Page 34 of Gray

“West didn’t get any other pings on her cell,” Nick reminded him. “Maybe they wised up and turned it off, maybe not. Do you really want to take your chances with leaving when we could be searching the surrounding roads and forest? There are multiple one-lane roads around here, leading to secluded homes. That’s similar to where we found Lena and Kaylee before—a house off the beaten path, used for Ivan’s sick purposes.”

“Let’s search the surrounding area,” Luke said in a clipped tone. “We need to find him ASAP before this comes to a head. Has anyone texted him back? Or is the number spoofed so that we can’t even reply to his bullshit?”

“Jett texted him,” Gray said, his voice low and deadly. “He’s leading ‘anonymous’ to believe we’re cooperating and coming up with the funds to spare Lena’s life.”

“Perfect,” Luke quipped. “Because if Ivan thinks we’re playing his game, he’ll never see us coming.” Luke’s phone buzzed just then, and he lifted it to his ear, his gaze sharp. “Got it, boss. Putting you on speaker.”

Jett’s voice came over the line as the other men gathered close. “We’ve got a description of the vehicles from the parking lot,” Jett said. “Ford obtained the surveillance footage from outside the grocery store. West will get into the local traffic cams to see if they passed your current location. If not, they’re likely still in the area.”

“You got the plates, boss?” Luke asked.

“Affirmative.” Jett rattled them off, and Gray felt his blood run cold, looking at the plate number Nick had just written down.

“The truck—” Gray cut off as all of the men began running, jumping into their vehicles. Luke was still talking to Jett, informing him about the pickup truck they’d just spotted, but Gray barely heard a word.

“It went south!” Nick shouted before climbing into his own vehicle, slamming the door shut behind him.

Luke’s tires squealed as he peeled out of the lot. Jett ended the call, saying he’d get an update from West. “We’ve got to be close,” Gray said, drumming his fingers on the door. “Hell. He was driving slowly so we wouldn’t be suspicious. He couldn’t have gotten far at the rate he was going.”

Ford pulled up to a guy stopped on a motorcycle, asking if he’d seen a pickup truck come through. The man pointed toward an intersection farther down the road. And there it was. A lone vehicle off in the distance heading toward the forest.

“That can’t be him,” Gray said with a frown.

“Only one way to find out,” Luke said, revving the engine. He gunned it down the road, Nick speeding up behind him.

Luke’s tires squealed as he took a turn, and then he was racing forward again. Gray frowned as they got closer, his stomach dropping. It wasn’t the same truck. “We need to get into the traffic cams to see which way it headed.”

Luke’s phone began ringing, and he pushed the button on his console to answer the call via his car’s system. “It’s West,” a male voice said without preamble. “I just got another ping from Lena’s cell.”

“Tell me it’s nearby,” Gray said.

“Negative. They’re headed east, possibly looking to get on 95 south.”

“What?” Gray yelled as Luke slammed on the brakes. He executed a neat three-point turn on the rural road, revving his engine as he sped back in the direction they’d just come. Nick was turning around as well, racing behind them to catch up.

“Let’s hope they keep her phone on,” West said. “It’s a stupid mistake, but one that benefits us. As long as they’re in range of a cell tower, I’ll know the direction they’re headed. I’m running the plates through our systems as well, trying to find them on a traffic cam. We’ll know if they enter or exit the highway.”

“He’s getting away with her,” Gray said, anguished.

“Not exactly,” West countered. “As long as he has both Lena and her phone, he’s leading us right to them.”

Chapter 19

Tears streamed down Lena’s cheeks as Ivan manhandled her yet again, yanking her out of the vehicle. She was shaking in the darkness, wearing her ripped dress over her bra and panties. She cringed knowing Ivan had touched her while she was passed out. He’d dressed her. Carried her, unconscious, to the car.

Gray had carried her in his arms to safety, but Ivan?

It was like he was leading Lena to her grave.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out, but she suspected that hours had passed. Lena had briefly come to as they transferred her to a new vehicle, the light waning. The sky was dark now, the stars bright. Her stomach roiled with nausea, and her mouth was dry and felt like it was filled with cotton.

Blinking, she realized the gag was gone. Did that mean no one was around to hear her scream? Lena swayed on her feet, Ivan chuckling as he pulled her close. His cologne made her want to vomit, and just looking at him repulsed her.

“Don’t fight me,” he warned. Ivan reached out and gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. Lena was too weak and slow in her thinking from being drugged to try to push him away. “You really are my perfect little jewel. Prettier than the other girls. You’ll fetch a mighty sum for me.”

She stumbled, nearly falling over as he laughed. “While I planned to keep you, you’ve become far too much trouble for me now. I’ll collect my $50 million and find some other girls to fuck.”

“You’re crazy,” she mumbled.

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