Page 75 of Her Reluctant Hero
Chapter Fourteen
Alex sped down the dirt road with his arm stretched in front of him as he held the phone, glancing from the road to the phone, looking at the bars.
He’d gone around the cabin but hadn’t seen any sign that Isabella had walked into the wilderness. She had to have gone in the vehicle. With dread grabbing hold, he’d tracked the vehicle onto the paved road, and north, but from there, he couldn’t tell where they’d gone. His chest tightened with fear, but he pushed it away. This was his job. He couldn’t think about Isabella and whatever feelings he had for her. He couldn’t think about how scared she would be. He had to follow the clues to learn who had her, where they’d taken her and how he’d find her. He wished he knew how much of a head start they had.
No bars yet. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. He pounded his fist against the steering wheel, looked across the cab at her purse, beside the rest of her things that he’d flung into the truck. She’d left the cabin without them, so she must have gone out to meet whoever had come. He hadn’t seen any sign of struggle inside.
Had it been Saldana’s men? Someone had to know how to secure her cooperation. Whoever it was had more than likely used Hector.
How many people knew about her searching for her son? Too many, and that was his fault. He should have kept that information quiet, should have known it could be used against her. He just hadn’t thought someone would come out to the Everglades to find her.
Finally two bars. He dialed with his left thumb, swerving a little on the two-lane road. He brought the phone to his ear and as soon as Julian answered, he barked, “Where’s Isabella?”
Nausea rose up in Isabella as Lionel Danes barreled over the bumpy road. She couldn’t tell if her stomach rebelled because of the road, or the blow to her head, or the terror that lumped the chili in her stomach. Alex had trusted this man to keep them safe, and he’d betrayed them.
“Are you working for Santiago?” she managed.
He glanced over with a jerk of his head, as if surprised she was conscious. He hadn’t bound her, her hands were free. She was only restricted by the seat belt. What she would do about it, at this speed, she didn’t know.
Alex would know what to do. She needed to think like Alex. He would try to get as much information as he could, no doubt. So she swallowed her nerves and pressed.
“Is Santiago paying you?”
“There’s a price on your head.”
Her skin iced. “Dead or alive?”
He blew out a harsh breath, his attention back on the road. “More alive than dead. But I think that’s because it’s his preference to punish you.”
“Does he have my son?” Because if she had that to look forward to, she could calm down. Then it wouldn’t matter so much if Alex couldn’t find her. At least she’d have her child.
Danes didn’t answer.
“Do you even know?”
No answer.
His phone rang and Isabella tensed, but he didn’t react. He glanced at the display, then at her, before answering it.
“Who knew we were out here?”
She could hear Alex’s voice through the phone. Danes must have the volume turned up high. Relief washed through her. “Alex!”
Hesitation on his end, a roll of the eyes from Danes, then, “You?” Disbelief from Alex. Betrayal? She could hear it even through the phone’s tiny speaker. “You sent me out on those traps so you could come get her?”
The older man sighed. “I didn’t want to fight you.” He almost sounded sorry.
“You didn’t have to fight her?”
“Just a little tap to the head.” Danes looked over at her and grinned, thin lips stretching. “She’s nice and feisty now.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“You don’t want to follow, son, believe me. Let it go.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“I warned you not to get involved.”
