You fucked around with the wrong woman, Timmy boy. Because this is definitely going to be a case of fuck around and find out.
And when Ivan got his hands on the psychopath, he’d make damn sure Timothy Randall found out exactly what happened to those who dared try to hurt what belonged to him.
“The good news is, Randall’s mistress insists his obsession with Cera isn’t sexual,” Declan spoke again. “Says the guy sees Cera as the daughter he never had, and only wants what’s ‘best for her’.”
Piggybacking off his partner, Thorne added a quick, “Randall’s been renting the room under the alias Paul Xavier. Manager said the van wasn’t there now, but he’s keeping an eye out on it.”
“And in this weather, Randall’s going to want to get back to his room ASAP. Especially if he thinks we have no idea where he is.”
Declan was right about that last part. The arrogant doctor thought he’d gotten away because, in his twisted mind, Randall believed Ivan and the others had no clue who or where the man was.
But we do know, asshole. We know exactly where you’re going, and we’re coming from you.
“So help me, he’s hurt so much as a hair on Cera’s head…”
“He’s not going to hurt her,” Declan made a promise he couldn’t keep.
“You don’t know that.”
The other man sighed and then, “Not one hundred percent, no. But I’ve been in contact with Noah and his team. Since this is a kidnapping that could potentially go across state lines, Killion had his people throw together a quick profile using what they could dig up on our doctor friend, reconciling that data with the things Randall’s done to Cera the past thirteen months.”
Though there was a time he never thought he would, Ivan trusted Agent Killion with his life. It was the only reason he heard himself asking, “And?”
It was Thorne who answered.
“Every expert shrink they have on staff—along with my lovely wife—agrees that the obsession Dr. Randall has with Cera isn’t the typical stalker-vic relationship.”
“It’s not a fucking relationship,” Ivan barked.
“You know what Grady means, Ivan.” Declan backed his partner up.
Yeah, Ivan knew what the detective had meant. But he was pissed, and scared, and… God, he was so fucking scared.
Not once during his time with the SEALS had Ivan ever been as terrified as he was in this very moment. It was if his own life were on the line.
Ivan realized that, in a lot of ways—the mostimportantof ways—it was.
He and Cera had only just found each other. Over the last few days, she’d started to smile and laugh more and frown less. He’d helped her do that.
And she’d done the same for him in return.
If I lose her now…
“Fuck.” Declan’s grumbled expletive sent Ivan’s stomach to his knees.
His fingers curled around the steering wheel. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Patrol units at the Inn said they’ve been staking out the place for the past ten minutes.”
Ivan understood what the man wasn’t saying. “They should’ve been there by now.”
“Maybe the psycho took a detour,” Thorne offered. “To throw us off or lose a potential tail?”
“Possible, but not probable.” Ivan quickly discredited the other man’s theory. “Randall’s not used to mountain weather, and he’s essentially driving a minivan with regular factory tires.”
He’d checked when he’d discovered Cera gone and Roxbury bleeding in their suite.
“I’m with Ivan on this one,” Grady agreed. “Randall would’ve wanted to get from The Douglas to his destination as soon as possible. Especially since every news station in the tri-state area has been blasting alerts about this incoming storm.”