Page 91 of Searching for Valor

But the man’s cold voice echoed in her head.If you tell anyone, he dies.

Rylan would see this as another betrayal. But just like last time, she had no choice. She couldn’t gamble with Mateo’s life.

She sprinted to her car, fumbling with her keys. As she slid behind the wheel, she tried the last number Monica had used to call her. No answer. She hadn’t really expected one, but that didn’t stop the strangling surge of panic.

“Mo, I know you and Grace got away from them. I know you’re scared and hiding, but I need your help. I need those files. Please tell me where they are. They have Mateo now, and they’re going to kill him. Please, please, call me back.”

She hung up and tried again.

Voicemail.

This time, all she said was, “Please.”

She hung up and hit the gas, peeling out of the parking lot. She wasn’t going to get the files in time. She already knew it with absolute certainty. So what the hell was she supposed to do?

Think, Izzy. Think.

She couldn’t go into this alone. She’d get both Mateo and herself killed. But she couldn’t tell RWCR or the sheriff.

But…

Her gaze landed on her leather jacket in the passenger seat, and she grabbed it. She searched the pockets until she found the card Agent Justina Callahan had given her that afternoon after she allowed the woman to question Noah.

No sheriff.

No RWCR.

But the bastard had said nothing about the FBI.

chapter

thirty-two

Rylan steppedout of the recovery room, his shoulders heavy but his heart lighter than it had been all night. Valor was alive. He’d lost a leg, but Sasha had assured him the dog could adapt. And when Rylan had whispered his name, Valor had wagged his tail—weak, but unmistakably determined. It was enough to keep Rylan standing, though barely.

The waiting room, which had been packed earlier, was eerily empty now. Only Ash remained, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his face shadowed with grim determination.

“Where’s everyone?” Rylan asked, his voice rough from emotion.

Ash straightened. “Zak rallied the team to the command center. They’re already working on tracking down the bastards who did this.”

Rylan nodded, exhaustion pressing against his chest. “Izzy?”

Ash frowned. “I thought she was waiting for you here.”

Rylan’s gut twisted. She’d promised to stay. His eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of her, but there was none. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Ash’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, his expression darkening as he read the message.

“Son of a bitch,” Ash muttered.

“What is it?”

Ash looked up, his gaze locking with Rylan’s. “Just got a report. Mateo Delgado was snatched from outside the firehouse. Witnesses saw a black SUV grab him. Same description as the one that hit you.”

“They have Mateo, and Izzy’s gone.” All the blood drained from his head as the realization hit. “Fuck!”

Ash’s jaw tightened. “You think she went after them?”

“I know she did.”

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