Page 52 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
“I don’t know.” She begins to stutter. “H-he was super tall and muscular. Seemed like a mean bastard. He even had a badge. I mean he was a goddamn FBI agent, how was I supposed to say no!”
“FBI?” River clarifies, seething.
The reality of the situation hits me all at once as I snarl.Pierce.
* * *
River
I had considered a lot of possibilities when I realized that my kitten is missing. Honestly, after everything that happened? I would have suspected fucking Kronin.
But it turns out it’s much fucking worse than that.
My temper snaps and before I know it I’ve driven my fist into the wall, the indent making me feel not at all better in the least. I curse feeling fury course through me, the others reacting in an array of emotions that range from Kaden’s frozen stare, to Blaine’s look of authentic fury, to Royce who seems about ready to kill Alicia.
“Where the hell is she on the tracker Kaden?” I demand as he looks down.
“Got it.” He stands up sharply from the chair he’s been sitting on. “It wouldn’t connect but it is now, we need to move fast, she’s a few miles out from shore. We need to go now—”
“Blaine.” Alicia sobs but her son ignores her and we follow Kaden towards the door, leaving his mother sobbing in her wedding dress. I don’t feel bad in the fucking least. I mean, I should, but my homicidal rage towards Pierce taking my kitten is so much fucking stronger that I barely notice the stab of sympathy.
I want my kitten back, fucking now.
Kaden is jogging so I find myself nearly sprinting, the sunshine making me squint, my eyes adjusting from the darkness below. I don’t care what else is going on. I don’t care about the FBI or Kronin’s bullshit.
None of this is worth it without Sloane. None of it.
* * *
Kaden
As we run up along the deck, my eyes narrow on a jet ski blasting toward the shore. I curse, swinging myself over the railing and onto the slightly lower deck where the tenders are anchored. I hear the others follow, River cursing up a storm. My tracker is beeping but I know where the fuck she is and that bastard is literally taking her from me. I’m so fucking furious.
I ignore the shouts about the boat as I start her up, glad this one seems faster than the one guests used. I speed away from the ship as River shouts, “Fuck you.” Which normally would be funny but I can’t laugh right now. Not with my Sloane gone, I can’t fucking deal with that.
“Remember when I said I was going to kill Pierce?” I shout out over the sound of the engine.
Royce offers a tense laugh but he knows I’m not joking. Because I’m fucking not. I increase the speed all the way, hoping it will be enough. I feel anxious but we’re growing closer and closer, which makes me feel far better. That’s until I catch sight of Sloane.
Her hands are tied behind her back as well as her feet, her mouth covered in tape. Her dress is torn and she’s passed out, her limp body completely in Pierce’s grasp. As if the bastard has drugged her. Every single detail earns Pierce Hunter another full minute of agony at my hands before I end his pathetic excuse of a life.
“Pierce!” I roar out as he snaps his head to the side. A large smile breaks over his face mixed with fury, his speed increasing but still matched to mine.
I call for Blaine to take over the engine and move to the side of the boat, readying to launch myself at the motherfucker. When the sound of a helicopter blasts in my ears, I look up letting out a, “Fuck,” as Pierce’s laugh fills the air.
Suddenly, he releases the gas as we spring forward. So I do the only thing I can do. Take the last chance we have. I sprint to the back of the boat and launch myself off watching as a rope falls from the helicopter toward Pierce’s jet ski. Sloane is slung over his shoulder as he climbs it and I latch on to it during the last moment, my hand nearly slipping before I begin to follow them. I can’t let her get into that helicopter—we’d never see her again.
As if answering my prayers, Sloane’s eyes blink open and fear fills her face.
Then she starts to fight.
Sloane screams, her voice muffled by the tape, as she starts to thrash her body back and forth, shocking Pierce into dropping her. I swear, knowing she’ll fucking sink if that motherfucker loses his grip with how she was tied. Grabbing my gun, I shoot twice at the helicopter and the rope splits as the craft flies away, dropping both Pierce and I into the water.
Instantly, I’m searching for Sloane.
The water is oddly freezing and as I dive down I find her panicked but in River’s arms as he pulls her up, clearly having jumped in. Which leaves fucking Pierce. I look forward to where he is just surfacing and without any guilt, draw the knife I keep holstered and stab him in the leg.
The fucker will die but not yet, I want to enjoy that shit.
