His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(131)
Author: Shayla Black

Bailey wanted to ask a hundred questions. Were all the women here against their will? How many people lived in this compound? She stifled her curiosity. None of that information was relevant now.

“I will do everything I can to get out of here and see your mother, I promise. And if I can do anything at all to free you, I will.”

Tears splashed down the girl’s young cheeks. “I’d appreciate it. Billy, my boy, he deserves more than this life. He’s barely a year old, but I’m already worried about him. And if Joe knew I was here, he’d kill me.”

“Then let’s go.”

Bailey couldn’t find her shoes. They’d sure help with survival in the wild, but she’d ten times rather take her chances out there than in here.

The girl nodded, then opened the door, peeking out and looking both ways. She opened the door wide and motioned Bailey toward another door, at the end of a long, narrow hall.

“That way,” Destiny whispered. “Out the door and keep going.”

“Thank you.” Bailey squeezed her shoulder. “I’m going to make sure you get your life back, too.”

“God bless you.” The girl picked up her long skirt and dashed away in the opposite direction.

Down that part of the hall, Bailey could hear men shouting about the fucking feds. A loud crash sounded, followed by the sound of fists connecting, then some grunts. A door creaked open and footsteps darted down the hall. Someone shouted again, this time an ugly curse. Had she already been spotted? Had someone discovered her missing?

Bailey didn’t hang around to find out. With her heart thumping, she turned toward the door and hugged the shadowy wall, darting down the industrial tiled floor. With every step, she could only pray that she’d make it to the door before anyone caught her. If not . . . well, she knew the consequences.

*   *   *

IT felt like thirty years had passed since Joaquin had awakened next to Bailey, rather than just over thirty hours. The nightmare seemed never ending.

He paced the county sheriff’s office in Leon, about ten miles up the road from the LOSS compound, then turned to Sean. “I don’t like the strategy of executing a search warrant when we never saw McKeevy drive in. Securing it probably alerted LOSS that we’re onto them. What if they end her quickly for it?”

Sean tossed his hands up at the question. “I wish I knew what the hell was going on. He should have arrived hours ago. We found that SUV stolen just outside of Davenport abandoned about two miles from here. The local sheriff has a K-9 unit. They’re picking up Bailey’s scent all over the vehicle. She made it that far. Where else would he have taken her? Somehow, he got her into that compound without traveling that road. We’ve got agents and deputies combing the area now. We’ll figure out how and rescue her. You have to believe that or you’re going to lose your mind.”

“Do I need to remind you what this monster is capable of?” Wondering what she might be enduring even now kept slaying him over and over. Even if he got her back alive, would she ever be whole again, inside and out? The worrying and not knowing were killing him.

Hunter approached from behind and slapped him on the back. “Breathe, buddy. Worrying isn’t going to help her.”

His head knew that he couldn’t help Bailey if he didn’t stop freaking out. But he hadn’t let himself really care about anything or anyone since his father. He’d forgotten how much loss could hurt. Hurt, hell. He was hemorrhaging. The fear was eviscerating his fucking soul.

Joaquin tried to take a deep breath. “Is there anything new?”

“No. We should hear something in the next hour. The special agent in charge is going to let us ride down with the folks serving the warrant. We have to stay a quarter of a mile away from the compound while they go in, but we’ll be close in case Bailey needs you after they extract her. I know you wanted to go in. I did, too. But we’re lucky we got this concession. They won’t budge another inch.”

Joaquin knew it was more than he should have expected and probably a hell of a protocol breach since neither of them were federal agents anymore, but yeah, he’d wanted to be part of the crew who rescued Bailey . . . if she was still alive.

“When are we leaving?”

“In five.” Sean tossed him a protein bar, then followed that with a bottle of water. “You haven’t eaten anything all day, so until you do, you’re not going.”

He really didn’t think he could, but if it meant the difference between going and staying, he’d choke it down. “Fine.”

Sean’s phone beeped. He lifted it and shook his head. “Callie . . .” He tapped out a reply and read it aloud. “‘News soon. Patience, lovely. Or you’ll learn it from Thorpe while I’m gone.’”