Page 65 of Shattered

My arms stopped working first, then my legs gave out.

“Time to go.” He tossed me over his shoulder like a rag doll. “The boss wants to meet you.”

Then nothing…except darkness.

16VAPOR

Koen

The nurse had just left, letting us know Mom was in her room and we’d be able to see her soon. Visiting hours were almost over, however, the staff was kind enough to allow for an extension. It probably had more to do with my brother’s position in the police department than anything, but I’d take it. I needed to see with my own two eyes that she was doing well.

“You and yourwifecan go first,” Riley threw out.

I knew from the glint in his eye, he wasn’t being salty. He was giving me shit and enjoying the hell out of every moment of it. Any response I was about to give stilled on my tongue when the waiting room door flew open, banging so hard against the wall I was sure there would be a hole.

Jett stood in the doorway, breaths labored and his eyes completely unfocused.

“What the hell?” Willow ran to his side. “Jett? What’s wrong?”

Nudging her out of the way, I grabbed his chin with two fingers while simultaneously assessing him for injury. Theonly thing I saw was fear. And pain. So much of both seeped from his pores. That’s when I realized Jade wasn’t behind him.

“Where’s your sister?” He flinched at the venom in my voice.

“H-h-e- t-took h-her.” His teeth chattered so hard it was difficult to understand him, but I did. Then my world flipped upside down.

I couldn’t move—couldn’t breathe.

“Who, Jett?” Riley barked as I tried to contain the panic threatening to break me apart.

“A-a man. By the elevators.”

“He’s in shock.” Willow approached, taking his wrist in her hands to check his pulse. “I’ll get some juice.”

“Snap the fuck out of it, Koen. You need to pull your shit together so we can get information from Jett.” All at once, the room slammed back into focus. Riley was in my face, teeth gritted. “Wewillfind her.”

Damn straight we would. There was no way I’d even consider another alternative. Jade was my life, and I’d burn this city to the motherfucking ground to get her back in my arms. Full stop. That fucker was breathing his last bit of free air.

“Sit before you fall.” I gently applied pressure to Jett’s shoulders, guiding his trembling body to the nearest seat. Then I followed, shoving his head between his bent knees as I demanded, “Breathe, kid.”

“Jesus.” Willow rushed back in, handing me a plastic cup filled with an orange drink. “Give him this. The sugar will help.”

Tipping the cup to his lips, I instructed him to take small sips. At the same time, I heard Riley snarling orderson his phone in the background to whoever was unlucky enough to be on the other end of the line.

“Oh God, Jade.”

Jett cried out, jolting forward. His tear-filled brown eyes––the same shade as his sister’s––flared wide with some sort of realization. They quickly scanned the room, searching left then right, looking for what? I didn’t know. Scrambling to his feet, he swayed with the sudden change in position. With a hand on his elbow, I steadied him.

“Jett, I need you to tell us everything you remember about this guy. Height. Weight. Any distinguishing marks like tattoos?”

“I need my laptop.” He broke free of my hold, dashing across the room to his backpack. “I tagged her.”

“You what?” Riley asked, the phone still at his ear.

“AirTags. I got them for my birthday.” He yanked his computer out of the bag, flipping open the lid and powering it up. His fingers flew over the keyboard. “With all the shit happening with my parents, I always kept one in my pocket. Just in case.”

“What does that have to do with your sister?” Willow knelt beside him, placing a hand on his knee.

“You tagged her.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement of fact, which he confirmed.

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