Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 37

37

“ T essa sure knows how to throw a party,” exclaimed Dex, snagging another crostini from the silver tray the server was holding. After tossing it in his mouth, he reached for another one before the waiter chuckled and moved on to a different group.

Ford nodded absently. “Yeah. She sure is talented.” He glanced around the lively crowd, looking for Tessa. The air buzzed with laughter and excitement. The harpist played softly in the corner, but he couldn’t focus. It’d been a while since he last saw her. She was working the room, talking to donors and making sure everything was perfect. He was so proud of her. Another successful event. But where was she?

“I bet this raises a lot of money for the animal shelter,” Dex said, his voice muffled as he swallowed another appetizer. “Man, these are so good.”

“At the rate you’re consuming them, there’ll be nothing left for anyone else,” Ford teased.

Dex smirked and gestured toward the kitchen. “Have you looked in there? There’s enough food to feed an army.”

Before Ford could answer, Titus walked over with three bottles of beer and handed Dex and Ford one. “Cheers,” they said, clinking bottles. Ford took a long swig. The beer was cold going down his throat.

“I think Emelia and Mia outdid themselves,” said Titus, taking another swig of beer. “Tessa was so smart to have them cater this. But then, anything Emelia does is perfect.”

“Biased much?” quipped Dex.

Titus punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Wiseass,” he muttered.

Ford smirked, shaking his head at the playful exchange. These guys. It was always the same, just good-natured ribbing. At least they kept things light, although his own unease about Tessa was beginning to worry him.

The event was winding down as the crowd murmured goodbye. Ford wondered where Tessa was, the knot in his stomach tightening. A sense of dread crept in. It wasn’t like her to miss this part of the event. Where was she?

Ford’s heart was racing, and he kept wiping his damp hands down his pants. He would not panic.

Repeat: He would not panic.

But where the hell was Tessa?

Unable to spot her, he went back to the kitchen, where the crew was washing dishes and cleaning up. Mia and Emelia were boxing up leftover food, the rich aroma of basil and cinnamon still lingering in the air.

Tessa had mentioned that they were giving leftovers to a shelter in town catering to the homeless.

God bless them. Ford’s heart swelled with pride that they thought of the less fortunate.

“Have either of you seen Tessa?” he asked, hoping they couldn’t hear the stress in his voice.

Mia looked up, her brow furrowed as she scanned her surroundings, seemingly searching for Tessa. “Not recently. Although I’ve been so busy, I could have missed her.”

“Same here,” said Emelia, brushing the hair from her face. “I’ve been in and out of the kitchen.” She thought for a moment. “I saw her talking to Simone a while ago. Check with her.”

Ford’s heart sank as he walked back to the main hall.

He spotted Simone in a corner, laughing with a donor, and when she finished her conversation, Ford walked over. “Simone, have you seen Tessa?” Her sequined top shimmered under the lights as she turned to him.

She paused, tilted her head. “I saw her earlier but not recently. Have you checked outside or in the kitchen?”

“She’s not in the kitchen. I’ll look outside.” Ford forced a smile.

Ford thanked her and headed to the parking lot. The cool late-afternoon air was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the party. Ford searched the area. There were still quite a few cars there, including Tessa’s. A faint prickling started at the back of his neck. He wasn’t panicking—yet.

Ford’s pulse quickened. He pulled out his phone and fired off a quick text. Where are you?

Nothing.

He dialed her phone but didn’t hear it ring, and it went straight to voicemail.

Weird. Not like Tessa to not answer.

The knot in his gut tightened. Something wasn’t right.

Walking back to the main hall, he spotted Chase and Liam by the bar.

“Have either of you seen Tessa?”

They shook their heads. “Why?” asked Liam, his brow cocked.

“I haven’t seen her, and she’s not answering her phone,” Ford said.

“Let me talk to the guys. We can spread out to see if we spot her,” said Chase, his expression serious. He glanced around the event. “There are still quite a few people here. We don’t want anyone to panic. She may be in the back room searching for something.”

Chase moved quickly, tapping the shoulders of the men in the Brotherhood scattered around the event and informing them of the situation. One by one, their gazes shifted to Ford, and they nodded before melting into the crowd.

Liam, Chase, and Ford walked through the kitchen but said nothing to Mia and Emelia, who looked at them curiously.

There were several doors, and they each took one. Ford’s pulse thundered in his ears as he opened one door, stepping into a dimly lit hallway.

The faint scent of Tessa’s perfume lingered in the air. She had been here.

The hall was cluttered with stacked chairs and boxes marked as event supplies as Ford carefully made his way around the mess. The stillness set his mind on edge.

No Tessa.

So where did she go? He looked around, his gut clenching tighter.

He moved forward, stepping around a toppled box. His shoe caught on something, and a faint glint of light on the floor caught his eye. The rose quartz necklace he’d given her was lying there. Ford’s breath caught as he bent down to pick it up, his fingers trembling. The chain was broken as if yanked violently from her neck.

Fuck.

He clutched the necklace tight. A wave of dread and fear washed over him, followed by a surge of fury.

“Tessa!” he bellowed, his voice echoing in the empty hallway.

No answer.

Cold rage soared through his body. Someone had taken her.

The door to the room creaked open, letting in light from the kitchen. Chase and Liam entered.

“What happened?” asked Chase. “Did you find Tessa?”

Ford shook his head and held up the necklace. “She’s gone.” He closed his eyes and exhaled. “I gave this to her.”

“Damn,” Liam said. “Okay, stand back and let’s look for clues.”

It didn’t take them long to find a scuff mark on the floor near a toppled box. “I bet Tessa was dragged out of here,” said Chase.

Ford slipped the necklace into his pocket. His jaw clenched so hard it ached. He couldn’t shake the image of the fear Tessa must have felt or the thought of her being hurt—or worse.

Whoever did this was going to regret it. Ford wouldn’t stop until he got Tessa safely back.