The SUV backed off the curb behind them and flipped a U-turn. Melody was on comms, but muted with the plan to wait at the gas station down the street.
“Mom and Dad are going to love this story,” Casey muttered.
“Shut the fuck up,” Riley said.
“Guys, we’re sticking to silence,” Grant said.
The darkness was fading with the coming of dawn. Erin had been missing for hours. They had no way of knowing if she was alive, what she’d been through or why she’d been kidnapped. He just prayed that it wasn’t Mark. That man would have no reason to keep her alive.
They moved forward, crossing the damp earth while the concrete building rose out from the trees ahead of them.
“Guys? Guys, can you hear me?” Melody’s voice was strained.
“What is it, Melody?” Grant asked.
“Two SUV’s just blew through a red light over here headed your way.”
“Copy that.”
Riley didn’t need an order to pick up the pace. He’d torn through woods and rough terrain in worse conditions, but never with his heart pounding so hard.
They had to get to her in time.
The sound of engines and the crunch of gravel made the hair on the back of Riley’s neck rise.
“We’ve got company. Take cover,” Grant said.
Riley ducked behind a tree, Casey going to his knees behind a bush.
“I’m going to remember this the next time I visit you,” Casey grumbled.
Whatever.
Casey was a SWAT officer for the same reasons Riley had enlisted. This was who they were. It was an aspect of their personality the rest of their family didn’t understand.
One after another, two vehicles rolled past, leaving a plume of dust in their wake.
Mark’s guys.
Without a doubt.
Riley didn’t wait for Grant’s order. He turned and jogged ahead, Casey following close on his heels.
“Damn it, Riley,” Grant said through the headset.
They moved through the trees, under the cover of darkness. In the distance he heard the engines cut off and men’s raised voices.
Riley ducked through the underbrush onto the gravel road and sprinted, pumping his arms, sweat pouring down his back.
Erin might still be alive, for a few more moments.
“God damn it, Riley.” Casey was still right behind him.
They crossed through the construction fence and into the yard. Heavy equipment and a trailer sat on the cleared lot, waiting for the workers to arrive.
A shot blasted, breaking the stillness.
A hand grabbed the back of Riley’s vest, yanking him to a stop
In the distance, a man’s screams echoed off the concrete.
“Don’t,” Casey snarled. “You can’t run in there. This way.”
Footsteps churned the gravel behind them.
Riley and Casey ducked behind the trailer, crossing the construction site.
The two SUV’s sat with their lights on facing the building. Three men were clustered, focused on one point.
One man lifted his gun.
Erin would not be their next target.
Riley lifted his rifle, aimed and shot.
The man pitched forward onto the ground.
“Fuck—Riley,” Casey groaned.
“Stop right there,” Riley shouted. He stepped out into the open, gun up. whatever it took to get the focus off Erin.
“Police!” Casey yelled, falling into line with Riley.
Mark and the other man he could see whirled, bringing their weapons up.
“Erin? Erin, are you okay?” Riley shouted.
Someone from inside the building fired. The bullet hit the side of the construction trailer, sending bits of fiberglass flying.
Riley and Casey ducked, going different ways.
“You couldn’t wait a damn minute?” Grant hunched behind the trailer a few feet away. Nolan, Vaughn and Brenden were at his back. “They’re focused on this point. Nolan, Vaughn, Brenden, circle around. Riley and I will get to Casey and keep them focused on us. Go!”
The other three men sprinted for the end of the trailer.
“Casey, can you hear me?” Grant asked.
“Yeah, but they’re moving. They don’t care about us,” Casey said.
Riley leaned past the trailer. Mark and his guys were barely visible. They’d moved into the building.
“They’re after Erin. She’s all that matters.” Riley’s only play to distract Mark was to take the fight to him. “I’m going in.”
“Riley—”
“I’ll cover you,” Casey said.
Riley took a breath and stepped into the open, rifle up. He took aim at the first moving target in tactical gear he saw and fired. A second man went staggering sideways as Casey laid down cover fire. Riley sprinted into the building.
“God damn you Riley,” Grant snarled, hot on his heels.
There’d been three that Riley saw when they entered. Not enough for two SUVs. He’d estimate they were looking at six to ten people. Three were out of commission, so at best, three more were out there. At worst, seven. Not the best odds, but they’d deal.
Riley entered the darkened building. Footsteps pounded the concrete, and hushed voices made it near impossible to tell where they were all coming from. The last Riley had seen, the focus had been to his right.
He ducked through an open space between two walls. A fist struck out, almost knocking his gun out of his hands. Riley swung his arm, driving his elbow into the man. Casey was right behind him, driving the butt of his gun against the man’s temple. He went down heavy.
“Captured two on the south side,” Nolan said through the comms.
“We’ve got one here.” Riley handed his brother a thick, zip tie like restraint.
“Three down outside, that’s six,” Brenden chimed in.
“Thanks for doing that math. I was confused,” Nolan quipped back.
“Has anyone seen Erin?” Riley asked.
“Negative,” Brenden replied.
“Do we have Mark Forest?” Grant asked.
“No,” Riley replied, and the rest chimed in with the same answer.
Where the hell was Erin?
Riley stepped out into the morning light, peering around the site.
Both SUVs were gone.
“YOU’RE GOING TO BE okay,” Erin said.
She kept one hand on Khalil’s side, pressing the shirt she’d found in the back seat against his wound, and the other on the wheel. The young man groaned and threw his head back in pain.
“Hang on.
