My breath stutters. “That’s not them.”
My father’s head lifts, and his one good eye widens slightly. “No.”
The warehouse door slams open somewhere. Boots hit concrete in a hard rhythm. A flashlight beam sweeps across the far wall.
I flinch, ducking my head, the rope tugging my wrists.
A voice barks, “Clear left.”
Another answers, “Clear right.”
My body trembles. I do not know what’s happening. I don’t know if this is a rescue or another nightmare.
I whisper, “Ozzy.”
Like a prayer.
Like a plea.
The footsteps get closer. Shadows move at the edge of my vision. Shapes appear between stacked pallets, bodies with weapons and gear, moving like a unit.
Then I see him.
Ozzy.
He comes around a steel column, eyes locked on me, face hard with something feral.
Relief hits so fast my vision blurs. A sob tries to break free, but it sticks in my throat because I’m still scared and still tied up and still in a warehouse that smells like death.
“Ozzy,” I breathe, and this time it comes out like a broken sound.
His gaze flicks over me in a quick scan, checking for blood, injuries, anything that will make him lose it. Then his eyes snap to the man beside me.
My father.
Ozzy’s expression changes again, surprise and caution mixing.
Sawyer Maddox steps in behind him, calm and commanding, followed by more men in tactical gear. One of them has a headset. Another has a med kit already out.
“Victim located,” someone says.
Rae’s voice crackles faintly through a speaker somewhere. “Copy. Medical priority on the male if he is critical.”
Ozzy moves to me first, kneeling quickly. His hands are gentle but fast as he cuts the rope at my wrists. The instant it snaps, blood rushes back into my hands, pain blooming like fire.
I hiss.
Ozzy’s eyes narrow. “I’ve got you.” His voice is low and steady.
It makes me want to melt.
I reach for him without thinking, my hands trembling as I grab his jacket. He presses his forehead to mine for half a second, breathing hard, like he’s been holding his breath since the gas station.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “Later.”
He nods like he understands. His eyes stay on mine for one more beat, and then he turns to my father.