Page 74 of Abducted

Ethan whistled. “No shit.” Then to Nate, “Think you can get some agents to their house?”

“Just sent another text. Someone will go there now.”

Ethan slapped his shoulder. “That’s huge, bro. We’ve got a solid lead. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Cal nodded. But it didn’t feel okay. Nothing would be okay again if he didn’t have Lana. A void in his chest opened, swallowing his heart. He couldn’t survive a day without her—he took another breath.

“They’ve stopped moving.”

Cal’s stomach turned over. His heart stopped and started. This was it.

CHAPTER 24

The zip tiecut into the soft skin at her wrists. She twisted her hands. The sharp plastic only cut deeper. Panic beat its wild rhythm through her heart. She was going to die if she didn’t get out of here. The interstate was empty, only the odd car littering the dark road. Her eyes darted around the floor of Cal’s truck.

She needed a weapon. Even if she could find something, though, it would be pointless with her wrists bound. There were two of them and only one of her. She took a slow, deep breath in through her nose. She had to stay calm. Stay calm and think.

By now, Cal would surely know she was missing. He would tear apart the city to find her. The awkward shape of Cal’s phone lay against her abdomen in her front sweater pocket. If only she had use of her fingers…

Tears stung her eyes. She didn’t want to die this way. She wasn’t ready to leave this earth, her family, and especially Cal. A lump pressed against her throat. The reality was, she had very little chance at escape. They would shoot her without batting an eye. She shifted her gaze to the cool, shiny metal of the gun that rested on the lap next to her, its deadly mouth at level with her stomach. She couldn’t use her hands, but she could use her words. Maybe, just maybe, she could talk her way out of this. At the very least, bide Cal some time.

“Please don’t do this, Grace.” She met the eyes of the older woman beside her. Eyes she had known for half her life. The once-kind, pale blue orbs now held enough ice to freeze hell.

Grace smiled. “Oh honey. Don’t worry, this will be quick. You won’t feel a thing.” She smoothed her blond hair back and tucked it behind her ear. “Unlike what your friend did to Tanner. But he’ll pay for that.”

Anger simmered inside her, and she clenched her hands into fists. “How can you do this to me? To my father?” She blinked away the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. If she was going to die tonight, she would die with dignity. “Why?” The word hissed through her lips.

Grace thinned her lips. “This was never my intention. I’ve always liked you, Lana. But I have to protect my son and my family’s name at all costs.”

“I don’t understand.” Her brows pinched together.

Grace shifted in her seat. Her thigh rubbed against Lana’s. The corners of her mouth dipped. “You accused Tanner of sexual assault, my dear. Do you have any idea what that would do to him? To me?”

“You’re doing this because of that?” Her voice dripped with disbelief. “I never told anyone about that—not even my father.”

“It was only a matter of time. You don’t know Tanner like I do. He doesn’t take rejection lightly. He would have made another attempt, and you would have taken it further.”

Grace knew. She knew all about Tanner’s past and had covered it up. That was why she had always appeared hard on him. Because with every slipup he made, she’d had to come in and pay people off.

“Tanner should be sitting here. Not me. I know about the young woman he raped. And about Andrea Reid.”

Grace’s breath sucked in sharply. “How do you know about that?”

“I’ve been talking to the FBI.” She raised her shoulder with indifference. “They know everything about Tanner.” She was revealing her hand, but what did it matter?

Grace’s eyes rounded. The lines on her face deepened, aging her before Lana’s eyes. She shook her head. “No. You’re lying. They couldn’t possibly know about that.”

Ignoring her, Lana continued. “The question is…” She spoke slowly, deliberately. “How have you been able to live with yourself? Tanner needs to be in prison…and so do you.”

“I did what I had to do to protect my family. As for the FBI, I would know if they were investigating us. You’re full of shit.”

Lana scoffed. “You’re wrong. They know everything. They know about Shawn, Will, and Stamos. If you kill me, that’s one more felony tacked to the Normand and Theroux names.”

Grace’s cheeks tinted with red. She pressed her trembling lips together.

Her eyes turned to gray stones.

“You’re going to be sorry, Lana. If you think for one minute that the law is above my name, you’re sadly mistaken.”

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