“I already have cop friends searching the city. Right now, all we have is a hunch that she’s here. It’s not a real lead. I’m sure the three of us can handle Theo if he’s here. I assume I’m the only one packing?” Zach patted his jacket.
Maybe that explained why he never took the damned thing off. “Yes,” Asher said, the word sounding more like duh, shooting Knox an eye roll as they walked.
“Maybe I can talk him down.” Knox didn’t want anything to happen to his stepbrother—beyond getting his ass put in prison for kidnapping, that is.
Zach stopped short. “There.” He pointed to what looked like a log cabin. The shades were drawn and it looked deserted. “I’m going to do a quick check. Stay here and we’ll regroup after my recon.” He walked off, taking the woods as an indirect route.
Knox turned to Asher. “Who is he?” he asked.
Asher shrugged. “Bar owner slash something he’s never admitted. We just know we can come to him for anything.” He glanced at the cabin, his eyes full of concern. “Tell me Theo won’t hurt her.”
“I’m counting on it.” Knox’s hands curled into fists. “His main goal in life is to get something over on me. If he can win Jade back—or just think he has—he wins. As long as Jade doesn’t provoke him, she’s okay.” At least, that was what he needed to believe.
Knox caught a glimpse of Zach casing the house, checking windows before he disappeared around the side. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for confirmation that Jade was in there. He needed to be doing something, not standing here twiddling his thumbs.
They waited in silence, sweat dripping down Knox’s face until Zach returned, popping up from the other side of the woods. “Theo’s car’s parked out back. They’re both inside.”
“Thank God.” Knox blew out a breath.
“Okay, what next?” Asher asked.
Before Zach could reply, the cabin door opened and Theo stepped outside. He glanced around and Knox held his breath. But thanks to Zach, they were well hidden in the trees. Theo shut the front door and headed around back.
“Okay, boys, that’s our cue.” Neither Knox nor Asher could compare to Zach when it came to stealth, but they made it to the cabin and walked inside without issue.
Jade sat huddled in the corner of a bed, and her eyes opened wide at the sight of them. Zach put his finger to his lips and she nodded.
Knox rushed over and she flew into his arms. He held her tight, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck.
Zach stood beside the front door, waiting for Theo, with Asher behind him, ready to help if needed.
“I found it,” Theo said, stepping inside, a water bottle in his hand.
Zach cold-cocked him with his handgun, and Theo crumpled to the floor. “Oops.” He grinned as he pulled handcuffs from inside his jacket and cuffed Theo’s wrists behind him. “You okay, sis?”
“Yeah.” She gripped Knox’s neck, holding on for dear life.
“You’re safe,” Knox whispered in her ear.
Still clinging to him, she turned and took in the sight of Theo passed out on the floor. “Jesus. Is he alive?”
Asher scowled. “I care more that you’re alive.”
“How did you find me?” she asked.
Knox was happy she held on to him and breathed in the coconut scent of her shampoo. Having her in his arms calmed him down.
“A combination of Celia doing the right thing, Zach tracking your phone, and its location triggering Holly’s memory of the cabin,” Asher explained.
“Celia! She called me this morning and told me not to go anywhere with Theo. But he came up behind me and took me by surprise.” Jade shook her head. “I can’t believe she tried to help.”
“Thank God she did,” Knox muttered.
Asher stepped closer. “Can you put her down so I can see for myself that my sister’s okay?”
Knox growled but let Jade slide down his body. He felt every inch of her, reassuring himself she was fine.
She hugged her brothers and thanked them for finding her when a low moan sounded from the floor.