Page 24

24

Lyon

I was with the guys, celebrating River’s fortieth birthday, when a sharp pain stabbed through my skull. I winced, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to block it out. The noise around me faded, replaced by a pounding in my head that wouldn’t let up.

I pushed back from the table and staggered toward the bathroom, barely making it before I vomited. My hands gripped the sink as I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady myself.

When I stepped back outside, the blinding sun hit me like a sledgehammer. The world tilted. My knees buckled.

Then—nothing.

I slowly came to, my thoughts tangled and sluggish, but one name burned through the fog.

Niki.

A wave of dread rolled through me. What have I done?

I turned my head and found Raven watching me, his expression unreadable.

“How long?” My voice came out rough, raw.

Raven hesitated. “Two months.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Two fucking months?” I shot upright, my pulse hammering. “How the hell did that happen? Do you know where she is?”

Raven’s gaze darkened. “She works for Ryker now.”

I stared at him. “What?”

“She took a job with Ryker.”

God, I must have hurt her so much. I put my hand to my chest, where a sharp, twisting pain shot through my chest. I pinched the bridge of my nose, forcing back the burning in my eyes. I needed to see her. Now.

River handed me his phone. “Ryker’s on the line.”

I snatched it. “Ryker.” My voice was steel. “Where the hell is Niki?”

Silence. Then—

“Oh, so you finally remember you have a fiancée?” Ryker’s voice was ice-cold. “Took you long enough.”

“I need to know where she is.”

“You’re too late, Spenser. Niki’s been missing for two weeks.”

My blood went cold. “What do you mean, missing?”

“I sent her on a mission to track down a missing team member. She was supposed to check in twice a day. Then—nothing. I’ve got her parents breathing down my neck, and my people are scouring the city. Last I knew, she was in New York.” Ryker’s voice turned grim. “I think it’s the human traffickers.”

A roar built in my chest. “What human traffickers?”

“The same ones who had Jada and the woman she was hunting for.”

I shot to my feet, my body vibrating with rage. “Did she have backup?”

“No. She refused. Said she’d be better off alone.” Ryker exhaled sharply. “Damn it, she’s just like her mother.”

I dragged a hand down my face, my heart pounding. “Where are you now?”

“New York. Where else?”

“I’ll see you soon.”

The second I hung up, a fresh wave of pain lanced through my skull. I clenched my teeth, forcing past it.

Raven was already moving. “I’ll fly us there.”

“I’m coming too,” Cyclone said, standing.

I didn’t argue. We had to move—now.

As we headed for the airport, my mind wouldn’t stop tearing into me.

You should’ve been there. You should’ve never let her go.

“Don’t do this to yourself,” Raven muttered. “You lost your memory. You couldn’t have stopped this.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I growled. “I should’ve married her the second she said yes. I should’ve kept her close. Now she’s missing again.” My hands clenched. “When I find her, I swear I’m keeping her pregnant for the next ten years so she stays the hell home.”

Cyclone choked on a laugh, but my jaw was set. I meant every damn word.

Raven exhaled. “Where do we start looking?”

I hit redial. Ryker answered immediately.

“Where do I start?” I demanded.

His voice was tense. “Jada and the others are with me. We found the guy who kidnapped Niki. He spilled everything. The cartel took her.”

My gut twisted. “She’s still alive?”

“For now. She’s on a boat.”

I swore violently. “And your team left her to fight them alone?”

“They didn’t have a choice. Jada had to get the other women out.”

“Do you know where they’re taking her?”

“The guy said they were headed for Mexico.”

I gritted my teeth. If they haven’t tied her up, she’ll jump overboard. Niki would never let them take her to Mexico without a fight.

“We have to find her,” I said, my voice rough. “She wants babies, and I’m going to make damn sure she gets as many as she wants.”

“Where do we start?” Raven asked.

I met his gaze. “The Gulf of Mexico. Fast.”

Raven nodded. “Then let’s move.”