I follow the route my GPS is showing until I get to the island Jake is being held captive on. I start making my way in their direction but get off the bike when I’m still a half mile away. I stash it in the trees, pack up my rifle, ammo, and anything else I could need. There is no way I can ride my loud-ass bike right up to their front door. I want the element of surprise on my side.

I hike my rifle up on my shoulder higher as I trek through the brush, using my phone to stay on my path. I studied the surrounding land so much, I know it like the back of my hand. I know exactly where I need to hide to make sure I’m not seen. My plan is to take out the guard by the door and make my way into the house. From there, I’ll take out anyone in my way.

I’m still a good quarter mile away from the property when the phone in my hand vibrates. I look down at the screen and see a picture of Matthew. What the fuck? Doesn’t he know I’m in the middle of something here?

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hi, Daddy! We’re getting on an airplane!” Jack cheers.

I let out a quiet laugh. “That’s great, princess. Can I talk to Papa?”

“Okay. I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too. Be careful and have fun.”

“Hello?” Matthew picks up the phone.

“How’s everything going?”

“Great. We’re just about to board. Jack wouldn’t stop until she called you. I hope we didn’t mess anything up for you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m standing in the middle of the fucking woods, about a quarter mile away.”

“All right. Take care, John.”

“I will. Take care of my kids,” I tell him before hanging up.

When the call ends, the map is back on my screen.

Hearing Jack’s sweet little voice brought me back to daddy mode. I was in killer mode. It’s so strange how I can switch between the two so easily. I haven’t done this in such a long time, I didn’t realize I had it in me anymore. I have so much to lose now — her voice reminded me of that. Fear and dread settle over me.

I try to push it to the back of my mind and shift back into gear mentally. I can’t be thinking about my family while I’m doing this. It will distract me, and I need to be sharp. I admit, doing this job was a lot easier when I only had myself to think about — that’s why I preferred to be alone. But meeting Brooklyn, she opened up a whole new set of doors for me. She gave me something I didn’t know I needed: a life, a real life with family, friends, and love.

My phone vibrating pulls me back to the here and now, and I look down to see that I’m nearing the location. I slide the phone into my pocket and slowly move on. I’m getting closer now, so I need to move slow and precise. I don’t want to make too much noise to alert them.

I make my way to the edge of the property and pull the rifle off my shoulder. Using the scope, I start looking around, getting to know my surroundings. I’m not even fifteen feet from the door, so I know if there is some kind of silent alarm, they should be coming out any minute. The place is quiet — too quiet. There is a blacked-out SUV in the drive, but no guard at the door and I don’t see any movement in the house.

The house is surrounded by nothing but overgrown wilderness, not a neighbor for miles. This would be the perfect place to hold him. But if Jake was inside, they would have a guard, right?

I decide to test the waters. I grab a thin tree branch and snap it off. A dog that’s chained up next to the house starts barking. I raise my rifle again. I aim the gun at the door while looking through my scope as I wait.

The screen door flies open, smacking the side of the house. An older man comes out, rounds the house, and begins scolding the dog for being loud. Slowly, I start walking up behind him. I could shoot, but what if I’m in the wrong place and kill an innocent man? I’ll ask him a few questions. With this rifle in my hands, there is no way he won’t answer.

When I’m standing directly behind him, I clear my throat. He spins around to face me and the second his eyes lock on mine, the anger on his face is replaced by surprise.

“Who the hell are you, and why the fuck are you on my property?” the man asks, not fazed at all by the rifle I’m pointing at him.

“My name is John, and I have some questions for you.” I use my weapon to motion back toward the house.

He looks from the house, to me, and back to the house before walking in that direction. He leads me into his home, and he sits at the small kitchen table. I lower my weapon, put it back on my shoulder, and take out my handgun. I sit down at the table and make sure the gun is always pointed at him.

“Where’s my brother?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He waves his hand in front of his face, dismissing the question.

“My brother, Jake Remington, has been missing for several days now. He’s being used as leverage against me to do something for a very bad person. I tracked him back to this house.” I raise the gun higher and cock it. The sound of the bullet going into the chamber cuts through the silence. “Now, tell me what you know.”

It looks like he’s biting the inside of his cheek while he thinks it over. His gray eyes bounce around the room from object to object but never land on me.

I stand quickly, causing my chair to screech off the dirty tiled floor. I’m towering over him now with only the wooden table between us. “Don’t make me ask again,” I say as I raise the gun and aim it directly at his head.

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “He’s not here. He’s been moved — him and that pregnant wife of his.”

“Zoe?” My heart begins pounding in my chest. How the fuck was she taken? When? Does Brooklyn know? Is she all right?

“Where are they?” I ask with my eyes squinting together. I’m trying my hardest to control my anger, to keep myself in check so I don’t shoot this man. I know he’s not innocent, but I don’t need more blood on my hands. They’ve been painted red long enough.

He reaches across the table and takes a piece of paper and a pencil. He quickly scribbles the address down and slides it over.

I pick it up and study it, realizing that it’s not too much further. I stuff the paper into my pocket. “I’m going to let you live, but if they aren’t where you say they are, I’m coming back to put this gun in your mouth. You hear me?”

He nods. “Don’t worry, that’s where they are.” He stands and walks across the floor to the coffee pot. “I told them all this wasn’t a good idea as soon as I found out who Knox was wanting to mess with.” He pours a cup and takes it back to the table. “You and your family are a bit of a legend around here, you know?”

“Do you know what Knox wants me to do?”

He looks up at me. “I do. And I also know that he has a backup plan if you fail. Nothing will stop him from getting what he wants.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“I’m sick of me and my boys being under his thumb. We’ve paid back our debts to him, but he still thinks he can control us.” He rises from his chair and holds out his hand to shake. “I just need someone to put an end to all this.”

I shake his hand. “Don’t worry. Nothing will stop me from putting an end to him this time.”

He nods like he’s taking me at my word, and I turn and walk out of the house. The second I’m back on the trail that leads to my bike, I’m calling Brooklyn. The phone only rings once before she answers, sounding breathless.

“John…she’s gone. Zoe’s gone.”

“I know.”

“Did you find Jake? Is she with him?”

“They’re not here. But I know where they are. I’m heading there now,” I say into the phone as I damn near run through the overgrown forest.

“Be careful, John. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I hang up the phone and slide it back into my pocket, ready to track down Jake and Zoe and put an end to all this shit.