Page 78 of Red Hunt

“I’ve lost her,” were the only words I could squeeze through the tightness of my throat before I doubled over, dry-heaving, empty and alone and the biggest failure ever. I had failed her. Hadn’t protected her.

50

MILLI

The moment I’d lost sight of Max through that little back window of the van, something inside of me broke. My heart? Probably.

A hollow feeling took over, and I sank onto the floor of the van and hugged my legs. Here I was. Alone. Powerless. Afraid. Weak.

What would they do to me? Where were they bringing me? Would I ever see Max again? My friends? Belinda?

At least she got away. All of them got away. Why not me?

Tears filled my eyes and silently drenched my dress while I rocked myself. Now and again, I got thrown when the van took a curve, but I didn’t even feel the impact.

The van drove on for a long time, the same words going over and over in my mind. Why hadn’t he saved me? Why hadn’t I been one of those who escaped? Why me? Again. I couldn’t survive again.

Every minute, every mile passing made my thoughts bleaker and bleaker.

No chance Max would catch up and find me wherever they were taking me.

Except.

I bounced out of my rocking. A ray of light and energy went through me like I had been struck by lightning. The hair on my skin stood up, and a giggle escaped my throat. I grabbed the GPS Tracker around my neck. Belinda was free. She could point them in the right direction. They would come for me.

Whatever they did to me.

I could hold on until then.

I would hold on until then.

51

MAX

A truck pulled up alongside me with George behind the wheel and Lucas riding shotgun. Lucas got out and laid his hand on my back. “Jump in, Max. We got no time to lose. Let’s get back to base, regroup, and find her.”

I nodded, though I didn’t know if I could even stand upright on my own. I didn’t have to worry. Lucas grabbed me and hauled me into the backseat of the truck as if I weighed nothing. Clearly, him losing his leg hadn’t had any effect on his superior strength.

The ride back was short. Too short. How could I’ve lost her so soon?

We passed the club crawling with law enforcement everywhere.

“Why haven’t you been arrested? Isn’t that a bit conspicuous?”

“Part of the plan. Lucas got to play hero. As soon as he allegedly realized something was off, he got me and my associates out of there. We were gone long before the raid started. Hopefully, this will cement his position as a trustworthy member of my team,” George said, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

We entered the parking garage of Carter’s hotel. The ride in the elevator was silent. I was avoiding looking at myself in the mirror by fixating on the LED panel flashing the numbers: 1, 2, 3… I’d failed Milli.

I’d failed her. Where would we even start the search? There was a decent chance I would never see her again.

That thought ripped through me as if someone had stabbed me in the heart. I couldn’t lose her. No chance in hell. Not again. I’d always thought all I wanted was to be alone and far away from everyone and everything. Drama-free. Untouchable. Helping from the sidelines but not too deeply affected if the outcome was bad. I always thought there was safety in distancing myself. Safety in not even risking the possibility of feeling the way I did for years after that earth-shattering day when my mother died. When I was suddenly completely isolated and utterly alone in the world. But that wasn’t what I wanted. At least not anymore. I wanted Milli. I wanted a life with her in it. I wanted to wake up next to her and go to sleep next to her. I wanted every piece of drama she could bring into my life. No need for peace and quiet as long as I had her.

When we entered the room, it wasn’t buzzing with noise. Carter was silently talking with someone over comms, and Peaches was busying himself on his computer. I squeezed my fists. Why were they being so calm? I ground my teeth, realizing I was very close to losing it. “Anything?”

Peaches shook his head, and Carter didn’t even acknowledge us.

“Hey, buddy.” Lucas stepped closer. “Why don’t you get yourself cleaned up? Take a minute to calm down. Get your head back into the game,” he mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear him.

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