Page 110 of Silver Linings

“The silent alarm was just set off at Sloane’s.”

WHAT THE FUCK?

Gunner ran, the blood in his veins turning to ice and his stomach souring as he begged his body to move faster. Out on the sidewalk, he looked at the building. Nothing was out of sorts. There were no strange people standing around, nothing screamed emergency to him.

He nearly pulled the door to Sloane’s office off its hinges, trying to get in. By the time he made it in the door, Gage was coming out of Sloane’s office, back into the reception area where Lily and Sage should have been. The place was nearly pristine, almost like no one had been there in days.

“They aren’t here, are they?” he asked, placing his hands on his knees. His whole chest felt tight with panic.

“No.”

Gunner turned and ran back onto the sidewalk. There were no strange vehicles in the area. Nothing that screamed we’ve kidnapped two women and a baby don’t look at us. He had to be missing something.

“I’m calling Max.”

Gunner nodded, walking back into the office. Hawk and Stone ran in behind him.

“What’s going on?” Hank asked, following behind the other men.

Gunner looked around the small space. He hadn’t noticed the desk chair tipped over in front of the closet door for the first time. Had he dragged Lily out of her seat? Had he hurt her? Where was Sage?

He swallowed down the panic and ground his molars together, trying to make sense of the last few minutes.

“Cole Trudall.”

“The guy who tried to take Lily before? What about him?” Hawk asked.

“He was released this morning,” Hank replied.

“It has to be him.” Gunner paced in front of her desk. “How did we not get here in time?”

“Now, wait just a second guys.” Hank’s eyes scanned the area. “How do we know that Sloane and Lily didn’t just go somewhere for a minute? Maybe they went to grab a late lunch.”

“She knows not to leave without telling me,” Gunner growled. “Gage, where was the alarm triggered from?”

“It was her doorway alarm,” Gage said, pointing to the hidden button on the door at the back of the office. “I built one into the frame for her. Someone else could have bumped into it if Sloane wasn’t the one to active the alarm.”

Gunner walked through the door and into the parking lot. There wasn’t anything out of place. The only vehicles there belonged to the team. How the fuck had they left so fast?

“We have to review the footage,” Gunner said as he walked back inside, but Gage was already shaking his head. “There aren't any cameras here, are there Tracker?”

“She said she couldn’t because it was against patient confidentiality.”

“Fuck!” Gunner roared.

A small cry sounded from behind the door Gunner had assumed was a utility closet.

“Was that?—”

Gunner marched over and slowly opened the door. Relief flooded through his veins. Sage was safely inside a crib on the other side of the small room.

“Well, hey there, Sprout. I am so glad you cried just now.” Gunner picked the baby up and snuggled her against his chest. The relief he felt at finding his daughter safe was overwhelming. “Good girl. I promise we are going to find your mommy, okay?”

“Is she okay?” Stone asked.

“I’m not sure,” Gunner answered as he cleared his throat. “She seems fine, but will you look her over?”

“I don’t have training with babies, Reap, but I’ll give it my best go. Come here, sweet pea.” Stone held out his hand, but Sage’s little lower lip turned down and tears flooded her eyes. “Aw, sweetheart, it’s okay. I can look you over while your daddy holds on to you. Is that what you want?”

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