Page 56 of Ruthless Commander

“No…” Lazarus growled, and took a step forward.

His breaths were hard and fast, his hands fisted at his sides as the temperature in the room suddenly plunged. A moan tore from my lips as I watched them cast her body into the boat before jumping in and taking off.

She didn’t even move…

Not one flinch.

Not one effort to fight.

“Track them!”Lazarus roared.“Where the fuck did they go?”

“I can’t.” Damien changed cameras and zoomed in, but each time he did, we still couldn’t see any further out to sea.

“The mainland.” Logan took a step backwards and glanced at Lazarus. “It’s the only possible destination.”

“I agree.” Mateo glared at Logan. “I’ll have men search the marina.”

“That’snot good enough.”Lazarus forced the words through clenched teeth before he added coldly. “I’m going.”

“Have a man ready on the boat in five minutes,” Logan ordered, stepping backwards as Lazarus lunged for the hallway. “We’re going after her.”

22

Mateo

Fuck!

This can’t be happening. I yanked out my phone and pulled up the number of one of the cruiser’s captains.

“Commander?” he answered.

“We have a problem. Get down to the boat and have it ready to go to the mainland in five minutes.” I lifted my gaze, listening to theboomof the door as it slammed shut. “Someone’s been kidnapped.”

“What?!Jesus,” he groaned. “I’m on my way.”

I lifted my gaze to her as I ended the call. She just glanced at me nervously, then looked away…at the guard sitting in front of the monitors. But she didn’t look at him the way she looked at me. She just flinched, swallowed hard, then turned, mumbling something under her breath before she walked away.

Oh, fucking no, she didn’t.

The desperation returned, dragged from those moments when I'd thought she was in danger. I’d been fractured in those moments…shattered and no longer me.I’d been the Komandant,that same man who'd come for those who'd harmed mine.

I’d murder the world just to make sure she was safe.

And as I listened to the thud of her steps, that desperation rose inside me.

“Commander…” Damien called from behind the desk.

But I left him behind and went after her, striding along the hallway and yanking open the door. She was already hurrying, she and her damn bodyguard.But she couldn’t run forever.I knew this was bad…knew this was the kind of moment there was no coming back from.

But I'd fucked up the first one…

I'd broken her damn heart, and mine, and I wasn’t about to make that same mistake again. The swoosh of the automatic doors sounded. Xael was a blur through the windows, streaking through the night. I picked up my pace, hit the doors, and strode out of the foyer.“Xael!”

She shot a panicked look over her shoulder. That was all it took to trigger that hunger inside me…the one what screamed her name. I lunged, slamming my boots into the ground. A damn woman had been kidnapped, Katerina VanHalen of all people, and yet here I was, unable to think about anyone but Xael.

I had to have her…

“Xael, for fuck's sake,”I roared, and clenched my fists.