When Day Breaks

The kidnapper’s face was averted from the camera. Longer dark hair hung down her back and her skin was darker toned. She was shorter than Eden but way stockier. Her arms were muscled as if she had a strict exercise regimen. Her shoulders were broad and square and there was no hint of the curve of br**sts through the maid uniform she’d appropriated from the employee she’d killed.

Then the Peugeot drove away and Hancock zoomed in on the plate. Hancock barked the number to the security guard and instructed him to contact the police to put out an APB for the vehicle with the plate number.

Swanny radioed his team, told them to stand down from their room-to-room search of the hotel and reported what he and Hancock had discovered.

“We need to widen our perimeter and make damn sure we cover the borders, airports, train stations, any public transit and get the word out on the car and plates. We need as many eyes and ears on this as possible,” Swanny said in a grim voice.

“I’ll call Sam. Get the teams this way so we have all our manpower focused on finding her,” Joe responded.

“It’ll be too f**king late for that,” Hancock snapped. “She won’t survive long enough for f**king Rio and Steele to ride into town. We have to find her and find her now.”

“No shit, ass**le,” Swanny growled. “If you think I’m waiting on anyone to find her, you can go f**k yourself.”

Hancock went silent and stared long and hard at Swanny. “You’re in love with her,” he said softly.

“My relationship with Eden is none of your goddamn business,” Swanny said icily.

Hancock shoved into Swanny’s face, going nose to nose with him.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Hancock growled. “Eden’s my sister in every way that counts except blood. Her family is the closest thing I have to family, and I will do whatever it takes to protect her.”

“Then quit f**king around and let’s get moving,” Swanny bit out. “Because we’re not doing her any good bickering like f**king children. She’s my life and I refuse to rest until I have her back.”

“Fair enough,” Hancock said quietly. “Let’s get going.”

CHAPTER 34

TWO hours into the extensive search for Eden, Swanny was in absolute despair. With every passing second, he felt Eden slipping further and further away. He prayed as he hadn’t prayed since he and Nathan and their mates were imprisoned in an Afghani hellhole.

Shea and her sister Grace were angels sent from God. Swanny knew that in his heart. But now he needed another miracle. Like the one he and Nathan had been given when they’d made their escape.

It was also times like these that Swanny wished Shea’s gift of telepathy weren’t random. That she could somehow reach out to Eden and help them find her. Grace would be of more help, but by the time Rio would be able to get her here, it would be too late for Eden.

His stomach was in a permanent knot and even though he refused to even consider the worst-case scenario, that Eden was already dead, he couldn’t help the surge of grief that threatened to buckle his knees.

He couldn’t lose her. His life had been fine before. He wouldn’t consider himself happy, but neither could he have said he was unhappy. His life was well ordered. His absolute focus had been KGI and his team, their missions and the bond he had with the Kelly family.

Marlene Kelly, the matriarch of the Kelly clan, had pulled him into the fold, instantly adopting him as her own, and she mothered him just like she mothered her actual sons. That love and loyalty extended to her daughters-in-law and everyone else who’d been adopted into the Kelly family.

But now? He couldn’t bear the thought of going back to his sterile existence. He couldn’t imagine his life without Eden. She was his own personal ray of sunshine, her warmth enveloping him just by being in the same room.

Mentally he reprimanded himself. Such dire thoughts did no good whatsoever, and he wasn’t giving Eden the credit she deserved. She was a fighter. She would find a way to survive until Swanny reached her.

And he would find her. If he had to turn the whole goddamn world over in his search, he’d find her or die trying.

His secure cell rang and he yanked it up, knowing it was one of his teammates. Hancock paused, slowing the vehicle he and Swanny occupied, and tuned in to the conversation.

“Swanny, it’s Joe. Where are you right now?”

Swanny leaned over to check the street name just a few feet away from where Hancock had pulled over. He related the intersection to Joe and heard Joe’s sigh of relief.

“We’re five minutes out. Stay put. Eddie has heard from Eden’s kidnapper and you need to see this, man. But you’re going to have to keep your cool and keep your head straight. Eden needs you—all of us—and you can’t let emotion cloud your judgment because we’re going to have to go in and hope to hell we aren’t too late.”

“What the f**k?” Swanny roared. “What do you know? What the hell did Eddie say her kidnapper said?”

“It’s not what he said. It’s what he sent me. Just stay put. We’ll be there in three minutes now.”

Swanny swore a vicious blue streak when Joe disconnected with no further explanation. Then he pounded the dash in frustration, his blood pumping wildly through his veins.

“What the f**k did he say?” Hancock demanded. “Joe heard from Eddie? Why the hell wouldn’t he contact me? I’m the one who f**king told him, Raid and Ryker to stand down when they lost their shit after the RPG attack. I told them I’d take care of the matter and they’d just get in my way. They damn well should have sent whatever intel they received to me.”