Page 61 of Rescuing Tobias

It felt surreal.

Barely a couple of minutes ago, he and Isabella had been walking hand in hand, joking about making out at his job and what they wanted to do when they got home tonight. He’d actually felt good about skipping his physical therapy today, thought there might be something to Isabella’s worries that hewas overdoing it, the same thing his doctor had been telling him all along, only it hit differently when the woman he was falling for said it.

Failure.

Useless.

Pathetic.

The words echoed through his head, and the one that seemed to stick the most was the word uttered by the man who had attacked him.

It was pathetic that with the level of training he’d had and the years of experience under his belt, he couldn’t even save his pregnant girlfriend from two unarmed men. Mercenaries with the most basic training, and they’d come out on top.

They’d won.

Right now, they had Isabella and they’d left him behind with nothing to do but dwell on his failures and his fear of what was going to happen to his girl and their unborn baby.

Around him, life was going on. People who had probably hidden while the abduction was taking place were whispering on cell phones, a few of them edging closer to him to see if he was okay.

Vaguely, he was aware of voices, someone telling him that it was okay, that the cops and an ambulance were on their way.

But it wasn't okay.

It would never be again.

The chances of finding another of the trafficking ring’s hideouts were slim. Even if by some miracle they managed it, how was he ever supposed to face Isabella again knowing how spectacularly he’d failed her? She’d hate him, never want anything to do with him again. Whatever they’d been building between them had just crumpled and turned into nothing more substantial than a pile of dust.

Ignoring the well-meaning people around him, somehow Tobias managed to get his hand in his pocket and close his fingers around his cell phone. The cops might be en route, but he needed more than that.

If there was going to be any chance of saving Isabella, he needed Prey on this as soon as possible.

Dialing Raven’s number, he didn't even wait for her greeting, as soon as the call was accepted he forced out the words that wanted to clog in his throat.

“Isabella is gone. They ambushed us just before the subway station.”

Maybe Raven said something back to him, he had no idea.

All he could focus on was what he’d just said. Isabella was gone. Because of him. And he wasn't likely to get her back.

April 26th

2:17 P.M.

It would be reallygreat if she could hold onto consciousness for more than a minute or two at a time.

While Isabella might be pretty sure she had a concussion from the multiple blows to the head, she hadn't lost her memories. They were still intact. Completely.

Horrifyingly.

Every second of that fight on the sidewalk was etched into her mind, and no amount of dizziness was going to fling it out.

Was Tobias dead?

Had they taken him, too?

It killed her that she had no idea the answer to either of those questions. It would be easier to survive what was coming next ifshe knew Tobias was out there turning over every rock until he found her. Knowing he was waiting for her when she finally got home.

But if he was dead …

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