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CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

The gnawing feeling in Dare’s gut told him something was terribly wrong. He glanced at Cam as they strode away from Wade’s house.

“Have you heard from Kinley recently?”

Cam checked his phone. “Not recently. Why?”

Dare shook his head, his worry mounting. “I need to check on Ainsley. I have a bad feeling about this.”

They climbed into Dare’s SUV and he cranked the engine. As soon as it caught, he threw the transmission in gear, then slammed the accelerator to the floor. The engine roared to life, and they sped back toward Brookhaven.

“When I left the house, she was supposed to go over there until I got back.” As he spoke, Dare tapped the button on the dash to call Ainsley. The sound of the phone ringing filled the cab, and Dare’s anxiety ratcheted upward with each passing second.

One ring Rolle into two, then three. His pulse accelerated with each harsh ring until an automated message picked up. A spike of fear shot through him, cold and sharp. He tried again, but still no answer. “Call Kinley. Make sure everything’s okay.”

Cam nodded, quickly dialing Kinley’s number. He waited, frowning as the phone continued to ring. He shook his head, concern etching deeper lines into his face. “No answer.”

“Damn it.” Dare’s stomach twisted into tight knots, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Fear clutched at his throat, making it hard to breathe. The thought of Wade getting to Ainsley and Kinley was unbearable. “We need to get to Kinley’s house now.”

Dare tried to call Ainsley again, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The phone rang and rang, then went to voicemail again. “Ainsley, it’s Dare. I’m on my way to Kinley’s. Call me back as soon as you get this. I need to know you’re okay,” he said, his voice cracking with worry before hanging up.

Cam’s hand tightened on the handle over the door, his face looking as worried as Dare felt. “We’ll find them, Dare. We’ll make sure they’re safe.”

Dare nodded, though his heart pounded erratically. Wade was dangerous. If he’d gotten to them…

He shook the thought away, the fear too overwhelming. They were going to be okay. They had to be.