Page 66 of Protecting Jess

“With her bag?” He pointed to the bed where he’d seen it before he’d gone to the bathroom and then to get food.

His cellphone shrilled and Finn answered quickly when he saw Tex’s name flashing up on the screen. “Tex! Did you get my message?”

“I did. I’m on it. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll have answers for you.”

Relief had him grabbing the covers of Jess’s bed in an attempt to keep him upright. Tex hadn’t questioned him, he’d believed Finn and was acting accordingly. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”

“I know your teammates are still away, but I’ve contacted Kevlar. He and his team will meet you downstairs in fifteen.”

“Thanks, appreciate it.”

“No thanks needed. We’ll find her.” There was a determination in Tex’s voice Finn recognized. It was the same one they all used when they were about to head out on a mission. That fire and determination to get it done and get it done right.

“Where are you going?” the nurse asked when Finn walked toward the door.

“To find Jess.”

He didn’t wait for a response from either of the medical professionals. They’d never understand the instincts a SEAL honed while on missions. The same instincts that warned them of danger and kept them alive. He was listening to his right now and they were all screaming that time was of the essence. Standing around debating whether Jess had been taken or not was a waste of precious seconds.

This time, he took the elevator down, and he spent the short journey texting Oak about the current situation. His friend would be by his side as soon as he could.

The next person he had to inform of the current situation couldn’t be informed by a text. He had to call them.

Fuck. He hated making these calls. He’d already done it once and he didn’t want to do it again, but he had no choice.

Striding out of the hospital, he scanned the area, noting Kevlar and his team hadn’t arrived as yet.

Finn couldn’t put off the call, though. He had to make it now.

He willed Kevlar to appear as he waited for his call to be answered. His stomach dropped when it connected.

“Finn? You and Jess on your way?” Slick’s normally deep voice was light with happiness. Happiness he was about to dim.

“Not quite.” How did he say this? How did he tell her father that he was pretty sure his daughter had been kidnapped, but he didn’t have proof, just a gut feeling?

Now he could understand why the doctor and nurse looked at him as if he’d sprouted another set of arms.

“What’s going on, Finn?” The grumble was back, as though Slick already knew the news wasn’t going to be good.

“Jess is missing. I was in the cafeteria when fear and dread slammed into me. I knew something was wrong. I went back up to her room, and she and her bag were gone.”

“Fuck. If your gut is screaming she’s gone, then she’s gone. I need to call Sledge; his wife is a computer whiz. She’ll be able to hack into the hotel’s security system.”

“I’ve already got someone on that. A former SEAL named Tex.”

“He’s the one who trained Beth,” Slick said.

Finn digested that information, but now wasn’t the time to discuss the six degrees of separation between Slick’s friend and Tex. “All of my team are on R&R. Well, one guy is in the hospital. Anyway, another SEAL team is on the way to pick me up. Hopefully, by the time they arrive, Tex will have the location for us to head to.”

“Once you get it, let me know. I’m coming, too.”

There was no point trying to talk Slick out of coming after his daughter. Finn would be disappointed in the man if he hadn’t wanted to be part of it. “I will. Call Dad, will you? He can come with you, and Mom and Aunt Poppy can keep Primmy and your kids calm.”

“Sounds good.”

Brakes screeched, and Finn looked up to see Kevlar’s car in front of him.

Kevlar directed him to the front.

---