Which I was happy to do.
Chapter Eleven
Kat
“I killed that guy.”
Sure, in the moment the move was easy enough, especially at the thought of Madison in trouble and my hurry to get to her combined with the fury of what Ravager had done. Or not done.
But now, five minutes later sitting behind the steering wheel while the engine idled, my hands shook and my heart raced so loud, I could hear the blood rushing through my veins.
“I killed that guy,” I groaned and smacked the steering wheel. “I should have saved that anger for that Goddamn Ravager.”
Terry leaned back on the headrest and laughed. “First of all, that guy had it coming. Second, Ravager will get what’s coming to him, be sure of that.”
His smile reassured me, but I was too focused on what I did to that guy and Madison to be charmed by Terry’s oh so charming grin.
“Yeah, I know,” she said, still surprised by her own power. “It just took me by surprise is all.”
“Want me to drive?” The question came so easily, so casually as if he didn’t care either way, but the gesture warmed me.
“No, but thanks.” The moment my hands were steady enough to grip the wheel, I put the car in drive and took off toward the motel to meet Oliver.
“It was hot,” Terry said out of nowhere. “Just in case you were wondering.”
My lips curled into a pleased smile. “I wasn’t.”
Oliver waited just in front of Madison’s hotel room, which was wrecked, as if a struggle or a fight had taken place. I was comforted by the fact the struggle didn’t look deadly.
“There’s no blood. That’s a good sign,” Terry said in a casual tone that underscored the way his jaws clenched in anger.
“Madison?” I knew it was pointless to call out to her. The motel room had a bathroom and a bedroom with a small table, if I couldn’t see her, she wasn’t there. “Madison, it’s Kat Ashby.” Apparently, my brain wasn’t in the mood for logic at that moment.
“Maybe she just left.” I knew Terry was just trying to be helpful and I appreciated it. Mostly.
“She didn’t. Her voice when she called, it was terrified. Genuinely terrified and she is a tough young lady.”
“Tough maybe, but still young, Kat. Remember how tough you thought you were at that age?”
I nodded, and a small grin turned the corners of my mouth up at just how tough I thought I was back then.
“But I had the safety and comfort of badass brothers to back me up, and Madison wants to find her sister. She wanted to know whether to keep searching for Molly or not, and I’m the key to that. At least she thinks so.”
Madison had no idea how right she was, but I couldn’t tell her everything if I couldn’t keep her safe.
“Why do you care so much?”
Terry’s question stung. “You mean why does the Ashby Princess give a shit about some homeless girl?”
The question sounded as bitter and acidic as it felt on my tongue, but I thought he knew me better than that.
“She came to me for help, and I know exactly what these people are capable of and the damage they leave behind. The lasting effect of their sick fucking acts isn’t just limited to the victims, but everyone around them.”
I paused. I needed to suck in a deep calming breath. “If I can stop one person from going through that hell, I will. Otherwise what’s the point of all this fucking money and influence?”
“I didn’t mean anything by—”
“Shut up, Terry,” I said and walked to the other side of the bed. I knelt down to see if there were any clues about who took Madison. Or why. Any clues that could help find her was what I focused on instead of another humiliating reason to get over my stupid attraction to my brother’s best friend.
“I’ll check the bathroom.”
I nodded absently at Terry’s words, more focused on kneeling in a pencil skirt without putting my hands on the motel bed. I reached under the bed, hoping my fingertips didn’t happen upon a used condom, or worse. But then I felt it, something hard and plastic.
“Her phone!” Skirt be damned! I flattened myself against the floor with a grunt and reached until the phone was in my palm.
“What?” Terry stood at the foot of the bed; blond brows dipped into a frown.
“Her phone. Madison left it under the bed.” I held it up like a trophy, keeping a death grip on it as Terry helped me up.
“Thanks,” I said, flashing a quick look of gratitude up at him and ignoring the rush of excitement that stole through me at his touch.
“Anytime.”
Yeah, right. I turned back to the phone instead of my ridiculous attraction to a man who thought I was a stuck up rich bitch who only cared about herself. Madison was what mattered right now. The screen was cracked but I tapped it anyway, relieved when it lit up.
“It’s working.” I heard the relief in my voice and looked over at Terry.
He looked at me like he thought more of me than he did five minutes ago, and it reminded me how easily men lied. People in general, but men especially.
“You get that for her?”
I nodded. “I did. So I could let her know if I found anything. Look, the recorder app is still running.” I stopped and saved the recording and then replayed it.
There were two voices, a man and a woman.
“We can’t leave her here. Who knows who she’s talked to?” The woman’s voice was unfamiliar but I suspected it belonged to Donna McLaughlin.
Then the man spoke. “We have two options, Montana or Texas.”
“Texas is closer to the border and bad things happen to girls all the time down there.”
Her words were ominous, but the meaning was clear. It would be better for them, whoever they were, if Madison was dead.
The man grunted, the sound of Madison’s terrified breathing loud in the
