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Rio looked over his shoulder to see if anyone might overhear his next statement.

“Tucker is letting us borrow the helicopter if we promise to not let it get blown up like the last one. I’ve got a pilot that can get us near the property, and we’ll take a few agents.

I don’t want him to get away.” He pointed at Grizz.

“You’re not a trained FBI agent. Your job is to observe and be there for Dani. Tell me you understand.”

“I understand.” It didn’t matter. Grizz would say anything to get one step closer to finding Dani. If he got his hands on the senator…Maybe it was a good thing Grizz was just observing .

He might not have always done the right thing, but he’d get there in time to save Dani. But he couldn’t do it alone, not in his own strength. It was time to step up and be the hero he knew he could be—because of the strength God had given him.

You were right, Grandpa.

The tune to “Amazing Grace” filtered through his mind. Yes, when this flesh and heart may fail, and mortal life shall cease: I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

Dani had prayed, and he’d arrived just in time to stop Jeremiah.

Lord, please let this be a successful rescue operation coordinated by You. I can’t do this alone. I trust You with Dani’s safety.

Grizz stopped at his quarters and filled his lightweight backpack with supplies, grabbing his backup knife and some zip ties—anything and everything he might possibly need—before heading to the helipad. He was walking into this situation blind.

The ride took twenty minutes, which was nineteen and a half minutes too long for Grizz.

And once Dani was safe, he was never going to let her go. She made him want to be a better man. Less grumpy. He’d been hooked from the moment she’d called him her hero. Even if it meant that he lost everything to be by her side. He’d do it.

For her.

The helicopter landed down the road from the house. Grizz trudged behind the SWAT team, keeping an eye on his surroundings for any signs of trouble.

They walked the winding driveway to the house, officers in the lead with guns drawn.

If Grizz thought Mike’s cabin was a bit on the pretentious side, the senator’s estate was ten times more so.

From the air, the house looked like it had two swimming pools in the expansive and well-manicured yard.

Not to mention the ornate lawn complete with marble statues.

Grizz felt for his sidearm on his hip. A motor roared to life. The familiar flap-flap-flap of helicopter blades whirred.

No! Not good. If the senator had a helicopter, the man could flee with Dani and they’d struggle to follow. They could chase with their helicopter, but it would take time to rally and get to the helo. The senator would be long gone.

Two officers slammed the front door with a battering ram while two others crept around the side of the house toward the back. Would they be too late?

“Outside. Stop that helicopter.” Rio shouted orders into the radio and ran into the house.

Grizz raced through the front hallway just in time to watch through the kitchen window as the helicopter rose and became smaller and smaller as it drifted toward the mountain peaks.

They’d never catch it. Dani was gone.

Rage seeped out of every pore. Grizz stomped through the house and out the front door.

He might never see Dani again. Never hold her. Never tell her his true feelings.

“Why, God? Why would you bring her into my life just to take her away? I trusted you. I—I still do. Please. Make a way.”

Another noise from the opposite side of the house caught Grizz’s attention. One of the doors in the three-car garage lifted.

A Rolls Royce pulled out of the garage and headed down the driveway.

Grizz radioed Rio. “A car just pulled out of the driveway.”

But only static answered.

Great. What if Dani was in that car? Or maybe Sanchez’s father.

He had to go after it. Grizz raced to the garage and dove under the door as it was about to close.

Hopefully the driver hadn’t been looking in the rearview mirror.

The place had a multitude of options, but Grizz found a motorcycle parked in the far corner of the garage.

He pulled the bike out and walked it around the other sports cars.

The keys dangled from the ignition. Grizz hit the button on the panel for the garage door, jumped on the bike, threw on the helmet, and took off after the car, praying for his fifth miracle this week. “Please let me find Dani.”

The mountain road wound, but Grizz never let up on the throttle. Whoever was driving couldn’t have gotten far. The bike would have an easier time navigating than the car.

The hills rushed by him, and all of his childhood days riding dirt bikes came back to him. Sure, this bike was bigger and fancier than his dirt bikes, but he knew how to navigate those hairpin turns.

There!

Rounding the bend in the road, Grizz saw the vehicle. He’d been down this way before when visiting Mike. There was a switchback up ahead. Grizz could ride through the terrain and cut this guy off.

He raced through the dirt, leaves, and rocks. Dodged tree branches and bushes. Slowed in a few spots to make sure he didn’t spin out his tires. But ahead, he saw the edge of the road. He parked his bike and ducked behind a tree, his gun ready.

The car approached, slowing as it neared the turn. Grizz took aim, and with one bullet, blew out the driver’s side tire. The car fishtailed, and Grizz managed to get off another shot, taking out the back left tire.

The car shuddered to a stop on the shoulder. A man opened the driver’s door, sticking his gun out first.

There was no mistaking the senator. Deville ducked behind the car door, using it as a shield.

Grizz stood behind his tree, never moving, gun trained on Deville.

The man tried to make a run for it, heading to the rear of the car. Grizz sent a shot that sliced through Deville’s shoulder. The man screamed and fell to the asphalt.

Deville fired his gun, but the shot went wild.

Grizz approached him from behind and stepped on his wrist until Deville loosened his grip on the weapon.

Grizz kicked the gun out of the man’s reach and pulled the zip ties out of his backpack, thankful he’d stopped to grab a few supplies earlier.

He secured the senator to the door handle.

Blood dripped down the designer suit from the wound in his shoulder.

“It’s over Deville. Where is Dani?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. When I’m through with you…”

Grizz walked away and headed to the end of the car. He tapped on the trunk, and someone knocked back.

Dani!

Grizz rushed to the front seat and grabbed the keys from the ignition. He clicked the button for the trunk and popped it open.

Dani lay on the floor of the trunk, gagged and tied up but very much alive. He pulled the gag from her mouth.

“Grizz. I knew you’d rescue me.” Her words were slurred. It looked like the senator had drugged her.

He lifted Dani out of the trunk, cradling her in his arms. “You’re safe now. And I’m never letting you go.”