Page 76 of Rami

No!

Rami let out a howl of rage and kicked his tire. “Sonofabitch!” His heart spasmed with each pump of the life-giving muscle.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Not only had he lost his chance with Fernando, but he’d pissed the guy off even more. Not smart. Fear gripped his senses as his mind grappled with what he’d done. He’d never get Ivy back in time. They were touching her for god’s sake, hurting her right now, and he was a sitting duck.

“Toth’s coming.” August’s soft words punched through the wall of devastation encompassing him. “He wouldn’t be back if he didn’t have the drone.” His friend’s eyes locked on him. “We’ll find her.”

Toth’s truck rolled to the side of the road, and he got out. “That was fun. Had to throw our lawyer’s name around to be able to take the drone and leave.”

“Good work,” August said, as he rounded the truck and pulled the drone from the back.

Toth’s gaze landed on Rami. “Not good?”

Rami gave one shake of his head.

Toth’s mouth formed a grim line, and he cupped Rami’s shoulder. “We didn’t come this far for nothing. Don’t lose faith.” Gray eyes bore into him, as they had numerous times in the service.

For a beat, Rami was transported back in time. To moments where he didn’t think they’d survive another minute. Yet here they were, years later. The screams of their brothers-in-arms still haunted Rami, but those were nothing compared to Ivy’s screams of terror. They’d latched on to his heart like a lion’s vicious teeth.

If they didn’t get her back, he couldn’t go on. Couldn’t imagine life without her.

Toth tightened his grip as if sensing Rami was about to fall to his knees.

“I mean it. She’s still alive, otherwise they would have sent a smug message—right?”

Having talked to Fernado, Rami knew Toth’s assessment was bang on. “Right,” he said softly. “But the only thing worse than her dying is knowing they’re hurting her.”

“She’s strong. And smart,” Toth pressed. “Look what she’s endured. She’s not going down without a fight.” Toth jabbed Rami in the chest with a finger. “Now you’ve gotta do the same.”

Rami swallowed and broke his focus on Toth’s intensity. “Is that thing ready?” he called to August.

“Ready and waiting.” The machine hummed and August sauntered forward with a tablet in his hand. “Want to do the honors?”

Rami accepted the device and ran a quick check to ensure the drone still operated properly after the collision.

“Works good,” August said.

Rami sent the metal robot into the sky and watched the screen in his hands as he flicked on night vision. Spotting people would be easy since the cameras used a heat-seeking device that would penetrate the canopy of trees. Toth approached Rami’s side and glanced at the screen.

The motor was barely audible at twenty feet high. He sent the drone up another thirty feet for good measure, making it soundless to anyone on the ground.

Rami then sent it whizzing over the trees in the direction the van had disappeared with Ivy. The good thing about the machine was that it could move fast—and heat sources would stick out like a sore thumb among all the black trees.

The cameras picked up the odd critter, but Rami’s eyes quickly moved past heat sources smaller than a person.

“Anything?” August asked, as he peered over Rami’s shoulder.

“Not yet. I haven’t got far though.”

“Go higher,” August instructed. “You’ll cover more ground.”

Rami grunted. He sent the drone up another thirty feet, and sure enough the view expanded significantly. “Good call.”

“No worries. I’m used to thinking for your half-brain.”

Rami ignored the ribbing. No way was he in the mood for anyone’s shit, joke or not. Impatience built inside him as he passed hundreds, if not thousands, of trees over the next five minutes. Hopelessness started to invade him. He fought the need to crush the tablet in his hands.

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