Page 83 of Covert Operation
As soon as everyone is in place and has confirmed their location clear, I break out of my hiding spot and move toward the back entrance. Luca does the same at the side. We’ve done this so many times it’s easy to pace ourselves so we reach our respective doors simultaneously.
I expected to have to kick mine in, but when I grab the knob it easily twists in my hand. I pause. “Luca. Is your door unlocked?”
“Yup. Yours?”
“It is.” I go still for a minute, holding my breath. No one says a word through the line in my ear. We’ve worked together so long we can practically read each other’s minds, and everyone knows Luca and I are both listening for any sign we’re walking into a trap.
When my lungs start to burn, I release my breath. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Me either,” Luca comes back immediately, his voice low. “I still think we need to be more cautious than we thought.”
“Agreed.” After one more scan of my surroundings, I pull the door open. “Going in.” I slip through the gap, letting it silently latch behind my back.
Keeping my weapon ready, I scan the room I’ve entered. It’s dark and quiet, but, to my surprise, the place appears to have been recently used. Footprints disturb the layer of dust across the concrete floor. Cups and food containers litter every available surface. Normally, I would think it’s the same demographic that trashed the hotel behind the factory that blew up, but the takeout bags and plastic containers are from higher end establishments. Places far enough from here they wouldn’t be easy to access on foot. Especially in the dead of winter.
“Boss?” There’s an odd inflection in Luca’s voice. “You need to come look at this.”
Leaving behind the room filled with trash, I cut toward the center of the building in search of where Luca entered the structure. At the end of the short hall, the space opens up into a large room with a soaring ceiling. Luca stands on the opposite side of the room, his back to me.
I cross to where he is, holstering my weapon and letting the team know no one is inside. As I close in, the wall in front of me comes into better focus, revealing what it is Luca’s staring at.
It’s photographs. Hundreds of them.
And when I see who is in them, my stomach drops.
Luca turns to me, his expression tight. “It’s Savannah.”
I don’t respond. I can’t. I’m too busy looking from snapshot to snapshot. Savannah in the passenger seat of Elise’s car. Savannah through the window of her townhome. Savannah on the sidewalk in front of Sadie’s home, talking to her sister. Savannah picking up groceries at the store.
“Someone’s been watching her.” Luca points out the obvious. “There’s pictures of her here in Nashville too.
Bile climbs my throat when I see Savannah sitting across from me at Uncle Bud’s. “The fuck?” I rip the image off the wall, tearing it free from the tack holding it in place.
These motherfuckers took pictures of her right under my goddamn nose.
“That’s not all.” Luca steps back, clearing my line of sight to the other half of the photographs. “There are pictures of Sadie here too.”
There’s an equal number of photos of Savannah’s sister. Photos of her from all over Fairbanks.
And photos of her in Memphis.
“Fuck.” I dig out my phone and dial Maddox’s number, stalking toward the exit as it rings. When it goes to voicemail I hang up and dial again.
Again, it goes to voicemail.
“Maddox isn’t answering.” I start to run, barking out orders as I switch to Christian’s number. I let out a little air when he answers on the second ring. “Is Savannah with you?”
“I’m on a job.” The sounds in the background confirm his claim. “Lydia called about an hour ago though. She got a message from another woman in trouble, so I’m guessing Savannah probably decided to help her out with that.”
I can’t breathe. Can barely think.
Luca takes the phone from my hand and presses it to his ear. “You need to call everyone you know and figure out where your wife is because there’s a good chance she’s in danger.”
Luca grips my coat, dragging me along as I struggle to stay upright, my brain fogged with fear. Maddox knew he had to stay with Savannah. He wouldn’t have gone against that order. Not for any reason. He knows how much Savannah means to me. How fucking feral I would go if something happened to her. There’s only one way he wouldn’t answer my call.
If he’s dead.
THIRTY-FIVE