Page 86 of Storm Warning
Zach and David burst into the room, and Zach took immediate control. “Tell us what’s going on.”
Nick took a deep breath, willing his heart to slow its rapid pace, though the thundering continued unabated. “I heard Kate call my name in my head. She sounded terrified.” The memory of that fear in her mental voice made his own catch. “I tried to answer her but got nothing. I called her phone, and it went straight to voicemail. I ran down here to her suite, and she’s not here.”
His voice rose despite his efforts to control it. “Something’s wrong; I know it. She sounded so scared.” Nick paced as he spoke, rubbing his hand over his chest, over his thundering heart, trying to ease the ache sitting like a stone.
David hit a button on his phone. “Good morning, Lena. Have you seen Kate today, by any chance?”
Nick stopped pacing, laser focused on David’s face, reading every micro-expression, searching desperately for good news.
“Ok, thanks. If you see her again, let her know we’re looking for her, would you?” David disconnected. “Kate was at the Pavilion for breakfast, then talked to Lena. She was going for a walk to work off her excess energy. Lena got a call, so didn’t see which way Kate went. That was about half an hour ago.”
Nick turned to the door, heart still racing, adrenaline flooding his system and making his muscles twitch with the need for action. “I’m going to find her.” He didn’t take two steps before a hand on his arm stopped him—Zach’s iron grip, firm but not painful.
“Wait. Let me call my guard that’s on Kate.”
Nick paced as Zach pulled out his phone and dialed, every ring echoing in the room like a death knell. After a minute, he dialed another number, speaking rapidly, demanding an update on the guard’s status. The terse, clipped conversation only ratcheted Nick’s anxiety higher. A moment later he hung up.
“My man following Kate is not answering his phone or the radio. His last check in was at 0900.”
Ice flooded Nick’s veins even as fire burned in his chest. A missing guard. Kate missing. This wasn’t coincidence. He headed for the door, but again Zach grabbed him, stopping him. “You aren’t going anywhere until you suit up. Better safe than sorry. David, you too. Change, grab your weapons. We’ll meet back here in ten,” Zach growled.
Nick opened his mouth to protest, fear racing through himlike wildfire, burning away rational thought. He needed to find Katenow, but common sense kicked in—barely. Zach was right. He needed to prepare for whatever they found. If Kate were in trouble, he would need his weapons. The thought of what he might need to do made his jaw clench so hard his teeth ached.
He spun and raced to his room to gear up, his hands moving on autopilot, donning his tactical clothes and weapons as fast as possible—though not fast enough, never fast enough—before racing back to meet his brothers again. The weight of his vest, the press of his weapons against his body, should have been reassuring. Instead, they only reminded him of what he might face.
Zach stood, legs splayed, earpiece in, talking on his phone. He was always the first one ready. Always prepared. Nick envied that icy control right now when his own emotions threatened to tear him apart from the inside.
David came running in behind him, tablet in hand, also wearing an earpiece. “Her phone is not pinging. It’s either turned off or destroyed.”
Destroyed. The word hit like a physical blow. Nick’s breath came shorter, faster. He paced back and forth, his mind, his body, a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, anger, and desperation all mixed, threatening to overwhelm him, a tsunami building in his chest. He couldn’t just sit here and wait. He had to do something. Anything.
“What?” Zach’s voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts, sharp and focused. “I’ll be right there.”
Zach’s gaze snapped to Nick’s as he disconnected his call, radiating grim determination. “Early this morning, David identified the guy who went after Kate at the spa from the video—a maintenance staff member. My guys tracked him down and just picked him up. They’re taking him to the security office. Let’s go see what he hasto say.”
Nick smiled, a feral expression he could feel stretching his face. “Can’t wait to have a friendly chat with him. It looks like we’ve returned to the island.” The promise of action, ofdoingsomething, eased the pressure marginally. This bastard would tell them everything he knew, one way or another.
Zach nodded, equally grim, as they headed out to Zach’s SUV. The leather seats were cool against Nick’s back as he slid in, a stark contrast to the heat of rage simmering under his skin. Zach's phone rang halfway there.
“Speaker,” Nick barked, not caring how he sounded.
The clipped, professional voice on the other end brought no relief.
“Zach, we identified the trail Miss Danvers took, and I’ve sent guys along it. So far, no joy. There is one location where the dirt is a bit churned up, but we’re not trackers. We don’t know if it means anything or not.”
Nick’s fingernails dug into his palms. Churned up. A struggle? Had she fought? Of course she had. Kate wouldn’t go quietly. The thought filled him with equal parts pride and terror.
“Location.”
“South loop, about a hundred yards past the viewpoint.”
“I’ll be right there.” Zach disconnected the call and swung the SUV around, the tires squealing, heading off on a maintenance track. “This will take us closer.”
Nick nodded, jaw locked tight, unable to trust his voice. Every jolt and bounce on the rough maintenance road sent fresh waves of impatience through him.
About half a mile down, Zach stopped, and the three brothers piled out, Nick and David following Zach through the underbrush. Branches caught at Nick’s clothing, scratched at his exposed skin, but he barely noticed. His entire being was focused on finding any trace of Kate. They cameout by the viewpoint, and Nick’s eyes swept the area, searching for—what? Blood? Her body? He shoved the thought away violently.
Nick paced along behind as Zach strode down the path, heading toward his man waiting down the trail. Every muscle in Nick’s body coiled tight, ready to spring.