Page 69 of Pick Yourself Up
But his heart hadn’t been involved.
With the woman he loved being kidnapped, he had to find the way to outsmart Allard.
Then he’d make the bastard pay.
Chapter 19
Saddle Up
Gray was considering options when Boomer shattered the silence with a bark. The dog’s head whipped to the side, and he barked again while turning around on the seat. Gray believed him and yelled at Ford. “Stop. Turn around. Now.”
Ford followed instructions even while he asked. “You sure?”
“Boomer is, and that’s more than good enough for me.”
Ford made a tight U-turn and Knox followed suit behind them. Gray watched as Boomer tensed on the seat, eyes trained on the forest.
When Gray spotted a road, he pointed. It was barely more than a trail, but it was wide enough for a vehicle. Even more important, Boomer was laser focused on it.
“Park here. We don’t want to alert him we’ve found him. Boomer, quiet.”
Knowing the dog would follow commands, he hopped out and patted the dog. “Boomer. Search Amber. Find Amber.”
The dog shot down the road and Gray raced after him, gun in hand. He knew the others would follow, but he wasn’t waiting and planning a strategy. He was going to get Amber back.
Gray kept to the side of the road while the dog ran down the middle. He thought of telling Boomer to heel but didn’t. He wasn’t sure the dog would follow the command, anyway. Amber was in danger, and he knew it was his job to protect her.
The presence of a dog wouldn’t necessarily alert Allard to the fact that he’d been found. Boomer was trained by the best, and he knew how to assess a situation as well as most humans. Hell, probably better.
Gray had worked with several K-9 partnerships over the years and the bond between the animal and its handler was strong. Boomer was as intelligent and steady as any of those dogs.
The road curved and angled down, giving Gray the high ground. At the bottom, it curved out of sight again.
Boomer had moved to the edge of the road as well and slowed his pace. Gray assumed that meant he’d spotted their prey.
Knox and Ford arrived beside him. “Plan?”
Gray nodded. “We’re close. Boomer has him in his sights. I can’t see the vehicle yet, but it’s just ahead. We’ll stick to the trees until we’re closer, then surround him.”
Without another word needed, the three of them moved off. He assumed Jolie and Thea waited on the road to direct the others who would arrive, but he didn’t waste time asking. With his friends at his back and Boomer leading the charge, they would be enough.
The three men ran down the hill, staying close to the trees but not worrying about concealment. Allard likely believed no one was on his tail. He probably planned to wait until dark before heading out.
Which meant he’d either secured Amber with ties and a gag or he’d knocked her out. If he’d wanted her dead, he’d have shot her at the inn. This meant the man had a plan, and it wouldn’t be good for Amber, no matter what it involved.
With an almost physical force, Gray shoved aside the rage. He’d deal with that once Amber was safe.
Boomer checked over his shoulder and spotted Gray and the men. He waited until they nearly reached the bottom of the incline, and then he loped ahead toward the curve.
Gray followed Boomer. Annie and Dodge moved into the trees to surround the fucker.
Gray reached the corner and peeked around a tree. An older black sedan sat on the edge of the road. Parked. Not idling. Allard didn’t know they’d found him.
The trunk of the sedan was raised, and no one sat in the car. He assumed Amber was in the trunk, but she could have been tossed in the back seat.
None of them would risk a shot without knowing for sure.
He moved to Boomer’s side and patted his head.
