Page 66 of Protected Hearts

“Colt!” His bellow brought his brother running from around the side of the house.

As soon as Colt saw him, an expression of deep guilt crossed over his face. “I know, brother. Someone took the truck.”

“Shiloh took the truck.”

He shook his head. “I thought it was one of the veterans leaving. You know how Dean’s taken off in one of our vehicles before. I just ran over to check that everyone’s accounted for.”

“You never saw her come outside or get in the truck?” Oaks took a hasty step toward his brother.

“No. I was working on the new Black Heart case on the laptop all night in my room in the garage. When I heard the truck engine, I ran out, but I never saw who took it.”

The three of them stood there for only a beat of time. As if they all came to the same conclusion simultaneously, they took off running for the SUV.

“Colt, you stay here. Get the security camera footage. And see if you can find out anything from Shiloh’s time on the computer.” Carson barked orders that made Colt skid in his tracks and take off for the office.

Carson jumped behind the wheel. “Get in,” he commanded Oaks. As soon as both doors slammed, he started the engine.

Oaks had his phone in hand. “I’m calling the contact in the CIA that you gave me.”

He gave a single nod as he backed up and hit the driveway at a fast clip. “You don’t think she really went to meet her ex, do you?”

“Yes. I do. I never got a chance to discuss transferring the files with her or luring William out either.” He scraped his fingers through his hair. “Fucking hell. This is my fault. I should have taken the time, but it didn’t seem to fit the moment. I just told her we were having a meeting with you this morning.”

Carson didn’t respond, but the grim set of his jaw told Oaks what he already knew—that their odds of getting her back weren’t phenomenal.

He located the number for their contact in the CIA, but before he could dial, the local sheriff’s office called.

“Oaks Malone.”

“This is Deputy Stallman. I’ve got a missing person report. A female, mid-thirties—said to have been seen at the strip mall with you.”

He cut the deputy off. “We’ve got this under control.”

“So you know she’s been kidnapped from the diner?”

“We heard. We’re on our way.”

“This woman is one of your clients?” the deputy asked.

“She’s my ward. She slipped away to meet somebody at the diner. Stallman, we’re asking you to leave this to us. All we need from you is access to the security cameras at the diner. We’ll call if we need backup.”

Stallman let out a low snort through his nose. The sound projected into the SUV and knotted Oaks’s nerves into a tighter bundle.

He knew from past experiences with the sheriff’s office that it was best to play nice.

“We’d be happy to have your support, Stallman.”

He muttered something that sounded like “kiss-ass.”

“I need to make contact with a few more people. I’ll be in touch with you personally.” Without another word, Oaks ended the call.

Carson took the back roads at a high rate of speed, heedless of the switchbacks and tight curves of the roads that traced around the mountain.

“A woman forced Shiloh out of the diner.” He jerked his head to meet his brother’s stare. “You think it’s the Russian operative?”

“We haven’t encountered any other woman in this game. It’s only been her and William.”

“Fuck.”He’d told the deputy that Black Heart Security had this situation under control…but did they?

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