Page 131 of Saving Serena

“Copy that. What about Constance?”

Jordy was taking this seriously because otherwise, he would have given Lucas shit if he admitted there was anything he couldn’t handle by himself.

“We can’t pull her and blow her cover yet. She stays at the EPA.”

“What are you thinking?” I asked as I took the corner fast and the tires squealed.

“I’m thinking Spinelli is no amateur, and he wouldn’t hire amateur help,” Lucas said. “Four is better than two.”

The Delta operator in him always planned for overwhelming force in a hostage rescue, but two against two wasn’t overwhelming.

“I’ve got her live cell location, and it matched the freeway entrance time,” Jordy said. “So we’ve got a lock on her. Still north on the four-oh-five.”

Switching lanes, the engine roared as I added throttle and passed another two cars. “Hold on, baby. We’re coming.”

“It doesn’t make sense. Why did he let her keep the phone?” Lucas asked.

“Maybe she hid it so he doesn’t know she has it?”

“We’ve gotta catch that car before he finds it. Give me warp ten.”

I mashed the pedal down and swerved into the oncoming lanes to get around the car ahead.

“Terry and I are on the way,” Jordy announced.

“I said Winston,” Lucas complained.

Jordy made a sound very close to a growl. “The shipment of Rossi’s personal effects sent from Florida is arriving today. He’s going to check that out. I’m your backup on this.”

“I’ll keep him safe,” Terry said.

“You mean I’ll keep you safe,” Jordy scoffed. “We’re good. I’ve got my laptop. Target is still northbound.”

Serena

“Wake up.”It was the voice of the monster who’d taken me. He shook my shoulder. “Wake up, little girl.”

The road noise said we were still driving, but I had no idea how long it had been. I groaned and played lethargic, blinking hard while I sat up. One breast was out of its bra cup. At least my hands were bound in front of me so I could fix it. “What’s going on?” I asked, sleepily. “You can’t just abduct people.” My words sounded ridiculous even to me.

“My boss wants to know where the stick is,” Spinelli said as he glanced back at me. “It’ll go much easier for you if you tell me now before we reach his place.”

“But I told you, I don’t have what you want, or he wants.”

He shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance for the easy way.”

“But I don’t know anything about it.”

“Oh, you say that now, but he’ll get his answer. He’s very resourceful.”

I pictured pliers to pull off fingernails…or dental drills like in that movie with Dustin Hoffman. Both made me want to puke.

“He’ll use his little kit of drugs. You’ll spill your guts, and then you’re ours.”

“Then you’re mine.” The monster grinned, looking directly at my chest. “Yeah, mine.”

My stomach did a flip. The creep had fondled me while I was unconscious.Gross, gross, gross.Duke would come. He had to—and fast, before these two got away.

“After I test drive you,” he added, “you’ll fetch a pretty penny.”

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