The owners’ meeting didn’t last long. We had a problem with injuries. The roster wasn’t ideal. For now, we were in a recovery mode while we waited to hear back from the team therapists. I was home earlier than I expected.

My cell rang on the counter, vibrating against the granite. It was the third time in less than ten minutes it had rung. I was positive it was Joe calling again. I had already told him I didn’t feel like going out and partying tonight. I didn’t care that the Warriors were on tonight. Something about them always pissed him off. I wanted to focus on our game. Not what they had going on in Texas.

I pushed myself off the couch. I didn’t recognize the number. I almost didn’t answer, but part of me was fucking relieved I didn’t have to hear Joe’s voice again.

“Hello.”

“Hawk?”

“Julie?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry to call you at home and I know it’s late, but—”

There was panic in her voice. Something was definitely wrong.

“Don’t apologize. What’s going on?” I asked.

“It’s Hunter. I dropped him off and now he’s missing. They’re going to have to call in an Amber Alert. And I’m completely freaked out. Do you have any idea what he’ll go through if he police start looking for him? I don’t think he could handle it.”

“Slow down. Hey, it’s going to be ok. We’ll find him.”

I already had my keys in my hand and locked the door behind me.

“We?”

“Yeah, I’m coming to where you are. You shouldn’t drive. I’ll help you look. We’ll find him together.”

“You sure?”

I’d never been so fucking sure of anything in my life. If that kid was out on the streets by himself I wasn’t going to sit around like an asshole waiting for a phone call. I was going to find him.

“Where are you, Jules?”

“Sitting in my parking garage. I didn’t know where to go.”

“Text me the address. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

I hung up and raced down the stairs. I heard the text pop up on my phone. I plugged the address into the map and knew I could be there in less than ten minutes.

I pulled into the garage. Julie was still sitting behind the wheel. As soon as she saw me she ran from the car.

I jumped out, and wrapped my arms around her. I felt the warmth and softness of her body. It was only for a second, but it felt like things were different. As if maybe she had dropped the wall she had built between us.

“We’ll find him.”

She looked up at me. “You promise?”

I brushed a curl away from her temple. God, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to make this nightmare go away for her.

I nodded. “I promise. Now hop in and tell me all of Hunter’s favorite spots. We are turning DC upside down until we find that kid.”

I peeled out of the parking lot, my tires squealing with the speed.

We drove around for several hours, searching every alleyway in a three-mile radius and checked every bus station along the way. Once midnight hit I could see the exhaustion setting in Julie’s shoulders. I reached over and rubbed my thumb along her spine, up to her neck and back down her shoulder. She moaned deep in her throat and tilted her head to the side.

“Guess you don’t want to climb in the backseat and get some sleep?” I suggested.

She cut her eyes at me. “No. I can’t sleep until I know Hunter is ok.”

“I get it. I just see how tired you are. We’ve been doing this for hours.”

“If you want to take me back to my car, you can.” Her voice was clipped. “I’m not giving up.”

I moved my hand to her knee. “I’m not either.” I let it rest there, lingering against her skin.

I turned onto the side street that ran along the school. It was a long shot, but I pulled up to the building.

Julie screamed and I slammed on the brakes. Before the car was in park, she flung the door open and ran toward the school. Shit, she could have fallen flat on her face.

Hunter was lying bundled with his arms tucked tight inside his T-shirt on the front steps. I left the car running and sprinted after her. I didn’t know what kind of state he would be in.

“Hunter? Are you all right? Why did you leave? Are you hurt?” She bombarded him with questions. I reached out and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back. She knew a lot of things where he was concerned, but she didn’t know he needed space. I knew she couldn’t see past her fear and worry right now.

“I’ve got him,” I told her while I bent down to pick Hunter up. “Give us a sec, ok?”

“Ok.” She nodded, taking a step back.

I felt the tight knot in the back of my throat. I needed to keep it together.

“Hey, little guy. My car is here. Want a ride?”

His head bobbed.

“All right. I’ve got you.”

He barely weighed more than a sack of potatoes. I carried him to the car and climbed in the back seat with him still in my arms. I could feel him moving against me so I knew he was ok, but he didn’t want to talk.

Julie looked down at us. “Thank you,” she whispered.