Jax never wanted to feel gratitude toward his captor, but finally being let down from the ceiling and given enough slack to stand on his own two feet—bound feet, but whatever—after filming some video had him wanting to thank the creep. His shoulders hurt like a son of a fucker, and his hands had gone numb. A bit of sensation was creeping back in, but that wasn’t helped much by his arms still being above his head.

And now his ribs hurt from where Udall had punched him several times during his phone call with Karter. After letting him down, Udall had left for a while, and then returned only for his phone to ring. Jax had been overjoyed to hear Udall say Karter’s name, but the one-sided conversation had left him defeated and upset. No way would the constabulary agree to trade a key witness for one lowly omega.

I’m going to die in this room.

He also hadn’t missed Udall’s veiled threat to violate Jax before he died, and it made him sick to his stomach. To think the man who’d bought him, tortured him, and forced him to assault other people would be the last person Jax saw before he died.

At least Karson is safe. Karter will be an amazing father to him. I know it.

The thought did little to temper Jax’s grief.

When the call ended, Udall stared at his phone for several long moments, before turning to look at Jax. “If your alpha does as he’s told, you’ll live to see your kid again. If not, your blood is on his hands.”

Jax snarled and bared his teeth.

“You always were a feisty one.” Udall tilted his head. “You love your mate?”

Jax hesitated before nodding.

“Then you’d better pray he loves you, too. I’m not one to poach on another alpha’s mate, but he will be sorry if he doesn’t come through.”

That didn’t do much to ease Jax’s fear, but at least the man wasn’t going to rape him right away. Cold comfort when Jax only had twenty-four hours left to live, and he was facing a slow, painful death.

Udall took a step closer and Jax couldn’t help flinching. “I could use you escaping as an excuse to beat you some more. You getting lose is what unwound this in the first place, but we let our guard down. You got away, and you can bet I tore our doc a new asshole for that. The asshole I should have torn him when he cut wrong and muted you completely.”

Jax didn’t know if he was speaking literally or metaphorically about the new asshole, and that terrified him. But at least he now knew why he was mute, while the other omegas weren’t.

“Not killing you when we found out you were still alive and living with a constable is on me. That was my idiotic mistake. Maybe I’ll take some of my frustration out on you later, but right now I’ve got other shit to fix. Feel free to piss on the floor if you gotta go. This isn’t my property.”

Udall exited through the room’s only door. He left the light on, too, which Jax appreciated. The room had a cement floor, cement-block walls, and no windows, so it would have been pitch black. Jax would have lost his mind, because the rooms he was kept in previously were dark a lot of the time. Sealed away from the rest of the world.

The aches in his body reminded Jax of those long, tortured months, but he couldn’t focus on that. He couldn’t let his mind go back there, or he’d lose it. He had to focus on Karter, who was out there looking for him. He’d find a way to rescue Jax.

Please, come for me, my alpha. I need you so badly.

* * *

“Do you think he understands what’s happening?” Karter asked. “I read somewhere that babies react to stress.”

Omegin reached out to stroke the top of Karson’s head. The baby was sleeping in Karter’s arms, because Karter couldn’t seem to let go. Even driving out to his parents’ house with Karson in the backseat had been a special kind of torture, but it was the only place he could think to go.

“He’s too young to understand,” Father replied. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”

“Thank you.”

When Karter had arrived, he’d expected Father to go upstairs right away and ignore him. Instead, he’d stayed while Karter explained what was happening, and now he was with Karter and Omegin at the kitchen table drinking tea. His brothers had expressed their condolences, and then kindly cleared out.

“No man deserves to have his omega taken away,” Father continued, his voice unusually gentle. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost Argo. I truly don’t.”

“I can’t lose Jax. I love him, Father, I truly do. It physically hurts inside, knowing he’s in harm’s way because of me.”

“He’s in harm’s way because criminals put him there, not you. This is not your fault.”

Karter sighed. “I hate knowing a fellow constable is involved. You’re supposed to be able to trust the men you work with to have your back, and this whole time he’s been against us. Probably feeding information straight to Udall.”

“Traitors are an unforgiveable species, I agree.”

“It’s horrible what’s happening,” Omegin said. “But don’t let it destroy your faith in your coworkers. And have faith that they’ll bring Jax home safely.”

“I’m trying, but it’s been hours and there hasn’t been an update,” Karter grumped. “I hate being out of the loop on this.” He glanced at his mobile, hating it for its silence.

Not for the first time, Karter considered calling Udall back and trying to negotiate on his own. He’d memorized the number as soon as it flashed up on that video. Udall might not answer to a strange number, but Karter could leave a message. Try and do this alone. But Higgs would fire his ass in a heartbeat if Karter went behind his back.

It’ll be worth it if I get Jax back.

“You should try and get some sleep,” Omegin said. “Exhausting yourself won’t help them find Jax any sooner.”

“I can’t sleep.” He’d barely been able to stomach the dinner he’d eaten at the Bloom house before coming here.

“Still, I’ll have Sloan bunk with Eron tonight, so you and Karson can have his room.”

“I’ll just end up pacing. I can pace just as easily down here.”

He hated the flash of frustration on Omegin’s face, but Karter was being honest. “At least let me make up a bed down here for Karson. Your arms will fall off if you try to hold him all night.”

Karter flinched at the memory of Jax suspended from the ceiling. Dear goddess, he hoped Udall had let him down. Hanging like that for any length of time could cause serious damage. If Udall crippled Jax and made him unable to do his favorite thing in the world—hold his own son—Karter would gut the man with a dull fork and enjoy every moment.

“You’re right,” Karter replied.

Omegin disappeared, leaving Karter alone with his father for the first time in weeks. They hadn’t directly spoken since the disaster of a mating celebration, neither man reaching out to the other with an offering of peace. Why did it always take a crisis for stubborn men to speak to each other?

“I need to apologize for my past behavior,” Father said. Karter nearly fell out of his chair; Father never apologized. “I was being narrow-minded about Jax, and I see that now. I see you really do love the man, and it hurts to see you in so much pain right now. Now matter your choices, you’re still my son and heir, and I love you.”

Karter stared, unable to find words to accept the apology.

“I’m truly sorry for how I acted, and I pray they find your mate alive and well.”

More tears burned in his eyes, and Karter didn’t fight them. “Thank you. That means everything to me.”

Father nodded, his own eyes suspiciously bright.

Omegin returned a few minutes later with a wicker laundry basket he’d lined with a blanket. He placed the basket in a dark corner of the living room. Karter went over to carefully deposit Karson into it. His little man slept on.

“He’s lucky to have you,” Omegin whispered.

“I’m lucky to have him. Karson is the only thing keeping me from completely losing my shit.”

Karter’s phone rang, and he bolted back into the kitchen to answer it. “Yes, hello?”

“It’s Higgs. Thought you’d like to know we arrested Fox Heely trying to board a train under a fake identity. Found multiple fake credit cards with staggering amounts of money on them.”

“They arrested Heely,” he told his parents. “Is he talking?”

“Not yet, no,” Higgs replied. “Lawyered up right away.”

“Figures.”

“Do not even think about coming down here to interrogate him.”

Karter flexed the knuckles of his free hand, desperate to walk up to Heely and punch him in the face for kidnapping his omega. “I won’t. I’m staying with my parents. My sire is a retired constable so he’d tie me down if he thought I’d try to impede an investigation.”

Father winked.

“Good man,” Higgs said.

“Are you having any luck finding Udall?”

Higgs was silent for a beat. “Can’t really say, but we are running down multiple leads. Stay positive, all right?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for the update.”

“You’re welcome.”

Karter hung up. He’d hoped for more, but at least Heely was off the street. It was a good start, and he liked the sound of multiple leads. But Jax only had sixteen hours left….

* * *

Jax didn’t know how long he stood there with his arms over his head. Long enough that his stomach was growling and he was incredibly thirsty. Also long enough that he’d humiliated himself by peeing on the floor—and his feet. The odor of urine nauseated him, his arms were going numb, and he wasn’t sure he could stand on that cold, cement floor much longer.

When the door finally opened and Udall entered, the man stopped short. “Guess nature called, huh?”

Fuck you, you filthy piece of shit.

Jax nodded his head at his arms and whined, hoping to get his point across. Udall stepped closer, then winced. “Well, fuck, your hands are purple. Shit.”

Udall stepped to the wall and turned a pulley crank. Jax screamed internally as his arms came down and blood rushed back into them. Udall gave Jax enough slack to sit on the cold floor, and Jax hated himself for the weakness, but his arms hurt so fucking much he started crying. Giving birth hadn’t hurt this much.

Oh goddess, let me die now. I can’t endure this.

“Believe it or not, I didn’t mean to leave you like that for so long.”

Jax would have spit at the man if he could do anything other than sit there and suffer.

“I’ll bring you some water and food, then it’s lights out for the night.”

He didn’t care. Jax closed his eyes, and when his arms no longer felt like they’d been injected by liquid lava, the light was off. A small sliver beneath the door gave Jax enough light to see a bottle of water and a sandwich nearby. Jax reached out, only for his hands to be jerked back by the chain.

Damn it. He wiggled around and used his foot to pull the food closer so he could grab the water. Numb fingers had a hard time twisting the cap, and he spilled some on his lap when he finally got it off. The water was heaven on his dry tongue. He nibbled at the sandwich, alternating the stale bread and peanut butter with water to get it down. And no, he felt no gratitude toward Udall for ending his torture and feeding him. But the fact that Udall was attempting to keep him alive gave Jax a tiny sliver of hope.

He tried to sleep, but he was freezing, and laying down meant his hands were still in the air, and they hurt like hell, so he sat up, hunched over, and shivered the night away.

At some point, the door opened and the light switch flipped. Jax shut his eyes against the blinding glare. His heart pounded faster when, over the scent of urine, Jax caught a whiff of someone not Udall, or the constable who took him.

He blinked his eyes open against the glare, and nearly pissed himself again as he focused on a strange alpha staring at him from the room’s door. Udall wasn’t there.

The alpha came inside. Jax shrank back.

Oh goddess, no.

* * *

Someone shook him awake, and Tarek startled so badly he nearly fell off the break room couch. He didn’t remember falling asleep, only sitting down to drink another cup of coffee.

Senior Constable Lars stared down at him. “Why haven’t you gone home to rest? We’ve got the night watch all over the Jenks hostage case.”

Tarek rubbed his bleary eyes. “Jax is a friend, sir. So is Karter. I need to help.”

“Napping on the couch is helping?”

“It was a power nap, sir, I’m fine.” Tarek stood, then swayed.

Lars grabbed his elbow. “Look, I understand your motivations, but we’ve got men out there searching and following leads. You’re running out of steam. It’s four in the morning, Bloom. I’m ordering you to go home and not show your face here again until eight at the earliest.”

Tarek wanted to argue, but he was running on twenty-two hours with no sleep, and his brain was getting a bit fuzzy. He’d be of no use to Jax if he passed out from exhaustion. “Yes, sir,” Tarek replied.

“And call a cab. I don’t trust you to drive right now.”

“I will. Thanks.”

He nearly fell asleep again on the cab ride home, and he wasn’t at all surprised to find Ronin sleeping on his couch. Braun and Kell were asleep in the bedroom, with Branson in between them. While the bed was a king and had enough room for Tarek to squeeze in behind Braun, he didn’t have the energy if Ronin bitched about Tarek sleeping under the covers with his mate.

Tarek got a spare blanket and eased onto the space at the foot of the bed. When he woke again, it was to Branson squalling, and the sun was up. The bed shook as bodies moved around.

“Tarek!” Braun said. “You’re home. Did you find Jax?”

He blinked several times as Braun’s face came into focus above. Behind him, Kell was shushing Branson. “No, I was sent home for some sleep, but I’m going back. What time is it?”

“Seven-thirty.”

Good, he didn’t have to wait long. They only had five and a half hours left.

He sat up, then pulled Braun into his arms, needing to hold his omega for a moment. To feel the heat of his skin and smell his unique scent. He would have lost his ever-loving mind if Udall had decided to snatch Braun from his job, instead of taking Jax. Braun and their growing baby were the two most important things in Tarek’s life.

“Do you think Jax is okay?” Braun whispered.

“I don’t know. I wish I did.” Tarek had viewed the video Udall sent, and he’d been outraged to see how Jax was being treated. If he was still dangling like that, though… His gut churned.

“I wish I could do something to help.”

“I know. Have you spoken to Karter?”

“Not since he picked up Karson last night. He was so upset. Kell sat with him for a little while. Karter said he was going to spend the night with his family.”

“Probably a good move. He needs support.”

“So do you, Tarek. I’m glad you came home for a while.”

“Me too.” Tarek nuzzled Braun’s neck. “I love you, firecracker.”

“Love you back. Now go take a shower, get some food, and then bring Jax home, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

Tarek wished it was that simple. He put his phone on to charge while he showered and ate a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. He was sucking down his third cup of coffee when his mobile rang. Braun tugged it off the charger and brought it over, display screen first.

Lars.

“Bloom,” Tarek said.

“It’s Lars. Patrol just found a body.”

Tarek went cold all over. “A body?”

Braun dropped his mug of tea, and it shattered on the kitchen floor.