Kade's POV
My eyes snapped open.
The world was spinning.
My mind went straight to…..Dana.
I tried to bolt upright. The room tilted sideways making my stomach turn
"The location has been compromised," a voice barked from the left. "They're moving her."
"Check the highway feeds," another voice clipped back. "They're probably circling."
I shoved the sheets off. My hand went to my head, feeling a thick wrap of gauze.
"Stay down, Mr. Kade."
Hands grabbed my shoulders, forcing me back. A guy in a suit, security was leaning over me.
"Get off me," I rasped, slapping his hands away. "Where is she? Where's Dana?"
"Sir, you have a severe concussion. You need…."
"I said get the fuck off me!" I lunged, my palm hitting the guy's chest. I was weak, but I shoved him back a step. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Every movement filled my body with pain. "Dana! Where is she? Tell me or I'll start breaking things!"
"He's aggressive!" the guard shouted. "I need a sedative over here!"
"Touch me with a needle and I'll bite your throat out!" I swung a wild, shaky fist. I missed. I was shaking and I couldn't catch my breath.
The door slammed open.
Damien stepped in and guards backed off instantly.
He was wearing a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up.
"Out," Damien said.
The guards disappeared, followed by the medical team.
"Damien," I choked out, lunging off the bed. I grabbed the front of his shirt, my fingers bunching the fabric. "Tell me. Tell me you found her."
He didn't pull away. He looked down at me.
"She was taken, Kade," he said. His voice was low. "Ten minutes after you were hit. It was my former security team. The ones I fired to hire you. They're moving her now."
"Moving her where?" I shook him. "Why her? She's just a waitress! She has nothing to do with this!"
"She's leverage," he said. He gripped my wrists to steady me. "They want to hurt me.
They know the easiest way is to destroy the only tie you have left. So, they're using her to get to us."
"Then let's go!" I pushed off him, stumbling toward the door. "We're wasting time! Give me a gun, give me a car…."
I made it three steps.
My knees buckled. Damien caught me by the waist and hauled me up before I could hit the floor, pinning me against his chest.
"You can't even stand, Kade. Look at you."
"I don't care!" I clawed at his arms. "You're just standing here talking while they have her! You don't care! She's just a casualty to you, isn't she?"
"Shut up," he hissed, leaning down. "You think I'm wasting time? My team is tracking every cell tower. My pilots are on the tarmac.
If we run out there without a fix, we lose her.
They'll kill her the second they see us coming. Is that what you want?"
I froze. I hated him for being right.
"Then take me with you," I whispered. I dropped my head against his shoulder. I was shivering. "Don't leave me here. If she dies because I'm sitting in a bed... I'll kill myself, Damien. I swear."
"No, I can't let you risk your life for me again."
"I won't," I said quickly, grabbing his arm before I could stop myself. "I swear, I won't do anything stupid. Just please, don't leave me here."
"No, Kade…"
"I won't!" I shoved away from him. I forced my legs to stabilize. "I'm the one they want to send a message to. I'm ready. Take me.
Now."
I tried to walk past him. I swayed and reached for a chair, missing it.
A device on his belt chirped.
He pulled out a phone and swiped the screen. A distorted audio file played.
"Kade? Kade, please!" It was Dana. She sounded terrified. There was a loud thud, a muffled scream, and the sound of rushing wind. "I don't know where I am! They said…..they said you're with him! Kade, don't….."
The audio cut out.
My chest tightened. "Dana... oh God, Dana..."
A new voice came through the speaker.
"Resquav. I know you can hear me. You think you can just swap us out for a whore? We know exactly who Kade is. You want her back? You're going to have to show us how much he's worth to you."
Damien's eyes went dark.
"Stay close," Damien said. "You stay behind me and do exactly what I tell you. If I say run, you run. No improvising. Do you understand?"
"Yes," I gasped. "Just... let's go."
He headed for the door.
We moved through the house past armed men in gear and out into the night. A black SUV was idling at the curb.
Damien grabbed my arm and shoved me into the back seat. He climbed in beside me and slammed the door shut.
The tires screeched as we tore down the driveway.
I sat with my hands locked between my knees. I took a quick glance at Damien, and his face looked furious for someone he didn't even know. I may have been over reacting earlier when I said he didn't care, but now, he looked like he would burn the world if anything went wrong.
The phone in his hand vibrated. A live call.
Damien hit the speaker.
"Speak," he said.
"Resquav," the voice came through. "You're moving fast. Good."
"Where is she?" Damien asked.
"She's fine. For now. But we're not here for her. We're here for the guest in your back seat."
I felt cold. They were watching the car.
"Bring him," the voice commanded. "The old refinery at the docks. Just you and him. If I see anyone else, I'm sending her back piece by piece."
I choked back a sob.
"I'm bringing him," Damien said.
"Good. And Resquav? Bring a shovel. You're going to need it for one of them."