Page 57 of Operation: Valiant Angel

“We’ll conduct a search of the immediate area for her as well,” the trooper guaranteed.

With that, the call was disconnected. Wilson relayed everything to the five other members of the team who stood nearby.

“Let’s get airborne. Shepherd has approved us diverting to Cedar Rapids,” Lambchop said.

“Thanks,” Wilson said, truly touched that Lambchop had reached out to Shepherd to ask.

Oscar

Reina sat stock-still with fear. Truthfully, she was stiff and sore too from the collision. She’d never experienced airbags deploying. How did she not know that between the airbag hitting her in the face and the seatbelt snapping tight across her shoulder and chest that she’d feel like she’d been hit by a truck? Well, in actuality, she had been, or rather an SUV plowing into her at full speed.

She kept her gaze forward on the rearview mirror where every few seconds the eyes belonging to Ashley Carona, or as she now knew her first name was really Stella, would flicker to make eye contact with her before she re-affixed them on the road. She tried to gauge the expression on Ashley’s face or look to see if her eyes conveyed pity, fear, or malice.

After she’d stumbled from the car, Reina had been utterly shocked when the man grabbed her, spun her to face him, and then he roughly pulled her to the back of the SUV even though she struggled against him. He said nothing, but the glare on his face was frightening. He pushed her in and slid in beside her, still holding her arm in a vise grip. She was sure he’d bruised her arm terribly, but was also sure a bruise was the least of her worries. He fastened the seatbelt over her, pinning her hands beneath it. No matter how she turned her hand and wrestledagainst the belt, she couldn’t pull an arm loose, nor could she reach the button to unlock it.

He’d yelled at Ashley Carona, calling her Stella, and ordered her to drive. She didn’t argue. She said nothing. Just slid behind the wheel and shifted to drive immediately. Only after the car was moving did she adjust her seat and the mirrors. She pulled back onto the expressway, resuming their drive south.

“Why did you hit me? Why have you forced me into this car?” Reina asked again. She’d asked the man these questions several times already. This time, with her eyes boring into Ashley Carona, she was asking her.

“Be quiet,” the man next to her said. He hit her in the chest, pressing her back. “And stop moving around. You’re going nowhere.”

Reina glanced at him. He may be cleaned up and dressed nicely, but he was as dangerous as many of the men she knew in her past motorcycle gang life who looked as dangerous as they were. Of course, she included Razor in that group, and he turned out to be a Fed. Could this man really be a U.S. Marshal?

“Ashley, or is it, Stella? Are you with this guy, or are you in trouble?”

“I said shut up!” the man yelled.

“Why were you following us?” Ashley, Stella asked.

“I wasn’t,” Reina lied. “Why would I be?”

“Shut the fuck up,” the man growled.

“I guess it doesn’t matter now,” Ashley, Stella said.

“Where’s Lilly? Is she okay?” Reina asked.

The man pulled a gun from his jacket. He jammed the barrel under Reina’s chin. “One more word and I fucking pull the trigger. Now shut the pie hole.” His voice was low and menacing.

Reina nodded. Ashley’s eyes again flickered to the rearview mirror. Reina saw fear in them.

“Don’t say anything. Lilly’s fine.”

With this statement, Reina knew that Ashley believed the man would shoot her. The blood in her veins ran cold, and she began to shiver. She closed her eyes and Jimmy’s face materialized in the darkness. They’d been on the phone. Had he heard the accident? Had her phone survived it? Would he look for her? She realized that he was her only hope.

Reina focused on soothing, calming thoughts. She reopened her eyes to watch the street signs, so she’d know where they were taking her after she felt the gun no longer pressing beneath her chin. She dared a glance at the man beside her. His gaze was trained out the window.

Without being able to see the time, Reina had no clue how long they drove. Her best guess was just over a half hour, maybe forty-five minutes. Ashley, Stella pulled off the interstate and took several turns off on rural roads with little to no traffic. It seemed to Reina that she knew where she was going.

Finally, after driving down a long, winding dirt and gravel drive, the car pulled up in front of an old white farmhouse. After she’d put the car in park and turned the engine off, Ashley, Stella, turned in her seat. “A word, Blake?” Then she got out of the car, slamming the door.

“Stay here,” the man, who Reina had just learned was named Blake, said. He got out of the car, closing the door as well.

Reina strained to hear their conversation. Through the tinted window, Reina saw Ashley, Stella’s animated gestures and could make out a few of the words she said. “Unnecessary…crazy…can’t,” she said. “Warning you Blake!”

Blake grabbed her flailing arms. “Too deep…little girl…Fuck! Stella!”

Ashley, Stella pulled her arms away. She pointed her index finger at him. The expression on her face was pure hate. She said something through gritted teeth and then Reina heard her say, “Kill you!”

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