Page 60 of Harboring Shantae

They pushed back into the hallway and nearly crashed into Missy.

"What's going on," she hurried out. "I heard the perimeter alarms going off and came to check on the kids."

"They aren't there," Hollywood told her.

"What do you mean they aren't there? Where could they be?"

Missy pushed them out of the way and ran straight into the daycare only to stop dead in her tracks. Then she spun around and screeched, "Where's my son?"

"We're going to find them," he promised.

All three of them headed back to the situation room where Falcon was passing out their tactical gear.

"Zion was spotted on the cameras and Shantae took the kids out to the playground before we initiated the lockdown. By now there's a good chance he realized they're outside. We need to move."

Panther strapped on his vest and reached for his rifle, while Falcon snapped out orders.

If Zion hurt one hair on any of their heads, he was going to murder the man with his bare hands.

They filed out of the room and split into teams. He and Hollywood moved toward the front of the building. They would make their move from the right side of the building. Blue and Apollo were right behind them and would access the back from the left side. Falcon and Giggles were on their way to retrace Shantae's steps. The easiest access to the playground was out back. The same way they went when they headed to the field for training.

They moved methodically along the building's edge. The outdoor play area was positioned across the back of the building, running from one side to the other. Panther stopped just shy of where the wood chip area began.

Voices flittered through the air to where they were positioned.

"Please, just let the boys go," Shantae begged. "Can't you see you're scaring them? You have me. There's no reason to keep the boys as well."

"And let those assholes who took you from me know that I'm here? No way."

Little did the fucker know they already knew. Zion was an idiot if he thought they didn't have the entire property monitored.

"Why are you here, Zion?"

The tremble in Shantae's voice only further pissed him off. Zion would pay for that.

"You cheated me." The venom in Zion's tone was pure evil. "You were mine. I handpicked you to be my wife. I earned you, and that asshole you call a husband stole you from me."

"You didn't earn anything." Her voice still shook. "You threatened me. You tried to buy me. Nothing about that means you earned me."

"You don't get it." Zion's diabolical laugh made his trigger finger itchy. "Your fathersoldyou. Years ago, he needed my father to become senator. His very popularity is because of my family. He told my father we could have whatever we wanted in return. I wanted you and that is exactly what I will have."

"He's got his hands on my son. I'm going to fucking rip him apart."

Hollywood would have to wait in line after the things Zion just confessed.

From their position, they could see the back of Zion and that his arm was wrapped around one little boy. The only identifiable quality was the kid's shoes and no doubt Hollywood knew exactly what his son was wearing that day.

"Does anyone have a visual on a weapon?" he asked through his comms.

Blue or Apollo would have the best visual. They should be seeing the opposite of his team, but would need to be more careful that Zion didn't see them.

"Negative," Falcon was the first to check in. "His upper body is covered by a play set. Hollywood, you better have your shit locked down or I'll have Arlo move your way and do it for you. I told Kyle and Zack the same. Charlie Team is moving in from the training field. Keep. It. Locked. Down."

Hollywood didn't answer, and that didn't bode well for them.

"Bravo Three. I got a visual on the suspect and he's holding a knife."

What Apollo didn't say, but they all knew, was that the knife was currently being held to Luey's throat.