Page 100 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

“You can’t protect everyone all the time,” she whispered.

“Jess—”

“I’m going to do my best to stay safe and I’m going to count on you to be there if I need you, but I’m going to do this James Alden. And it’s not because I’m reckless.”

“I know you’re not.” Thinking of her walking in there alone was slowly killing me.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you. I wouldn’t have left if I had any other choice. They said I had to come alone. I need to do this. Lexi shouldn’t have been involved in my mess.”

“Jess, it’s not safe. You have no idea what you’ll be walking into.” I didn't know how to get her to see reason.

“James, I can’t let her get hurt.”

“We won’t. I can’t see you get hurt.”

“I’ll be careful. I love you, James. No matter what happens just remember I fucking love you.”

“I love you, Jess. Don’t do this,” I pleaded with her.

The pilot came on the intercom. “Mr. Alden, I need you to turn your phone off please.”

“Fuck, Jess. Text me and Gage the address.” I tried one more time. “Don’t leave without us.”

“I love you,” she said and then hung up.

“Damn it,” I growled. The airplane felt smaller than it had only minutes ago. I sat there feeling more helpless than I ever had in my life.

I quickly texted Jess Gage’s number and soon after an address popped up on my screen.

Me: Jess sent us Lexi’s location.

Gage: I was just about to message you. Good because all I was able to get was a general location when I hacked into the street cameras to follow the car that took Lexi.

Me: I’ll meet you at the factory. Get what we need, surveil the factory so that we can go in there and get them both out.

Gage: Already on it. In my car now and heading there. I can get Lexi out and Jess if she gets there before me.

Me: Stand down unless you believe Lexi or Jess to be in danger. I don’t want them to hurt Lexi because Jess didn’t do what they asked. They instructed her to come alone.

Gage: Fine.

Me: We need intel before we go inside.

Gage: Copy.

I tapped my screen staring at the map in front of me, a little surprised at Gage’s terse responses. Knowing my friend, he blamed himself for Lexi sneaking off. Little did he know that she practiced enough on me growing up. She was practically an expert.

Because of Dean’s help I’d only be about twenty-five to thirty minutes behind Jess if there were no delays. Although, if I was judging the location correctly, it would take Gage a little over an hour to get there. He would absolutely be there before me.

When I arrived, I was going to kill the motherfuckers that messed with my sister and my girl.

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