Page 39 of Protecting Andie

Kevlar frowned. “Thario hung up, so I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound good. He said she was in a car speeding through a part of the city that was far from her apartment.”

“Shit. I don’t like this.”

“Let me get Remi home and inside, and I’ll be over in just a few minutes.”

Remi huffed and rolled her eyes. “I can get myself home.”

Kevlar snorted. “I know. I’m just on edge with all this talk. Let me make sure you’re safe, and then I’ll come back.”

Remi nodded. “Fine. I get it. You’re protective. I understand.”

Rider pulled out his phone and texted Thario before Kevlar and Remi were off his lawn. His phone buzzed with a response from Thario, saying he was tracking her.

Fear rose up, and he wondered if he should call her. Would she answer? Would he put her in more danger by calling? If he called and she was with someone who wanted to hurt her, would that alert the person that she had her phone?

He stood frozen on his front steps, unsure what to do. The last thing he wanted was to get Andie killed, but he had to do something.

27

Andie used her right hand to work the knot free on her left. She wasn’t sure where Tony was taking her, but she had a feeling the car ride was almost over. If she didn’t get her hand free, she couldn’t text for help.

Tony had the stereo up loud enough he couldn’t hear her phone buzz when someone texted her. The rope was almost loose enough to get free. She just needed to get one more knot undone, and then it would be enough.

She was about to get the last knot loose when Tony took a corner too fast, and she slid off the seat. Pain flared in her right wrist as the binding twisted her arm. But now her left hand was free.

“Get up!” Tony yelled.

“I’m trying!” she yelled back, realizing this was the perfect cover for getting her phone and texting someone.

She fished her phone from her pocket, her hand shaking. She wasn’t proficient in texting with her left hand, but it would have to do. She meant to click on Rider, but she hit Remi’s name and typed in the word help, but typed a K for the L. She hoped it was either corrected to help or Remi understood something was wrong.

As she shoved her phone into her pocket, the car slowed. They were at their location. She’d sent the text just in time. Hopefully, Thario could see her location and send someone. She feared what Tony would do if he held her for long.

Rider was still on the porch when Remi opened the door and yelled to him that she texted. He moved quickly, dashing across the street. Kevlar was already on the phone when Rider got there.

Remi caught him up. “She texted what I think is help. It has a K instead of an L, but I’m assuming she is in trouble. Kevlar is on the phone with Thario and Tex. They are getting the authorities involved.”

Tears burned his eyes, and he felt like his knees had been taken out from under him. “Thank you, Remi.”

He wanted in on the conversation, but he waited for Kevlar to give some sort of indication that it was being handled. When Kevlar glanced up and gave him a thumbs up, he let go a sigh, and his knees might have given way because Remi reached out, giving him support.

“Sit,” Remi commanded, and he moved to the chair she’d pulled out and sank to it, willing his phone to ring. Remi had to be safe. He wasn’t even close, so he couldn’t run to her and save her. He should have taken off work and gone to Portland with her, but he’d just taken off time for the wedding. They could have waited for her to officially move here and close up her apartment. He would willingly pay for another six months to a year’s rent for her to be safe.

After what seemed like forever, Kevlar lowered his phone from his ear, though he was still on the line. “Tex and Thario convinced the police to go to that location. They are gearing up. It may take a little time.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah, but we want her safe. We aren’t there, and there’s nothing you can do right now except wait.”

Rider blew out a breath, fear and worry filling him. He wasn’t going to relax until he knew Andie was safe. He had a suspicion her ex was doing something stupid. If that fucker did something stupid and killed her, he would make sure the bastard didn’t live.

The seconds ticked by so slowly that he worried that time had stopped. He wasn’t the best at sitting back and relaxing. This was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

28

Andie jerked away from Tony when he yanked open the back door of the car. Tony reached for her arms, stopping as he saw her left arm wasn’t tied any longer.

“What did you do?” Tony yelled.

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