Page 70 of Cowboys & Protective Ways

He blew out another breath. “Okay, a lot. In my defense, I needed to make sure Jessica stayed safe. You have to admit that my circumstances are different than yours.”

“True.” Brock shifted in his seat. “But the principle remains the same. What is it they always say? If you love someone, let them go?”

Ian’s heart lurched. Jessica hadn’t run from him because she needed space. She’d run to keep him safe. At least that was how she’d made it sound. Doubt crept in. Maybe it wouldn’t be as easy as he thought. He shook off the feeling of dread that wrapped itself around his chest and tightened his hold on the hope he had for his future. “Is that why you let Madison go?”

The smile on Brock’s face faltered. “Madison decided she didn’t want to be tied down. Our relationship had moved fast, and we didn’t know what we really wanted when we got married.”

“I don’t think I believe that,” Ian murmured. “Even when you were a teenager, you wanted to settle down and start a family. You looked forward to it.”

Brock shrugged. “Yeah, well, Madison didn’t want that. She wanted travel and adventure. I found out real quick that the harder I tried to hold onto her, the more she resented me for it. I’d rather her be happy and free than feel trapped by my side.” His voice cracked. Brock cleared his throat and straightened in his seat again. “But you’re right. Jessica is nothing like Madison. I think you make her happier than I could ever make Madison.”

“Really?”

Brock glanced at him again. “Absolutely.” He pressed his lips together. “She loves you.”

Ian looked out his window, emotion building in his throat. “It’s not gonna do me any good if we can’t find her.”

“I really am sorry.”

“I know.” Ian refreshed the app on his phone.

“Anything?”

He shook his head and threw the phone to the floor.

Brock flinched. “Easy, Ian. We’ll find her.”

“Yeah?How? She could be long gone by now.” His hands tightened into fists. “I hate being so helpless.”

“I know. Look, we’ll start at that house and ask the people who live there where she went, then we’ll go from there. I don’t care what the DEA says. We’ll do whatever it takes to find her.”

Ian folded his arms. Something inside him told him he shouldn’t hold out any hope.

* * *

They followedthe DEA into the neighborhood, and Ian straightened in his seat. Rows of cute little houses lined either side of the road. Who did Jessica know here? It didn’t look like anywhere she would have grown up according to what she’d told him. It definitely didn’t look like Tucker grew up here either.

Brock let out a quiet curse and turned to Ian. “I’ve been here before.”

Ian met his gaze. “You have?

He nodded. “You remember that day Mom left me in town? I was like five years old.”

“Yeah?”

“The sheriff took me to his house until Mom could come get me.” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “It makes sense. Who else would Jessica know to call?”

Ian frowned. “That means only one thing. Sheriff Donahue doesn’t give two licks about us.”

Brock made a funny face.

Sighing, Ian rolled his eyes. “He didn’t call to tell us he had her. Don’t you think that would have been something he should do?”

Brock shrugged. “I don’t know, Ian. Jessica is an adult. I doubt the sheriff gave it much thought.” He peered out the front window. “Look, they stopped.”

Ian retrieved his phone from the floor and pulled up the tracking app. Brock’s dot was still missing. The DEA’s vehicle was parked in front of a house, but they hadn’t gotten out yet. Ian opened his door before the truck came to a complete stop. “What are they waiting for?”

“Ian! You can’t just—”

---