I call Jerad and explain the messages and pictures and what I need from him as we climb inside the truck. Liam instantly starts it, and we begin driving away.
“You’ll have to give me some time, but I can get my guy on it ASAP. You gonna tell your dad or call the cops? Report a kidnapping? You have his license plate number? We could have people all over the city looking for this sick fucker.”
Letting out a smothered breath, I ball my hand into a fist, wishing I could drive it straight into Dalton’s face. “I can’t. He’s threatened to kill her, and after knowing about his wife, I believe him. I can’t get my dad or the police involved, so I have to take matters into my own hands. But so help me God, if I find him and he’s hurt her…”
“Mason,” he warns. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll call you when I find out more info. Give me an hour.”
“An hour? A fucking hour? She could be dead by then. That’s too long, Jerad.”
He lets out an annoyed huff. “It’s all I can do. Tracing shit takes time, and I have to go back to the office. It’s not like I can do this from my goddamn cell phone.”
“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. It’s just every second she’s gone is another second she’s in danger.”
“I get it, but you need to calm down. I get you’re worried, but I can’t snap my fingers and make it happen.”
Even in situations such as this, Jerad remains calm and collected. I know he’s doing the best he can, but I’m frustrated as fuck. The stress of Sophie being with Weston’s brother is already beginning to wear me down, and this nightmare has just begun.
Jerad ends the call with a promise to get back with me as soon as he knows something, and now I don’t even know what to do while we wait. As we speed down the highway, my mind is reeling. Though I want the whole damn city looking for her, I don’t second-guess Dalton’s threats, just as I didn’t doubt Weston had that gun to kill Sophie. Dalton will kill her without a second thought. They’re both psychotics with zero compassion. Dalton’s already gotten away with murder once—hell, maybe more for all anyone knows. He seems like the kind of man who’d pick up a prostitute and leave her dead body in an alley.
The thought of him touching Sophie sickens me, especially since I know she didn’t go wherever he took her willingly. She’s a fighter.
Liam drives across town, and we’re soon pulling into the driveway of the house. I look over at him in confusion because we need to keep looking for her.
“There’s no reason for us to aimlessly roam the city searching for her when we have no idea where she is. We should wait for Jerad to call and at least give us a location. Continue to interact with Dalton so he doesn’t turn off her phone.”
I release a frustrated breath and nod as we walk into the house. “You’re right,” I admit, trying to find the strength to keep texting him. Before I can finish my thought, another message comes in.
Dalton: Wondering if I should fuck her before I kill her. See what all the fuss is about. What’dya think?
A picture comes through of Sophie still restrained to the chair, and he’s pushed her dress so far up her legs that I can see the lace panties she wore for our date. My jaw clenches so tight, I might break a damn tooth. She’s unconscious, and knowing he can do whatever he wants to her creates a feeling inside me that I’ve never felt before.
She’s mine. She’s fucking mine. I don’t want him touching her.
“Motherfucker.” A growl comes from deep in my core. I’m so damn helpless, and he knows it.
“We’re going to find her,” Liam promises, bending down and opening the duffle bag he threw on the floor earlier. “We’re going to find her and make him suffer.” It’s clear he means business as he pulls a Glock from the bag and loads it.
“Shit. You have a gun?” My eyes widen, and Liam nods.
Good, is what comes to mind when I think about what Liam intends to do with it.
Dalton deserves to feel pain.
I want revenge for taking my girl. I want him to be sorry he ever insinuated himself into our lives.
“We’re gonna need backup. Call Hunter and have him meet us here. Do not tell him why. The last thing we need is a frantic Lennon calling the police.” Liam’s coolheaded as he tucks the gun in the back of his pants. “We’ll explain once he gets here.”
Knowing he’s probably right, I call Hunter, who answers almost immediately. “Aren’t you supposed to be on your special romantic date right now?” He chuckles, but it causes my heart to drop because the time Sophie and I were supposed to spend together was stolen from us.