Page 28 of Bred By the Mercenary

“The fucker would be. Send me the address,” I say with a tight voice.

“Already on it.” The phone dings with the incoming message. “I’m headed that way, too,” Dean adds. “Got two guys coming from different directions. We may be able to intercept him before he hurts her.”

“Thanks. I’m going to lose my shit when I find him…” I reply, barely keeping my anger in check. I’ve worked with Dean closely for years. He’s my go-to guy for any intelligence, and he’s come on jobs with me. The guy’s more than a PI—a spy and great at breaking into anything—and he’s seen me lose my shit bad. Like the time one of my supposed friends double-crossed me. If it hadn’t been for Dean, that prick would be eight feet under by now.

“We’ll deal with that when we find him,” Dean says firmly before hanging up.

I punch the address into my GPS and accelerate, the city lights fading behind me. My gaze scans the roads, the pit stops, anywhere Ryker might pull over.

Driving for what feels like an eternity, the city now just a memory, I keep my eyes peeled for the silver sedan. Then, up ahead on a long stretch of road flanked by woodland, I catch a glimpse of it.

Is that him? It better fucking be.

My pulse quickens, and I press down harder on the accelerator, needing to read the number plate.

Nothing on earth is going to stop me from getting Amelia back.

Adrenaline courses through me as I close the gap between my SUV and Ryker’s silver sedan. The rage boiling inside me is almost overwhelming, my entire body trembling with the intensity of it. I curse under my breath, every vile word directed at the man who dared to take Amelia from me. My mind races, calculating how to get Ryker to pull over, to crash, without harming Amelia. The road, thankfully deserted at this late hour, offers some small mercy.

Up ahead, there’s a bend in the road, a spot that allows a clear view of oncoming traffic. It’s now or never. I press the gas pedal to the floor, my SUV’s engine roaring in response. As I approach Ryker’s car, my headlights illuminate his vehicle. I strain to see inside, hoping for a glimpse of Amelia, but there’s no sign of her. The thought that she might be in the trunk, at the mercy of this monster, fuels my anger to an explosive level.

I accelerate, moving into the oncoming lane to overtake Ryker. As I draw level with him, I can’t resist glancing down into his car. I see Ryker sneering at me, his hatred evident. Then, with a calculated swiftness, I cut sharply in front of him, forcing him to slam on his brakes. He tries to regain control, but I’m not done yet.

As Ryker pulls up alongside me, intending to overtake me, I make my move. With all the force I can muster, I swing my SUV hard into his car, targeting the driver’s side. The impact sends him swerving, losing control, while I keep my vehicle steady, locked against his. I force him off the road and toward the trees lining the edge of the road.

Ryker fights the steering wheel, trying to regain control, but it’s too late. My SUV shoves his car with enough force to finally slam against a tree on the passenger side. Metal crunches and the sound of shattering glass fills the air, tires skidding, dirt blows behind us from the tires. I bring my SUV to a stop, my heart pounding and my breathing heavy.

I leap out of my SUV, every muscle in my body tensed, my fists clenched tightly. Anger races through my veins, turning my vision red. As I round the front of my car, I spot Ryker scrambling out of the back door window, trying to escape into the woods.

“No way in hell,” I mutter under my breath, charging around my car. Just as Ryker hops out, I’m there, grabbing him by his hair and wrenching him back with a force that surprises even me.

“Where is she?” I roar, my voice a thunderous mix of rage and desperation. Ryker’s eyes widen with fear as he stares up at me, trembling.

“You’re mad! What the hell are you talking about? I’m going to sue you for everything,” Ryker stammers, clearly caught off guard.

“Where did you put Amelia?” I demand again, tightening my grip on his hair and forcing his head back as he throws weak-ass punches into my chest. The guy’s half my size and knows he stands no chance against me.

He blinks, a moment of realization crossing his face.

“There’s no one else in the car but me,” he insists, trying to squirm out of my grasp.

“Open the trunk,” I command, knowing he’s lying.

“I gotta get the keys from the ignition. The trunk lock is broken.” But the moment I loosen my grip, he slips from my hold and darts into the woods like a slippery prick.

“Fucking asshole,” I curse and give chase. I’m not letting him get away, not when Amelia’s life might be at stake. The woods are dense, but I keep my focus, driven by a singular purpose.

He doesn’t get far. I kick out my foot, tripping him up, then snatch him by the back of his neck, hauling him back to his feet. I drag him out of the woods, back toward the car, my grip iron-tight. He struggles, but he’s no match for my strength.

As we reach the car, I shove Ryker into the car, where he falls to his knees.

“Now, unlock that trunk before I rip you in two, you fucking loser,” my voice growls through the woods.

“Look, man,” he begins, but I’ve had enough. I slam my hand to the back of his head and bang his face into the car so hard, it leaves a dent in the metal. He grunts and falls down, whining. Blood spills from his nose as he lays there, crying.

I step over him, reach into the car, and pull out the key, then return to the trunk. I unlock and yank it open. My heart nearly stops. There lies Amelia, her eyes fluttering open, tears streaming down her face, fear scribbled in every feature. My gaze hardens as I notice the metal brace around her neck, chains linking it to her wrists and ankles, a cruel and calculated restraint.

Fuck! I’m trembling with anger. I glance over to Ryker, who’s still howling like a baby. But that surge of protectiveness overwhelms me.

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