Page 79 of The Ranger
I register that Scarlett is also Cassy’s best friend, and that Josh is invested in this too, but she’s carrying my child.My unborn child.
“Get the entire team on this and advise the authorities that we have a missing person.”Josh keeps talking, and I don’t know who to, because my brain is whirling.
Stay calm.
“Send someone to his house.Nathan, get us his address,” I order.
He nods and pulls out his laptop.
“Let’s go,” Aidan says once Nathan shares the information.“We need to run some data on Chen and work out who we call first.”
Marshall and Josh surround me.
“The baby.”My voice croaks.“They’ve had her for almost two fucking days.”
What if she’s dead?
“Did he say anything in the past two days that indicated he knew who you were?”Marshall asks.
I shake my head and say, “Maybe.I was putting pressure on him, but he hasn’t made any threats or—”
My phone rings.
I quickly flip it over in my hand, hoping it’s Scarlett even though I know it’s not.
“Hello,” I put it on speaker.
“Cole Reynolds,” Chen’s voice fills the room, and he sounds cheerful.“Are you having me followed?”
I glance up at Josh, who has turned into the dangerous Navy SEAL right before my eyes.My fists clench, the veins on my forearms popping.
“Why would I do that, Chen?”
“It’s too late to stop me.What’s done is done.”He laughs.“Plus, if you want to see your lady friend again, you will stay back.”
Fuck.
I want to scream at him, but Josh gives me a pointed look.Don’t show your vulnerabilities even if the enemy knows it.Or thinks they do.
“Who?Stop you from doing what, Chen?”
Playing dumb could save Scarlett’s life.He’s all but told us she’s alive, and for a second, I can breathe.
“Ah, you are a funny guy, Cole Reynolds.”His voice turns dark.“Stay away, or she dies.”
Then the line goes dead.
“Fuck.”
“Motherfucking North Korea.”Marshall curses.
Josh lets out a breath, and paces.“I’m not going to ask you to stand down, because you won’t, but I need you to tell me right now if you can focus?”
“No,” I answer because I’m an Army Ranger and I know lying will get men fucking killed.“At least not right now.”
Liam and Ryder walk into the room, tossing me a pair of BHS sweatpants, T-shirt, jacket, sneakers and a Glock.
“Just heard, man, sorry,” Liam says, leaning on the wall and crossing his arms.
