Page 79 of Inferno

“What’s with the shoe boxes?” One of the officers pointed to the screen. “He left two more at other places inside the building.”

Chief McCauley stood. “Let’s go find out.” He headed for the door, and half a dozen officers went with him.

Julio probably should follow, given he headed up the bomb squad, but he spotted a colleague from the PD who worked with him and let them go. They’d be fine—he had to believe that. Hehad to trust them because there was no way he was going to leave the search for Samantha.

“I’ve got something!”

Addie said, “What is it, Simon?”

The long-haired guy from Vanguard, Cat’s guy, said, “Cabin up in the mountains. Belonged to his wife’s father. She inherited it after his death, and it was signed over into her name with her maiden name as the surname.”

“Walter didn’t list himself on the deed?” Romeo scoffed. “Seems like something a wife beater would do.” He sat back in his chair, looking collected, but under the table he bounced his knee.

The guy wanted to get out there and find his partner.

“We need to check it out,” Julio said.

The search and rescue couple shifted. River Gaines, the former officer, said, “Tessa and I can go for a walk in the woods. If he sees us coming, he’ll just think we’re hikers.”

“Yeah,” Gage Deluca said, “hikers with an armed response team as backup.”

“Let’s go check it out.” Addie looked at Simon, and a couple of others. “I need the rest of you to hang back, see if you can find us alternates in case this thing turns out to be nothing.”

Simon nodded. Cat slid into Romeo’s seat.

“Come on, bro.” Romeo tipped his head at the door. “Let’s get you a vest.”

Julio followed him to the door.

Lord, please let this be the place. Keep her safe—and alive—until we get there.

He could barely swallow past the lump in his throat, let alone voice the words aloud. God knew his heart. The Lord knew Julio wanted Samantha in his life for as long as he could have her there. That he would cherish her and protect her. If it was necessary, he would give his life to keep her safe.

It would mean they weren’t together, but to him it would be worth it.

Otherwise, he would have to live without her—the guilt his only company. She would grieve him, sure. But the sense of failure plaguing him would be a thousand times worse.

How about neither of those?

Keep her safe, he repeated.Don’t let her lose faith in You.

THIRTY-ONE

Sharp pain arced through her arm, and Samantha screamed—but no sound came out. Walter never loosened his grip on her wrist, squeezing so hard the bones felt like they were about to snap.

He drew the lit cigarette away from the tender skin on the inside of her arm. Tears rolled down her face. She’d screamed until her voice was raw, a shattered sound of what it should’ve been.

In that moment, she wasn’t a sister, girlfriend, or friend. She wasn’t a cop. A detective. An investigator. She was only one thing…

A victim.

She wanted to draw her legs up and kick him away—again—but it hadn’t achieved anything last time, except to make Walter angry.

The door flung open so hard it hit the wall. Men poured in dressed in black, black helmets and huge rifles. All around Samantha washed in a wave of sound and movement.

Walter was dragged up, away from her.

She curled her legs up to her chest and made herself as small as possible in the space. The wash of commotion swam around her, cresting and falling like waves.

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