Where the atmosphere before felt warm and humid, it was now nothing more than ice. His heart hung heavy in his chest and his breath was ragged. Jax gripped the handle of the women’s bathroom door and yanked it open.

“Andria!” He ran inside and the door closed behind him. His chest rose and fell as he scanned the room. Mirrors, sinks, stalls…five of them and all open. He reached around his back and pulled out his Glock. He pulled the top chamber back and loaded it, but left the safety on. Holding it in front of him, he proceeded further into the bathroom.

“Draven, are you in here with her, you son-of-a-bitch?” His voice echoed through the emptiness. The stalls were open, but regardless, he needed to check. He kicked in each one, and each held an empty toilet. On the fifth one, there was a purse on the floor. He bent down and recognized it. It was Andria’s.

“Fuck,” he whispered and picked it up. He opened it and looked through it. Nothing had been removed. She dropped it when he took her. That motherfucker was here, under my fucking nose, and took her.

He took a step back and held onto the clutch. He looked up to the ceiling that met the wall. Windows were up there, but too thin to slip through, and too high climb out of. He stepped around the last stall and his breath caught in his chest.

There was an emergency exit door. The cords were cut.

How?

He stepped closer and a red stain was on the door jamb. Probably blood. His blood pressure skyrocketed.

Who was in here with her when she went to the bathroom? What the fuck was her name? Brandi? Did she have a part in this?

He pushed his gun back into his holster and pulled out his phone. He pressed the speed dial to GAPS and brought the phone to his ear.

“GAPS,” Cash answered, “we have your…”

Jax cut him off. “Cash. He has her. He fucking took her right in front of me.”

“Motherfucker,” the man whispered. “All right. We’ve got this here. Get to your station and track where she is. Do not let your emotions get to you. Set your feelings aside and be the soldier. She will be fine. You planted a bug on her, we’ll find her. Now go. Call in when you’re at your station.”

“10-4,” Jax said and hung up. He needed structure. He needed routine. He needed his team to find Andria. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then let it go. Pushing the phone in his pocket, he left the bathroom.

Jax made his way back to the bachelorette party and went to the bride. “Who the fuck is Brandi?”

The woman’s eyes widened, then shook her head. She had tears in her eyes. “I…I don’t know.”

“Do you know what happened? Do you know that Andria has been taken by a criminal who busted out of prison, and is her ex? Now tell me, how the fuck do you know Brandi?”

The woman shook her head and she cried. “I met her through a friend of a friend. We hit it off and she’s always been around. I…I don’t know what she has to do with any of this. Oh my God, this has ruined my bachelorette party!”

Jax growled. “Fuck your party. Someone’s life is a stake here! Now think,” he told her. “When did you meet her? Where does she live? Does she have any links to Draven?”

The woman stood speechless, possibly shell-shocked at the situation. She opened her mouth to say something, but squeaked.

“Do I need to call the police?” asked a female voice next to him.

He turned to a small woman that had been with their crowd. “What is your name?”

“Marla Blackstone. I’m a friend of the bride. I only met Andria tonight. I wish I could be of more help.”

Jax nodded. “Call 9-1-1 and let them know Andria was taken. Give them the name Draven Combs. He’s a wanted man, escaped prison, and has been on the hunt for her.”

“Oh my God, he’s been hunting her?” Marla asked.

“I need to go. Call the police. Here’s my number, just in case anything turns up here.” He handed over a business card from his pocket. He jogged toward the door and left for his Humvee.

He would drive home.

He would search where the planted bug landed.

He would gather his team for search and rescue.

He thought all deaths would have ended during his last tour of the Middle East. It looked like tonight, he would make another kill, and Draven would be out of her life forever.

* * *

Jax pressed the power button on his computer. As the screen lit, he input his password. The GAPS screen appeared and he brought up his tracking application. He keyed in the information for the bug and waited. A map appeared and centralized over Virginia Beach. Then a red spot lit on the map.

He zoomed in on the location and leaned into the screen. She was barely five miles away from her home.

“Found you, you son of a bitch,” he growled. He grabbed his phone and dialed GAPS.

“Jax,” Cash answered. “What do you have?”

“I have her location. Get the team assembled and ready to go in five. I’ll meet you out front.” Jax hung up his phone and opened the closet in his room. He grabbed a black fitted t-shirt and jeans. He stripped and quickly pulled the change of clothes on.

He then grabbed his foot locker and using his key, he unlocked it. Lifting the lid breathed life into the contents inside. Owning weapons was not a luxury. These weapons were ones you should never plan to use.

He pulled out his utility belt and loaded it with the silver baton, black utility flashlight, a couple of hand guns and ammo, handcuffs, two knives, and thick zip ties. He picked up the black bulletproof vest and pulled it on. A black cap sat inside and grabbing it, he pulled it on.

In the darkness, he would mostly be hidden, and that would work to his advantage. He closed the trunk and headed out to his Humvee.

Turning on the ignition, he sat behind the wheel for a moment and gripped it, closing his eyes.

Leave the emotions.

You’re a soldier.

He took your woman.

Jax opened his eyes. “This is fucking war.”