His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(117)
Author: Shayla Black

“I don’t know. The one thing that’s keeping me from being too suspicious is that they kidnapped the other victims, then asked questions. I can’t think of a reason they’d change their M.O. with you.”

She bobbed her head, conceding his point. “We’re headed to the Poconos. It’s a vacation destination. Maybe he’s looking to get away for a few days. We are stopping pretty close to the highway.” She tried convincing herself. “Maybe he has the same ideas about where to eat and pee.”

“We’ll find out.”

*   *   *

WHEN they piled back in the SUV to drive the last half hour to the lake, Joaquin watched the silver car. As they pulled back onto the highway, it remained empty and in the parking lot. He relaxed. A red truck and a white hatchback soon pulled onto the highway with them. He kept a cursory glance on the vehicles while trying not to worry what fate had in store for Bailey’s future.

For the first time in his adult life, he wanted more than work. He saw the point of coming home to one woman. He’d be thrilled to have a rug rat with her and make certain he or she didn’t grow into a defiant teenager. It scared the hell out of him, but he wanted roots and a future with Bailey.

What if LOSS found her and ended that future before it could begin? What if she died while growing the life they’d created together inside her?

The thought made him homicidal and filled him with paralyzing terror at once. Just imagining what it would be like to lose her and the family they might have begun gutted him.

Joaquin reached over and squeezed her hand, reveling in her warm, soft skin. He needed to assure himself that she was well and whole. As he glanced her way, he noticed she looked awfully nervous, too.

“You all right?”

“Evading antigovernment loons isn’t exactly as much fun as hanging out with a few friends and sharing a bottle of wine, but I’m managing.”

He sent her a faint smile. “Anything look familiar?”

“Not any one thing in particular. I just remember thinking the road up to the lake was a beautiful place. But I’m sure time has changed things.”

“Of course.”

“And the seasons. It was probably October when we came. I remember lots of fall colors. But now, spring is budding.”

“I know. Just keep watching for anything that seems familiar.”

A moment later, Joaquin’s phone rang. He pulled it from the console and glanced at it before pressing a button to enable the speakerphone. “Hunter?”

“Yeah. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve got some answers for you.”

Joaquin’s guts knotted up. “Hit me.”

“I found a few possibilities. The one that seems most likely is a campground that closed about six years ago. One of the local sporting goods places I called and played dumb with said he remembered a green fence near a dock. Someone else bought the place a few years back and started fixing it up. They’ve opened the main structure on the grounds as a restaurant. I’ll text you directions.”

When Joaquin’s phone dinged a minute later, he thanked Hunter. “We’ll see what we can find. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Knowing you had your hands full, I called Sean to advise him that you might be onto something. He’s alerting the FBI in Philly. They’re going to have agents on standby. Call this number I’ll text you next if you find anything. They’ll get to you in less than an hour.”

Another little ding sounded. “Thanks.”

“No problem. I wish you had some backup. I’d feel better if you had more than one set of eyes on Bailey.”

Joaquin’s first instinct was to bristle, but he knew Hunter only spoke from a position of caution. “When we left, I wasn’t sure what we’d find, if anything. Now we can’t afford to wait.”

Hunter grunted like he didn’t want to agree but couldn’t argue the point, either.

“Besides,” Joaquin went on. “Staying in Dallas wasn’t an option with McKeevy all set to help at Callie’s wedding.”

“Maybe not. The photographer who hired him said his new assistant stopped answering calls, so he left a message telling ‘Timothy Smith’ that he was fired. Sean and a few feds went to his known address, but it turned out to be a dump—literally. He listed some city’s garbage facilities as his home.”

“Charming.”

“That’s McKeevy, a delightful sociopath.” Hunter huffed. “Keep me posted. If you don’t, I’ll let your sister kick your ass next time you see her.”

Joaquin couldn’t not laugh. The idea of a pregnant woman still a good six inches shorter than him beating him up was ridiculous, but if anyone would try, it would be his spitfire sister. “Heaven forbid. I’ll let you know as soon as I have news.”