Page 75 of Fighting for Brielle
Tawny answered for him. “Understood Special Agent McAdams.”
“Good. Let’s head out.”
Armed with semi-automatic rifles slung over their shoulders and concealed handguns and Kevlar vests worn over their clothing, Justice, Tawny, Finnigan, and Macklin spread out in a line but kept within sight of each other. They moved methodically through the dense forest, marking the territory they covered, looking for evidence of beaten paths that a truck might make, and mounds of any kind, other structures, and listening for the sound of generators.
The temperature grew cooler the higher they hiked. Golden sunlight slanted through the tops of the giant trees, reminding Justice vividly of Brielle’s eyes. They haunted him. He imagined them filled with pain. Agony. Condemnation. Death. Grief gripped his heart. No. He couldn’t torture himself with those images. He needed to envision them shining with vitality. Hope. Love. Most importantly,love.
Justice clung to his love for Brielle as they tramped through the foothills and the hours waned without discovering Anderson’s compound. Every hour that passed increased his anxiety, causing his heart to pound as the blood raced through his veins. Trying to get his mind off his fear, he concentrated on watching his feet and his team as they scoured the area with the same intensity as his.
In spite of his own situation, Justice noticed subtle changes in the way Finnigan and Tawny treated each other. Ever since he refused her offer of a date, Finnigan had kept his distance, showing Tawny a polite deference whenever circumstances threw them together. Justice and Brielle had laughed at his plan to reel Tawny in, but it seemed to be working. The more Finnigan ignored her the more determined Tawny became to get his attention. But now with Brielle missing, both dropped their guard and their coyness in order to aid Justice in his search for her.
At one point Tawny tripped over exposed roots and fell heavily to the ground. Finnigan rushed to help her. Unable to place her full weight on her right ankle she cried out in pain. Finnigan lowered her onto a fallen log and removed her boot and sock. He ran his hands with expertise over her ankle, quickly at first and then more slowly, caressing her tender flesh. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she bit her lower lip.
“It’s not broken or sprained,” Finnigan commented, his voice soft. His deep brown eyes regarded her with intensity. “You probably twisted it a little.” He continued to massage her ankle. “Does it feel better?”
She nodded, her eyes never leaving his. “Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Finnigan helped put on her sock and boot and held out his hand. “Let’s see if you can put your weight on it now.”
Tawny gingerly took a step. “I’m good.”
“Are you sure?” Justice demanded. “I don’t want you to end up with a damaged ankle. We still have a lot of ground to cover.”
“I’m sure, Chief.”
“Okay, but let me know if it bothers you,” he ordered.
“Ten-four.”
Justice turned away, then, as Finnigan stayed close to Tawny. He couldn’t bear to watch their budding romance at the same time he might have lost the love of his life.
God, he prayed.I’ll do anything. Please just let me find Brielle alive.
Long after sunset, the two groups met back at their starting point. They’d covered fifty square miles of virgin territory without finding anything. Discouraged, the McAdams brothers headed to their sister’s house, and Justice returned to his.
Alone in his master suite, he turned on the water in the shower and stripped. He stood, leaning forward, head down, arms braced against the cold tile, letting the warm spray sluice down his tired, sore body. Tears fell unheeded and mingled with the water.
Hang on, baby. I’m coming for you.
Stepping out of the shower stall, Justice wrapped a towel around his waist. Overcome by a sudden weakness, he collapsed on the edge of his bed. His hands began to shake. Then his legs. A moment later his entire body convulsed. He knew he wasn’t having a seizure, but he couldn’t control the tremors.
“Dad!” he cried. “I need you!”
Chapter 19
Franklin burst into Justice’s bedroom and saw him shaking uncontrollably. He perched next to him and wrapped his arms around his son’s trembling body.
Justice choked on the searing emotion rising in his throat. Great sobs wracked him. “I can’t lose her, Dad! I can’t lose her! Not now when I’ve just found her! She’s?she’s my whole world. I can’t lose someone else I love. First Mom, then my team, my career. I don’t think I can survive this.Not this.”
Franklin held Justice until his physical and emotional crisis passed. “Pull yourself together, son. You have a mission to complete. Everyone is counting on you, especially Brielle. She’s incredibly strong and clever, and you taught her how to survive like a SEAL. Don’t forget she has years of experience on the force, and now she’s SWAT. I know in my gut she’s alive, and she’ll figure out a way to make it until you rescue her. What would Brielle say or do if she saw you like this?”
“She’d kick my ass.” He met his father’s concerned eyes. “But, Dad, I didn’t have time to teach her everything I know. Especially what to do in a situation like this.”
“Trust me. She knows.” He patted Justice on the back and rose to his feet. “Get some rest. You’ve got long days ahead of you.”
Justice tried to sleep but tossed and turned, unconsciously reaching for Brielle only to find the empty space next to him.
Within a week of Brielle’s kidnapping, the task force dwindled down to just a few personnel. Commander Mattox returned to SWAT headquarters, promising to aid in the search in any way he could, and gave permission for Finnigan and Macklin to stay behind on personal leave. Brielle’s brother Ben had to return to Rutherford, Maine, to check on his wife Callie and their children and to appear in court to argue a case he was handling.
