43. Ryder
In The Air Tonight - Natalie Taylor
My phone pings with a text from Devina. She’s going to MaryClaire’s. Moving to stand, Declan stops mid sentence to ask where I’m going.
“My wife has decided to leave. Likely on her own again.” I pinch my fingers between my brows. This woman is infuriating.
Declan pulls up his phone. “Where does MaryClaire live?”
“Above the coffee shop in town,” I answer.
“Yeah, she’s just getting there now.” He shows me his screen. A blue light making its way to MaryClaire’s house.
“You are tracking my wife?” I ask in disbelief.
“No. I’m tracking my sister.” He shrugs as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.
I roll my eyes and sit back down. “Fine. But I want whatever you have on her phone removed before you leave. I’ll go get her when we are finished.”
He lets out a low chuckle. “Whatever you say, man.”
God, I want to give him one good punch to the mouth. But I won’t. Right now I’m grateful that I know where she is.
* * *
An hour later we are wrapped up and I head over to MaryClaire’s to grab Devina.
When I reach the top of the stairs I see the door open. I peer inside to see shattered glass. I call Devina’s phone only to hear it ring on the chair next to me.
My next call is to Declan.
“I think Devina has been taken.” I try to control my voice.
“Hold on, I’ll track her.”
“You can’t track her. I’m holding her fucking phone.” I roll my eyes.
“You think I put it on her phone? Please.” I can hear him roll his eyes right back at me. “Was she wearing her claddagh ring?” He asks.
“She never takes it off,” I recall.
That son of a bitch had a tracker on her this entire time.
“We have a problem,” He jumps back on the line. “She’s on her way to the docks. I’ll call Taylor. Is MaryClaire there with you?”
“No, but it looks like one or both of them put up a fight. There is broken glass everywhere.”
A heavy sigh travels through the phone. “Hopefully they are still together. And alive.”
“I’ll call Ronnie. Call Taylor and have him meet us there.”
Fear pierces through me. Rage boils beneath the surface until it explodes as I flip the table in front of me. They have my sparrow. But why? What use is she to them? They could have easily come for me or any one of my companies. It seems like a huge overstep.
But right now I need to get to the docs. I need to get her back.
* * *
I pull up to where I see Declan and Taylor. Ronnie isn’t far behind, arriving on his bike.
The last time I was here I set off a bomb that nearly killed me. This time, we don’t know which container she’s in. Fuck, she might not even be on one. Declan fumbles with his phone to try and nail down her location.
“She’s there,” he points. But the general location is a freight boat with hundreds of containers. “I can’t tell if she’s in the boat or one of the containers on top.” He’s frustrated. So am I. I try not to kill him for not knowing exactly where she is. His fucking tracker is useless.
“Spread out, case the area. Don’t take anyone out if you can help it. I don’t want any attention drawn to us.” I instruct.
Taylor runs his hands through his hair. I can tell he’s been crying. It pains me to see him mad to the point of tears. He truly loves Devina, but he is not in his element. He’s the man behind the scenes, or so it would often seem. While he is an amateur in this arena, I know he’ll fight to the death to get back what is mine.
We spread out, slowly making our way to the large boat.
The damp sea air makes my shirt cling to my skin as I sling towards the blue light on the screen. I listen for her voice, her scream, anything.
I’m coming for you, sparrow. I’ll always come for you.