Page 66 of Law

Law cut the wheel and headed to Graceview Estates, and for the first time, he hoped he didn’t find Lovelyn there. It would be hard enough dealing with Zane.

CHAPTER 26

Lovie lay on the cold ground, not quite sure how she’d gotten there. She should move. The hole wasn’t that deep. Whoever had put her there was so thoughtful. They covered her with dirt to help her stay warm.

She was so tired. So sleepy.

Had she had dirt covering her face earlier? She couldn’t remember, but it seemed like she did. But she didn’t now. Her hands were dirty, though. Maybe she’d had dirt over her face, but she’d knocked it off.

It was a struggle to keep her eyes open. She should probably rest. Except for the cold, her hole was comfortable. No rocks poking her. She should sleep.

This dirt on her chest must be heavy because it seemed harder to breathe now than when she first woke up.

It would help if the fog would clear from her brain.

Was she playing a game with her Daddy? He liked to play outside. She wasn’t sure it had been a good idea to hide in a hole and cover herself with dirt. She’d betoo easy to find.

But she was cold. And sleepy. She’d just wait here. Her Daddy would find her.

CHAPTER 27

Law flinched when an evergreen sapling slashed his cheek and dusted his face with snow as he raced through the trees and bushes. He ignored the pain. He didn’t have time for it. Instead, he had to stop the kid he’d been trying to help for the past four months from doing something unbelievably stupid.

Zane darted in and out of the scrub with the speed of youth. Law remembered a time when he could do that. Distantly. The last thing he needed to do right now was spend his morning chasing down a kid who was hell bent on returning to an outlaw motorcycle gang. As gangs went, the Lawless Warriors were right up there with the worst of the worst.

Cursing as he almost tripped over a branch covered in pine needles, Law skidded across the frozen ground but managed to keep his feet. What the hell was he doing chasing Zane when he should be finding Lovelyn?

He glanced at his watch. Forty-five minutes of his three hours were gone. Lovelyn had just over two hours left. Butwhat the hell was he doing? Chasing the kid to keep him from doing something heroically stupid.

He’d bet his left nut Zane had figured out a way to hack into Sawyer’s system. It was the only explanation. Zane hadn’t said anything about it. He’d have thought hacking Sawyer would come with bragging rights.

Where was Lovelyn now? Did she know he was coming for her? He cleared his mind and focused. One thing at a time. But as he ran, he kept thinking, “Hold on, fairy cat. Your Viking Daddy is coming. I’ll find you.”

Up ahead, the trees thinned out, and a grassy meadow stretched to the charged wire fence that surrounded the entire Graceview Retreat Center. Law scanned the long, tall line of chain fencing for guards on patrol. He didn’t see any, but he knew better than most how sensors and cameras spanned every square inch of the property.

"Zane,” Law called as loud as he dared. A telltale hitch in the kid’s stride proved Zane heard him.

Hadn’t he learned his lesson the last time? Did he really want to jump back in the lion’s den so soon?

Like you’re not doing the same thing?

Yeah, but he wasn’t a kid. Zane was. Kids who tried to get back into outlaw motorcycle gangs – twice – after staying with the enemy for four months didn't live very long.

If he didn’t stop Zane, it could be the last mistake of his short life. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

Law put on a burst of speed and gained ground on his target. “Damn it, Zane, stop!” he tried again.

Law’s fingertips almost brushed Zane’s jacket. Two more yards and he’d be able to grab him. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you need to stand down. I’ve got this. But I can’t rescue Lovelyn if I have to stop to rescue you.”

All that got him was the kid holding up his hand and givinghim the finger. Law would have grinned if it hadn’t been so serious. “Last chance. If you don’t stop, I’ll stop you. Up to you, kid. This can go easy or hard.”

Zane threw a look over his shoulder, glaring at him. “I’m not a kid. Just leave me alone!” he shouted back. “I have to do this!”

“All right then. Hard way it is.” With a flying dive, Law threw himself at Zane, grabbing his ankle and bringing him down. Before Zane could scramble back to his feet, Law had him pinned to the ground.

Takedowns were second nature to him. They were one of his favorite parts of the job. At least this time, he was in a grassy field. Hopefully, Zane wasn’t injured when he went down. Law wanted to stop him, not hurt him.

As soon as he rolled Zane over, the kid tried to kick Law in the face. Law threw up an arm and deflected it. Damn it! He had half a mind to let the kid go and get back to finding Lovelyn. That would be the easy thing to do. Zane was days away from being an adult. On paper. If the kid wanted to ruin his life, Law had no obligation to stand in his way.

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