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I’m about to ask another question when I see a car approaching us. I drag Ash into the woods; we can’t take a chance.

August

The few times I saw action while in the military; we were a unified unit, ready to surround and take down the enemy. In this moment, I feel no different; we are about to go to motherfucking war. Pete, our head of security, Jack, and Anna have formulated a rescue mission within minutes. My father barks orders. My military training throws me into that mindset immediately.

Within thirty minutes, we are boarding helicopters. Chris stays behind with the president and Jessica. Logan, Anna, my father, and our security are on board one military helicopter. We fly in silence. It’s only a five-minute flight to the property. We are in a stealth helicopter. No sound comes from the helicopter blades. We cut through the night sky like a predator in the dark.

“I’m coming for you, Kate,” I think to myself as I hold on to the bar alongside my seat.

“We’re going to set down over there,” Jack yells as he lands the helicopter in a field near the property. Yeah, Jack can fly a helicopter, too. I shake my head in disbelief. He’s the ultimate international man of mystery. We are out of the helicopter and ushered into armored cars within seconds.

“You will remain here,” he commands.

“Like fuck, I will,” I say as I grab a Kevlar vest from the seat behind me.

“August,” Jack barks. “My mission, my rules.”

“With all due respect, Jack, my country, my rules.” I look to my dad for support.

“Go,” is all he says.

I get out of the car as we approach the house. The cars stay back a good eighth of a mile as we surround the property. Everyone wears night vision goggles as we close in around the perimeter. We move in silence.

Jack motions with his hand to a back door. He grabs the knob, and it turns. A moment later, we are inside. It only takes a few minutes to clear the property. They aren’t here. My heart sinks.

“Ross?” A voice comes over our radios. “I have something. Second floor, third door on the right.”

“Roger,” Jack says as he speaks into a small receiver on his vest.

We take the steps two at a time. Entering the room, I don’t see anything at first, but then I see it. Duct tape by the bed.

“And here,” one of Jack’s men says. We walk around the bed and by the armoire, we find cable ties. The piece of furniture is pushed back, and I push it farther to reveal a door.

“Fuck,” Jack says.

“Fuck?” I ask.

“Yeah, if Kate’s half as smart as I think she is, they got out of there,” he says.

I like to pride myself on being savvy and intelligent, but Jack is like next-level scary insightful.

“Where does this go?” he says, crouching to get inside. We follow it and open the first door. There’s a window open in the corner of the bedroom. Jack turns to me, a grim look on his face. They aren’t here, but they were.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Kate

There’sa house up the road. I walk a little faster. I know my ankles are a bloody mess, but I keep moving, hoping that someone is home. I don’t even know who to call, except the police. All my numbers are on my phone…except Jackie’s. She made me memorize it.

A rumble on the road has me halting. I look both ways but see nothing. A moment later though, an armored military vehicle barrels down the road.

“Kate,” Ash whispers pointing.

“I know,” I say to her as I step into the road and hold up a hand.

The vehicle comes to a stop. The driver's side door opens. I hold my breath praying it’s a good guy.

A man emerges from the vehicle. Even in the early morning light, I know who it is the second he steps onto the ground. Auggie. Everything goes silent. All I see is Auggie, like a prince in a fairy tale, a prince in a black Kevlar vest. He runs toward me, and I’m encircled by his arms. I wrap mine slowly around him, almost afraid that I’ll find out he’s a mirage.