Watching.
“Max.”
There was no choice, not for either of them. “Some things are worth too much,” he said quietly.
And he left her.
Sam stood for a moment with her shoulders hunched and her heart racing too fast. She watched Max leave because there was no other choice. If the kidnapper had told him to get into the car alone, then she’d make sure he went alone.
But I won’t leave you alone.
She’d given him her weapon, but she had a backup. And no way would she let him face the hell that was coming on his own.
Sam reached for her phone. The other agents would need to stand down and not interfere, yet. Max would take them right to their prey, and she’d be there to make sure he didn’t end up like Frank.
I’m coming.
“We’ve got Donnelley.” Excitement had Kim’s voice rising. “The cell signal was traced to the four-hundred block of New Curtis.” She looked up. “He’s in a motel room.”
“Get over there,” Hyde ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. “You and Dante, go.”
“Already going, sir,” Dante called out as they ran for the door.
Monica stepped forward. Hyde saw the worry on her face. The attachment between her and Dante grew stronger every day. She’d told Hyde the news about their engagement, and while he was damn happy for Monica—about time she had a life outside the SSD—he couldn’t have married agents working together in his unit.
Time for Monica to take that promotion.
“Stay on guard!” Monica called out as the agents slipped into the elevator. It was a warning they didn’t need. But Dante looked back at Monica, and his green eyes softened.
“This isn’t right,” Monica whispered. “Donnelley doesn’t fit the profile of our lead kidnapper.”
Hyde agreed. He’d read Donnelley’s file. Drug use. The guy was lucky to still have a medical license.
But Donnelley had been working privately for the Malones for years. You could learn a lot of secrets when you were that close to a family. Secrets worth killing for.
“Quinlan is the one we need,” Monica said, her voice calm and certain, even if her hands had clenched into fists. “The links all circle back to him.”
“Then we’ll find him.” The phone on Kim’s desk rang, a long, low peal. Sam. He hurried forward and grabbed the phone. “Hyde.”
“He’s gone!” A rough edge hardened Sam’s voice. “Max is going after Donnelly, and I’m not letting him go alone! I’m—”
“Sam, we’ve got Donnelley’s location. He’s in a motel on New Curtis. Dante and Daniels are on their way to apprehend him now.”
“If Donnelley is there, then there’s no way he’s watching us now.” Soft, muttered, almost as if she were talking to herself. “I’m going after him. I’m not letting Max get caught in the crossfire.”
Hyde’s fingers tightened around the phone. “Turn on the GPS in your car.” Instinct and fear drove the demand. “In case we lose phone contact, make sure we can track you.” Because he’d be damned if he ever lost her again.
“Yes, sir.”
“And Kennedy?”
A door slammed in the background, and he knew she was already on the move. “Sir?”
“Keep him safe.”
Max’s rental car raced out of the garage. Good thing Samantha had gotten another agent to bring it by early that morning because he really hadn’t been in the mood to steal a ride.
His phone vibrated before he’d even reached the street. Swearing, he glanced down. Different number, one he didn’t know. He picked up the phone.
“Max…”
“I’m coming, okay?”
“Put the bitch on the line.”
Ice froze his blood. Not watching, not yet, or he’d know—
“She’s not with you.” Anger snapped in the whispered words.
“No, she’s not, and you’re not getting her.” Max braked the car, heard the squeal of tires, and demanded, “Now tell me where the hell you are.”
Silence.
“Where are you?”
“Get on the highway.” A whisper. “Go West.”
Max drove forward.
“Take the second exit ramp.”
Max’s teeth were clenched so tight that his jaw ached. How had it come to this?
“You’ll pay for not bringing the whore.”
His foot slammed on the gas. No, you’ll be the one who pays.
Sam wrenched open her car door, jumped inside, and revved the VW’s engine. In less than three seconds, she was out of the garage. Just in time to catch the flash of Max’s taillights. Hurry.
Her heart thundered in her chest, and her sweaty palms gripped the steering wheel. She wouldn’t lose Max.
The VW flew out onto the highway, and Sam realized they were heading the wrong way. New Curtis was toward the east, just a few moments away.
But Max was heading in the opposite direction.
“Max.” She fumbled with her phone. This was wrong. A setup. She had to warn the other agents.
His phone rang again a moment later. Max still had it gripped in his right hand. He punched the screen. “What?”
“4219 Willow Way.”
His breath hissed out at the familiar address. The agents wouldn’t have searched that old cabin because it wasn’t Frank’s; it was his. Left to him by his mother.
“Now roll down your window and throw your phone out.”
He hesitated. It would be so easy to just call the Feds, to call Sam and tell her the address.
But if he did, would the guy be long gone before he arrived?
“I can see you….”
His gaze swept around the highway. All he saw was a swirl of cars. Was the bastard watching now? Or lying again?
“Throw the phone out.”
Max hit the button for the automatic window. It lowered with a whir of sound, and he tossed out his phone.
The maid was shaking as she unlocked room 203 at the Highline Motel. Luke grabbed her arm and pulled her back the second that the door squeaked open.
“Federal agents!” he yelled. “Nathan Donnelley, we’re coming in!”
He kicked the door open the rest of the way and went in with his gun drawn. Moving soundlessly, Kim was right at his back.
And Donnelley was waiting for them.
Sam’s phone rang just as she was preparing to call the SSD. She grabbed the phone, not even looking at the screen as she kept her eyes on the rental car. “Hyde, did you get—”