Page 88 of Christmas Captive

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“Right.” He wasn't great, but he and Chloe had gone to the shooting range a few times, and she’d taught him well. He could handle a weapon and hit his target. Not a bullseye, but pretty close.

“Here.” Tom handed over his backup weapon. “At least stay behind me.”

He nodded, although he didn't promise that.

All he cared about was getting Chloe out of this house, and he would do whatever was necessary to do it.

They opened the door and stepped inside. The house was quiet. It was after midnight, so Pete Larkin was probably in bed asleep.

At least, that’s what Fin kept telling himself.

Because the alternative was that he was with Chloe.

Hurting her.

Breaking her bones.

“Behind me,” Tom hissed when he headed for the stairs. “We have to clear down here first.”

Fighting the urge to ignore the FBI agent and go running wildly through the house in search of Chloe, he trailed behind Tom as they cleared the ground floor. If he hadn’t been concerned about endangering Chloe further, then he would have thrown caution to the wind.

As it was, he clutched the gun in a death grip and helped to check each room, expecting a monster to come jumping out at any second.

Once they had cleared the first floor, they headed to the second.

Now that they were so close to Chloe, time seemed to have slowed. Each step felt like he was dragging his feet through quicksand.

They cleared the second floor and headed to the third.

So far, they hadn’t found Pete’s bedroom. It had to be up here. The man clearly lived here. There had been dirty clothes in the laundry room, the fridge had been stocked, and there were dirty dishes in the sink.

There had also been no sign of Chloe and the others.

They had to be around here somewhere.

At least, he hoped so.

But Pete Larkin was wealthy. Unbelievably wealthy. His family owned a number of properties, and just because he lived here, didn't mean that he kept his victims here.

If Chloe wasn't here, then he wouldmakethe man tell him where she was.

The way he was feeling right now, he would do anything necessary to make it happen. Whatever it took. He’d threaten him, he’d lie to him, he’d hurt him if need be.

Anything.

Even if that meant beating it out of the man. He would gladlygo to prison if it meant Chloe was safe and sound.

He froze as they entered the last bedroom on this floor.

Mothballs.

“Tom,” he whispered.

“Yeah, I smell it.”

They were close. Chloe was here. Somewhere. “Covers are mussed.”

“Bathroom.” Tom nodded at the closed door on the other side of the room, but Fin’s gaze fell on the open door of the walk-in closet.


Tags: Jane Blythe Romance