Page 46 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Old Lake Road was a half hour from the Brotherhood Alliance. Finn’s hands were clenched tight around the steering wheel, knuckles white. He took a couple of deep breaths. Lainey and Luke needed him calm for whatever he was about to find.

He turned onto Maple Hollow Road. The picturesque road held nothing but heartache and dread right now.

Dex sat in the passenger seat, tablet balanced on his lap. Caleb was close behind in his truck.

“We’re getting close,” Dex said, scanning the screen. “Ping came from somewhere straight ahead.”

“She liked driving down this road, found it peaceful,” Finn muttered. “I shouldn’t have let her drive Luke to school. I should have put more security on them.”

“Don’t go there,” Dex said quietly. “We’re gonna find them.”

Just ahead, Dex pointed. “There’s her car.”

Lainey’s SUV was on the side of the road, half on the shoulder. The back door was open.

Finn slammed on the brakes and jumped out. Dex and Caleb followed.

“Fuck,” Dex muttered, touching the hood. “It’s cold.”

“And look,” said Caleb, pointing to the ground. “Something leaked. Looks like brake fluid.”

Finn’s gut clenched. He crouched down, staring at the dark puddle under the rear axle. “That’s not right.”

“It doesn’t mean the line was cut,” Dex said. “Could be a rupture or failure from the ABS system.”

“Either way, she lost control,” Finn snapped. “And now she and Luke are gone.”

The three of them fanned out, searching the immediate area, but saw no blood. No sign of a struggle. No hints as to what happened to Lainey and Luke.

Caleb crouched on the ground near the back of the car. “Phone’s here.” He lay flat on his stomach, reached under and pulled it out. “I wonder if she threw it there?”

Finn stared at the dirt-smudged screen. “She knew,” Finn said, his voice low and cracking. “She knew something was wrong.”

Dex walked in a slow circle around the car. “No signs of a struggle here. But look.” He pointed toward the tree line.

Finn followed his line of sight. Some broken twigs. Could they have escaped? He hoped so.

His gut twisted as he scanned the woods, willing Luke and Lainey to come rushing out. “They ran.”

“Let’s go,” Caleb said as he headed into the trees. The silence was broken only by the crunch of leaves and twigs under their boots. A few rustles under the leaves, a couple of birds flying overhead.

Finn’s emotions were running wild. Were they fast enough? What if… ?

No. Not going there.

They walked a little way in, following the broken branches. Finn’s stomach roiled with each step. He prayed they were unhurt.

“Fan out,” Caleb called out. The men spread out ten feet apart.

How far could they have gone? Did they even come this way? Or had Lainey and Luke been kidnapped, never to be seen again?

The trees gave up no secrets. They continued walking.

Then, “Over here!” Caleb shouted.

Dex and Finn crashed through the brush toward him.

At their feet, nestled in the dirt and leaves, was the NASA cap Finn had given Luke.

Finn picked it up with trembling fingers. A tear slipped down his cheek.

Caleb clapped him on the back. “Let’s get them.”

“Luke! Lainey!” Finn’s voice cracked as he shouted. “It’s Finn. You’re safe. Come out if you can hear me.”

He cocked his ear. Nothing.

Then something rustled.

A small head rose up from behind a fallen tree.

The men raced over.

Finn’s breath caught in his throat.

Luke!

The small boy was covered in cuts and scrapes, his hair full of broken twigs and leaves, and it was almost the best sight he could have imagined.

Luke unfolded himself and leapt into Finn’s arms. “Dad! He took Mom,” he cried. “He took Mom, and he had a gun.”

Then the little boy started sobbing as he clung to Finn.

“I’ve got you, buddy. I’ve got you. We’re gonna get her back.” Finn rubbed his son’s back, holding him close, even as his mind spun with rage.

Whoever took her and scared his son was going to pay. Finn was going to make sure they regretted it.

Finn carried him out of the woods and sat on the back bumper of his truck. Luke was still shaking. Still crying. Finn didn’t let go.

Finally, Luke hiccupped, took a deep breath. He sniffed hard and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I didn’t know what to do. Mom said to run, so I did.”

“You did exactly what you were supposed to do,” Finn said, brushing leaves from Luke’s hair. “You were so brave.”

Luke nodded. “She called the man who took her Travis.”

Finn’s blood ran cold. “Travis?”

Luke nodded. “He had a black truck. That’s all I remember. I didn’t look back.”

“You did the only right thing,” Finn said softly. “You got away, got help. That’s what your mom wanted for you.”

Dex walked over, tablet in hand. “I’m already pulling license data and gas station surveillance. Caleb will bring me back to command central. I want to track every feed between here and the next streets down. If the truck passed a camera, I’ll find it.”

“Good.”

“We’ll get her back, Finn,” said Dex, looking between Finn and Luke. “You need to get him somewhere safe.”

Finn nodded. “I’ll call Lainey’s mom.”

“She’ll panic,” Caleb said quietly.

“I know,” Finn muttered. “But not telling her feels worse.”

Before he could decide, another truck pulled up. Dani jumped out, followed by Ryker.

Luke looked over. “Jack’s mom!”

Dani rushed over. “We heard what happened,” she said. “Let me take him.”

“Are you sure?” Finn was torn. He really didn’t want to call Lainey’s mom until they had more information or had her back.

“Yes, of course. He and Jack are friends. He knows us. Ryker can provide security. We’ll keep him safe, I promise.”

Luke looked up at Finn, his face still pale. “Can I go with them, please?”

Finn crouched down. “Yes. But you need to know that I’m going to get your mom back.”

“I know you will. I trust you,” said Luke.

Finn kissed the top of his head, then helped him into Ryker’s truck and into the booster seat in back. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

Finn closed the door. “Keep him close,” he told Dani.

“You know we will.”

He watched the truck pull away, then turned back to Caleb and Dex.

“Let’s go find her.”

Lainey stared out the passenger window, her stomach tightening with every mile as Travis drove back toward Haywood Lake. She prayed with all her heart that Finn found Luke. That he was safe.

Travis turned into an industrial park that had seen better days.

She’d never been in this part of town before.

The buildings were worn, weeds taking over the area.

Chain-link fences sagged under their own weight.

There were no signs. No logos. Just long rows of warehouses with boarded windows that all looked the same.

There was also no traffic in the area. No people walking around. No one to hear her scream or help her.

Crap.

He pulled into a narrow alley between two buildings, then veered into a wide lot behind one of them. The warehouse was old, the concrete stained with time. The windows were dark and covered in grime. One loading dock door was half open.

Lainey’s pulse thundered in her ears. Her throat went dry. Whatever, wherever this place was didn’t feel like a stopover. It felt final.

He threw the truck into park and turned toward her. “This is your final destination. Get out.”

She didn’t move.

He reached across, unlocked her seat belt and in a low, threatening voice said, “Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”

Her hands trembled as she pushed the door open and slid out.

Travis came around and walked her forward, the gun nudging her in the back.

The steel door groaned as it opened. Inside, the warehouse was cavernous, cold, and empty. The air was stale, with an underlying metallic scent. Droppings littered the corners. Bird shit streaked the walls. Lainey stepped inside and swallowed hard.

What kind of fresh hell had she landed in?

She glanced around. A single folding chair sat in the middle of the open space—so not empty.

And suddenly she knew not only was she in big trouble, but she wasn’t here for a chat. Her eyes darted around the room. No windows. No exit except for the one they came through. Could she make a run for it? Maybe if she zigzagged, threw him off? Maybe.

Too late. Footsteps echoed from behind her, coming closer.

And a voice she hadn’t heard in a while said, “Hello, Lainey.”

Her stomach dropped.

She hadn’t heard that voice for over a year.

But she hadn’t forgotten it.