Page 99 of Hunted to Be Mine

“And if she’s not there?”

“Then we keep looking,” Mattie cut in.

“Dr. Prieto’s optimism isn’t misplaced.” Damon’s focus stayed on me. “But Dresner plans ahead. He won’t stash her somewhere obvious.”

“Then why hit the warehouses?” The edge in my voice made Mattie flinch.

“They’re access points to Oblivion’s network. Best chance to trace her.”

“If she’s still alive.” The words escaped before I could stop them.

Mattie touched my arm. “She is. Dresner didn’t take her to kill her. He wants something.”

“Her expertise. He’ll keep her alive as long as she’s useful.”

“And when she isn’t?”

His expression hardened. “Then we find her before that.”

“We will.” Mattie stepped between us. She believed it. I’d seen what Oblivion did to belief.

I drained the cup and crushed it. “Put me on the raids. Better than waiting here.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why? Afraid I’ll snap back to default? Or that I won’t take orders?”

“Both. And you’re too close to this.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” I nodded at Mattie. “At least I’ll say what she is to me.”

His expression didn’t change. His phone rang before either of us could push it further. Mattie cleared her throat.

“We’ll find her. She’s strong. Remember that.”

I thought of Selina, the way she kept showing up, for me, even when I wouldn’t for myself. Seventy-two hours with Dresner would stretch forever.

“I know. Everyone breaks.”

And Dresner knew how to make it happen.

“We have something.” Damon gestured to a side room. “Private briefing.”

We followed him. Coffee-stained briefs cluttered the table. Blue light from the monitors cut across the surfaces. Quieter here. The tension came along anyway.

Damon set a laptop on the table. “One of my analysts sent this.”

Grainy CCTV. A side street in Zagreb. Two men in suits. Selina between them, head down, unsteady. Drugged. They steered her into a black SUV.

I sipped the coffee I didn’t want. Kept my grip steady. Detachment. It’s kept me alive.

“When?”

“About ten minutes after you last saw her.”

“And you’re still burning staff on facilities instead of tracking the SUV?” I tossed a stack of papers aside.

“Orders from above. Those documents could expose the network. We could take Oblivion down.”