Page 63 of Protection for Nichole

Jay wanted Griz to drive faster, but the road was narrow and twisting. They were about five minutes out. She just had to survive for a few more minutes, then they would be there for her.

He’d already sent up a bunch of prayers, and had turned to begging and bargaining. He needed Nichole to be safe, that’s all he wanted.

Griz slowed, and Jay popped his eyes open, seeing a black truck pulled off the road and a guy standing to the side, binoculars raised. They had to stay quiet, or the jerk in the cabin might hear.

When the car stopped, Jay quietly popped open the door, and stepped out. He shut the door just as quietly as he’d opened it and moved toward the man with the binoculars.

“I’m Jay. What do you know?” Jay asked.

“He took her inside. I’ve not seen any more movement. I have a Glock, that’s it.” The man turned to face Jay and stuck out his hand. “I’m Pollard. Is she your wife?”

“We were set to get married today.”

“Man, that sucks.”

The other men from his team were beside him, their expressions serious. Apple came close and leaned in.

“I talked to Sharp. He and Thario are informing the police of what is happening and our exact location. They are making sure they come without sirens.”

Jay nodded. “Thank you.” He wasn’t sure what the cops being here would do. He wanted to make the bastard pay. The cops would try to end this peacefully. But he knew the jerk who had taken Nichole didn’t deserve peace.

“We should move in now.”

Griz put his hand on Jay’s shoulder. “Hold up. We don’t know what’s going on inside. We don’t have any idea how many people are in there with them.”

Pollard turned to face them. “I have a drone, but it won’t be like overwatch. No way of tracking heat signatures inside.”

Apple crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the house. “One of us needs to move closer.”

Squat volunteered. “I’ll go.”

Griz shook his head. “You aren’t tall enough to look in the windows.”

Shine tapped Apple on the shoulder. “Apple and I will go in first. Griz and Squat, you two follow up. We’ll make a breaching plan once we know how many people are in the house.”

Griz nodded. “Sounds good. Pollard, would you and Jay stay back and make sure no one comes out?”

Jay shook his head. “I’m not standing back.”

“You sure a fuck aren’t going to be in the mix, not until we know what we’re facing.”

Jay clenched his jaw. Anger and pain twisted inside. “I won’t fuck it up.”

“You can come closer once we figure out what is going on.”

Griz wasn’t going to bend. Jay nodded, hating that he couldn’t be in the raiding party. He would be close by so once they were inside, he could find Nichole and make sure she was okay.

Waiting for Nichole to be rescued would try his patience. He drew in a slow breath, fighting for control. The last thing he needed to do was explode and have to be held down, or worse, beshoved into one of the cars and forced to leave. He would be here for Nichole once she was free, and that was all that mattered.

Chapter 51

Nichole wason her knees in the middle of the cabin, both men standing above her, laughing at something. Devon had just smacked her, making her ears ring. She wanted to show him that she wasn’t afraid of him, but she was.

They were talking about how to beat her so she couldn’t run. She wanted to show them what it felt like to be hit. Of course, they could control her with her hands tied behind her back. If they let her go, she would make sure they felt the pain of her wrath.

They were laughing again, and she hadn’t caught what they’d said. A part of her didn’t want to know. Whatever they were talking about had to be disgusting.

She didn’t think of herself as a violent person, but if she had Jesse’s strength, she would be beating the hell out of them. The more she fought her bindings, the worse the pain got. Her efforts to get free were useless.

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