Page 62 of Savage Secrets

At his side, Opal quietly wept. He pried the fingers of one hand off the wheel and squeezed hers. They were ice cold despite the heat blasting in the truck. Shock had set in, and the only thing that would make it all better was placing her little girl back where she belonged—in her mother’s arms.

“We’re almost there, honey. Hold on.”

“This is my fault.”

He stared at her ravaged face. “No, Opal. You did nothing wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have let her go. I should have checked out the family more thoroughly.” Her voice tremored on each word.

“You knew everything you needed to know about Mr. and Mrs. McMasters.”

Except how naïve they could be. It had taken a hell of a lot of self-control not to grab Mrs. McMasters and shake her for handing over Rainie to a man who claimed he was her uncle, and screaming at her relentlessly for failing to get proof that he was.

Rainie was far too outgoing when it came to meeting new people. It was little wonder she agreed to go off with a stranger. Caution was something he and Opal needed to instill more of in the child.

He glanced at the road again. The last thing he needed was to get them into an accident. They were only a minute away. Less if he hammered down on the gas.

When he stomped it to the floor, Opal tightened her grip on his hand.

“We’ll get her back, honey.”

“How?”

“I don’t know that answer yet, but we’re going to form a plan.” They hit the drive leading to the Springvale.

Wisps of smoke drifted on the air currents toward them as the ranch came into view. The garage was a blackened, hollow shell, but the fire was under control, leaving it only smoking.

The men stood around nearby. Colton and Hunter were hunched over an object on the ground. Carver and Ledger rounded the barn, weapons in hand, to see who had arrived. And the police and a few firefighters clustered a short distance from what was left of the garage.

When Zach jumped out of the truck, his leg screamed in pain. He’d ripped that wood out of his thigh, but it had left behind at least one long, thick splinter, and it was lodged deep. He felt it like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

Ignoring the discomfort, he forced his body to obey and rushed around the truck to help Opal out. She was already sliding out when he got there, swaying unsteadily.

He caught her and locked her against his side, propping her up—or was she propping him up? Did it matter anymore? They were in this together, or at least until she realized that she could do better for herself and little Rainie.

Hunter looked up from what looked like an exploded gas can on the ground and cast a glance over him. “Jesus, man. You should be in a hospital.”

He shook his head. “No time. We know who has Rainie.”

“Hold that thought. We’re expecting a call from WEST Protection. We got the camera footage from the McMasters and sent it to Ross to analyze. Maybe he’s got something.”

Opal’s legs threatened to buckle again, and he kept her against his side.

The guys turned their attention to her. “I’ll grab a chair off the porch,” Ledger said and took off at a jog. He cleared the steps in one leap and was back in seconds with one of the chairs Zach and Opal sat on nightly while drinking their coffee.

Zach helped her to the seat. Opal leaned forward with her head in her hands, and he gripped her shoulder to let her know that he wasn’t leaving her.

Colton’s phone vibrated, drawing their focus to him as he put the WEST team on speakerphone.

“Hey, Ross. What did you find out about the video on the doorbell cam?” Colton asked.

“We’ve got a positive ID on the guy. It’s coming up as Eli Feldman.”

“It really was him!” Opal let out a small cry.

“Don’t worry—we’re tracking down his location right now.”

“He’s got to have a house nearby.” Zach looked between the men. “Why didn’t we think to look for him before now?”

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