Page 97 of Lethal Threat

He says, “I heard there was a cellular outage in the region.”

I shift my position, but keep my eyes glued on the target. “Sierra hasn’t returned a text since before eight last night. Fuck. Fourteen hours of nothing.”

He moves to another hide and leaves me with my racing mind.

At first, it was no big deal. I figured she fell asleep early. But fourteen flippin’ hours is no longer a worry, it’s a situation.

Jesus.I should have texted someone and had them go by.

Larson’s the closest person to the house and is only a few miles away. But that’s got to wait. At the moment, I have to focus on the extraction training we’re working through.

“Going in.” Marshall’s voice crackles over the coms gear speaker in my ear. I move forward as he and Simona duck into the abandoned warehouse, guns raised.

Focus, Cole.

Pressing against the wall, I wait for my signal, forcing all thoughts of Sierra out of my head.

The team gets my full attention.

The next time I check my watch, it’s three pm. An hour later. Sierra doesn’t answer or respond to the text I send.

While the team loads gear in the rented SUV, I dial Larson. “Hey, I need a favor. Can you head over to the house to check on the friend who’s staying with me?”

“Sure—” The wail of a fire siren drowns out his voice. When the sound fades, he says, “You know what that means. As soon as I can, I’ll head over there.”

I’d call my father but I don’t want him to stress out unnecessarily.

By four pm, I’m a total disaster inside.

No call.

No check in from Sierra. But I’m on my way to Eden, at least, on a helicopter that’s flying into the setting sun. But it’s too damned far for my taste.

Marshall shoves a boot against my shin. He speaks into the mic on his headset. “You got something dark on your mind, bro?”

I huff and stretch my knotted up neck. “Sierra. I’m about to call the sheriff. She hasn’t returned my messages or calls since before eight last night.”

Simona quirks a brow like she always does at me. Through the intercom, she says, “Maybe she wanted some alone time.”

I give her my narrowed eyes in return. “She was supposed to check in with me.”

Marshall cuts her a look before speaking. “I’d be damned worried too. Liam would go check in.”

“I think all four of my brothers are on fire duty. But I’ll text him.”

Pulling out my phone, I send my older brother a message.Can you go to the house to check on Sierra? I’m out for work for another couple hours.

Three dots scroll across the screen.

Roger. Will take me thirty minutes to finish up with this patient. Getting ready to go set a dislocated elbow. I’ll go as soon as I can.

I cringe. I’ve set a few of those in the field. Never pretty.Thanks, man.

The helicopter rotors whomp as I drop my head back on my seat. I never remember feeling this tortured. Caring about someone is hell on your mental health.

As I look out the window of the chopper, thinking about the fact that I’m not cut out for relationship crap, an idea hits me.

I sit up in my seat and tap Marshall’s arm before I speak through the communication system. “Any chanceyou can get the pilot to let me fast rope down to the cabin?”