“They could’ve had her traveling under an assumed name.”
“Possibly, but given that she was unconscious when they took her, we thought it would be unlikely they would be able to travel with her in that state.”
“So, you think she’s in one of the storage units?”
“Yeah. It’s an unmanaged one, and there are a lot. We’ve been going through them one by one but haven’t found them yet.”
I take the gun from Todd’s hand and check the magazine. Thirteen bullets. Full. “Have we considered they moved to another vehicle and are using the Acuras as decoys?”
“Yes.”
“Which means they could be anywhere in the city.”
“Yes,” Todd says again. “We do have someone at the airport, though. She’s not leaving without us knowing.”
“She’s not leaving period.”
I hop out as soon as the car pulls up to the storage rental gates. There are five of my men already there. “What’s the word?”
“It’s clear.” The leader steps forward. “We’ve checked all of them, and they’re either empty or full of other people’s shit. No human here.”
“There have to be security cameras. It’s a rental agency and unmanned.” I look around and spot a camera. “Todd?”
“On it.” He has his phone to his ear. “Someone will come out and tap the wire directly.”
“That’s going to take time.” I survey the area. This is a barely developed part of Northpoint full of new strip malls, a movie theatre, and discount big lot stores. The closest motel is about ten minutes away. The next town over is a resort town, but moving her out by boat would take way too long. The best possible option is to fly her out from another airport.
“We got a tip!” Another man comes running forward. “Someone spotted two men wearing black suits carrying a large object in a sleeping bag into the motel on Cherry.”
“That’s it. Roll out.”
We climb in and are at the motel in under ten minutes. I go and speak to the clerk, and with a little assistance from Mr. Glock, walk away with the room number. I direct Todd to the back of the motel while I take the front. I knock on the door and cover the peephole with my hand.
“Who is it?” shouts someone inside.
“Housekeeping,” I lie.
“We don’t need anything,” comes the reply.
I give a chin nod to my man, who boots the lock with his heel. The door pops open. I charge in low while my man covers the high point. Immediately, I see Bell on the bed. She’s gagged, and her hands are tied behind her back. She sees me and sits up. The man next to her raises his arm, as if he’s about to hit her. I shoot his arm. He spins and cries out, cradling it. I shoot the man next to me, and then the one coming out of the bathroom. I hear two shots behind me from my cover.
“Clear,” shouts my man. There are five bodies on the floor. All of them are still alive—for now. I shove the gun into my waistband and race over to Bell, ripping the gag out of her mouth and untying her hands.
I don’t waste time with a reunion. I pick her up in my arms and run out of the motel. “You okay?” I ask as I hurry toward the SUV that Todd has waiting.
“You shot someone.”
“Three people,” I admit. “I’d do it again, too.”
She throws her arms around my neck and buries her face into my chest. “I love you so much, Jackson. Take me home.”
“I’m on it, Dollface. I love you too.”
CHAPTER20
BELL
“You saidI was going home. This was a trick!” I huff, folding my arms over my chest as I sit in the hospital bed.