Page 83 of Unseen Danger
Darren had mentioned the kidnappers shot him. But he was apparently well enough to talk. “Ma’am, this is a life and death situation. I need to speak with him.”
“Sir, this is life and death for your friend. He’s unconscious and needs immediate medical attention. I’m sorry.”
The line went dead.
Branson’s gut clenched. The damage was worse than he thought. Lord, please keep Darren alive and give the doctors wisdom.
He shot out of the chair behind the monitors in the estate’s security room. Jill and her lawyer had just driven away. He’d watched to make sure they did so without any stops or tricks.
“DT2, this is Team Leader. Meet me en route to principal.” Branson whipped open the security room door and took the hallway with long, fast strides.
His stomach churned, pushing an unpleasant taste up his throat. Where was Nevaeh now? What were the kidnappers doing to her?
Logic kicked in. They hadn’t intended to take her. They’d wanted the kids. Probably for ransom. They would want to attempt the same end goal with her, so they’d keep her alive. Probably wouldn’t hurt her. At least not initially until they decided what to do, maybe contacted someone for ransom.
Would they try for D-Chop, hoping he’d want to pay to get one of his employees back?
Either way, it wasn’t going to go down like they wanted. Branson tightened his jaw as he stalked through the parlor. He’d get her back.
“Branson.” Louis’s voice brought him to a halt. The man walked toward him across the tiles.
Branson glanced around the room to verify they were alone. “There’s been an incident.” He quickly filled Louis in on the little he knew. “I want you to go get the kids and bring them back here. Be sure to bring your guardian verification so the police will release them to you.”
Louis nodded. “Got it.” He didn’t move.
Branson looked at him.
“What about Nevaeh? What’s—”
“I’ll get her back.”
Their gazes met, Louis searching for something, probably some reassurance in Branson’s eyes. Then he nodded again, apparently satisfied enough to get moving.
Branson covered the rest of the ground to the music room in record time, launching into a jog at the end. “D-Chop.”
The rapper lowered his mic as Branson burst into the room. He was alone, probably trying to de-stress after his wife’s visit.
“I need you to sit down.”
D-Chop stared at Branson for a second, but then he returned the mic to its stand and went to the plush armchair against the wall. He looked up at Branson. “Shoot, man.”
“Your children are fine. They’re unharmed. But several assailants tried to kidnap them as they were leaving Fun Land.”
D-Chop’s eyes sparked. “Who did it?” His voice pitched low with an edge Branson had rarely heard from him.
“I don’t know. Darren was shot and is being taken to the hospital. According to what he told me over the phone, Nevaeh held them off, and they took her instead when the police were closing in.”
“They took her?”
Branson’s response exactly. He nodded.
“Get ’em, man.” D-Chop pushed up from the chair. “Go get her back. She don’t take the fall for this, you hear me?”
Thank the Lord. Branson was going to go after her either way, but having D-Chop’s blessing would help and speed up the process. “I’m going after her right now. Louis is bringing the kids back here. I’ll arm the security system on my way out.”
D-Chop waved a dismissive hand. “Just get her, man.”
Branson headed for the door.