66. Stryker
CHAPTER 66
Stryker
J axson goes inside Zayne’s dungeon, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.
Your rage isn’t doing Mallory any good. She left you clues. Now find her.
When I turn around, the gang stands there, eyeing me with concern. Zayne and Delaney are bloody.
“Mallory’s missing.”
Zayne’s voice booms through the woods. “Let’s head to the house. This is a priority.” He comes up beside me. “Does she have her phone?”
“It’s either off or dead.” I swallow hard, hating that last fucking word.
Zayne squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t think like that.”
Jaxson is on my other side. “Does she have a tracker?”
I stop. “Of course. Her engagement ring. I installed one before I proposed.”
Grabbing my phone, I pull up the app, impatiently waiting. “What the hell? She’s in Florida.”
“Zayne, that plane that you bought…”
“Yeah, you made fun of me for it. Look who’s laughing now.” He turns to the group behind us. “Ryker, you take Devyn, Luca, Keira, and Mia in your vehicle. Everyone else, get in mine. We’re heading to the plane.”
I crack my knuckles while sitting on the plane, staring at the dot on my laptop. I can’t believe I almost forgot about that tracker.
“I hope the fucker doesn’t crash this thing. He hasn’t been a pilot for long.”
“As long as he gets us there, that’s all I care about.”
Jaxson levels me with a look. “I’m sorry you’re going through this shit. Neither of you deserve it.” He leans closer, nodding at my stomach. “You need to watch those stitches, kid.”
“Fuck the stitches. I care about two things. Mallory and beating the shit out of whoever took her.”
“I get it, man. But don’t go off half-cocked like the jackass flying the plane. I’ve seen it go wrong too often because he was emotional.” He lifts his glass of whiskey and takes a drink. “Luckily, I was around to save his ass.”
A small grin tugs at my lips. “You gonna save my ass if I get in trouble?”
Jaxson lifts his drink. “Of course. We all will.” He takes a long drink, making a disgusted face.
“I’ve never seen you drink whiskey before.”
“I usually don’t. I hate flying. The fear is worse since Zayne is the pilot.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “I’ve gotta admit, I love the friendship the two of you have.”
“You and Ryker have something similar. You don’t bust each other’s balls as much as Zayne and I do. But we’ve known each other for sixteen years. ”
Delaney appears, clapping her hands together to get everyone’s attention. She’s wearing different clothes. “Zayne said we’ll be landing in fifteen minutes, so buckle up bitches.”
“She means bend over and kiss your ass goodbye,” Jaxson mutters, draining his glass of whiskey.
“I’d like to see my girl before I go to hell.” I fasten my seat belt, my eyes still on the dot showing her tracker. “Why would he take her to North Captiva Island?”
“It’s remote. No cars allowed. It’s only accessible by boat, ferry, or jet ski, and once on the island, the only way to travel is via golf cart.”
“The perfect place to keep someone captive.”
Jaxson nods. “Unfortunately, yes.”
As soon as I get off the plane, my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number. “Hello.”
“Mr. Stryker?”
My brows wrinkle. “Edward?”
“Yes. I don’t have long. It’s about Miss Mallory.”
I put him on speakerphone as the gang gathers around me.
“What do you know, Edward?”
“Mrs. Chapman received a phone call while I drove her to the salon. I heard her whisper, ‘Do you have Mallory?’ She smiled and said, ‘Good. I don’t want her near that lowlife who proposed to her.’ Sorry, Mr. Stryker. That’s not my opinion of you.”
“I know, Edward. Do you know who has her?”
“Mrs. Chapman whispered ‘Goodbye, Cole’ before she hung up. I was instantly alarmed. Mrs. Chapman had Mr. Cole Jacobs escort Miss Mallory to various functions when she was seventeen. Miss Mallory called me one night in tears, asking me to pick her up. Her clothing and hair were disheveled, and mascara streaked down her cheeks from crying. She wouldn’t talk about it when I asked her what was wrong.”
“Oh, fuck. Did she ever say what happened?”
“I overheard her talking to Mrs. Chapman. Miss Mallory begged her mother not to set her up with Mr. Cole anymore because he groped her through her clothing. Miss Mallory pushed Mr. Jacobs down a flight of stairs and ran. Mrs. Chapman was furious. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman ended up paying for his plastic surgery to repair the broken nose and jaw he sustained from the fall.”
“Jesus Christ. He tries to assault their daughter, and her fucking parents pay for his surgery!” I’m livid as I pace back and forth.
After taking a deep, calming breath, I ask, “Do you know anything about North Captiva Island, Florida?”
“The Chapmans own a house there.”
“That’s where Cole took her. I just landed. We’re gonna rent a boat?—”
“No need. The Chapmans own a boat. Mr. Chapman named it Danelle after his wife. I’ll arrange for you to take it out. Also, all the doors require a passcode to get in. Let me give that to you.”
Jaxson nods, holding up his phone with the Notes app. He types it, and I recite it, committing it to memory.
“Thanks a million, Edward.”
“No need to thank me. I saw how much you love Miss Mallory when you were here. I’ve never seen her smile like she does when she’s with you.” His voice quivers, making my heart squeeze inside my chest. “Get her back and keep making her smile. That’s all I want.”
“You know I will. She’s my world.”