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Presley was beyond frustrated. It’d been almost twenty-four hours since Reggie Branch had called to let them know he had found no evidence at the cemetery. The perp had policed his brass and left no clues behind. He’d disappeared.

She wasn’t surprised since Eddie Smith was a detective. He would know how to cover his tracks. He might be crafty, but she would win. Defeat wasn’t an option.

Presley’s arm stung where he’d shot her, but it was a dull ache. Dominic had made her forget everything last night, including the injury. The feelings he evoked scared her. They were compatible on every level. It frightened her to think of how much she needed him.

When someone had shot at them yesterday, she hadn’t worried about herself being in harm’s way. Her only thought had been to get Dominic to safety. She couldn’t stand it if something happened to him. She was the one the perp wanted.

Sitting around, waiting for the next shoe to drop, went against all her instincts. She was aggressive, not passive. Earlier in the morning, she’d called Jessie to ensure she was okay. Presley had been shocked to discover Tamera was staying with her. It warmed her that they were back together. Hopefully, their renewed friendship would last. Plus, she felt better knowing Tamera was safely ensconced in Jessie’s secure house.

They were in the living room watching television when Presley’s phone buzzed. She recognized the tone as the one she’d set for the fire station. She’d had Dominic shut off his cell since it could be traced and forwarded his calls to her number.

She got up and handed him the phone. He met her gaze as he listened to the person on the other end of the line. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t good. He told them he was on the way and disconnected before standing.

“There’s another fire.”

Presley’s stomach dropped to her feet. “Oh, no. Please tell me it’s not Jessie’s place.”

“It’s not, but it is a house fire. The call just came in, so they aren’t sure of casualties yet. I need to change.”

“Me too.”

Presley followed Dominic up the stairs, and they split off toward their respective rooms. She donned her tactical pants, Kevlar vest, and a top. It was a good thing she’d brought work clothes , she thought, as she stepped into her boots and laced them up. Her trip had nothing to do with CObrA Securities, but she’d brought them anyway.

She met Dominic in the hallway. Kayne was ready when they jogged down the stairs.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll have to be there. Maybe we should take both vehicles. You and Kayne can leave if it looks like I can’t get away.”

“Okay.” Presley handed him her keys and phone. “I’ll call my office and have them forward my calls to Kayne. His number is programmed in, so you can reach us if necessary.”

Dominic led the way in Presley’s SUV. She rode with Kayne in case they got separated. She could guide him to the address.

Pumper trucks were spraying streams of water onto the fire when they arrived. She prayed that no one had been inside the house.

Dominic screeched to a stop and jumped out. With a wave, he ran to meet his crew. Presley and Kayne stayed inside the SUV where they could monitor who came and went.

Kayne’s cell buzzed. He picked it up and glanced at the screen. “I don’t know who this is. Must be for you.”

She took it from his hand. “It’s Dominic’s daughter.”

“Hey, Gia, what’s up?”

“I have the girl. If you want to see her alive again, let’s make a trade.”

Presley activated the speakerphone. “Who is this?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is if you’re holding a child hostage. Where is she, you bastard?”

“Come see for yourself.” He spouted an address.

“How do I know you have her?”

The man sighed. “Say something, kid.”

“Presley? I’m scared.”

“It’s okay, Gia. Don’t be afraid. I’m on my way to get you.”

“Touching,” the man drawled. “Come alone. If I see her dad or anyone else, I will kill her. You call the police, I’ll know, and I will kill her. If you try anything funny, she’s dead. Get the picture? You have twenty minutes. If you’re not here by then, the kid eats lead.”

“If you hurt her—”

The phone went silent.

“I’ve got the location.” Kayne pulled up a satellite image on the GPS and swiped his fingers on the screen to zoom in. “It looks like a bunch of warehouses.”

“There’s a back way in,” Presley noted. “Drive here.” She pointed to a spot. “You can get out and approach from the rear. I’ll go around and come in from the front.”

It only took ten minutes to get to the address. All the buildings in the industrial park were abandoned and covered with colorful graffiti. Windows had been broken out, trash littered the area, and the roads were marred with potholes the size of the Grand Canyon.

Kayne parked several buildings away from where the kidnapper instructed, and they got out. He dug in the back of the SUV and handed her a comm device. “Watch for a sniper. I’ll fly Queen Atta inside and get the layout before you approach.”

“Great idea.”

“You keep the phone. I’ll use the console.”

All of Tyler Redmond’s drones were integrated with their cells, but there was a backup device to use in case of an emergency. This counted as one.

Kayne filled his pockets with items he might need. Presley nodded approval when he included a flashbang. As he slung a rifle over his shoulder, she said, “Be careful.”

“You too.”

With that, he was gone. Presley climbed into the driver’s seat and motored away so she could approach from the front. Guilt stabbed at her for not notifying Dominic, but she didn’t want him to worry. She’d have Gia back before he knew she’d been taken.

#

Dominic watched as the crews contained the blaze and managed to save part of the house.

“Captain, we found a body.”

Dominic closed his eyes. Not another fire fatality. “Male or female?”

“Female.”

Dom had assumed it wasn’t Jessie or Tamera since it wasn’t their house, but what if it was one of them? They might’ve been lured to their death.

Ric Berg, the fire inspector, arrived. Dom waved him over, and they followed one of the firefighters into the house to view the deceased. She was lying on a bed, but it was impossible to tell if it was Jessie or Tamera. They would need to use dental records. The smell of charred flesh wasn’t something that could be forgotten. It stayed with you days later.

The room was destroyed. It looked to be the point of origin. “I smell gasoline.”

“I do too,” Ric concurred.

Presley’s cell vibrated in Dominic’s pocket. He took it out to see Elaine Chang’s name on the display. “Excuse me. I need to take this,” he told Ric. Stepping outside, he answered. “Hi, Elaine.”

“Dominic, did you pick Gia up from school?”

Dom’s spine stiffened. “No.”

“Do you think Presley did?”

“No, she’s here with me.”

He spun around and frowned when he didn’t spot the other SUV that had been there a few minutes ago.

“Gia didn’t show up for soccer practice. I’ve looked all over the school grounds, but Dominic, I can’t find her.”

Dom’s heart tried to beat out of his chest. “I’m on my way there.”

He hurried over to Jerry, the lieutenant for the shift, and informed him he was leaving. Then he raced to his vehicle and lifted the console in Presley’s SUV to grab his cell phone and powered it on. Presley had instructed him to keep it off so it couldn’t be traced, but this was an emergency. He accessed the Find My app. Gia’s phone didn’t show up, so he tapped the “items” button and checked the air tag. What the hell? She was in the old warehouse district, not far from where the fire had killed Bill Fitzgerald. What was she doing there?

Dom dialed Presley using her phone, letting out a string of curses when it kicked to voicemail. He hung up and tried again, puffing out a sigh of relief when she answered.

“Dominic.”

He didn’t give her time to talk. “Elaine Chang called. Gia is missing.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I just found out. I got a call from, I assume, Eddie Smith. Kayne and I are headed there now to rescue her.”

“Tell me exactly what he said.” He listened as she explained, his jaw tightening. “Presley, no. You can’t go in there alone. It’s a trap. He will kill you.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve got Kayne for backup. We’ll have Gia back before you know it.”

“Wait for me. I’m almost there.”

“You don’t know where she is.”

“The old warehouse district.”

“How—”

“I sewed an air tag into her backpack.”

“Dominic, do not go anywhere near there. You’re a civilian. You could get her killed.”

“Sorry, you’re cutting out.”

Dominic disconnected and tossed the phone to the passenger seat, ignoring the incessant ringing. He was on the way to save his daughter and the woman he loved. Nothing could stop him.