Page 48 of Strike Fast

“Don’t worry. I’m well clear now. I’ve switched cars four times already. She’s tied up in the trunk. It’s all good. And I’ve got a potential buyer lined up to take a look at her when I get into North Carolina.”

Carlos frowned. He’d never sold a kid before. Wasn’t sure he was comfortable with it. “How do you know it’s not a setup, asshole?”

“It’s not. He’s a regular of mine.”

Carlos still didn’t like it. Well, he liked that they’d put the fear of God into at least one FAST agent, but he didn’t like all the rest of the bullshit Javier had just rained down on them. “Take her someplace and lie low until you hear from me. I need to figure this out.”

“Don’t worry, boss. I’ll keep her well entertained.”

Carlos hung up without responding and called Antonio. “We need to get to North Carolina. Tonight.”

****

Reid didn’t even remember driving to the police station, fear for his daughter eating away at his insides like acid.

When he walked in and saw Sarah and Max already sitting in the detective’s office, the look on his ex-wife’s face made Reid’s heart constrict. Before he could utter a single word, Sarah shot out of her seat, her eyes spewing pure venom as she came at Reid.

“You bastard!” she shouted, slamming her fists against his chest, hard enough to knock him back a half-step. “They took our baby because of you!”

Reid’s entire body went cold as the truth behind the accusation hit him like a sledgehammer to the solar plexus. He didn’t even try to stop her hitting him. He deserved this and more, and part of him wanted the punishment. “I—” He shut his mouth because there was nothing he could say in his defense.

She was right. And fuck, he was dying inside because of it.

“Sarah.” Max had an arm around her chest as he tried to pull her away. “Stop it. This isn’t going to help.”

“It’s fucking helpingme,” she snarled, fighting Max off to stand rigidly in front of Reid, the accusation and rage in her eyes flaying him alive. “Your damn job already destroyed our family, and now it’s destroyed our daughter too,” she choked out, and shoved him hard in the center of his chest.

Reid rocked back on his heels to absorb the blow and clenched his jaw, battling the urge to turn and drive his fist through the wall. “There was a leak,” he said roughly.

“Aleak,” she spat, her voice dripping bitterness. “TheVenenocartel has Autumn, Reid. That’s more than a goddamnleak.” She clenched both hands in her hair, her expression distraught as she shook her head. “I can’t handle this. I just can’t…” Her shoulders jerked and a ragged sob burst free. Max cursed, caught her shoulders and pulled her to him, and this time she didn’t fight.

Reid stood there staring at the floor while Max consoled her, his whole world coming apart at the seams as the sound of her grief and terror sliced at the raw, gaping wound in the middle of his chest.

Rapid footsteps sounded in the hallway, then the detective appeared in the doorway. His gaze swung from Sarah to Reid and back, his face tightening as he shut the door behind him. “Mrs. Prentiss, have a seat.” He pulled out a chair and tugged Sarah into it before facing them all, hands on hips. “I realize this is hard on all of you, but blaming and accusing aren’t going to get your daughter back. If you can’t refrain from attacking one another, I’m gonna kick you all out. Is that clear?”

Sarah and Max only stayed another ten minutes before she couldn’t take it anymore, and they left. Reid was left alone with the detective as he went over everything he knew about Ruiz and his network. A lot of it was classified but he’d be damned if he’d keep it to himself if it might help get Autumn back.

An hour later he was sitting there alone in the office, having been told to go home. He’d given everything he could, and there was nothing more that could be done. Reid didn’t like it, but he had no choice but to accept it. A crushing pressure filled his chest as he dragged his ass into his car, his ribcage compressing until it felt like his heart and lungs would implode. He was cut off from the investigation now, unable to help the police any more, and no one wanted him to do anything.

Useless as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking.

He spotted the liquor store on the left when he stopped at a red light a few miles from his building. Without even realizing it, he’d already made the decision and was turning into the parking lot. He walked straight to the whiskey aisle and stood there staring at the neatly stacked row of bottles, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Fuck it.

He grabbed one, the weight and feel of the bottle a familiar comfort.

Back at his place, he dropped his ass onto the couch and uncapped the bottle, his hand shaking as he poured himself a tumbler full. He sat there staring at it for a long moment before taking one step closer to the abyss and lifting it to his nose.

The moment he inhaled that familiar scent, every pleasure center in his brain lit up, like Christmas and the Fourth of July combined. His whole body groaned at the sweet temptation in his hand, craving it so much his heart pounded and his mouth watered.

The reaction scared him so much he set it back down on the table. He forced his fingers to release it, his mind in chaos as he fought his oldest and most feared adversary.

He wanted the oblivion the booze offered. A respite from the pain and sheer helplessness that was shredding his insides, even if it was only for a few hours. But if he did this, he wouldn’t be able to stop at one glass. Or one bottle.

No. Autumn still needed him. He had to be sober if she was found.

His gaze strayed to the mantel, to all the pictures of him and Autumn lined up there in the frames. Grief punched through him so hard it stole his breath.

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