okay,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
I stand, grabbing my phone and weapon, my movements quick and efficient. “Pack your stuff,” I tell her. “I’ll handle the rest.”
She moves to the dresser, her hands shaking as she pulls out clothes and stuffs them into a bag. I watch her for a moment, my chest tightening at the sight of her trying to hold it together.
“Tory,” I say softly, stepping closer. She looks up at me, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“I can’t lose him,” she whispers, her voice breaking.
“You won’t,” I say firmly, resting a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find him. But right now, I need you to trust me.”
She nods, her lip trembling as she zips up the bag. “I do,” she says quietly.
“Good,” I reply, my voice steady. “Because I’m not letting anything happen to you. Not now. Not ever.”
She looks at me for a long moment, her fear giving way to something else—something like hope. And for the first time since the phone call, I feel like we might actually have a chance.
But only if we move fast.
Chapter 22
Tory
We leave the house in a hurry, my heart pounding so loudly it feels like it might drown out the sound of our footsteps. Ranger’s hand is firm on the small of my back, guiding me toward the truck he’s pulled up to the front door. His movements are quick and precise, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning the area like a hawk.
“Ranger,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I climb into the passenger seat. “What if they’ve already found him? What if—”
“Stop,” he interrupts gently but firmly, closing the driver’s door and starting the engine in one fluid motion. His dark eyes flick to me, steady and reassuring. “Your father’s strong. He’s got people working around the clock to find him. And I’m here to keep you safe. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I promise.”
I nod, swallowing hard, trying to cling to his words. But the knot in my stomach won’t go away. I glance out the window as we pull onto the highway, the familiar landscape slipping away behind us.
The car ride is silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Ranger’s hands grip the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white, but his eyes are focused on the road. Every so often, his gaze flicks to the rearview mirror, checking for anyone following us.