Leo sat back in his chair. “Damn, we’re far from home, boss. I never thought I’d see the day when someone was more afraid of Jack Barnes than you.”
“It’s only because he doesn’t know me,” Julian murmured. He toyed with his phone. The urge to call one of them was almost overwhelming. The thought that he wouldn’t be able to see them or touch them again until this was sorted out gnawed at him.
The door to the main office opened and closed. That man Danielle had almost married walked in wearing some form of polyester work uniform. His name was stitched on the right side. Jimbo. How atrocious. He could never have appreciated Danielle’s loveliness.
“Hey, Maudene, is Andy around? I got a problem out at Momma’s house. She said someone’s been prowling around Daddy’s old hunting shack. I looked last night, and I didn’t see anything, but she’s on my ass about it. There were tracks, but it’s just kids, I know it. If Andy could just talk to her about it, she might let me alone.”
Julian shook his head. He didn’t need to hear about the man’s problems. He had real problems.
Leo stood and stared out the window behind the sheriff’s desk. “Is that Finn?”
Julian stood immediately. The SUV that pulled up was Finn’s. Finn slammed out of the car and started running for the building. Julian’s heart raced.
Leo was frowning. “You’ll have to punish him. He had clear orders.”
“Shut up, Leo. He wouldn’t have disobeyed without good reason.” What had happened? Was it Danielle? He raced out of the cramped office and met Finn in the hall.
“Sir!” Finn’s boots nearly slid on the floor. His hair was wild and his hands shaking.
“What is it, Finn? What’s happened? Where is Danielle?” The questions raced through Julian’s mind. A thousand scenarios, each worse than the next, played out in a manner of seconds.
“She’s gone. She took off in your car.”
Leo was right behind him. “She did what?”
Finn placed a hand on Julian’s arm, the warmth of his body a comfort to Julian, who felt icy cold everywhere else. “Julian, please, you have to hear me out.”
“About what, Finn? We don’t have time to talk. Somehow that little fucker got to her. Was she alone for any amount of time? Is it possible she got a phone call you didn’t hear?”
A sigh that could only be relief swept out of Finn’s mouth. “Yes. I’m sure that’s what happened. Sam checked the tapes. He called me on my way here. He said Dani looked up at the rear camera and dropped her phone, like she was trying to show someone she was doing it. Then she took off in your car.”
“Damn it. He told her about the spare key I keep.” Jeremy had known his habits.
Leo was on the phone already. “Yes, ma’am, my boss has just had his vehicle stolen. Could you please turn on the tracking? Thank you. I have the passwords.”
Finn was staring up at him. “I checked the last number on her phone. It was Val’s. He used Val to get to her, I just know it. Val’s phone is old. There’s no way we can track it unless he calls again. How are we going to find her?”
Julian cupped Finn’s face. “I promise I’ll find her. I won’t let anything happen to her. I will find her, and I will bring her back. Now, why didn’t you call me? We could have turned on the GPS on the Audi immediately.” He tried to keep his voice calm. The last thing he wanted to do was chastise Finn. Finn had dealt with things the best way he knew how.
“I tried, Sir. It kept going to voice mail.”
Julian rammed his hand in his pocket and came out with his phone. Damn it. He’d put it on silent the night before. He didn’t want to be interrupted with mundane things like business when he was playing with his subs. Though he’d almost never turned off his phone before, his time with Danielle and Finn seemed different, almost sacred. Nothing should interrupt that. He’d forgotten to turn it back on.
Julian flipped the switch and immediately saw that he had more calls than he should have. A fission of fear crept across his skin. There was a text as well. It popped up when he pushed the button.
I suggest you answer me, Julian. You’ll note I don’t call you Master anymore. A true Master never neglects his slaves. Well, your slave has the power now.
Pure terror flooded his system. Before he could process any of the facts, his phone was ringing. The number was unfamiliar, but Julian knew who it was.
“What is it?”
There was a purr of pure pleasure that saturated the line. “Worried are you? Don’t be. I have little Danielle. Might I say she’s a step down from Sally? What are you thinking, Master…I mean Julian. At least Sally was slender and lovely. This girl looks like she fell off a trailer.”
Leo was asking Finn some questions. It gave Julian a moment to step away. He pushed the door open and walked outside. He didn’t want the others to overhear what might be a private conversation. There was only one reason to take Danielle. Jeremy wanted to lure him into a trap. If it saved her, if it spared her a moment’s pain, he would go willingly. He wouldn’t risk Finn. He needed to know that one of them was safe.
“What do you want, Jeremy?” He wouldn’t waste time with bluster. He could tell Jeremy that he would kill him if he so much as harmed a hair on Danielle’s head, but Jeremy would almost surely know that to be a lie. Julian would kill him no matter what he did at this point. Today or somewhere down the line, if Julian survived the day, he would make certain that Jeremy Walker died.
“Oh, so many things, but I’ll start with you meeting me at a time and place of my specification. This is going to be different for you, Julian. You don’t call the shots now. You aren’t in control. I am.”
It rankled. That alpha part of him growled and clawed to be let out. But Danielle needed him. “I’m walking to the car now. I want to speak with Danielle.”
“No can do. She’s a bit indisposed.”
Julian stopped. “I won’t come to you unless I have some proof that she’s alive.”
There was a long-suffering sigh and then a feminine voice. “Julian?”
“Lexi? Lexi, are you all right?”
“No, I am not. Some freaky asshole shoved a needle in my neck, and when I woke up, I was chained to the set of Deliverance. So, no, I am not all right. I am as far from all right as a person can be.” There was a jostling sound as though Lexi was moving. “Stop it. Fine. I’ll tell him. Dani’s here. She’s alive, but I don’t know for how long. You have to tell Lucas to stay away. He’ll kill you bo”
Lexi’s scream was abruptly cut off. “See, she’s alive. How long she stays that way is up to you. I’ve left a map in a black Jeep. It’s at a café on Main Street. The keys are under the driver’s seat. Come alone, or I’ll kill Danielle. There’s a map in the car leading you to where I will meet you. Don’t try anything, Julian. The Jeep doesn’t have GPS. You can’t be traced, and I’ll know if you try. I have planned this very carefully. There’s no way out. You have twenty minutes. If you’re a second late, I’ll slit her throat.”
Julian knew the café. He’d had lunch with Jackson there the day before. It was less than a block away. He could make it in under a minute if he ran. He would have to in order to get away from Finn and Leo. The time limit was there to ensure he didn’t make any side trips. Of course, he could always call.
“Now drop the phone. My sister is watching. She’ll tell me if you make a wrong move. Poor thing. She’s always been a bit sad. Don’t blame her though, I kidnapped her cat. It’s the only thing she’s had to love since her husband died. Whatever you do, don’t tell her I already killed the fucking thing. Julian, your twenty minutes starts now.”