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“You don’t know what you’re doing, Brad. This will be the end of your career.”

“I highly doubt that Sir. But even if it is, there are more important things in life than this career.”

“I’m disappointed in you.”

“I appreciate all of your support over the years, but it’s time for me to move on and pursue the things that are most important.”

Michael came back before the senator could respond.

“We’re sending police to both properties. It’s sticky because we’re crossing state lines, but if she’s at one of them we’re going to find her.”

“What do we do now?” Bradley asked.

“All we can do is wait. They won’t approach if he’s there. Thanks to surveillance we have his license plate number. If he’s got her, we’ll call in a tactical team to go in the safest way we can.”

“I want to be there.”

“I can’t let you do that. I promise I’ll keep you informed. For now, we just wait.”

“I guess I’ll go clean out my office.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “Adara’s gonna be pissed.”

For the first time since Michael had shown up, Bradley laughed.

The senator cleared his throat and Bradley turned to face him again.

“Sorry again, Senator. I’ll leave my keys when I’m done. If you want building security here while I pack my office, I’ll call them.”

“I still trust you son. I just don’t understand why you think you have to do this.”

“I don’t expect you to understand.” Without saying another word, Bradley turned and left the senator’s office.

He hadn’t expected to feel so at peace about this decision, but he did. He was doing the right thing. Michael sat at Adara’s desk when they got back to Bradley’s office. Bradley told her what he had done. As Michael predicted, she was pissed. But she also understood.

“If I could take you with me, I would, but I don’t quite have a plan yet,” he told her.

“I know, boss. But I think you know I can’t stay here either. I’ll probably give notice soon. I’ve got some money saved up.”

He shook his head. “Don’t leave because I’m not here. You’re good at your job.”

“I think you know I disagree with a lot of what the senator supports. But now isn’t the time to discuss this. You’ve got other things on your mind.”

Adara was right. They needed to focus on finding Darci. But they really couldn’t do anything until they got a phone call. He left Michael and Adara at her desk and went to his own office to box things up.

40

KADEN made Darci drive deep into Virginia to a secluded cabin. She tried to engage him in conversation, but he continued to point the gun at her and refused to answer her questions.

She didn’t want to show him fear, but it was hard when she had the image of Elise in her head. That was something she had a lot of questions about. How had he gotten her into his apartment with no one seeing?

When they pulled into the driveway, he made her get out and he shoved her along the gravel driveway and up the stairs with the gun at her back.

“Kaden, why are you doing this?”

“Because you fucking ruined my life,” he spat, finally answering one of her questions.

“How did I ruin your life? You’re the one who raped me, and you didn’t even get convicted.”

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