Page 14 of Catch My Fall

I follow my message with the address and it takes less than a minute for a reply to come in.

Gage: Consider it done, I’ll let you know once they’re safe. Keep me updated on whatever it is you’re up to, and don’t do anything stupid.

Me: Stupid? Not in my nature.

I only have to wait half an hour before I get a message telling me that Ollie’s family are being watched before I down the rest of my drink and head out.

I’m taking a huge leap of faith by trusting Ollie, and all I can do is hope he doesn’t double-cross me, but for Sierra, I’ll do anything.

The navigation system in my car tells me I’m a few minutes away from the farmhouse and I dig out my phone and dial Max.

“Alec, my answer is the same as it was the last time. We do—”

“I have a lead,” I say, cutting him off.

He goes quiet for a beat. “Explain.”

“I don’t have time to tell you every detail, but I know where Austin is holding Sierra. It’s an abandoned farmhouse just off Cornham Lane, they have her in the basement.”

“Wait, wait, wait. How do you know this?”

“Long story short, I got talking to one of Austin’s guys, he’s being blackmailed and his family has been threatened. He said he’ll help me get her out on the basis his family is protected.”

“Okay, just slow down. I’ll run the house through our system and see if anything crops up, get some more intel.”

“Too late. We don’t have time for that. I’m already here,” I say, pulling up alongside a row of trees to conceal the car, opting to take the dirt track on foot.

“You’re what?”

I take both of the guns and the clips I have stashed in the glove box and tuck them into the waistband of my jeans. “I can’t afford to wait on this, Max, we’re out of time. I’m going in with or without your help.”

He scoffs. “And you’re taking the word of a guy you don’t even know who works for Sloane, are you insane?”

Insane for her. “Certifiably. I know I’m taking a risk, but I’m more worried about what happens if I don’t. If he stays true, I gave my word I’d ensure his family’s safety. He knows that if he did anything stupid, I’d be as much of a risk to his family as Austin is. I trust him.” I have to.

“Alec, I can’t condone this. You’re threatening my entire operation just by being there.”

“And what operation is that exactly, Max? Seeing as you won’t tell me a goddamn thing about it and nothing seems to be happening. I understand you have rules and regulations and reams of red tape, but I don’t and I don’t have time.”

“You can’t do this alone, it would be suicide, man, you’re no good to anyone if you’re dead.”

“I’m not gonna die. You above anyone knows that I’m trained for this.”

“Alec, please just think this through, don’t make any hasty decisions. If you really insist on doing this, just give me a couple of days to work out a plan.”

“No time. I have to go.”

“No, Alec wai—” I hang up, not allowing him to finish his sentence. I knew he’d be against me doing this, hell I would be if the roles were reversed. It’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but it could turn out to be the greatest and with Sierra’s life hanging in the balance, I have to try.

I pocket my phone and climb out of my car, careful not to make too much noise as I shut the door behind me. It’s pitch black as I make my way towards the house, but I’m guided by the faint light that filters from the house about a quarter mile in front of me. The gravel of the dirt track crunches under foot, and with every step I can’t stop my blood pressure from spiking. It sounds so fucking loud out here in the dead of night.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I grow nearer, clutching my gun tight in my sweaty palm, the beat of my heart bordering on a cardiac arrest it’s thumping that hard. I duck down behind an abandoned combine harvester that probably hasn’t been touched in decades, spotting movement on the east side of the house.

A guard paces around the perimeter of the building before disappearing around the far corner.

Now’s my chance.

She’s in there, I can feel it, I only hope she’s alive when I find her.

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