Page 90 of Diamond in the Rough

“Never again.”

“And when you find him, he needs rest, Both of you do. Take care of him.”

“I will.”

Zoe got out of the car and strolled away.

“Where to now?” Tom asked.

Maddox picked at his lip and tracked empty space. He tried to put himself in Jake’s headspace, but he wasn’t a reckless guy in his twenties who loved danger. Jake loved danger, but there was one thing he loved more: Maddox.

“Wait…”

The pathways in Maddox’s head finally lined up, and a fleeting idea became the most likely. The place and the moment Jake wanted to return to. The island.

“What is it?” Tom asked.

“I think I know where he’s gonna go…we need a plane.”

Chapter 16

Threatening the driver hadn’t been part of the plan, and Jake tried to retract his threat, make light of the situation, but it didn’t help. The driver panted as he drove the route, and his eyes were wild with fear. Jake didn’t feel any sense of power making him act that way. It made him squirm and avoid looking at him.

“I’ve got a family, kids.”

“I’m—I’m happy for you.”

“They’re good kids.”

Jake hummed. “How old?”

“Three and seven.”

Tears welled up in the driver’s eyes, and he glanced at Jake in the mirror. “They’re young. They need me.”

“They’re lucky kids.”

Jake was trying to be polite, but everything he said seemed to come off as intimidating.

“And not only that, I’m the main support of the household. I—I bring the money in.”

“Jesus,” Jake hissed. He shoved the gun back into his pocket. “I’m not gonna shoot you. I needed you to get a move on, that’s all.”

“What are you? Some thug, a junkie.”

“An adrenaline junkie and small-time, honest thief.”

“Honest thief?”

Jake shrugged. “I usually give back what I steal.”

“What’s in the case?”

Jake opened his mouth to reply, then paused at the sudden slap of déjà vu. He thought back to Ian and the crazy car ride through the city. He’d asked Ian those exact words, and his reply had been an unnerving cackle.

“Have you stolen it?”

“Kind of,” Jake said, then he laughed and shook his head. “What the hell am I doing…”

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