Page 76 of Nitro

Fuck.

My chest is suddenly so tight it hurts like hell. I’m shaking and starting to hyperventilate. A wave of dizziness sets the trees and river into an unnatural spin. What the fuck is happening?

Scar’s phone pings. He checks it then sits ramrod straight. I’m immediately on alert when he punches in a few numbers. He holds the phone to his ear.

“Babe, where did you last see her?” Scar asks.

“See who?” I teeter to my feet because, somehow, I already know something’s terribly wrong.

“We’ll be right there. Don’t leave.” Scar shoves his phone in his cut and gets to his feet. “Holly’s missing.”

“What the fuck do you meanmissing?” The weird symptoms I just experienced suddenly make terrifying sense.

“They were looking for green onions and split up. They were supposed to meet at the smoothie food truck, but Holly never arrived.” Scar heads toward the front door. “Get the guys. We need to go down there right now.”

“Guys! Get on your fucking bikes!” I yell as I run into the clubhouse.

Matrix pokes his head out of his office. “What’s going on?”

“Holly’s missing.”

“What the fuck?” Talon slides his cut over his shoulders as he walks out of his bedroom. He checks his gun before shoving it into the back of his jeans.

“It’s Polson. He’s got her. I know it.” I’m frantic with worry as we run into the garage. The huge doors seem to take forever to open. I’m on my bike, ready to go before anyone else.

“We’ll find her,” Reaper says, strapping on his helmet.

“Let’s ride,” Scar says.

We roar down the highway. The farmer’s market is located in a large park in the middle of town. People keep jaywalking across the street, getting in my way. I narrowly miss running two of them over. They scream at me, shaking their bags, but I ignore them. Polson’s got Holly. I know what this means. The most dangerous time in a victim’s life is when they leave their abuser. Holly’s court date is in two days. If I don’t find her right fucking now, he’s going to kill her.

Chapter 21: Holly

I inhale the green onions, enjoying the pungent aroma. We need them as a finishing touch on the roast we’re going to make for the guys tonight. It’s going to be so tasty. I add them to my recyclable shopping bag then look at the other vegetables on the table. The vendor also has purple potatoes, which I’d love to make into chips. Somehow, they taste so much better than russets.

After selecting four perfect potatoes, I add them to my bag. The farmer’s teenage son is running the cash register today. I’m heading toward him to pay when someone steps into my path. I place my hand over my eyes to block the sun’s glare.

“Oh, no.” I drop my bag and take a step back from Jeff.

“Scream and I’ll start shooting.”

“What are you doing here?” I frantically look around for Nina and Julia, but I don’t see them anywhere.

“I’m taking you home.” He reaches for my arm, but I pull away.

“No. I’m not leaving with you.” A scream builds in my throat. I’m about to unleash it when he moves his jacket to the side. He’s got a gun pointed right at my chest. If I yell, he’ll kill me.

“You don’t want one of these kids to get hit by a stray bullet, do you?” The wicked gleam in Jeff’s eyes sends chills down my spine.

I shake my head. He’s smart enough to know I’d never put a child at risk, not even to save myself.

“The van’s across the street.” He leans his head toward one side of the market. “Move.”

I’m frozen for a second. If I leave the area, it will be much easier for him to kill me. He could bury my body in the forest and Nitro would never know what happened to me. I have to find a way to escape before Jeff gets me into his vehicle.

As I slowly trek through the market, I glance at the faces of the people I’m passing. Several large men are standing around inside the beer garden. I’m sure one of them would come to my aid if I screamed. But Jeff wouldn’t hesitate to kill them too. Despite being a doctor, he has absolutely no respect for anyone who gets in his way. His raging narcissism overrules his Hippocratic oath.

“Don’t even think about it,” Jeff snarls in my ear.

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