Page 42 of Crossing Lines

“I have to go.”

“Talk to me, man.”

I showed him the message I’d gotten. Carter’s beaten and bloody face. Someone ripped my phone from my hand andcursed loud enough that everyone went silent. Derek slapped my phone back into my hand, moved to his desk, and started typing. “Son of a bitch!”

“Derek, what is it?”

“Trace just had me tag a call. He also got a text from it. That same number called Stella’s phone. I have a location—Fuck! Gramps, we gotta move now. Carter is in trouble. If she got what they sent Trace?—”

My gaze went to Wayne. His big body was rigid as he turned and spoke, “What?” I handed over my phone. They all got to see what I had. Cursing and moving bodies filled the room.

“Where is he?” Wayne growled.

“Old Nelson farm…” Derek sounded off. I turned to see him sliding into a vest. He grabbed his laptop and phone and made his way toward his gramps.

“No!” Gabe glared at Wayne. “Unless you wear a badge, you are not going. I don’t care who you are. Derek, get me a location and a site map. Anna, call Charlie and give him a heads up as to what’s happening. They’re a helluva lot closer than we are. Tell him to go in silent,” Gabe instructed, his hands making quick work of fastening his duty belt. Everyone else hurried to grab what was needed.

“I’m going.” Wayne moved to me.

I said nothing, just walked out the door and made my way down the steps as best as I could without wincing. Chip had keys in his hand, and we climbed into AJ’s truck. She could get mad later; right now, I didn’t care.

“Wayne, if you grab that bag on the floorboard, there’s an extra vest in there. Put it on. If you go in, you listen to what I say. I can’t have you and this asshole both going in half-cocked. This is not a man to play around with,” Chip ordered.

He was in commander-mode. That was fine. I was in no way able to handle that mantle right now. I’d never seen Wayne soquiet. The rage burning in his eyes said it all. Someone had royally fucked up. I just hoped we got to them before Stella did. She was going to need someone to hold her back. There was being a fuck up, then there was fucking with her family. I’d seen how she was when her dad had been taken. I had no doubts that her rage was three-fold right now. Carter was her heart. Someone would die today if we didn’t get there in time to stop it. Of that I was one-hundred percent certain.

My cell vibrated. I put the call on speaker so everyone could hear. “Daniels.”

“It’s Davenport. We have a location.” I heard something rustling in the background of the call. Chip glanced at me. I held up a finger, giving Wayne a look. He said nothing.

“Where? I’m on the way to town. I can meet you.”

“Some old farm land out on road 15?” He sounded like he was asking a question instead of telling us that was where they were. A bad feeling started to bubble up in my stomach.

“I don’t know the place. I’ll make a call and get directions.”

“No, there’s no time. Plus, we don’t want the local LEO’s on our ass. This is my bounty.”

I ignored his words. “Are you sure he’s there?”

A scuffle in the background caught my attention again. A grunt sound came through the speaker, muffled.

“What are you doing? Are you already there?” I asked, already knowing he was. Chip’s lip curled as he looked down at the phone. I guess he and I were on the same page. Sometime while working this bond case, Davenport had gone to the other side. My gut told me I was right.

One thing I’d learned in my life was to listen to my gut.

“Nothing. I’m outside. There’s something going on in there, but I can’t see what.”

I really hated liars.

Chapter 18

Stella

I stoppedat the back of the old barn, scanning the area for booby traps or cameras, anything that would alert these assholes that I was about to be on their ass. Voices from inside rose as I shifted to see in through a crack in the boards.

“Where is the bitch?” Kurt seethed as he stormed toward Davenport. The two stood, braced for a fight.

“She was coming here. You stupid idiot! I told you, I had her, but you had to go and call her!” Davenport snarled.

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