Page 60 of The Veteran

I sent a quick message to Ronan to let him know we might need support, then donned the bulletproof vest. Thankfully Grant and Vic were already kitted out.

Traffic was bad, and I wanted to yell at the commuters to get a fucking move on, but I managed to keep my shit together. Getting caught up in a road rage incident wouldn’t help Sage.

When we finally drew level with the coffee house, Vic stopped, ignoring the honking horns behind him as Grant and I spilled out. I spotted Mick immediately and beelined for him. His eyes widened as I stalked toward him and noticed his pupils were small and that he was fidgeting with a receipt. Fucking hell.

“Where is she?” I demanded, grabbing him by the collar and hoisting him to his feet. All of my instincts were telling me that something was wrong. “What did you do?”

“Excuse me?” a voice said from behind us.

I spun around and glared at a slight man in wire-framed glasses.

“Are you looking for a brunette, about this tall?” He held up a hand to indicate her height.

“Yeah.” I stopped glowering. “Have you seen her?”

He waved the phone he had held to his ear. “I’m on with the police. A few minutes ago, two men shoved a woman into their car and drove off with her. It happened so quickly that nobody had time to stop them.”

“Was she injured?” I asked, loosening my grip on Mick, who stumbled and fell.

“Nothing serious, as far as I could tell,” the guy in glasses said. “But she fought them. She dropped a gun. My friend has it.”

I glanced at Grant, who was already making a phone call, presumably to Ronan. “Let me see it.” I glared down at Mick. “Don’t let this asshole leave. He sold her out.”

Glasses waved at an overweight man who was holding a gun awkwardly, as if he’d never touched one before. My stomach sunk. It was Sage’s. I hadn’t really expected anything else, but I’d hoped.

Sirens screeched and a police car turned onto the block and raced toward us. As it drew alongside, Joanna got out of the passenger seat.

I pointed to Mick. “Take him in for questioning.”

She frowned, looking a bit put out at being given orders, but nodded. She turned to Glasses. “Are you the one who reported the abduction?”

He nodded.

“Thank you. Because of your quick actions, we have a better chance of catching up to them.”

“Boss,” Grant said, touching my arm.

“What?”

“We need to start our own search.”

I sighed. “I know. Just let me call Mom and tell her I’ll be delayed.”

“I’ll get Vic to bring the car back around.”

“Thanks.”

While Joanna continued speaking to Glasses and Grant called Vic, I phoned my mother.

“Hey, honey,” she said. “Are you on your way back?”

I winced. “Unfortunately, something has come up at work.”

“Something more important than your comatose sister?” Her tone was chilly.

“It’s Sage,” I admitted. “She’s been abducted.”

“Oh.” She sounded shocked. “I didn’t realize she was one of your clients.”